Occupational Safety and Health Specialist 3 (In-Training)
About The Position
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is seeking a senior-level Occupational Safety and Health Specialists (OSHSPEC3) to provide consultation and training to regional management and line staff in the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of WSDOT’s Culture of Safety. This position holds stop work authority to ensure the health and safety of WSDOT employees and serves as a regional subject matter expert on safety policies, rules, and regulations. The OSHSPEC3 are responsible for managing designated sections of the WSDOT Safety Manual, including maintenance, revision, and compliance assurance, while supporting WSDOT’s mission and strategic plan through work that advances workforce equity, inclusion, and organizational health. Our top candidates will demonstrate advanced safety program expertise, regulatory knowledge, effective consultation and training skills, and a commitment to employee safety and organizational well-being. This position requires conducting field and work site visits and may involve exposure to hazards such as highway rights-of-way, active traffic, construction sites with moving equipment, confined spaces, and falling or overhead hazards.
Requirements
- Demonstrated knowledge of OSHA/WSHA, RCW, WAC, and related compliance regulations with the ability to interpret and apply them to workplace safety programs, inspections, and corrective actions.
- Extensive experience in designing, implementing, and managing comprehensive safety programs, including policy development, recordkeeping, compliance monitoring, risk assessment, and safety committee operations.
- Advanced skills in conducting work-zone, construction, and facility inspections, identifying hazards, evaluating risks, and recommending corrective actions that ensure employee and public safety.
- Proven ability to apply accident investigation techniques, conduct root cause analysis, and prepare reports that identify trends and recommend preventative strategies.
- Experience in developing and delivering safety training using adult learning principles, adapting materials to diverse audiences and ensuring knowledge retention.
- Proven ability to maintain effective working relationships with officials, employees, the public, and internal and external stakeholders through strong interpersonal and communication skills.
- Applied expertise in analyzing safety and health data, identifying trends, and recommending program improvements that strengthen safety culture and organizational performance, with proficiency in Microsoft Office products.
- Demonstrated experience in exercising independent judgment, including stop work authority, to address unsafe conditions, while maintaining confidentiality and balancing operational needs.
- Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.
- Takes action to meet the needs of others.
- A valid driver’s license and the ability to operate state-owned vehicles.
Nice To Haves
- Advanced knowledge of occupational safety and health may be obtained through formal post-secondary education in safety studies or a related natural science, extensive professional experience in a safety role, and/or relevant certifications such as Associate Safety Professional (ASP), Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Occupational Safety Specialist (COSS), or Certified Occupational Safety Manager (COSM).
- Advanced Industry knowledge of: Fall Protection Confined Spaces Respiratory Protection Temporary Traffic Control Industrial Hygiene Practices
Responsibilities
- Develop and administer the Regional Safety Program consulting on agency goals, state and federal regulatory compliance, new regulations, safety protocols and best practices.
- Collaborate with the Regional Safety Manager to oversee administrative program components.
- Design, deliver, and coordinate safety-related educational courses to staff as assigned by the Regional Safety Manager.
- Actively work to enhance the WSDOT’s Culture of Safety; provide guidance to other safety and health professionals on their assigned safety topic in the WSDOT Safety Manual.
- Support the implementation of Regional Protection Programs (Respiratory, Confined Space; Lead Exposure; Bloodborne Pathogens, Collision Avoidance Training).
- Conduct surveillance tasks such as Air sampling, Indoor Air Quality, Lead monitoring; Noise dosimetry and serve as a regional expert for testing and exposure mitigation efforts to meet regulatory compliance.
- Ensure compliance with WAC; RCW; OSHA; Fire and Life Safety Codes.
- Attend pre-construction conferences and provide recommendations to help plan safety strategies on upcoming projects.
- Work in conjunction with WSDOT and Contractor engineers to identify and address risk.
- Participate in major incident investigations, conduct vehicle/equipment and employee injury investigations, conduct root-cause analysis.
Benefits
- General wage increase of 2% will be applied for all state employees on July 1, 2026.
- Limited flexible/hybrid remote work options, less than 20%/ad hoc.
- Regular travel around the Region and state as required to complete essential job functions.
- In addition to base salary, employees may be entitled to other forms of compensation depending on the type, duties, or location of the position.
- 12 paid holidays
- Full-time employees earn up to 25 paid vacation days per year!
- Tuition reimbursement programs
- Government discounts at participating colleges throughout the state
- Eligibility for federal student loan forgiveness
- Comprehensive benefits package that includes a variety of healthcare options.
- Choice of state retirement programs
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
