Environmental Safety Specialist

Summary:

Reports directly to the Manager of Environmental Safety. Provides program support and technical expertise for Environment of Care-related matters in order to maintain a safe environment for patients visitors and employees. Provides support in the areas of hospital specific safety and health programs hazardous materials and waste management safety compliance training and emergency response. In addition the Environmental Safety Specialist may be required to participate in safety committees within the hospital as well as local city and state committees. This role encompasses Rhode Island Hospital Hasbro Children*s Hospital and all licensed satellite locations throughout the state.

Responsibilities:

Performs a variety of tasks in support of the environment of care safety program hazardous materials and waste management program training response and recovery for Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children*s Hospital relative to safety compliance and associated training such as but not limited to personal protective equipment lockout/tagout waste handling and disposal environment of care standards laboratory compliance and hazard communication.

Provides assistance to identify and control hazards develop and implement safety and improvement programs and to maintain regulatory compliance.

Provides initial new-hire and contractor safety training and follow-up with new employees and contractors when warranted.

Assists with analyzing and approving interim life safety measures (ILSM*s) during construction and renovation projects.

Assists with maintaining safety guidelines procedures and policies accident management and prevention and compliance with regulatory bodies such as The Joint Commission Department of Health (DOH) Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC) and other regulatory agencies in order to sustain a safe environment for employees patients and visitors.

Assists the Manager of Environmental Safety working with departmental leadership to educate and reinforce safety policies and procedures. Serves as a technical resource for environmental health and safety matters.

Keeps informed of federal state and local regulations affecting safety as it relates to a healthcare setting including but not limited to OSHA DOH Joint Commission EPA Narragansett Bay Commission Department of Environmental Management and National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA). Assists with ensuring that plans and policies adhere to specific regulations.

Responds to environmental health and safety concerns including but not limited to indoor air quality hearing conservation chemical or biological spills/ releases odors slip trip fall hazards employee patient visitor injury investigations.

Assists the Manager of Environmental Safety who also serves as the Chemical Hygiene Officer with laboratory safety program. Conducts inspections of waste accumulation areas of both satellite waste and central waste accumulation locations. Assists with laboratory safety certification program. Assists with in-service training of laboratory personnel on all laboratory safety regulations.

Conducts training on such programs as hazard communication regulated medical waste chemical waste universal waste lockout/tagout confined space and spill response.

Conducts proactive risk assessments in order to analyze a situation determine mitigating risk factors and provide effective solutions to mitigate the potential risk or harm to employees patients visitors and or the environment.

Assists with sustainability efforts and to reduce the hospital*s carbon footprint as well as other recycling efforts throughout the organization.

Assists with maintaining the company Safety Data Sheet (SDS) inventory.

Analytical and organizational skills in order to adapt to a fast-paced working environment.

Other information:

Qualifications/ Education & Experience

Bachelor Degree in Environmental Safety and Health Industrial Hygiene Environmental Management or related field.

Minimum 2-5 years of experience in environmental safety & health industrial hygiene environmental science or related work.

Credentials

Hazardous Waste Operations (HAZWOPER) 8 hour training

ICS 100 200 300 400 and 700 level preferred.

RCRA & DOT Training Certification

Skills

Microsoft Office

Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment

Working Conditions

Working conditions vary day to day from sedentary work to being on your feet for long periods at a time. Spill response may involve wearing PPE such as respirators and protective clothing.

Brown University Health is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex national origin age ethnicity sexual orientation ancestry genetics gender identity or expression disability protected veteran or marital status. Brown University Health is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

Location: Rhode Island Hospital USA:RI:Providence

Work Type: Full Time

Shift: Shift 1

Union: Non-Union