Environmental, Health and Safety Manager

Minerals Technologies•Lucerne Valley, CA

26d•Onsite

About The Position

Minerals Technologies Inc. (MTI) is a leading, technology-driven specialty minerals company that develops, produces, and markets a broad range of mineral and mineral-based products, related systems and services. MTI serves a wide range of consumer and industrial markets, including household and personal care, paper, foundry, steel, construction and environmental solutions around the world. The company reported global sales of $2.2 billion in 2023. MTI focuses on two major segments – Consumer & Specialties and Engineered Solutions. Our Consumer & Specialties segment offers technologically enhanced products to consumer-driven end markets plus specialty additives that become functional components in a variety of consumer and industrial goods. This segment includes our Household & Personal Care and Specialty Additives product lines. The Household & Personal Care product line provides mineral-to-market products that serve consumer-oriented end markets including Pet Care, Personal Care, Fabric Care, Edible Oil, and Renewable Fuel Purification. Our Specialty Additives product line provides mineral-based technologies serving Paper, Packaging, Sealants & Adhesives, Paint & Coatings, Ceramics, Plastics, Food & Pharmaceutical markets. Our Engineered Solutions segment offers advanced process technologies and solutions that are designed to improve our customers’ manufacturing processes and projects. This segment includes our High-Temperature Technologies and Environmental & Infrastructure product lines. Our High-Temperature Technologies product line offers specially formulated blends and technologies primarily for Foundry and Steelmaking industries. Our Environmental & Infrastructure product line provides waterproofing, water purification, remediation and other fluid management technologies for critical projects for Remediation, Water Purification, and Infrastructure. MTI is committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive work environment for all employees. In our offices around the world, our differences are respected and valued as essential to MTI’s continued growth and innovation. Our goal is to ensure that all employees at MTI experience our workplace as a welcoming and respectful environment where they can achieve their full potential. The Environmental Health & Safety Manager for the Lucerne Valley operations, under general supervision, is responsible for: (1) promoting the maintenance of a safe, accident free, and healthy work environment; (2) administering all environmental permitting and related documentation; (3) serving as liaison with multiple governmental agencies and environmental representatives; (4) coordinating and maintaining all regulatory permits and applications; (5) making recommendations for environmental quality improvement and proposing methods to improve environmental equipment efficiency; (6) maintain the overall responsibility for the training and assessing system for the operation, (7) overseeing all safety department areas of responsibility; and performing other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Incumbent must possess a Bachelor's Degree in a related field and eight to ten years related experience in a plant setting.
Must have experience with environmental and safety regulations and effectively working with regulatory agencies.
Must have a proven track record of collaborating with others to implement improvements and reduce risk.
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge pertaining to system building and design.
Must have the ability to communicate effectively, to motivate others and to promote a positive work atmosphere.
The incumbent must be a persistent self-starter who can work effectively and lead others with minimum oversight.
Must have the ability to work effectively with all levels of employees within the company and any/all individuals outside of the company; must be a representative of the company, our values and interests while engaging with the public and regulatory agents.
Incumbent must have demonstrated a willingness to challenge conventional ideas, be flexible, innovative and be able to function effectively in a team format.
A working knowledge of basic computer systems, including Microsoft Word and Excel is required.
While performing the duties of this job, an employee is typically required to read, write, listen, speak and understand English, follow all instructions and other oral/written information, visually inspect equipment/work area, complete paperwork and other documentation accurately, identify, analyze, troubleshoot and solve issues using judgement and mechanical knowledge/abilities, react quickly as needed, be organized and detail oriented, be able to identify/judge the urgency of a situation, use judgement in decision making, communicate effectively with others, be aware of oneself in relation to surrounding equipment, work independently and as a team with others.
Ability to instruct/transfer job information/knowledge to others is required.
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds is preferred.
The employee is expected to be self-directed, take initiative and be persistent when appropriate to accomplish necessary duties and keep busy without prompting.
Additionally, the employee is expected to be adaptable/flexible to changing work assignments, have a high level of integrity, dependability and self control to maintain composure, perform multiple tasks at once, learn and memorize procedures, manage time effectively and efficiently, meet established deadlines, display a cooperative demeanor, motivate and lead others, read, understand and follow all company, job specific and safety policies/procedures, and attend/use all required training.
Ability to travel is required if the need arises.

Nice To Haves

Possessing a certification as MSHA Part 48/46 Trainer is desired.

Responsibilities

Ensure all safety training programs for plant personnel are conducted are effective and in compliance with regulatory agency (MSHA – Part 46 training plan) and MTI requirements and improvements.
Keep abreast of proposed changes to existing laws regarding their possible effects on the plant and mines and take action with plant management to address these items on a proactive basis, as needed.
Obtains and maintains necessary regulatory permits, licenses and approvals to ensure compliance with laws and regulations and responsible management of resources.
Manages consultants and other professional representatives to complete studies, reports and analyses of EH&S related activities for use by Company personnel and outside agencies.
Participates in Regulator forums and workshops as a representative of the company.
Consults with all departments for EH&S compliance on design and equipment proposed in capital projects.
Work with local government officials to maintain a favorable corporate neighbor image.
(Oversees and ensures that all aspects of plant Workers' compensation claims are addressed in a timely manner and all compliance requirements are followed.)
Represents SMI at related legal proceedings as required.
Ensure coordination of restricted duty assignments for both work and non-work related disability cases.
Inspects and tours the facility and mines to detect existing or potential EH&S non-compliance or other hazards and recommends corrective or preventative measures where indicated.
Accompany third party representatives (e.g. MSHA, Workers' Compensation, D.O.L., etc.) on plant inspections; ensure corrective action on any items of improvement brought to the Company’s attention.
Oversee plant safety inspection programs identifying potential safety hazards and ensure timely correction of all items noted.
Coordinate and participate in Root Cause Analysis (Tap-Root, ICAM investigations) for injuries, near miss incidents and property damage incidents.
Compiles and submits compliance and monitoring reports required by regulatory agencies.
Develop safety-related policies and procedures that are aligned to MTI philosophy and legally complaint.
Ensure contractor safety program (including periodic inspections and correction of violations) meets all regulatory and company requirements.
Ensure Hearing Conservation Program including noise surveys, annual audiometric testing, and annual training is administered as required.
Administer effective safety orientation programs.
Conduct safety analyses on job functions and work with site management and employees to reduce risk.
Conduct thorough investigation of any environmental issues that arise.
Oversee plant environmental inspection programs to proactively ensure compliance by addressing any issues.
Provide effective environmental awareness training for plant personnel on an annual basis.
Interface with regulatory agencies to conduct site audits and assist in negotiation of permit requirements.
Utilize current engineering literature and periodicals in conjunction with knowledge of production, equipment, methods and procedures to formulate solutions to problems.
Perform nuisance/dust/noise sampling surveys to insure compliance with company/government regulations.
Conduct EHS related project economic feasibility studies considering all of the following elements: (a) engineering and design costs; (b) tool and equipment costs; (c) plant rearrangement; (d) material costs; (e) labor; (f) overhead; and (g) cost benefit.
Recommend types of equipment to be used and equipment specifications eliminating environmental problems.
Ensure that new process equipment for which he/she is responsible meets prescribed engineering specifications and is properly installed.
Field and respond to neighborhood concerns regarding dust, noise, etc.
Acts as resource and champion for site continuous improvement activities (Suggestion Program, 5S, Kaizen, TPM, problem solving, etc.).
Manages individual employee involvement in continuous improvement activities to ensure equal opportunities are available for all department members to participate and contribute.