Safety Officer

Ada County is a great place to work! We have more than 2000 employees dedicated to enhancing our community’s quality of life.  Our Landfill team is growing, and this is an excellent opportunity to be a part of taking this team to the next level.

We offer a competitive benefits package which includes excellent medical, dental and vision insurance; generous vacation and sick leave accrual beginning as soon as you start; 11 paid holidays a year; participation in one of the  Nation's best state retirement systems which includes 11.94% employer contribution; various savings plans including a deferred compensation 457(b) plan with up to 3% county match; 401K plan; paid parental leave; work-from-home options; life insurance; wellness programs; ongoing training opportunities and career pathing.
 
This generous Ada County Total Rewards package increases the base salary by approximately 40 percent.

The Ada County Landfill is YOUR landfill. The facilities and services are available to every resident of Ada County. The Landfill is dedicated to serving Idaho’s largest community, keeping it a safe environmental place to live and work.Ada County is a great place to work!

The Ada County Landfill seeks to proactively manage County waste disposal facilities, enforce applicable codes, and provide reasonably priced and environmentally acceptable methods for solid and hazardous wastes reduction and disposal for County residents and businesses.

Learn more about Ada County Landfill by visiting their website. Ada County Landfill

The Safety Program Officer is responsible for the development and implementation of safety objectives, policies, procedures, and training programs. The position is located in the Ada County Solid Waste Management Department.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:

The employee performs and carries out work assignments under the general direction of the Director and in accordance with local, state, and federal laws and established policies and procedures of the department. 

• Develops, implements, and enforces safety policies and procedures based on generally accepted safety standards and OSHA regulations;
• Reviews existing safety policies and edits as needed;
• Ensures safety programs are in place to maintain compliance with applicable federal, state, and local safety regulations that govern the solid waste industry;
• Evaluates, develops, and maintains safety training program, including research and integration of available training programs through partners/contractors, determination of training plans for different employee types, providing safety training to staff (including monthly division trainings, onboarding, as-needed or re-trainings, etc.) and maintaining training records;
• Maintains safety manuals and safety supplies, including First Aid, CPR, and PPE supplies;

• Completes and documents safety audits;

• Demonstrates and/or arranges for proper safety measures for equipment operation and equipment safety inspections;
• Participates in division OSHA or DOT compliance inspections;
• Completes accident reports, investigates root causes of safety issues/events/accidents, and implements corrective and preventative actions;
• Identifies potential or existing safety concerns and makes recommendations for improvement;

• Coordinates and facilitates the Solid Waste Management safety committee activities and presents safety program topics and/or training;

• Performs regular safety inspections on equipment, grounds, and facilities;
• Provides assistance and guidance to management in safety related activities;
• Ensures that Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are current and readily available;
• Identifies, researches, analyzes, and determines best methods for controlling losses and eliminating risks;

• Coordinates and manages activities related to preparedness for evacuations and emergency incidents, including: disaster plan or procedure development and maintenance, coordination of regular incident or fire drills, and training for incident response team on roles and responsibilities;

• Acts as liaison with contractors and external parties in regard to safety compliance, including observing activities for compliance, and filing paperwork or performing other related administrative needs;
• Works with staff to implement safety for the public;

• Develops and manages safety budget;

• Works directly with the County Risk & Safety Manager on all Solid Waste Department safety issues;
• Works with Human Resources staff to coordinate ADA accommodations and safety considerations;
• Collaborates with managers, the Public Information Officer, leads, and supervisors to build a communicative, morale-building, and safety-positive environment for employees.

ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS: 

• May represent Ada County in meetings, discussions, and liaisons visits regarding landfill safety compliance;

• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Minimum of 3 years of responsible and varied experience working in the Safety field or equivalent combination of education and experience;

• Occupational Health & Safety Technologist (OHST) certification and/or Certified Safety Professional (CSP) preferred;

• Knowledge of the concept and application of safety management; 
• Knowledge of federal, state and local safety codes and regulations; 

• Knowledge of occupational hazards, safety precautions associated with hazardous materials activities; 

• Knowledge of safety preparation topics and instruction;
• Knowledge of investigative practices and techniques; 
• Knowledge of loss control procedures and practices; 

• Skill in maintaining, assembling, and analyzing data and preparing comprehensive and accurate reports;
• Skill in effectively communicating orally and in writing;
• Skill in the use of office equipment and technology, including computers and related software; 
• Skill in appropriate response to spills, accidents, and incidents involving hazardous wastes/materials;
• Ability to establish effective working relationships and use good judgement, initiative, and resourcefulness when dealing with employees, project contractors, representative of governmental units, professional contacts, and the public;
• Ability to critically assess situations, solve problems, work effectively under stress, within deadlines, and in emergency situations;
• Ability to interpret product labels manifests, shipping papers, and safety data sheet;.

• Ability to write reports and correspondence with minimal direction;
• Ability to develop, follow, and enforce safety rules;
• Ability to monitor and enforce safety compliance;
• Ability to develop safety plans and programs;
• Ability to develop and maintain safety manuals;
• Ability to operate safety related equipment and tools;

• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Must complete the OSHA 40 hour training for Hazardous Waste Workers as required by 29CFR 1910.120 within 6 months of hire, and annually complete the OSHA 8 hour refresher training;
• Must obtain Manager of Landfill Operations (MOLO) certification within one year of hire;
• Must obtain certificate in Landfill Gas basics from SWANA within six months of hire;
• HAZWOPER certified preferred;
• Must possess and maintain a valid Idaho Driver’s License;
• Must complete and successfully pass pre-employment background check;
• May be required to work weekends, nights, holidays, and on an on-call basis;
• This position has been designated safety sensitive and therefore the incumbent is subject to random drug testing.

• Work is performed both in an office setting and in the field and the incumbent may be exposed to a variety of environments, temperatures and weather conditions;
• May be exposed to electrical, mechanical, and chemical hazards;

• The incumbent will be required to wear protective clothing and equipment when handling wastes and responding to spills, accidents, or incidents. 

DISCLAIMER:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the primary job responsibilities satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodation. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being assigned to this job. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of individuals in the job. This job description is not an employment agreement and/or an expressed or implied employment contract. Management has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice. Ada County provides Veteran's Preference for all County jobs except for those deemed "key positions" in accordance with Title 65, Chapter 5 of Idaho Code.