Environmental Health & Safety Specialist - Health Sciences Center Environmental Health and Safety

The Health Sciences Center Environmental Health & Safety at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for an Environmental Health & Safety Specialist.

About the Opportunity

Supporting West Virginia University's Health Sciences Center, this position plans, develops, manages, and implements occupational safety and health programs and biological safety programs.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you're ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family's, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.
• Wellness programs

What You'll Do

• Plan, develop, manage and implement occupational safety and health programs. Continually review programs to ensure effectiveness and continual improvement.
• Investigate injuries and illnesses and make recommendations for prevention. Follow-up on incidents to ensure effective corrective actions are in place.
• Respond effectively to incidents, emergencies, indoor air quality complaints and building issues as they arise.
• Develop and conduct educational and informational programs that enhance employee health and safety, property preservation and protection of the environment. Provide training related to hazard communication and chemical hygiene to students, laboratory, security, & facilities personnel exposed to these hazards.
• Utilize and maintain spill and environmental monitoring equipment, unload and deliver waste containers for hazardous materials.
• Provide support to the Hazardous Materials, Laboratory Safety, Biological Safety, Construction/Renovation and all Occupational Safety and Health Related Programs.
• Conduct industrial hygiene monitoring, author response reports and provide recommendations as needed. Respond to indoor air quality concerns.
• Assist with the fire and life safety program according to federal and state regulations.
• Accompany inspectors on inspections; provide response to recommendations for corrective action. Document follow-up and corrective action.
• Provide guidance and assistance in the design and construction of construction/renovation projects in relation to fire, life safety and OSHA.
• Respond to inquiries, support clients with implementation of multi-disciplinary (laboratory, biosafety, industrial/hygiene occupational health and safety) programs through a service program of plan review, inspections, training, and technical assistance.
• Educate and assist University administrators and workers in compliance with the state and federal regulations established by NFPA, OSHA, and EPA, WVDEP, ANSI, NIH and other regulatory /guidance agencies.
• Responsible for monitoring occupational, chemical, and health conditions in the HSC Campus facilities by performing periodic physical surveys, inspections and reviews.
• Assists Lab Safety with annual safety equipment testing of Emergency Showers, Eyewash Stations and Fume Hoods. Participates in Annual Lab Audits of Laboratory spaces on the Health Sciences Campus.
• Assists researchers in new laboratory setups and laboratory close outs.
• Conducts Annual Shop and Mechanical space audits to ensure safety and compliance with local and Federal Regulations
• Conducts sampling of Asbestos containing materials on the Health Sciences campus and maintains inspection results.
• Identify unsafe conditions and hazardous situations in work environments, including laboratories; provide recommendations for mitigation, communication improvement needs and follow-up to ensure corrective action has occurred.
• Take action where imminent dangers to life, health, or property are involved.
• Interact with various institutional staff, administrative offices, researchers, service providers and regulatory agencies as required.
• Provide support to ensure all emergency contact and information listings for laboratories and operational departments is accurate.
• Assist with hazardous waste and biological waste management programs.
• Provide backup assistance and coverage with HSC Safety Office and BioSafety Officer.
• Attend conferences, professional development and training as needed and recommended by supervision.
• Provide guidance and support related to hazardous materials, hazardous waste and shipping requirements. Ensure domestic and international shipments of hazardous or otherwise regulated items are made in conformance with applicable regulations governing the licensing, packaging, shipment, and certification of such.
• Review submitted HSC project and grant approvals for anticipated hazardous conditions to persons or the environment and for compliance with applicable standards. Collaborate with faculty and staff regarding relevant regulatory issues relating to the project.
• Available to respond to institutional emergencies on a 24-hour basis, as needed. Response may require participation in remedial or containment efforts.
• At the request of the Director or Assistant Director of EHS, employee may assist in the operation or get engaged in activities at other campus locations based on department needs and specific area of responsibility.

• Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Hygiene, Safety Management, Environmental Health and Safety, or related field. Master's degree in one of the above areas is preferred.
• A minimum of four (4) years of experience in the following:
  
  
  
  • Directly related professional experience in environmental health and safety programs including fire and life safety, laboratory safety, chemical hygiene, hazardous materials, biological safety and occupational safety.
  
  
  
  
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in oral and written format.
• Demonstrated ability to utilize a computer and software.
• Demonstrated ability to understand, interpret, & appropriately apply federal, state, and local health and safety regulations.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate quantitative and qualitative information.
• Demonstrated ability to be creative and solve complex problems.
• Demonstrated ability to complete assigned tasks in a limited time frame.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with all levels of personnel within and out of the teaching, research and clinical setting, utilizing skills to negotiate, explain and persuade.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to a wide variety of work environments.
• Demonstrated ability to establish rapport and maintain a good working relationship with various local, state and federal regulatory agency personnel.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate and work effectively within project teams and committees.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and administrate assigned health and safety programs as necessary for WVU HSC to maintain a safe and healthy environment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and reason logically and strategically.
• Demonstrated ability to wear proper PPE, including, but not limited to, respiratory protection.

• Valid driver's license - Incumbent must drive throughout the state and beyond to perform assigned tasks.
• Must have, or obtain, a minimum of Hazardous Materials Awareness level training within one (1) year. Annual refresher is required.
• Asbestos Building Inspector- Certification must be obtained within one year in order to sample Asbestos Containing Materials.

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values - service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation - unite us as Mountaineers.

We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and engaging working environment and actively seek candidates who bring diverse ideas, approaches and experiences.

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and received an NSF ADVANCE award for gender equity. We value diversity among our faculty, staff and students and invite applications from all qualified applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, nationality, genetics, disability, or Veteran status.