Occupational Health & Safety Advisor

Coast Mental Health • Lower Salford Township, PA

5h • CA$72,179 - CA$103,758 • Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to the Occupational Health and Safety Manager, the Occupational Health and Safety Advisor plays a key role in developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating Coast Mental Health's Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) program. This program is designed to ensure compliance with health and safety legislation, regulations, standards, and healthcare collective agreements while promoting a culture of safety and well-being. This role involves leading safety initiatives, delivering training, conducting investigations, and supporting employees and leaders in maintaining a safe work environment. Regular travel to Coast Mental Health sites throughout the Lower Mainland is required to conduct inspections, investigations, training, committee meetings, and other health and safety activities.

Requirements

• A two-year diploma in Occupational Health and Safety or a related discipline from a recognized institution or a combination of experience and training acceptable to Coast Mental Health
• Minimum of 3 years' experience in an occupational health and safety role
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook).
• Valid Class 5 Driver’s License and access to a personal vehicle.

Nice To Haves

• Designations such as Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), or Registered Occupational Hygienist (ROH) are an asset.
• Experience administering asbestos exposure control plans is an asset.
• Experience working in unionized or public-sector environments is an asset.
• Experience administering respiratory protection programs and/or performing qualitative respirator fit tests in accordance with WorkSafeBC and Canadian Standards Association (CSA) requirements is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Support the creation, monitoring, and continuous improvement of OH&S program components, including policies, procedures, instructional programs, resources, and reporting systems.
• Support the annual departmental safety plans, with a focus on leading indicator activities, meeting facilitation and activity tracking.
• Lead health and safety initiatives that align with organizational objectives and drive a culture of safety.
• Identify, assess and recommend mitigation for workplace hazards; provide technical advice and recommendations to management on maintaining compliance with applicable legislation, regulations, OH&S programs and collective agreements.
• In the context of the Health and Safety Management System (HSMS), provide guidance to the organization for meeting and exceeding regulatory compliance by coaching and guiding leadership, management, human resources, and appropriate site personnel during site-based implementation of OHS programs and regulation requirements
• Provide consultation, guidance, and advice on all elements of the safety program, including ergonomics, working at heights, confined spaces, lockout/tagout, working alone, and hazardous materials such as asbestos and hazardous drugs.
• Interpret regulations and apply OH&S procedures and standards of practice to support leaders and staff in aligning with strategic goals to prevent workplace injuries and exposures.
• Perform audits and inspect work areas, offices, and job sites to identify workplace safety concerns, possible safety issues and recommend measures for risk mitigation and continuous improvement.
• Liaise with WorkSafeBC officers during inspections, investigate and provides advice to management as well as other clients respecting WorkSafeBC inspection reports/orders including reviewing WorkSafeBC inspection reports, development of Notice of Compliance (NOC) plans with management, submitting NOC's to WorkSafeBC, and where appropriate challenging WorkSafeBC inspection reports/orders on behalf of Coast Mental Health though preparation of appeal documentation in consultation with legal counsel.
• Deliver engaging education and training to diverse employee groups on a variety of OHS topics including: Joint Health and Safety Committees (JHSC) and Worker H&S Reps, incident investigations, workplace inspections, hazard identification and control, violence risk assessments and violence prevention, ergonomics, emergency preparedness and response, respiratory protection.
• Responds to workplace incident and near miss reports; coordinate incident investigations, including ensuring appropriate documentation is accurately completed, submitted and action items are implemented in a timely manner in accordance with legislative requirements.
• Support management by ensuring thorough investigations for incidents, accidents, and near misses are conducted and documented, including root cause analysis and corrective actions as well as appropriate follow-up action is taken and provides recommendations to achieve compliance with applicable legislation and the OH&S program.
• Identify workable solutions or corrective actions to try and prevent future incident occurrences and work with leaders to ensure identified actions are tracked to completion.
• Plan and coordinate emergency drills, exercises, and initiatives related to workplace mental and psychological health.
• Support coordination of the contractor safety management program to ensure compliance with applicable legislation.
• Conduct ergonomic assessments and support the development of safe work procedures.
• Identify workplace hazards and recommend effective mitigation strategies to management.
• Provide oversight and guidance to JHSCs, ensuring regulatory compliance and alignment with organizational goals.
• Represent Health & Safety on various internal and external committees such as Site Leadership, Joint Occupational Health & Safety Committees and provincial working groups.
• Manage OH&S documentation, update templates, and research best practices to support program administration.
• Collect and analyze data, prepare applicable reports, and maintains various records

Benefits

• 100% employer-paid benefits for employees and their families.
• Vision Care, Dental Care, Prescription Drugs, Naturopath, Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Group Life, Massage therapy, Physiotherapy, and Unlimited Out-of-Province and Out-of-Country Emergencies.
• General sick-leave accruals.
• Long-term disability programs. Short-term disability programs available to exempt positions only.
• 5 days of paid leave for Indigenous Employees for Ceremonial, Cultural, and Spiritual events per year.
• 8 weeks of paid leave for gender affirming care for medical procedures for transgender and gender diverse employees, cumulative total.
• Employee and Family Assistance Program, which includes personal counselling, Life Coaching, Financial Coaching, Legal Referral and Advisory Services, and Health Coaching. In addition, Coast Mental Health provides a cognitive behavioural therapy program (Telus Health CBT) and Headversity for managing a variety of life issues and includes self-paced therapeutic support.
• Municipal Pension Plan with guaranteed lifetime monthly pension when you retire.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree