Job Details

Safety Specialist I - Environmental
Go to our website »

Position Number: 5820750
Location: El Paso, TX
Position Type: Laboratory and Research

Safety Specialist I - Environmental

Job ID: 12830
Location: El Paso, TX
Full/Part Time: Full Time
Regular/Temporary: $RegTemp

About UTEP

About the University of Texas at El Paso

UTEP is a comprehensive public research university that is increasing access to excellent higher education. We advance discovery of public value and positively impact the health, culture, education, and economy of the community we serve.

The University of Texas at El Paso is America's leading Hispanic-serving university. Located at the westernmost tip of Texas, where three states and two countries converge along the Rio Grande, 84% of our 24,000 students are Hispanic, and more than half are the first in their families to go to college. UTEP offers 172 bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs at the only open-access, top-tier research university in America.

About VP Business Affairs

The Division of Business Affairs oversees many elements of doing business at UTEP, including human resources, the budget office, and accounting and financial services. In addition, the VPBA Office manages business contracts and agreements, institutional memberships, the University's risk management/insurance program, and the open records process. Our goal is to support the University's teaching, research and public service mission by providing superior services to the campus community.

Environmental Health and Safety

The Environment Health & Safety Office was established to develop, promote and maintain a safe, healthy learning and working environment for the students, faculty, staff and visitors at the University of Texas at El Paso.

This is accomplished by identifying and evaluating health and safety risks on campus and recommending methods that will eliminate or abate those risks, assuring University compliance with applicable laws and regulations while also demonstrating UTEP's commitment to its stewardship responsibilities to the surrounding environment and population of the International border region it serves.

The energies of the Environmental Health and Safety staff are therefore focused on health and safety issues facing UTEP and meeting the compliance responsibilities of the campus.

Position Information

Hiring Department: Environmental Health and Safety

Posting End Date: Open until filled.

Hours: 40 hours per week, standard Monday- Friday 8:00am- 5:00pm, flexibility is required on evenings and weekends

FLSA status: Non-Exempt

Earliest Start Date: As soon as possible.

Salary: $42,000 annually.

Required Application Materials:

Resume
Cover Letter
List of three references

The primary accountabilities are intended to describe the general content of and requirements of this position and are not intended to be an exhaustive statement of duties. Incumbents may perform all or some of the primary accountabilities listed. Specific tasks or responsibilities will be documented in the incumbents' performance objectives as outlined by the incumbents' immediate supervisor or manager. This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes the employer to obtain criminal history record information. A valid driver's license issued by the State where the applicant resides and insurability as defined in UTS 157 may be required to perform the position's essential functions.

Purpose of Position

Summary: Under the direction of management, incumbent will be responsible for providing technical assistance associated with radiation safety, laser safety, asbestos management, air and water permits, chemical safety, general laboratory safety, hazardous waste, medical waste, and occupational health program projects. The individual will work with campus researchers, academic programs, and external regulators to ensure a safe and compliant environment.

Note: The primary accountabilities below are intended to describe the general content of and requirements of this position and are not intended to be an exhaustive statement of duties. Incumbents may perform all or some of the primary accountabilities listed below. Specific tasks or responsibilities will be documented in the incumbents' performance objectives as outlined by the incumbents' immediate supervisor or manager. This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes the employer to obtain criminal history record information. A valid driver's license issued by the State where the applicant resides and insurability as defined in UTS 157 may be required to perform the position's essential functions.

Statement of Duties and Responsibilities:

Assists with the development, implementation, and maintenance of programs and procedures for laboratory inspections, safety equipment inspections, hazardous waste handling, hearing conservation, and respiratory protection.

Assists with the development, implementation and maintenance of environmental programs for stormwater, asbestos management, underground storage tanks, air and water permits.

Conducts safety assessments and inspection of campus offices, classrooms, laboratories and mechanical rooms. Performs inspections of areas and spaces to identify hazards. Proposes methods to manage hazards and reduce risk.

Works with faculty, staff, and students to promote awareness of radiation safety and laser safety, laboratory safety, respiratory protection, hearing conservation and occupational health hazards.

Responsible for ensuring compliance with environmental programs, regulations, and standards to maintain a safe and sustainable workplace.

Designs and delivers the safety training programs through in-person and on-line training systems to educate laboratory personnel, building occupants, and service personnel in radiation safety, laser safety, laboratory safety, food safety, respiratory protection hearing conservation and environmental programs. Maintains training records.

Assists with the packaging, pick-up, transport and disposal of hazardous chemical waste, radioactive waste, and biological waste.

Conducts hazardous material shipments for the university. Prepares hazardous materials for ground and air transport. Trains laboratory personnel in hazardous materials shipping.

Assists in developing and implementing comprehensive spill prevention procedures. Reviews laboratory plans for spill prevention.

Responds on behalf of Environmental Health and Safety to hazardous materials spills, fire alarm activations and other campus emergencies. Prepares and submits incident reports and accident investigations to management.

Inspects safety equipment in laboratories; eye wash stations, safety showers, fire extinguishers, chemical fume hoods and performs annual testing to ensure safe operation. Submits work orders when necessary for repairs.

Coordinates calibration of monitoring equipment.

Reviews space renovation and repair plans to verify asbestos containing materials are not disturbed.

Conducts indoor air-quality evaluation of offices and buildings. Prepares evaluation report for management review and presents findings to stakeholders.

Responsible for ensuring compliance with environmental programs, including adherence to regulatory requirements and institutional policies to promote a safe and sustainable environment.

Oversees the implementation and management of critical safety and environmental programs, including asbestos management, mold remediation, stormwater protection, and lab safety audits, while conducting comprehensive safety assessments across campus facilities.

Maintains working knowledge of OSHA, CDC, USDA, NIH, EPA, TCEQ, NFPA and other government regulations.

Performs ergonomic evaluations and generates ergonomic evaluation reports. Present findings of ergonomic evaluations to management and stakeholders.

Knowledge of all Microsoft Office software and able to learn and use institutional data management systems.

Complies with all State and University Policies

Other duties may be assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities: No supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Minimum Education required: Associate's Degree.

Minimum Experience required: Two years of experience, related to the statement of duties and responsibilities; or equivalent combination of education and laboratory experience.

Preferred Education/Education: Bachelors degree in science or engineering field.

Two years of safety experience.

Two years of laboratory research experience in related field.

Associate Safety Professional, Certified Safety Professional, or Certified Industrial Hygienist.

Additional Information

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit and climb or balance. The employee must occasionally lift and move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

May be required to wear Personal Protective Equipment to include: Steel toe or Non-slippery shoes, back belt, eye protection, hard hat, lab coat, full body suit, and respirator or dust mask.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to wet and humid conditions; moving mechanical parts; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; risk of electrical shock; explosives and risk of radiation. The employee is frequently exposed to high, precarious places and outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to extreme cold. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

In keeping with its access, excellence and impact mission, The University of Texas at El Paso is committed to an open, diverse, and inclusive learning and working environment that honors the talents, respects the differences, and nurtures the growth and development of all. We seek to attract faculty and staff who share our commitment.

The University of Texas at El Paso is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or sexual orientation and gender in employment or the provision of services in accordance with state and federal law. Discrimination on the basis of sex includes an employee's or prospective employee's right to be free from sexual harassment under Title IX of the Higher Education Amendments of 1972.

For accommodation information for employees and applicants with disabilities, please contact UTEP's Equal Opportunity Office at eoaa@utep.edu.

To apply, visit https://zahr-prd-candidate-ada.utshare.utsystem.edu/psp/ZAHRPRDADA/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=2&JobOpeningId=12830&PostingSeq=1