Occupational Safety Specialist

Job Description

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world. 

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. 

The Washington National Primate Center has an outstanding for an Occupational Safety Specialist.

Position Purpose:

The primary purpose of this Occupational Safety Specialist position is to work toward the mission of the WaNPRC to empower the delivery of leading-edge scientific discoveries to improve human health while promoting the highest standards of care, health, well-being and conservation for primates around the world.

Under co-direction of the Director and the Associate Director for Animal Resources, this Occupational Safety Specialist (Program Operations Specialist (E S 9)) position provides occupational health and biosafety support to personnel working at the Washington National Primate Research Center (WaNPRC) and its two locations, Seattle Washington and Mesa Arizona.  

Position Complexities:

This position serves as a leader in providing up-to-date information on how staff can protect themselves against injury and exposure to hazardous materials so that research with nonhuman primates (NHPs) can be conducted in a safe manner.  The position requires strong teamwork and communication skills as interactions with diverse investigative groups, other WaNPRC staff and University of Washington Environmental Health and Safety Department and the Office of Animal Welfare will be frequent. The successful applicant will collaborate with WaNPRC management to implement changes in policy and practices to reduce potential injuries to employees or animals at WaNPRC.

Position Dimensions:

This position supports the objective of ensuring the health and safety of all approximately 170 WaNPRC employees.  

Position Responsibilities:

Environmental Health and Safety Program Implementation, Coordination, and Compliance Monitoring (30%):

• Keep up to date on the UW Environmental Health and Safety Department (EH&S) requirements and recommendations in all areas including biological, chemical, and radiological safety, industrial hygiene including respiratory protection, occupational health, fire and life safety, and physical safety.
• Coordinate with relevant supervisors and staff on implementing recommendations and requirements.
• Identify opportunities for organization-wide changes or improvements to practices, infrastructure, or other program elements with the aim of minimizing exposure to workplace hazards and strengthening the overall safety climate of the center.
• Engage leadership in facilitating systemic changes.  
• Communicate results of hazard assessments and exposure monitoring to Training and Orientation Coordinator and assist in developing appropriate and responsive training programs.
• Develop a schedule and assure routine safety equipment and internal facility audits are completed as scheduled and collaborate with EH&S to schedule formal audits.
• Work collaboratively with Training and Orientation Coordinator to develop and deliver a safety training program for supervisors.  As part of this training provide supervisors with methods of documenting and tracking safety checks.
• Serve as a resource on health and safety issues.  Keep current on occupational health and safety issues in the care and use of nonhuman primates and in the area of research safety practices, particularly biosafety.   Use inspections and interview techniques as necessary to review issues of non-compliance and make recommendations to management in this area.

• Implement and monitor the Hazardous Chemicals Program for designated personnel, including required documentation, reports and recommendations.
• Ensure laboratories or other required staff are aware of hazardous waste disposal procedures and that they are followed. 

Occupational Health Program Implementation, Coordination, and Compliance Monitoring (35%):

• Continually audit the effectiveness of the follow-up to potential exposures at both sites of WaNPRC to infectious agents, injuries, or near misses and coordinate follow up and documentation as per requirements.  This includes maintaining the WaNPRC NHP exposure log as required, working directly with UW Employee Health Center staff, developing methods to evaluate injury trend data, and making recommendations to the UW Group 1 Health and Safety Committee as appropriate and needed. Collaborate with EH&S staff in conducting market research for new and improved safety related items or equipment and implement these solutions by trial-based method to determine their effectiveness in the reduction or mitigation of workplace hazards. 
• Coordinate with (EH&S) to assure that UW occupational health recommendations and requirements are implemented programmatically at the WaNPRC.  This includes assisting EH&S staff in individualized health-based risk assessments as well as coordinating annual visits to the WaNPRC by clinic staff and facilitating necessary medical screenings, surveillance, and testing.    
• Provide ongoing program development and oversee effective database documentation necessary for occupational health programs.  In coordination with EH&S, track and analyze incident trends and work to implement and monitor prevention efforts
• Compliance monitoring for occupational health requirements mandated by facility or protocol specifications. Work with Employee Health Center to do so.
• Conduct root cause injury and incident investigations, recommend corrective actions and work with WANPRC leadership to support and ensure implementation.
• Conduct root cause injury and incident investigations, recommend corrective actions and work with WANPRC leadership to support and ensure implementation. 

•  Work with fiscal staff to manage the occupational health budget, ensuring funds are adequately allocated for all occupational health and safety related concerns. 

Training (20%):

• Develop specialized training programs for WaNPRC as requested with special emphasis in the area of biosafety including bloodborne pathogens and biosafety orientation.   
• Identify any areas of concern regarding safety that may require training and work with EH&S/OAW to develop and implement training.
• Work collaboratively with the Training and Orientation Coordinator and UW EH&S to develop the content and delivery of health and safety training.
• Work with EH&S on administering the Respiratory Protection program at the WaNPRC.

Security (5%):

• Issue and track facility access in Seattle WA and Mesa AZ sites coordinating with appropriate staff members. 
• Work with Building Management to obtain, issue, and manage keycard access.

Emergency Response and Operations (10%):

• Perform the duties required of Essential Personnel members in the event of an emergency.
• Stay current on all required training.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Serve as fire safety director for I wing of the Health Sciences Building and lead fire safety director for the WaNPRC. 
• Review and update all response plans and standard operating procedures annually, or as needed and ensure staff familiarity with and understand plans and procedures.
• Maintain all required fire permits and ensure they are renewed as needed. Coordinate request and approval of all evacuation exemptions and ensure they are maintained and renewed.
• Assist Training and Orientation Coordinator in the recruitment of floor wardens and first aiders and serve as lead for ordering supplies for emergency response.
• Provide training to all assigned fire aiders from each wing within the Primate center, ensuring they are informed of and capable of carrying out their duties.

Qualifications:

Bachelor's Degree in science with major study in industrial hygiene, environmental, public health or occupational health and safety, microbiology or related field and four years of work experience in Occupational Health and Safety or equivalent combination of education/experience.

Minimum of four (4) years' experience required.

Equivalent experience can substitute for degree requirement.

Required Experience:

• Experience with health and safety program development and implementation.
• Ability to work effectively and with sensitivity and discretion in animal model research setting. 
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work well independently and in collaboration with a diverse staff and with research investigators.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office software suite.
• Ability to identify needs and show initiative toward resolution and implementation of practices
• Strong organizational skills.

Desired Experience:

• Familiarity with research laboratory and animal facility and husbandry operations
• Familiarity with biosafety containment.
• Registration with the National Registry of Microbiologists as a Specialist Microbiologist in the area of Biological Safety Microbiology.
• Registered Biosafety Professional (RBP)
• Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH)
• Certified Safety Professional (CSP)

Working Environmental Conditions:

Due to the nature of this professional position and the complexities inherent in an academic, multi-site environment, a typical week may exceed 40 hours depending on current priorities and activities.

This position may be required to work with and take specific precautions against and/or be immunized against potentially infectious agents.  Specific precautions may include wearing respirators and/or protective clothing. Employee is personally responsible for following health & safety and security policies/procedures and staying current on all required training.  Bloodborne pathogen training and compliance with all WaNPRC and UW security policies is also mandatory.  The ability to work in an ABSL 2 with 3 practices containment facility is required.   

This is an essential position.  The employee is expected to report to work under conditions that other employees are not required to report to work, such as inclement weather and UW campus suspended operations.

Additional Position Information:

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of health assessment at the UW's Employee Health Clinic.  The health assessment may include but is not limited to tuberculosis clearance, measles clearance, immunizations such as tetanus and vaccinia, physical exam and/or review of work health history, x-rays, and/or assessment to wear positive or negative respiratory protective equipment.  These health assessments will be repeated periodically during work assignment.

This position must develop a working knowledge of non-human primate behavior and health and disease.

Since this position requires management of sensitive information and potential access to controlled substances, the successful candidate will be required to pass a criminal background check.

Compensation, Benefits and Position Details

Pay Range Minimum:

$79,404.00 annual

Pay Range Maximum:

$119,100.00 annual

Other Compensation:

-

Benefits:

For information about benefits for this position, visit https://www.washington.edu/jobs/benefits-for-uw-staff/

Shift:

First Shift (United States of America)

Temporary or Regular?

This is a regular position

FTE (Full-Time Equivalent):

100.00%

Union/Bargaining Unit:

Not Applicable

About the UW 

Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives – on our campuses, in our state and around the world.  

UW employees bring their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier world. In return, they enjoy outstanding benefits, opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work in an environment known for its diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. 

Our Commitment 

The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer, the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81.

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or [email protected]. 

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.