GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF CLASS This highly professional and technical position assesses, plans, develops, coordinates, and implements City occupational safety programs. Work involves conducting investigations of incidents and accidents resulting in personal injury to employees or property loss to the City. Additionally, provides safety equipment recommendations and conducts employee training in safety loss prevention. Work will involve participating in and developing new-hire employee onboarding programs. This employee is expected to function with a high degree of independence while upholding the City's Mission, Vision, and Values. The Safety Specialist reviews work through periodic conferences, observations, reports, and feedback. The successful execution of this work requires work planning, performance measurement, workload management, tracking of work progress, administration duties, field checking of work groups, monitoring of crew safety, customer relations, and assisting in emergencies. Work is performed under the general direction of the Safety Specialist. Please note this posting is Continuous and can close at ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Designs, develops, and coordinates the implementation and conducts various training programs for employees and supervisors in occupational safety and health topics.
- Conducts job hazard analyses, prepares reports for departments or management, and recommends changes in occupational safety equipment or work practices. Inspects or evaluates workplace environments, equipment, or practices to ensure safety standards and regulations compliance.
- Recommends measures to help protect workers from potentially hazardous work methods, processes, or materials.
- Maintains incident reports and compiles statistical data on all incidents/accidents within assigned areas.
- Coordinates with departments to identify high-risk areas and develops a safety program to address deficiencies.
- Maintains safety certifications and stays current on legal and statutory requirements to ensure compliance.
- Functions as a consultant to respective division managers and assists or guides those managers in conducting viable safety programs.
- Responds to incidents and accidents throughout the city, daily areas of responsibility, and being on-call when scheduled.
- Assists with Drug-Free Workplace Program, Post-Accident, and Random Testing efforts.
- Participates in department/divisional safety committees.
- Supports City preparedness and recovery operation efforts due to an emergency event or a disaster.
- Required to work overtime or alternate hours for On-Call as necessary for the efficient operation of the department.
- Participates in new hire safety training.
- Participates in the City of Lakeland's Commercial Driver's License Program, including but not limited to obtaining a Third-Party Tester certification.
- Utilizes Microsoft Office applications.
- Position is designated as Mission Critical.
ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS:
- Performs related work as required.
QUALIFICATIONS (EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE)
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university.
- Four years of experience in safety, specialization in safety engineering, or a related field.
- Two years of experience in a training environment or classroom activities.
- OSHA 511 General Industry/Construction Industry Certification, OSHA 30 hour in General Industry/Construction, or equivalent certification or higher.
An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, abilities, and other competencies necessary for success in the target position. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Must possess a valid driver's license.
- Must maintain a valid telephone number.
- Be eligible to obtain a Class A Commercial Driver's License within the first six months of hire or demonstrate at least three (3) years of experience as a commercial motor vehicle trainer.
- CPR certification following American Health and Safety Institute Guidelines required within six months of hire.
- Desirable certifications: Occupational Hygiene and Safety Technician (OHST), Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST), Associate Safety Professional (ASP), Certified Occupational Safety Manager (COSM) or Certified Safety Professional (CSP).
- Complete the following training and successfully pass a written/situational review within one year of hire: OSHA 501
- Complete the following training and successfully pass a written/situational review within two years of hire:
- Asbestos Awareness Course
- Respiratory Protection Instructor's Course
- Trenching and Shoring Competent Person Certification
- FDOT Equivalent Work Zone Safety Certification
- Completion of Power Plant Fundamentals Course
- Scaffolding Training
- Maintenance of Traffic
- Personal Protection Equipment Certification
- Hazwoper Trainer Certification
- Reasonable Suspicion Training
- Confined Space eight (8) hour
- Ergonomics
- Forklift Certification
- Respiratory Fit Testing
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES
- Knowledge and understanding of applicable OSHA and State regulations regarding safety programs/requirements.
- Knowledge of federal, state, and city ordinances, codes, and regulations for safety practices and protective systems.
- Knowledge of hazardous material compliance, emergency response, and mitigation practices.
- Knowledge of utility equipment and the generation of electricity.
- Knowledge of work zone safety procedures and uniform traffic control devices.
- Demonstrate strong customer service orientation.
- Demonstrate effective problem-solving capabilities.
- Ability to develop curriculums and deliver training on various safety subjects to all departments/divisions.
- Ability to work effectively as a member of cross-functional teams.
- Ability to drive results consistent with strategic objectives.
- Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
- Ability to perform respiratory fit testing, use of colorimetric and other air sampling devices, radiological monitoring equipment, audiometric equipment, and coefficient of friction monitoring devices.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Requires work involving walking or standing, regularly exerting up to 10 pounds of force, and routine keyboard operations. Some climbing may be required up to 100+ feet.
- The job risks possible exposure to hazardous atmospheric conditions.
- The job requires normal visual acuity, field of vision, hearing, speaking, color perception, sense of smell, depth perception, and texture perception.
- Field work requires driving City vehicles to various locations throughout the city.
All City of Lakeland positions are subject to testing (e.g. written, oral, performance, computerized, interview, and/or any combination). Candidates selected for testing will be notified via email or telephone. Please check your e-mail and telephone messages regularly, including junk folders. Test times and locations to be announced. The City of Lakeland is a drug free workplace. This position is considered a mandatory testing position, which is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing. All City of Lakeland positions are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing. As a condition of employment you will be required to pass the pre-employment drug test in accordance with Florida Statute 440.102. THE CITY OF LAKELAND IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/EQUAL ACCESS EMPLOYER AND A DRUG FREE WORKPLACE City of Lakeland 2024 Summary Sheet Annual Leave Annual leave is accumulated bi-weekly and based upon years of service as follows: Annual leave may be taken as earned by employees hired after January 1, 1989. Employees hired prior to that date use annual leave within the calendar year following the year the leave is earned. All employees may carry over up to a maximum of twenty (20) days at the end of the calendar year. Regular part-time employees who work at least twenty (20) hours per week accrue annual leave at the rate of four (4) hours per month.* Sick Leave Sick rate is accrued biweekly based upon years of service and standard hour classification. Eligible for use as soon as earned. Regular part-time employees who work at least twenty (20) hours per week accrue sick leave at the rate of four (4) hours per month.
- NOTE: REGULAR employees with a working day other than eight (8) hours, please contact your supervisor regarding these policies.
Sick Leave Pool Allows employees to receive sick leave benefits in cases involving catastrophic or long-term illnesses or injuries after all personal leave time has been depleted. Regular full-time employees contribute eight (8) hours and Regular part-time employees contribute four (4) hours on an annual basis. Employees must have completed one full year of service on or before December 31st of the calendar year enrollment; and have accumulated at least forty (40) hours of sick time (twenty (20) hours for Regular part-time employees). Participation in this program is voluntary. For more information contact Amanda Kaiser at 834-8768 Family & Medical Leave Federal legislation guarantees up to twelve (12) weeks per year off work under certain circumstances outlined in the policy manual. The employees must have been employed by the City for at least