Safety Specialist

Summary

The Safety Specialist supports the maintenance and continuous development of CEA safety programs by carrying out the prime responsibilities for the general safety and health functions to include evaluating the work environment for safety hazards, recommending control measures and safe work practices, developing and delivering training and assessing compliance with regulatory requirements.

Essential Functions

1. Actively partner with management in the development, implementation, and assessment of company safety programs.
2. Maintain, train and continuously improve the following programs: hazardous communication, lockout/tagout, fall protection, first aid/AED, hearing conservation, personal protective equipment, powered industrial equipment, emergency action plans and respiratory protection.
3. Act as consultant to supervisors, managers and employees by providing information and solutions on company safety programs and associated safe work practices.
4. Perform job hazard assessments and recommend measures to control exposures, including work practices changes, engineering controls, and personal protective equipment.
5. Document, record and track safety activities, inspections, and corrective actions within our safety management system to ensure ongoing compliance with regulatory and Chugach safety requirements.
6. Develop safety training courses for identified company training needs for deployment in DATs Learning Management System.
7. Assign and track corrective actions to completion from a variety of sources to include incidents, audits, hazard reports, and scheduled equipment inspections.
8. Through field and site visits, audit and evaluate workplace environments, equipment, and work practices to help assure compliance with company, state, and federal safety requirements and regulations.
9. Research, identify and interpret safety regulatory requirements having an impact on Chugach operations and help coordinate needed plans to assure compliance and reduction of risk across the organization.
10. Provide safety technical support to high-risk work (HRW) activities and helps ensure appropriate risk control measures are identified and implemented.
11. Support the company avalanche program to include training, forecasting, mitigation, multiple agency coordination and managing avalanche contractors.
12. Support crews during outage call outs to include field risk assessments where needed.
13. Provide conflict resolution support to crews dealing with irate customers when service is interrupted by maintenance, construction, severe weather or an accident.
14. Provide new-employee safety orientations and assist in the development of materials where needed.
15. Maintain company hygiene programs such as noise surveys, atmospheric monitoring, and respirator fit testing. Oversees maintenance and calibration of company atmospheric monitoring equipment.
16. Facilitate hazard assessments/job safety analysis as needed.
17. Assist in the review of contractor health and safety plans.
18. Maintain inventory of safety supplies and interacts with vendors.
19. Monitor changes to state and federal safety and health regulations and keeps department managers informed of requirements.
20. Audit department’s safety and health records to ensure compliance with state and federal safety and health regulations and statutes.
21. Support electrical safety demonstrations and classes in schools, community organizations, and other companies as part of our outreach program.
22. Assist supervisors in preparing materials for safety meetings.
23. Assist supervisors and managers in accident investigation and identification of immediate/root causes and necessary actions to prevent recurrence.
24. Assist in developing and monitoring Chugach’s Safety Incentive Program.
25. Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Relationships

Internal

• Manager, HSE: Reports to, confers with, accepts direction from, gives and receives information.
• Manager, Safety: Confers with, accepts direction from, gives and receives information.
• VP/Division Leadership: Confers with, gives and receives information.
• Various Departments: Confers with, gives and receives information.
• Chugach Employees: provides training, exchanges information, and assistance.

External

• Community and emergency response organizations, schools and the public: Prepare safety and health information and programs tailored to the interests of each group.
• State and Federal Regulatory Agencies: Meets with, aids and exchanges information as required.
• Other organizations and safety associations: Participate in meetings and seminars; exchange information as applicable.

Competencies

1. Must have advanced working knowledge of Federal and State OSHA general industry safety regulations with experience in development and implementation of core safety programs.

2. Must Be familiar with NESC, NEC, ANSI, ASTM, NFPA and other safety consensus standards.

3. Effective oral and written communication skills including group presentations and facilitation, creation of reports, safety alerts, and other safety communications. Must be able to deliver training in a classroom setting.

4. Demonstrated skills in identifying training needs, developing training materials, and conducting training sessions.

5. Experience with conducting safety audits, inspections, and field observations.

6. Possesses working knowledge of word processing and database management systems.

7. Must be self-motivated and able to work independently with minimal supervision.

8. Must be able to perform both routine and non-routine tasks in a fast-paced office environment.

9. Must be able to interact effectively with the public, management, and other employees. Must have strong interpersonal skills to include ability to coordinate with staff throughout the organization and the ability to interact competently with the public and other companies.

10.Must have the ability to exercise good judgment in a variety of situations.

11.Must have ability to identify sensitive or confidential information and abide by confidentiality requirements.

12.Must have the ability to communicate clearly, orally and in writing.

13.Must have the ability to switch quickly between tasks. Must be able to perform duties under deadline pressure.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Work Environment

Work is performed in both office environment and field conditions, where exposure to cold and wet weather and rough terrain can be expected. Exposure to hazardous noise environments and chemicals is possible. Frequent travel to various work sites and remote locations by light aircraft and helicopter is required.

Minimum Qualifications and Experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Health and Safety, an accredited safety program, or engineering or science degree or related field, required.

Experience

Three (3) years relevant safety experience, required. Experience working in a utility/union environment preferred.

Training, Licensure, Certifications

Must possess a valid Alaska driver’s license and meet insurance requirements. OHST, ASP or CSP certification, preferred.

Physical Requirements

Ability to: lift 25 pounds from ground level to an elevation of three feet; climb stairways and fixed/portable ladders; wear a respirator and other required personal protective equipment.

Ability to: sit for prolonged periods (frequently); stand for prolonged periods (frequently); walk on all surfaces and over all terrain (frequently); stoop (occasionally); crawl (rarely).

Chugach Electric Association is a member-owned cooperative, headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska's largest city. Anchorage itself sits at the base of the Chugach Mountains. Chugach is pleased to provide reliable, affordable power to more than 92,000 members from Anchorage to the northern Kenai Peninsula, and from Whittier on Prince William Sound to Tyonek on the west side of Cook Inlet. We service over 113,000 locations with 3,782 miles of transmission and distribution lines. We have many services that make it easy to power homes and businesses with Chugach.

A little more about us: Chugach has been around for a long time, recently celebrating 75 years! We are a stable company, in a stable industry. And while we may have stability, we are modern, sustainable and forward-thinking to ensure that we provide reliable services for generations to come. We also pride ourselves on the longevity of our employees. We have several 20, 30 and 40 + year tenured employees who continue foster an inclusive, innovative corporate environment. Find your spark!

Chugach's corporate vision:
Responsibly developing energy to build a clean, sustainable future for Alaska.

Chugach's corporate mission:
We provide safe, reliable, and affordable electricity through superior service and sustainable practices, powering the lives of our members.

Chugach's corporate values:
Guided by our values of safety, accountability, and sustainability, we are committed to serving our members, the community, and the Chugach team.

Equal Employment Opportunity
It is a policy of Chugach Electric Association, Inc., to recruit, hire, train, promote, and compensate persons without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, physical or mental disability, veteran's status, age, or any other classification protected by applicable, federal, state, or local law.
Chugach is also an affirmative action employer.

HEALTH BENEFITS

Premium & Deductible paid for by Chugach Electric

• Medical, RX, Dental & Vision
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Telemedicine

FINANCIAL SECURITY

• 401K Plan
• Defined Benefit (Pension)
• Retirement Investment services
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance paid for by Chugach Electric
• Supplemental Life Insurance
• Short Term Disability
• Long Term Disability
• Flex Spending Account (Health, Limited Use, Dependent Care)

WORK, LIFE & HEALTH

• 20 days vacation for first year of employment
• 9 Paid Holidays + 2 Float Holidays + 1 Birthday Holiday
• Employee Assistance Program
• MetLife Will Preparation