SAFETY OFFICER MENTAL HEALTH
Safety Officer Mental Health is a competitive state or local title, the kind you test for: the exam result, not a hiring manager's pick, decides where you land in line.
You can qualify with a bachelor's degree or, if you do not have one, by piling up more experience instead. Pay on the FY2027 schedule runs $69,668 to $101,951, and state payroll lists a single employee in the title, at Health and Senior Services.
How to apply
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Exam
This is an application to sit an exam and be placed on an eligible list for this title, not an application for a specific job. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. There may be no current vacancy behind it, and the list it produces may not be certified for months or years.
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Exam
Open to permanent employees in the competitive division who hold a qualifying lower title in the same unit. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. Like the open competitive exam, this places you on a list; it is not itself a job offer.
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Agency posting
Department of Health posts its own vacancies directly, often before (or instead of) any civil service exam announcement. Provisional appointment against a posted vacancy is how most people are actually hired into this kind of title.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 1 person working under this title. The median actual salary is $92,265. The agencies employing the most are:
- Health and Senior Services (1)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator.
Definition
Under direction, in a psychiatric facility in the Department of Health, is responsible for directing, implementing, maintaining and monitoring a comprehensive functional safety program, including police and fire services and an unusual incident reporting system designed to increase and assure conditions conducive to patient and employee safety; does other related duties.
Examples of work
Devises appropriate plans to train work safely and in accordance with work procedures and regulations, laws and standards, of various state safety statutes. Promulgates and enforces safe practices and safety rules and regulations, supervising the actions necessary to assure orderly and safe conditions. Applies state occupational safety and health statutes and regulations and receives reinforcement training as each new regulation is promulgated in order to keep current in the area. Reviews, digests, and summarizes literature which relates to the tasks of safety inspection; explains and interprets such material to supervisory officers in order to enhance their performance regarding safety matters. Coordinates with, and participates in, the preparation and implementation of procedures, schedules, training outlines, manuals, guides and materials for the institution of safety programs, including police and fire. Coordinates with supervisory officers and other workers on matters relating to the safety and security of all patients, and employees; makes suggestions and recommendations concerning safe practices, procedures and conditions. Oversees the institutional safety program functions, including police and fire department, accident investigation and elimination of occupational and environmental hazards, and recommends corrective action; insures follow-up and remediation of deficiencies the unusual accident/incident reporting system. Coordinates the routine day-to-day activities and serves as chairperson of the Safety Committee. Conducts planned observations of employees at work for the purpose of assuring compliance with safety work procedures as defined by the State and the Joint Safety and Health Committee. Conducts regular institutional inspections for the purpose of detecting unsafe conditions and recommending preventative measures. Organizes and monitors assigned safety inspection work, analyzes inspection problems, develops and recommends effective work methods. Conducts investigation of employee and client accidents for the purpose of recommending compensation and preventing future recurrence. Conducts follow-up investigation on sanitation inspection deficiencies and violations and monitors corrective actions. Monitors the requesting, disbursing, recording and inventory of safety equipment, materials, and first-aid supplies. Coordinates the testing of varied types of safety gear, equipment, and supplies which must be purchased for the facility and participates in a training plan on proper use of such safety equipment for all employees and clients when appropriate. In case(s) of safety violation, cities specific regulations and laws violated and describes the nature of the violation in detail. Fixes a reasonable time for abatement based upon the seriousness of the hazard, the work required to correct the condition, and the time required to obtain and staff needed material or equipment and includes time permitted for abatement on the "order". Insures compliance with the safety standards recommended by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals and NFPA fire codes. Prepares recommendations concerning the management of large numbers of people and the avoidance or alleviation of crowded and/or unsafe conditions. Prepares clear, sound, accurate, and informative written reports of general safety inspections, including, when required, compliance investigations, and accident investigations, including, when required, statements of violations of law, and containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations for the elimination of hazardous conditions and practices. Maintains complete and accurate records and files of employee accidents, and fire prevention and control programs containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Establishes and maintains the records and files pertaining to the Safety and Health Committee of the Department. Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office or related units.
License
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of the procedures most likely to be effective and the problems involved in making mandatory inspections and investigations and preparing reports thereof. Knowledge of the methods useful in testing fire detection and signal systems, elevators, hoists, and buildings for safety and compliance with the law. Knowledge of elementary safety and industrial conceptions, terminology, tools, devices, and procedures. Ability to acquire knowledge of the laws of New Jersey and regulations of Division of Mental Health and Hospitals and other accrediting bodies and regulatory agencies pertaining to the operation of psychiatric institutions. Ability to acquire knowledge of the fire fighting equipment required by the laws of New Jersey and their proper installation, servicing, and operation. Ability to acquire wide knowledge of law enforcement rules, regulations, procedures and techniques. Ability to organize assigned inspection work, analyze inspection problems, and develop appropriate work procedures. Ability to comprehend, analyze, and interpret the laws and regulations of New Jersey and the Joint Accreditation of Hospitals pertaining to the protection of the health, safety and welfare of workers and patients. Ability to make the required difficult inspections and investigations. Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate, and informative reports of investigations containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Ability to comprehend, analyze and interpret basic regulatory laws, and apply them to specific situations. Ability to make the required extensive field visits, inspections and tests. Ability to assist with instruction of a group of supervisory officers regarding changes in safety statutes or promulgation of new standards and regulations. Ability to recognize actual and potentially dangerous conditions hazardous to patient and workers health and safety. Ability to maintain reports, records, and files. Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units. Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication. Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed. Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience. Six (6) years of professional experience in work involving the training, inspection, identification, and correction of safety hazards, or the coordination of police and fire services, which shall have included the monitoring of a unified and coordinated institution/facility functional safety program which may include police, fire, hazard and disaster programs. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and two (2) years of the above-mentioned professional experience. "Professional experience" refers to work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the authority to act according to one's own judgment and make accurate and informed decisions.