Specialist, Occupational Health and Safety Full-time Job

The incumbent manages administrative operational activities relating to the Faculty Environmental Health and Safety Risk Management System (EHSRMS) to ensure the safety of the environment and the health and safety of all persons working and studying at the Faculty of Medicine.  Specific operational activities include planning and executing workplace inspections to identify health and safety issues, hazards and trends, and verifying compliance with federal, provincial and municipal acts & regulations, and uOttawa policies and guidelines.  Communicates infractions to the responsible party and tracks future compliance. 

 

In this role, your responsibilities will include:

• Project Coordination : Plans, coordinates, conducts, and documents Workplace Health and Safety inspections for the Alta Vista Functional Occupational Health and Safety Committee (the Committee), ensuring a seamless coordination of this regulated inspection process with all involved parties. Identifies and communicates trends (good and bad) to influence health and safety messaging and training.  Performs regular, frequent unannounced inspections as a means of identifying deficiencies in personnel performance and as well as the building’s infrastructure.  Independently responds to action items by recommending safer working practices as well as by raising work orders, for example. Performs lower order risk assessments in support of the risk identification process at the faculty level.
• Records Management:  Utilizes multiple information management systems and software to maintain records/databases and compile reports identifying trends, areas of concern, and corrective measures to be implemented in order to improve health and safety of the community in accordance with University procedures.  These systems include year-to-date Workplace Inspection performance, personnel training, chemical inventory, and chemical waste management, and our emergency management system. Keeps all pertinent information concerning changes in policy, hazard assessments, and the regulatory climate up-to-date. Formats documents and reports a necessary, many of which are technical in nature (symbols, formulae and graphics).
• Waste Management: Counsels lab staff in the effective and safe management of hazardous waste by ensuring that practices comply with regulatory requirements and university procedures.
• Access Card Management: Programs electronic building access cards for the Faculty to support onboarding of new staff and students, as well as contract extensions.  If required, will support card processing demands for the Department of Anatomy and Animal Care & Veterinary Services (ACVS).
• Program Support: Responsible for the Faculty’s Health and Safety website, including required updates and innovative design of new pages, as necessary, to enhance communications. Maintains Health and Safety bulletin boards, faculty first aid kits, and ensures emergency eyewash/safety shower stations are regularly inspected. Monitors the Health, Safety and Risk Management group email account and responds in a timely manner to correspondence by composing and sending letters and memos on behalf of the department. Produces letters related to more complex issues for review by the Manager, Environmental Health and Safety.
• Community Engagement: Plans, facilitates, and participates in all aspects of workshops and events that harness a wide range of engagement techniques, such as “Take Your Kids to Work” day, Focus Santé, North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) week, Earth Day and Lunch & Learn sessions. Develops a strong rapport and relationships with stakeholders. Proactively works to build a positive image, increase reputation, prepares event schedules and makes all logistical arrangements such as catering, room bookings and parking. Manages the online registration process for workshops. Manages all workshop logistics, such as scheduling, room bookings and equipment reservations.

 

What you will bring:

Essential Qualifications

• B.Sc. degree in Basic Science, Biology, Chemistry, or Engineering or other relevant discipline.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in a research lab environment or in a regulatory/consulting field emphasizing health, safety and environmental programs, or an equivalent combination of education and work experience.

 

Other Skills and Competencies

• Knowledge of relevant federal, provincial, and municipal health and safety legislation, regulations and best practices.
• Experience in interpretation of health and safety codes, standards, or legislation.
• Experience in conducting inspections of environments typically found in a university setting.
• Must be willing to immediately respond and participate as necessary to emergency incidents within the group’s remit (e.g., fire alarms, chemical spills).
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail in a fast-paced environment
• Able to facilitate effective and diverse community consultations, programs, and initiatives.
• Keen attention to discretion, confidentiality, and tact
• Strong communication skills, including experience with web-design and creating content required to reach different stakeholder audiences.
• Experience in database functions and tools (MS Access)
• Bilingual, French and English, spoken and written

Closing Date:

July 22, 2024

The University of Ottawa is home to a dynamic community of over 50,000 students, faculty and staff, who live, work and study in both French and English. Our campus is a crossroad of cultures and ideas, where bold minds come together to inspire game-changing ideas. We believe in the power of representation, and that increasing the diversity of our faculty and staff supports this objective. Our goal is to provide students with the best possible learning experience, in an environment that reflects the diversity of its people, their ideas, and their identities.