Safety Specialist

Scarborough Health Network

8d ago

Job
Full-time
Mid & Senior Level
Sustainability
Healthcare
Quick Apply

AI generated summary

You need an Undergrad in Occupational Health & Safety or related field, knowledge of relevant acts, experience in safety programs and training, strong communication skills, and organizational abilities.
You will ensure safety compliance, conduct audits and investigations, develop programs, analyze incidents, support committees, deliver training, and promote employee wellness initiatives.

Requirements

- Undergraduate Degree in Occupational Health and Safety (or related field) or combined Undergraduate Degree with Post-Graduate Diploma/Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety
- Familiarity with the Occupational Health & Safety Act and associated regulations and standards (i.e. Ontario Fire Code, Ontario Building Code, Environmental Protection Act, NIOSH, WHMIS)
- Working knowledge with applicable legislation, Workplace Safety Insurance Act (WSIA), Occupational Health and Safety Act and Human Rights, Employment Standards Act
- Experience leading the WSIB Health & Safety Excellence Program
- Experience with incident follow ups and investigations
- Experience and knowledge of conducting root cause analyses
- Knowledge and experience with performing physical demands analyses
- Knowledge and experience with performing workplace ergonomic assessments
- Experience in the development, implementation and evaluation of health and safety programs, wellness programs, and/or events and initiatives
- Previous training experience including the development of training packages and strategies with knowledge of creative training techniques
- Proficient in MS Office, specifically Excel, PowerPoint and Word
- Motivated, self-directed and the ability to function effectively with autonomous work habits
- Well-developed communication (oral, written, and presentation) and interpersonal skills
- Excellent organizational and time management skills, able to set and adjust priorities
- Demonstrated good attendance and performance records with the ability to maintain these same standards
- Demonstrated commitment to a healthy and safe workplace for self and others (staff, patients, families, etc.) by taking all reasonable precautions and working in compliance with hospital related policies, health and safety legislation and best practices and completing relevant mandatory education as required
- Experience working in a culturally diverse workplace
- Administrative duties as required

Responsibilities

Facilitates organizational compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and regulations and implementation of best practices.
Performs work in accordance with the provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and regulations, including WHMIS, and all OSMH policies and procedures related to Occupational Health and Safety.
Co Lead and Complete the WSIB Health & Safety Excellence Program with the WHS team to maximize financial rebates
Develop, implement, deliver and maintain corporate level safety programs and policies, including workplace violence prevention, safety engineered medical devices, industrial hygiene and respiratory protection programs
Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to design programs focusing on physical, social, mental and psycho-social well-being of employees and professional staff at SHN
Conduct ongoing hazard identification, safety audits, environmental investigations and risk assessment and perform Occupational incident follow ups and investigations and provide recommendations to minimize/mitigate or eliminate risk
Review organization wide incidences to benchmark against internal and external data and identify trends and opportunities for root cause prevention and correction
Evaluate program performance and recommend improvements, provide subject matter expertise to project plans and business cases
Directs, reviews, analysis of incident and injury data, identifying gaps to support a continuous improvement plan to develop or enhance existing safety programs, in compliance with legislative requirements and safety standards. Reports analysis to appropriate stakeholders and committees
Report to regulatory bodies including the Ministry of Labour, including but not limited to critical injuries, accidents or occupational illnesses, and respond to any MOL compliance orders
Support the JHSC as a resource member, participate in meetings, provide guidance and assistance with workplace incidents, including work refusal investigations and workplace inspections. Aid in the escalation of safety concerns to the senior leadership team
Acts as a resource and Subject Matter Expert (SME) to management in health and safety related matters.
Facilitates organizational compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and regulations and implementation of best practices.
Develops and supports implementation and evaluation of the health and safety programs.
Tracks workplace incidents/illness for reporting and statistical analysis, as well as training and performance indicators.
Directs and reviews the analysis of incident and injury data, identifying gaps to support a continuous improvement plan to develop or enhance existing safety programs.
Provides regular metric reports for all required committee and board standards.
Provides consultation, guidance and support in the completion of workplace investigation to determine root cause and oversee the recommendation to prevent a reoccurrence optimizing workplace health and safety.
Is an active member on the Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC), actively participates and supports JHSC and designated workers.
In collaboration with management and JHSC, conducts continuous improvement safety audits and provides recommendation for improvement or acknowledgement of success including construction projects.
Reviews and revises occupational health and safety policies, procedures and protocols.
Coordinates inspections, investigations and occupational safety activities with departments and JHSC.
Applies specialized workplace health knowledge by making recommendations to help reduce/prevent workplace injuries and accidents.
Uses technical expertise and familiarity with applicable legislation to support organizational compliance with regulations involving workplace exposures to hazardous materials.
Performs work in accordance with the provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and regulations, including WHMIS 2015, and all OSMH policies and procedures related to Occupational Health and Safety.
Acts as primary Liaison with Ministry of Labour (MOL), accompanies management and MOL representatives on safety audits, ensures follow-up and remedial actions are completed.
Acts as mediator in work refusals (on safety issues) between certified workers and Ministry of Labour.
Supports Workplace Violence and Joint Health & Safety committees in development and maintenance of departmental risk assessments and gap analyses to identify, evaluate and control potential workplace violence risk factors as per requirements under Section 32 of the OHS Act.
Supports through example, a strong Internal Responsibility System (IRS) program at OSMH.
Assists managers, in providing oversight to incident investigations, determining appropriate root cause analysis and corrective actions to prevent future similar incidents.
Provides course content for health and safety learning and may from time to time conduct the training as qualified
Designs and conducts organizational health and safety orientation for new staff.
Supports ongoing compliance and interpretation to internal procedures and OH&S regulations (including WHMIS/MSDS, Respirator Fit Testing Program).
Performs respirator fit testing in a back-up capacity.
Performs other duties as may be assigned by program leadership
Support, promote, recommend and assist with the ongoing development and improvement of various Occupational Health and Safety programs
Support the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee and sub-committees (i.e. Wellness Sub Committee)
Identify and investigate safety issues, accidents and incidents to discover root causes, reconcile conflicting information and determine solutions to achieve the right outcome
Plan, implement and coordinate environmental tests (e.g. ergonomic assessments, physical space safety)
Develop, implement and promote accreditation safety standards for hospital area, staff and patients
Research evidence-based and current best practice safety initiatives
Support the planning, coordination and execution of wellness programs in collaboration with the Wellness Committee, Occupational Health and Safety and Human Resources
Coordinate group programs and workshops to address employee health issues such as healthy weight, fitness, cardiovascular health, nutritional health, mental health, stress, medication, alcohol and back care programs
Create and sustain internal/external support networks to foster health and well-being awareness and commitment to a positive, people centered workplace with excellent staff engagement
Develop creative strategies to enroll and engage people to take responsibility for their well being
Chair and lead the Wellness Committee

FAQs

What is the job title for this position?

The job title for this position is Safety Specialist.

What is the job type and duration?

The job type is Temporary (Fixed Term), Full time, with a contract duration of 5 months.

Where is this position located?

This position is located at the General Site of Scarborough Health Network.

Who does the Safety Specialist report to?

The Safety Specialist reports to the Manager, Workplace Health and Safety.

What are the main responsibilities of the Safety Specialist?

The main responsibilities include facilitating compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, developing and maintaining safety programs, conducting hazard identification and risk assessments, and supporting the Joint Health and Safety Committee.

What qualifications are required for this position?

Candidates should have an Undergraduate Degree in Occupational Health and Safety or a related field, along with familiarity with applicable health and safety legislation and standards.

Is experience in incident follow-ups required?

Yes, experience with incident follow-ups and investigations is required.

What skills are essential for this role?

Essential skills include well-developed communication and interpersonal skills, proficiency in MS Office (especially Excel, PowerPoint, and Word), and excellent organizational and time management abilities.

What initiatives does Scarborough Health Network take to promote diversity?

Scarborough Health Network embraces and celebrates the community's unique multicultural heritage and diversity, promoting inclusiveness and equity in its workplace.

Are accommodations available during the recruitment process?

Yes, accommodations are available, and applicants are encouraged to make their needs known during the recruitment process.

Does the job involve training responsibilities?

Yes, the Safety Specialist will provide consultation, develop training packages, and may conduct training sessions as qualified.

Scarborough Health Network

Where the World Comes to Work

Science & Healthcare

Industry

5001-10,000

Employees

2018

Founded Year

Mission & Purpose

Across our three hospitals and eight satellite sites, Scarborough Health Network (SHN) is shaping the future of care. Our many programs and services are designed around the needs of one of Canada’s most vibrant and diverse communities. We are home to North America’s largest nephrology program, as well as the designated cardiac care and spine centre for Scarborough and surrounding communities to the east. We are proud to be a community-affiliated teaching site for the University of Toronto and partner with a number of other universities and colleges, helping to train the next generation of health care professionals.