Health and Safety Manager jobs in Portland, OR

Starting Annual Salary: $58,573/yr DOE
Schedule: Monday - Friday, 40 hours

At Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, we welcome diversity; we encourage, uplift, and are honored to serve people who have been historically underrepresented and underserved. Our mission is to provide high-quality, culturally appropriate healthcare to low-income residents of Washington and Yamhill Counties, with a special emphasis on seasonal and migrant farm workers and others with barriers to receiving healthcare. We strive to provide an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the diversity of the people we employ and serve.

If you are unsure whether you meet all of the required qualifications for this role but are interested and passionate about this potential position, we encourage you to apply.

Job Summary: The role for the Health & Safety Program Manager is responsible for developing and implementing occupational health and safety programs throughout the organization focusing on compliance with Federal and State OSHA Standards and CDC Guidelines. They will continually research current standards and guidelines, assess current practices in VG clinics as they pertain to those standards, and implement programs to ensure compliance. Responsibilities includes doing research, inspecting job sites and work practices, training, facilitating and coaching staff and management. The person will also be responsible for development, maintenance and implementation of policies and procedures to ascertain compliance with the above mentioned regulations and standards. The work is performed independently and under the general supervision of the Director HR & OD.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
• Coordinates the development, implementation and monitoring of the organization’s Health & Safety Program and directs efforts to improve the safety of patients, visitors, and employees.
• Responsible for working with Clinical Coordinators, Lead Clinicians and Clinic Managers to develop and implement policies and procedures to reduce the spread of infection among staff and patients. See Exposure Control section for specifics.
• Performs initial OSHA training of new staff at employee orientation and provides annual in-servicing and updates to all employees.
• Works with Human Resources, Clinical Coordinators and Clinic Managers to set up and maintain complete and up to date Employee Health Records for all staff.
• Regular direct contact with employees, State and County Public Health professionals, Hospital Health & Safety Personnel, equipment vendors, builders, architects, risk managers, safety professionals and experts, consultants, trainers and OSHA officials.
• Oversees and ensures effective functioning of the Safety Committee in accordance with Oregon and Federal OSHA regulations.
• Handle protected health information (PHI) in a manner consistent with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).

HIPAA Requirements:
The Health and Safety Program Manager has access to PHI in order to create and maintain an accurate and up to date medical record, applying the minimum necessary standard of HIPAA, the designated record sets to which this employee will have access include: all sections of the medical record, patient demographic information in the practice management system, and incoming records, reports, results, consultations, etc. The Health and Safety Program Manager is required to read the content of these records only the extent needed to accomplish the assigned task (e.g. filing or disclosure).

Other responsibilities:
The following tasks ensure compliance with Oregon OSHA standards and CDC guidelines.

Exposure Control
• Assess and document employee occupational exposure risks, inform them of vaccination requirements, maintain vaccination records, conduct annual TB testing. Manage Employee Health Records (EHR’s) containing above mentioned records.
• Ensure that appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is provided at all sites including gloves, masks, goggles, gowns, and safety needles.
• Assist Clinical Coordinators to provide training for proper use, laundering and disposal of PPE.
• Facilitate and record yearly safety needle evaluation.
• Work with Infection Control Team to prepare and maintain policies and procedures to reduce the spread of infection from diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B, flu, measles, TB, chickenpox and meningococcal infection. Assist Clinic Managers and Clinical Coordinators in training staff and implementing the above mentioned procedures.
• Work with management, builders and architects to provide negative pressure ventilation rooms for use as Airborne Infection Isolation rooms.
• Have intimate knowledge of Post Exposure Protocol which relates to bloodborne pathogen exposure. Assist Clinic Managers and Clinical Coordinators in training employees yearly on Post Exposure Protocol and facilitate its implementation. Review protocol annually and update as needed.
• Assist Clinical Coordinators in maintenance of Emergency and First Aid Kits.
• Oversee training of clinical staff and housekeeping contractors’ practices as they relate to disinfection products and practices.
• Oversee Biohazardous Waste storage, transport and disposal.

Hazard Communication
• Conduct Hazard Assessment certifications of all job duties.
• Assist Clinical Coordinators in maintaining current Material Safety Data Sheets and Hazard Assessment Certificates for all hazardous substances at each clinic site.
• Conduct trainings for new employees and people who have new job duties about the hazardous materials encountered on the job, proper PPE and the location of the MSDS.
• Facilitate proper labeling of hazardous materials used at each site.
• Ensure adequate ventilation of areas where hazardous chemicals are used.
• Provide Clinic Managers and Clinical Coordinators with spill kits and train employees how to use them.
• Oversee placement and maintenance of eye wash stations and ensure that employees are trained in is use.

Safety Communication
• Participate in monthly Safety Committee meetings.
• Accident/incident investigation.
• Oversee Quarterly Workplace Hazard Inspection.
• Bring safety concerns from individuals at each work place.

Emergency Preparedness
• Fire Prevention Plan-Responsible for the following:
o Annual fire drills
o Functioning fire alarms
o Illuminated exit signs
o Fire extinguisher certification
• Maintain Earthquake plan, updating it as needed and training staff in its contents.
• Pandemic Flu Surge Plan. Work with Emergency Response Team on drafting, training, updating and implementing plan.
• Other emergency preparedness plan.

Ergonomics
• Initial training and periodic re-training of employees in ergonomic practices.
• Ergonomics assessment on an as needed basis of work stations.
• Consultation with managers, builders and architects regarding planning for ergonomics of proposed work stations, chairs, computers, telephones and other tools.

Workplace Violence
• Implement, update and train staff in Workplace Violence Policy and Procedure.
• Initial training for new employees and annual re-training of all staff.
• Work with local police to evaluate physical environment to prevent violence.
• Offer information to management recommending changes in physical plant or business practices to minimize risk for violence.
• Facilitate meetings as soon as possible and again 6 weeks later following an event to allow employees to debrief.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required
 Training in OSHA rule and regulations, a must.
 Experience working in organizational and occupational health and safety, strongly preferred.
 Able to maintain strict confidentiality of employee accident investigations.
 English proficiency, a must; bilingual in English/Spanish, a plus.
 Valid Oregon driver’s license.

Education and Experience required
 Bachelor degree in health or science – graduation from a four year college or university with a degree in industrial or occupational health education, or related field; or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
 Medical certification and/or training, a plus.
 Prior experience in a health care setting.

Behavioral Competencies:
Accountability
• Role model VG’s mission, vision, and shared values
Customer-Focus
• Listen to the voice of the customer and strive to delight them by exceeding their expectations
Teamwork
• If someone needs help, help them
Initiative
• Be innovative, apply fresh ideas, and continuously improve how you do your work
Confidentiality
• Maintain strict confidentiality and respect the privacy of others
Ethical
• Demonstrate integrity, honesty, and stewardship in all encounters at work
Respect
• Demonstrate consideration and appreciation for co-workers and patients
Communication
• Demonstrate the ability to convey thoughts and ideas as well as understand perspective of others

Physical Requirements:
 Standing – 10%
 Walking – 10%
 Lifting/Carrying -10%
 Sitting – 70%

Working Environment/Physical Hazards
 Exposure to blood borne pathogens.
 Exposure to potentially hazardous chemicals.
 Working environment – In an office setting and, frequently out in the field and in all departments. Work environment varies.
 Physical effort – Mobility to visit all work sites. Visual acuity to observe health
and safety concerns.

Immunization:
Staff member must meet immunizations requirements as stated in VGMHC’s immunization policy.

Job description represent a general outline of the essential and major job duties, functions and qualifications required. They cannot be all-inclusive and comprehensive due to the dynamic nature of work performed to accomplish VGMHC’s Mission.

VGMHC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from consideration for employment because of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, veteran status, marital status or physical challenges. The policy applies not only to recruitment and hiring practices, but also includes affirmative action in the area of placement, promotion, transfer, rate of pay and termination.