Employee Safety & Risk Specialist
: Job Details :

Salary: $66,268.80 - $75,899.20 AnnuallyLocation : La Crosse, WIJob Type: Full-TimeRemote Employment: Flexible/HybridJob Number: 00660Department/Division: Human ResourcesOpening Date: 01/03/2025Closing Date: 1/26/2025 11:59 PM CentralDescriptionThe City of La Crosse is currently accepting applications for the full-time position of Employee Safety & Risk Specialistwithin the Human Resources Department. As part of the Human Resources department, this position will manage the safety and risk management programs, administer worker's compensation for the City, along with maintaining compliance with all current federal, state, and local laws, regulations, policies, and procedures. This position will also be responsible for the management of the CDL Drug and Alcohol Testing Program. This position collaborates with all City departments to support their safety initiatives and ensures the city provides a safe work environment for all employees. This position will identify, evaluate, prevent, and mitigate exposures of loss to employees and property of the City and promote occupational health and safety awareness. This work is performed under the director of the Director of Human Resources. Requirements: Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Safety Management, Human Resource Management or related field is required plus a minimum of three (3) years of experience in safety program management which includes claims management, safety inspection, and safety training experience. Budget management experience preferred. Holds valid CPR and BLS Training Instruction certification or is able to obtain within six (6) months of hire. Valid driver's license required. Proficient in Microsoft Office. Starting salary for this exempt position ranges from $66,268.80 to $75,899.20, depending on qualifications. Benefits: The City of La Crosse offers a comprehensive benefit package including medical benefit plans, Wisconsin Retirement Plan, deferred compensation, Roth IRA, life insurance, income continuation insurance, voluntary dental and vision plans, paid holidays, vacations and sick leave. Benefit perks: traditional or high deductible (with HSA) medical plan options available, participation in the Wisconsin Retirement System with a 6.95% employer contribution, 10 paid holidays, ability to earn up to 12 sick days per year and vacation time available as of date of hire. Selected candidate is subject to background check and post-offer/pre-employment drug screen. Applications accepted until January 26, 2025. To be considered, submit an employment application, resume and cover letter by visiting the City of La Crosse website and clicking on City Services, then clicking Career Opportunities or by visiting Purpose of PositionAs part of the Human Resources department, this position will manage the safety and risk management programs, administer worker's compensation for the City, along with maintaining compliance with all current federal, state, and local laws, regulations, policies, and procedures. This position will also be responsible for the management of the CDL Drug and Alcohol Testing Program. This position collaborates with all City departments to support their safety initiatives and ensures that the City provides a safe work environment for all employees. This position will identify, evaluate, prevent, and mitigate exposures of loss to employees and property of the City and promote occupational health and safety awareness. This work is performed under the director of the Director of Human Resources. Essential Duties & Responsibilities The following duties are normal for this position. The duties and responsibilities are not toe be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and/or assigned.

• Develops, implements, maintain, and track safety related programs, procedures, and policies to ensure compliance with OSHA, Department of Commerce, and other safety regulations applicable to City operations and activities.

• Develops and maintains relationships with departments, supervisors, and employees. Collaborates with management on specific department safety needs. Works with all employees and departmental managers in the promotion of better occupational health and safety practices.

• Implements and delivers internal safety and occupational health related training programs. Identifies relevant and cost-effective external training. Ensures accurate record keeping of all training sessions. Maintains a schedule for re-training.

• Audits field activities and operations of City crews by conducting facility inspections to identify potential safety hazards, reports to and advises supervisory staff regarding safety violations, potential hazards, related concerns and recommended corrections or enforcement for compliance. May occasionally supervise field personnel conducting operations where specific safety concerns exist, where new safety procedures are being implemented, or where safety training is provided during the operation. Has the authority to stop work when unsafe conditions exist.

• Develops and directs employee accident/injury prevention program by helping supervisors to investigate employee accidents for causes and to recommend future accident preventative measures, logs and tracks accidents and directs training for problem areas.

• Conducts or assist with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) evaluations and maintains records on completed evaluations for all departments.

• Maintains safety equipment vendor library and recommends PPE and other essential safety equipment purchase to departments; advises departments when budgeting for safety equipment.

• Develops, coordinates, and implements City facilities evacuation drills and procedures for employees; conducts employee evacuation drills.

• Develops and maintains appropriate City policies, procedures, and reports related to safety and occupational health. Solicits feedback from departments and external resources on safety related policies and procedures.

• Responsible for all OSHA reporting requirements.

• Manages the City's worker's compensation insurance program to ensure proper handling and coordination of claims, files, and cases. Maintains worker's compensation injury/illness documentation. Manages the return to work program. Acts as a liaison to the City's third party administrator regarding all injuries, claims, and return to work instructions.

• Coordinates hearing protection program, including annual audiograms for affected employees.

• Conducts training for fire extinguisher, CPR, First Aid, and AED training.

• Provides safety training during new employee orientations.

• Receive, review, and respond to employee complaints, questions, and concerns on occupational health and safety issues.

• Maintains confidentiality of personnel matters including employee medical information.

• Takes all necessary actions to ensure that the City is protected from property and liability risk.

Additional Duties & Responsibilities While the following tasks are necessary for the work of the department, they are not an essential part of the purpose of this position and may also be performed by other department staff.

• Provides support to other Human Resources staff as needed, especially with special projects or annual processes that require additional assistance. Provides back up assistance for other Human Resources staff in their absence.

• Accompanies safety inspectors during routine or non-scheduled inspections.

• Assists and participates in risk management and loss control issues and liability claims.

• Assists in the coordination of the bi-annual safety seminar.

Minimum Training & Experience Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Safety Management, Human Resource Management or related field is required plus a minimum of three (3) years of experience in safety program management which includes claims management, safety inspection, and safety training experience. Budget management experience preferred.

• Holds valid CPR and BLS Training Instruction certification (or is able to obtain within six (6) months of hire).

• Valid driver's license required.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office preferred.

Physical & Mental Requirements Language Ability and Interpersonal Communication

• Ability to perform mid-level data analysis including the ability to audit, deduce, assess, conclude, and appraise. Requires discretion in determining and referencing such to established criteria to define consequences and develop alternatives.

• Ability to persuade, convince, train, and teach others. Ability to communicate safety and health policies and practices. Ability to advise and provide interpretation regarding the application of policies, procedures, and standards to specific situations.

• Ability to utilize, interpret and apply safety standards and regulations. Ability to recognize both safe working conditions and occupational hazards. Ability to apply safety principals, practices and procedures to actual field conditions and situations. Ability to investigate working conditions and accidents.

• Ability to utilize a variety of reference, descriptive and advisory data and information such as safety regulations, accident reports, insurance claims, ordinances, statutes, procedures, guidelines, non-routine correspondence, budgets, price bids, invoices, cost estimates, product specifications, project specifications, computer software operating manuals and project files,

• Ability to interpret data resulting from safety testing and inspections, such as results from respiratory or noise monitoring.

• Ability to communicate orally and in writing with contractors, city department heads and department personnel, vendor representatives and the public.

Mathematical Ability

• Ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; calculate percentages, and decimals; ability to perform mathematical operations with fractions; compute ratios and proportions; analyze statistics; calculate surface areas, volumes, weights and measures.

Judgement and Situational Reasoning Ability

• Ability to apply principles of influence systems such as supervision, managing, leading, planning, coordinating, and controlling. Ability to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to problem resolution.

• Ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness and creativity required in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental and/or subjective criteria, as opposed to criteria that are clearly measurable or verifiable.

Physical Ability

• Ability to operate, maneuver and/or provide simple but continuous adjustment on equipment, machinery, and tools such as motor vehicle, drafting instruments, gas monitor, computer terminal, telephone, fax machine, photocopier and/or materials used in performing essential functions.

• Ability to coordinate eyes, hands, feet, and limbs in performing movements requiring skill and training.

• Tasks involve the ability to exert very moderate physical effort in light work, typically involving some combination of stooping, kneeling, crouching, and crawling, and lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling objects and materials of moderate weight, twelve to twenty pounds.

• Ability to recognize and identify degrees of similarities or differences between characteristics of colors, shapes, sounds and textures associated with job-related objects, materials, and tasks.

Environmental Adaptability

• Tasks are regularly performed in safe and comfortable surroundings with occasional exposure to construction site hazards and traffic hazards during inspections.

To follow is a brief summary of the benefits the City of La Crosse offers to its employees. Benefits and benefit eligibility will vary by position. Detailed benefits information can be found on the City's website under Department>Human Resources>Employee Benefits.1) Medical Benefit Plan - Offered to all full-time, non-represented or unionized employees. Coverage for eligible medical expenses and prescriptions. Note: Employees hired full-time on or after 1/1/14 are not eligible for retiree medical benefit plan coverage. 2) Pension (Wisconsin Retirement System-WRS) - Automatic enrollment for full-time positions. Eligibility for part-time positions varies by position and is determined by the number of hours and duration of the position. For eligible positions, contributions begin date of hire. Employer contributions are paid by the employer. Employees are required to pay 50% of the total WRS contribution rate for general employees. 2025 rate is 6.95% of pre-tax earnings. 3) Life Insurance - (follows WRS eligibility) Up to five times the employee's annual salary is available. Spouse/dependent coverage options also available. 4) Income Continuation Insurance - (follows WRS enrollment) A short or long term disability insurance. Various options available for waiting periods. 5) Section #125 Plan - Offered to non-represented or unionized employees working 20 hours/week or more. This is a flexible spending account to defer money from your paycheck pre-tax in a dependent care or medical account. 6) Vision Plan - Offered to non-represented or unionized employees working 20 hours/week or more. This is a voluntary plan, completely funded by the employee. 7) Dental Plan - Offered to non-represented or unionized employees working 20 hours/week or more. This is a voluntary plan, completely funded by the employee. Employees can choose between two different dental plans. 8) 457 Deferred Compensation Plan - Offered to non-represented or unionized employees working 20 hours/week or more. May enroll at any time. Employees may elect for pre-tax payroll deductions to be placed in a retirement investment account. 9) ICMA Roth IRA - Offered to non-represented or unionized employees working 20 hours/week or more. May enroll at any time. Employees may elect for payroll deductions to be placed in a Roth IRA. 10) Paid Leave Time: Vacation, sick leave, personal business leave, family care leave, and holidays. Actual leave accrual determined by employee handbook or union contracts.