Safety Office Team Leader

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

17d • Onsite

About The Position

Serves as the Laboratory Safety Group Team Lead under the direction of the Laboratory Safety Group Manager. Leads a highly advanced and comprehensive safety compliance program for the Public Health Laboratory Division (PHLD) employees. Serves as a liaison between local, state and federal agencies. Develops safety procedures, rules and standards to ensure quality and consistency. Ensures that the laboratory's security and incident response plans meet the federal regulations governing select agents and specific chemicals used in the laboratory. Serves as a consultant to the Health and Human Services Commission Risk Manager with respect to laboratory safety and management of infectious and chemical waste. Stops any activity immediately if imminent or long-term serious danger is apparent. To meet business needs, will be required to work outside regular business hours, on holidays and weekends on an as needs basis. Works under minimal supervision of the Quality Assurance Unit Manager, with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Requirements

• Have an earned bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in a chemical, physical, biological or clinical laboratory science, or medical technology from an accredited institution and have at least one year of high complexity laboratory experience; or have an earned associate's degree in a chemical, physical, biological or clinical laboratory science, or medical laboratory technology from an accredited institution and have at least two years of high complexity laboratory experience, required. Experience and education may be substituted as defined by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988, required.
• A minimum of 5 years public health laboratory or hospital experience, required.
• Experience interpreting and applying federal and state laws applicable to public health and/or safety, required.
• Experience in writing, developing, implementing and monitoring policies and procedures, required.
• Experience in mentoring, coaching and/or counseling employees and/or teams, required.
• Comprehensive knowledge of public health laboratory safety, technology, techniques and terminology specific for functions overseen.
• Knowledge of laboratory safety including biosafety level containment.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of public administration and management.
• Knowledge of budgetary, purchasing, and material management procedures.
• Skill in using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Skill in oral and written instructions and communication.
• Skill in effective decision-making, negotiation, facilitation, coordination and collaboration.
• Skill in identifying project challenges, risks and gaps.
• Ability to teach work area procedures to subordinates and guests.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing to both internal and external customers.
• Ability to interact with customers on a variety of concerns including complaints.
• Ability to establish goals and objectives for work teams and to monitor the progress of teams.
• Ability to change or adapt to challenges or unexpected changes with flexibility and a positive attitude.
• Ability to initiate, plan, implement, evaluate and deliver a project or assignment in a timely manner. Ability to develop an action plan to execute a specific project to achieve a specific goal.
• Ability to work in harmony with others.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in laboratory/hospital safety programs, protocols, risk management and/or administrative aspects of safety in the workplace, preferred.
• Experience in shipping hazardous materials, 49 Code of Federal Regulations, preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversees, evaluates, and monitors a highly advanced and comprehensive safety and compliance program for laboratory staff.
• Establishes goals and objectives for the safety program.
• Maintains an exposure control plan, chemical hygiene plan and radiation safety program based upon the duties performed in each area of the laboratory and provides personnel protective equipment and immunizations.
• Coordinates and assists with first aid and post exposure follow up procedures for employees who have been injured or potentially exposed to hazardous materials.
• Directs and ensures adequate investigation, reporting and analysis of accidents to prevent recurrence.
• Leads, prepares, coordinates, and participates in the activities of the Laboratory Safety Coordinators.
• Monitors laboratory workers compensation records.
• Maintains safety related contracts, solicitation, and scope of work for purchase requests.
• Develops safety procedures, rules, and standards to ensure quality and consistency.
• Performs risk assessments to evaluate, identify and prioritize high risk to low risk of both chemical hazards and infectious substances in a laboratory area.
• Performs respiratory fit testing on laboratory staff to ensure Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) (29 CFR 1910.134) requirement is met prior to respirator use in the workplace.
• Directs, plans, and monitors safety training and evaluates the competency of a team of safety officers.
• Ensures safety officers are thoroughly trained in the safety and compliance of their program areas according to local, state and federal regulations.
• Assigns tasks and establishes deadlines.
• Maintains infectious and chemical waste.
• Serves as a liaison between local, state, and federal agencies.
• Ensures compliance with state and federal and local regulations governing the treatment and disposal or recycling of various waste streams.
• Evaluates the waste streams and establishes procedures for in-house management of waste.
• Provides training to laboratory staff.
• Maintains the contract for offsite treatment and disposal of infectious and chemical waste and ensures compliance with the City of Austin pretreatment requirements for acid waste.
• Responds to incidents involving infectious agents, hazardous chemicals, and radioactive materials.
• Creates reports as required and maintains records.
• Acts as the backup contact for the Laboratory Building Coordinator during laboratory building emergencies such as power outages, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), electrical or plumbing issues and security issues to ensure compliance is met with National Fire Protection Association 101 Life Safety Code.
• May be required to respond to emergencies during non-business hours, weekends, and holidays.
• Actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency's obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation.
• Safe operation of either a state-owned vehicle or personal is required to conduct state business and an acceptable driving record must be maintained in accordance with DSHS Policy OS-3901. Fleet Operations and Management & Procedures and standards developed by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Benefits

• DSHS offers insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees