Description

Please Note:

• This position can be filled as a Safety & Health Specialist 3 (SHS3) or as an in-training (SHS2) opportunity to develop the required skills within this specialized field. If filled as a Safety & Health Specialist 3 in-training (SHS2), you will need to successfully complete a formal training plan. The plan is designed to provide classroom and on the job training to encourage qualified and enthusiastic individuals to exert their best effort to learn and enhance their skills. Upon successful competition of the in-training plan, you will progressively advance to the goal of Safety & Health Specialist 3.
• The duty station for this position cab be either Kelso or Vancouver, WA.

Do you value worker safety to stop an unsafe act before it causes an injury? As a Safety and Health Specialist, you will take personal responsibility to get hazards corrected before workers get hurt. You will also conduct investigations in fixed industry and on construction sites, identifying hazardous working conditions to ensure compliance with safety and health regulations. In addition, you will observe and document safety hazards, write reports of proposed violations and penalties and provide technical assistance to employers in order for them to abate hazards.

Gain job satisfaction by knowing that because of what you do, more people will go home to their families every day. Our mission is the heart of our organization and central to how we do business. Your passion for employee safety and health translates into action when you join our mission, "Keep Washington Safe and Working", to ensure all employees are provided a safe and healthy work environment.

Duties

Some of what you’ll do:

• 
  Travel to employers' place of business or work sites and perform routine and complex investigations of employee complaints, referrals, accidents and fatalities to determine compliance with WISHA standards in multiple high hazards industries.
• Lead other safety & health professionals in complex investigations (unless hired at the SHS2 level).
• Determine employer compliance with WISHA Safety & Health Standards
• Write reports documenting employee exposure, proposed citations, and monetary penalties as appropriate.
• Present verbal and written reports of your findings to employers and employee representatives.
• Take new Safety & Health Specialists on ride along inspections prior to and during their training; training new inspectors on how to do inspections, write reports and how to investigate accidents (unless hired at the SHS2 level).
• Coach and mentor new Safety & Health Specialists during their on the job training. Assist in evaluating their skills and provide feedback to maximize their training opportunities (unless hired at the SHS2 level).
• And much more!

Qualifications

REQUIRED:

• Must possess a valid unrestricted driver license and may not have convictions for driving under the influence or driving offenses that endangered or harmed others within the past 7 years

To qualify at the SHS2 (SHS 3 in-training) level, the following is required:

• A bachelor's degree from an ABET Accredited Program in Occupational Safety & Health or Safety & Health Management.

OR

• A Bachelor's degree in a related field AND two years of experience as a safety and health officer, consultant, inspector, or related experience;

OR

• Four years of full-time journey level experience in one or more of the following industries: construction, manufacturing, agriculture, health/medical, service industry or related field, AND two years of experience as a safety and health officer, consultant, inspector, or related experience.

To qualify at the SHS 3, the following is required:

• Experience in construction trades or industries that have a higher than average experience factor.
• Three years as an L&I Safety and Health Specialist or Industrial Hygienist;

OR

• A Bachelor's degree AND three years of experience as a safety and health officer, consultant, inspector, or related experience;

OR

• Four years of full-time journey level experience in one or more of the following industries: construction, manufacturing, agriculture, health/medical, service industry or related field, AND three years of experience as a safety and health officer, consultant, inspector, or related experience.

College-level education will substitute, year for year; for up to four years of non-safety and health experience. Additional safety and health qualifying experience will substitute year for year, for education.

DESIRED:

• The position is bilingual preferred. If candidate is bilingual, and successfully completes HR bilingual testing, the candidate will communicate with internal and external customers in both English and their bilingual language.

*****If hired as bilingual, our top applicant will be required to pass an assessment of your ability to write and speak Spanish fluently. We do not use translating software. Employees with bilingual responsibilities receive a 5% increase in pay.

Here's what we're looking for:

• A strong desire to ensure worker safety with a thorough understanding of safety and health rules and regulations and ability to identify safety related hazards in a variety of workplaces.
• Strong written, verbal and interpersonal communications skills with ability to write comprehensive and concise reports detailing identified hazards.
• Perform duties safely; model the behavior we expect to see.
• Knowledge of Safety and Health Rules and Regulations, the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA) and the federal government's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The ability to explain to customers what their businesses must do to comply with these regulations.

Supplemental Information

Things You Need To Know
State employees who meet the qualifications will become eligible for a generous retirement package at the end of the employee’s career. Click on the “Benefits” tab to learn more.

At L&I, your voice matters. In addition, L&I is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety and health and security of Washington's 3.3 million workers. Take a look at this brief video and learn more about why L&I is an employer of choice.

Per Governor Inslee’s Directive 22-13.1, state employees must be fully vaccinated effective November 4, 2022. Providing proof of being fully vaccinated is a condition of employment and your vaccine status will be verified by Human Resources prior to your first day of employment. Please contact Lori Hensin (she/her/hers) at lori.hensin@lni.wa.gov if you need information on medical or religious accommodation.

For this position, telework is permitted on occasion. The assigned duty station for this position is Kelso or Vancouver, Washington.

For positions where in-office work is necessary, the frequency of telework will be discussed with the supervisor of the position at the time of offer.

Application process
We will contact the top candidates directly to interview for this position. Because we base the selection on information provided by you, it is in your best interest to identify the knowledge, skills, and abilities that address the mandatory and desirable qualifications described in the announcement.

Please include the following documents with your application:

• 
  A cover letter describing specific qualifications.
• A current resume detailing applicable experience and education.
• A list of at least three professional references with current telephone numbers.

Please DO NOT attach or place any medical information (vaccination status included), including listing the governor’s mandate as a reason for leaving employment, within the application, resume, or cover letter. If you do, we will have to reject your application to safeguard others from receiving your confidential information. You will have to remove the confidential information before you can apply again.

Other information

• A job offer is contingent upon completion of a background check that includes a criminal record review.
• For positions requiring travel, you must have a valid unrestricted driver's license and have insurance if driving a privately owned vehicle on state business.
• This position is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).
• Candidates who are offered a job with L&I must possess work authorization that does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa now or in the future.
• The Department of Labor & Industries complies with the employment eligibility verification requirements of the federal employment eligibility verification form, I-9. The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States consistent with the requirements of that form on the first day of employment.
• Please note: L&I may use this announcement to fill multiple permanent and/or non-permanent positions.

Did You Know?
Washington is America's Top State to live, play, and work, according to U.S. News (2021). Join the L&I team and enjoy all the Evergreen State has to offer.

In addition to offering a positive balance between life and work, L&I provides one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation. We also believe your voice matters. We value our employees and their work-life balance by encouraging flexible schedules. L&I is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety and health and security of Washington's 3 million workers.
Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference should attach a copy of their DD-214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to their application. Please blackout any personally identifiable data such as social security numbers. For further information, please contact us at Jobs@Lni.wa.gov

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer
Here at Labor & Industries our employees come from all walks of life as do we. We strive to hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

We believe in the importance of recognizing the value each of us contribute to the success of the mission of the agency. Having a diverse workforce is this agency’s greatest resource of strength and knowledge. It is through the combination of talents and abilities that we can pursue finding effective measures on how we can provide the best customer service. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace for everyone and we strongly mean everyone.

The State of Washington is an equal opportunity employer. Persons with a disability who need accommodation in the application process or testing process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, may call (360) 902-5700. TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service.

You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor this as you interact with our award-winning diverse and inclusive organization.

If you have any questions regarding this announcement, program, or the agency please contact Lori Hensin (she/her/hers ) at lori235@lni.wa.gov .