Safety Officer

Position Summary: The Safety Offices is responsible for all safety related activities to ensure a safe environment for employees, patients and visitors while maintaining compliance with regulatory agencies to include OSHA, JCAHO, NFPA, IDPH, and EPA.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
** Models respect for varied opinions and work styles, encouraging open, constructive dialogue about issues and concerns.
** Arranges schedules and coverage to facilitate staff attendance at educational opportunities.
** Breaks down organizational barriers to change.
** Creates opportunities for team problem solving.
** Acts and reacts in a positive and constructive manner, even in high stress situations.
** Manages departmental resources within established budgets and labor expense parameters.
** Identifies opportunities for reducing utilization of staff and material resources, monitoring utilization variation and outcomes.
** Fosters independent decision making and supports staff who take responsible risks.
** Actively seeks and responds to customer feedback about expectations and performance.
** Develops, reviews and participates in safety training for Foundation Personnel.
** Presents inservices to various departments on request and maintains various resource media for training.
** Conduct fire safety surveys in hospital and remote facilities quarterly.
** Conduct hazard surveys of clinical work areas semi-annually and all other employee work areas annually.
** Conduct analysis of incident date for cause and hazards to health for use by the Safety Committee, Risk Management, and outside agencies.
** Test work environments for noise, toxic, ergonomic, and other hazards.
** Develop and implement safety policies and procedures.
** Assess employee activities to determine personal protective equipment required.
** Conduct safety training in-service.
** Participate, and possibly chair the Safety Committee and several safety sub-committees.
** Conduct or coordinate monitoring of employee exposure to hazardous chemicals or environments and air quality testing for OSHA or EPA regulations.
** Train, drill and document employee responses to the emergency preparedness plan.
** Design and maintain the OSHA Hazard Communication Program.
** Assist departments with the development of safe work practices, and department specific safety policies, and review annually.
** Assess departments' policies, procedures, and environments for safety hazards which represent risks to pediatric or disoriented patients.
** Develops and maintains positive working relationship with department or Foundation personnel and outside agencies.
** Review and interpret new and revised standards from regulatory agencies.
** Assure compliance of Life Safety Codes which includes oversight of testing of fire extinguishers, fire pumps, sprinkler systems and review of construction drawings.
** Implement and document interim Life Safety Measures when necessary.
** Assist SBUs with the development of safety programs and coordinate activities with those of hospital programs.
** Maintain knowledge of current trends and developments in the field.
** Seek to obtain appropriate certification in job-related field.
** Represent Foundation at professional meetings or attend various other meetings within the community concerning safety, health and fire prevention.
** In conjunctino with other department management, provide input into the development of department operating/capital budget and monitor expenses.
** Support and be involved in teh Foundation's Performance Improvement efforts.
** The Safety Manager has complete authority to intervene whenever conditions exist that pose an immediate threat to life, health, or create a threat of damage to the equipment or property of the Foundation. The Safety Manager has been delegated authority to take steps necessary to correct such situations, utilizing resources, which may be appropriate.
REQUIREMENTS
Qualifications: Education Requirements: Bachelor's Degree
Safety or Environmental Management, or equivalent experience.

Preferred Licensure/
Certifications: Designation of Certified Safety Professional.

Experience: 3 to 5 years progressively more responsible work experience as a Safety Manager in a health care setting maintaining JCAHO accreditation.

Other Skills: Knowledge of safety related codes and standards of state and federal regulatory agencies with regards to health care safety issues and accident/incident investigation. Ability to prepare reports and statistical analysis at a level normally acquired through completion of a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Health, Environmental Health or closely related field. Interpersonal skills necessary to deal effectively with Carle employees, regulatory agencies and officials, when conducting safety inspections, code review, and to present training programs to employees.