Workplace Safety Specialist

Hennepin County's Workplace Safety division is seeking a Workplace Safety Specialist to work with the County Administration and Disparity Reduction lines of business. This position will provide Workplace Safety services to county departments to minimize injuries, prevent losses and maintain a safe, compliant, and healthful work environment for employees and residents. Candidates with experience in construction safety, safety auditing, emergency management, facility management, confined space and lockout/tagout are encouraged to apply.
Effective December 31, 2023, there will be a general salary adjustment of 2.5% to the minimum and maximum of the range.
Current Hennepin County employees who refer a candidate hired into an open competitive position may be eligible for a $500 referral bonus. For more information visit employee referral program.
Location and hours:
This position is hybrid and will be performed both on-site at county buildings and remote as job duties require. Work hours will typically be Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. with some flexibility in start and end times.
Based on business needs of this position, hires must live in or relocate to Minnesota or Wisconsin.
New employees who are hired into remote or hybrid positions between January 2, 2022 to December 31, 2024, will receive $500 toward the cost of establishing consistent internet connectivity, payable upon completion of 6 months of employment.

About the position type:
This is a full-time, benefit earning position. This position is internally classified as a Workplace Safety Specialist. Click here to view the job classification specification.
At this time, once an employee reaches the maximum of the salary range, they may be eligible to receive an additional cash merit of up to $5,015.84 that can be earned annually based on performance.

In this position, you will:

• Lead and coordinate the Safety Audit Program, audit teams and maintain the program elements.
• Participate in and/or lead department safety teams/committees, construction meetings, Workplace Safety division committees and team events.
• Support departments as their key point of contact for; compliance investigations by regulatory agencies, Workplace Safety consultation, employee/department safety and health concerns and safety training.
• Conduct ergonomic evaluations, safety campaigns, research on environmental health and safety topics, injury and illness investigations, OSHA recordkeeping, injury reduction efforts for high-risk occupations and coordinate the first report of injury process.
• Review and update existing emergency preparedness procedures, programs, and PowerPoint documents; develop, coordinate, and conduct training.
• Conduct safety inspections of facilities and construction sites.
• Provide safety support and technical assistance for staff working in the field who provide one-on-one client services.

Need to have:

• One of the following:
  • Bachelor's degree or higher in occupational safety, public health, community health, environmental health, occupational medicine, industrial safety, safety engineering or a field closely related to the position and two years or more of experience in either safety, health, investigations, regulatory accreditation, healthcare accreditation or a specialty area related to the position.
  • Six years or more of experience in either safety, health, investigations, regulatory accreditation, healthcare accreditation or a specialty area related to the position.
• A valid driver's license.
• Ability and willingness to travel to multiple locations throughout Hennepin County, some of which may not be accessible by public transportation.
• Ability to lift equipment up to 50 lbs., occasionally bend, squat, and climb ladders, etc. with or without reasonable accommodation.

Nice to have:

• Experience providing direction and assistance on Workplace Safety issues, auditing, lockout/tagout, construction safety, confined spaces, machine guarding, and indoor air quality.
• Experience:
  • Conducting worksite construction safety or regulatory audits.
  • Managing projects.
  • Creating training presentations and facilitating training.
• Knowledge of state and federal laws, regulations, rules, codes, and standards pertaining to Workplace Safety issues, facility and construction safety.
• Safety related certifications such as: OSHA 30 hour for construction, ISO 45001, certified safety professional credentials (ASP and CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE), certified in infection prevention, or other related certifications.
• Knowledge of the following software/computer programs: Word, Excel, SharePoint, PowerPoint, Outlook, Adobe, PowerBi, or other comparable software/programs.
• Consulting, coaching, negotiating and consensus building skills.
• Effective written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to:
  • Make recommendations and apply best practices to protect employees and clients.
  • Be a team player that can handle multiple projects in a diverse department.
  • Create and conduct training presentations.
  • Develop online training materials (e-learning).
  • Perform evaluations and statistical studies.
  • Work independently and in a team environment.
  • Problem solve and serve on committee(s).

About the department:
In Human Resources, we make it our mission to provide an employee experience that attracts and retains the best talent to serve our residents. HR programs and services are instrumental in realizing the county's stated organizational value: "Continuous development and engagement of our workforce to reflect innovation, creativity, and diversity in planning for the future."
About Hennepin County:
Hennepin is the largest county government organization in Minnesota. Our employees work every day to improve the health, safety and quality of life for our residents and communities. All of our jobs align to one or more of our overarching goals -- that Hennepin County residents are healthy, protected and safe, self-reliant, assured due process, and mobile.
Our employees receive a combination of generous benefits and positive workplace culture not found at other organizations. This includes meaningful work that impacts our community, competitive pay, work-life balance, a variety of benefits and opportunities to grow. Learn more at The Bridge (login as Guest).
Hennepin County envisions an organization where our commitment to diversity and the reduction of disparities is fundamental in providing excellent service to our community.
Your future. Made here.
This posting may be used to fill current and future vacancies.
This position may have access to systems or other documentation that contains HIPAA data.
Note: You must attach your resume with your application materials to be considered for this position.
Invitations to interview will be based upon an assessment of education and experience. Final candidates will be required to complete a background and driver's license check.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Roberta Arpinar
Roberta.Arpinar@hennepin.usEmployment Type: Full-time