Safety Specialist, Enforcement

State of Nevada•Reno, NV

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Business & Industry is recruiting to fill a Safety Specialist, Enforcement position within the Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration (NVOSHA) in Reno. Under the direction of the Operations Support Supervisor, this position serves as a subject matter expert and trainer responsible for supporting the development, consistency, and effectiveness of Nevada OSHA enforcement operations statewide. The incumbent performs safety and health inspection work and plays a critical role in the training and professional development of Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHOs). Responsibilities include conducting field-based training; facilitating formal classroom instruction; developing and updating training materials; and providing operational support related to inspection procedures, enforcement standards, and regulatory compliance activities. They will assist in ensuring inspections are conducted in accordance with applicable federal and state OSHA standards, policies, procedures, and best practices and may accompany CSHOs during inspections to provide coaching and technical guidance related to hazard recognition, inspection techniques, investigative procedures, documentation, evidence gathering, and enforcement decision-making. Additionally, they will be responsible for developing and delivering technical training programs for new and experienced enforcement staff; creating instructional materials, presentations, and practical exercises to support adult learning; utilizing and maintaining training records within a learning management system (LMS); and researching and interpreting OSHA standards, directives, policies, and industry practices. The ideal candidate has knowledge of occupational safety and health principles, OSHA standards, and enforcement processes; experience conducting workplace inspections, investigations, or regulatory compliance activities; demonstrates strong presentation, facilitation, and adult-learning instructional skills; can effectively mentor, coach, and develop staff in both classroom and field settings; possesses strong organizational skills and can manage multiple assignments and deadlines; communicates professionally and effectively with staff, employers, and stakeholders; exercises sound judgment and independent decision-making in complex situations; and works collaboratively and professionally while promoting a positive and respectful workplace culture.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in occupational safety and health, safety engineering, or related field and two years of experience which included primary responsibility in four of the following areas in construction and/or general industry hazard identification, hazard evaluation in relation to existing standards, hazard control design, hazard controls verification, safety/health program design, and safety/health program evaluation; OR Bachelor's degree in biological or physical sciences, or engineering, and four years of experience as described above; OR certification as a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and two years of experience which included primary responsibility in four of the following areas in construction and/or general industry: hazard identification, hazard evaluation in relation to existing standards, hazard control design, hazard controls verification, safety/health program design, and safety/health program evaluation; OR graduation from high school or equivalent education and six years of experience as described above; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience; OR one year of experience as a Safety Representative, Enforcement in Nevada State service.
Working knowledge of: principles and practices of industrial hygiene; practical means to abate a broad range of known workplace hazards; agency policies and procedures regarding enforcement actions.
General knowledge of: fundamentals of engineering.
Ability to: motivate employers to take proactive steps to achieve workplace safety; independently conduct comprehensive surveys or compliance inspections in all industry classifications; direct the work of others on team assignments and train new employees; serve as an expert witness in administrative hearings and legal proceedings.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of occupational safety and health principles, OSHA standards, and enforcement processes
Experience conducting workplace inspections, investigations, or regulatory compliance activities
Strong presentation, facilitation, and adult-learning instructional skills
Ability to effectively mentor, coach, and develop staff in both classroom and field settings
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple assignments and deadlines
Professional and effective communication with staff, employers, and stakeholders
Sound judgment and independent decision-making in complex situations
Ability to work collaboratively and professionally while promoting a positive and respectful workplace culture

Responsibilities

Make unannounced compliance inspections of employer sites covered by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); when citing employers for violations, identify a reasonable and feasible means of abatement; obtain search warrants when necessitated by denial of entry; conduct opening conferences including employee representatives as well as management; use camera and video equipment for documentation as appropriate; classify violations according to regulatory guidelines and assign corresponding penalties; and conduct closing conferences with employer and employee representatives covering proposed citations and monetary penalties, the employer’s right to contest citations, and the requirement to post notice of citations.
Investigate industrial accidents resulting in serious injuries or fatalities, and investigate complaints against covered employers; coordinate investigation activities with emergency services and law enforcement personnel, State and employer’s attorneys, and families of injured and deceased employees; secure physical evidence for custodial retention; determine cause of accident and contributing factors; and cite employers for violations.
Participate in informal conferences with cited employers and/or their legal representatives to consider and resolve specific concerns and mitigating circumstances, proposed penalties, availability of financial relief, proposed abatement schedules and procedures, and formal contest procedures.
When citations are contested through litigation, provide State attorneys with complete information necessary to defend the challenged enforcement actions and testify as a technical or expert witness; investigate complaints of alleged discrimination against employees based on safety-related activities protected by law; interview complainant, witnesses, and company management; review relevant employer records; evaluate validity and merits of the complaint, adjudicative ability, and course of action to be recommended considering relevant case law; negotiate withdrawal by complainant or settlement between the parties when appropriate.
Develop and maintain complete case files on each inspection and investigation.
Perform related duties as assigned.
Under general supervision, incumbents perform the full range of duties outlined in the series concept.
Incumbents regularly receive complex assignments requiring a broad knowledge of a variety of industries, or specialized expertise in a particular industry or process.
Incumbents orient and train new Safety Specialists, may serve in a lead capacity on functional or team assignments, and may be assigned to focus on special projects.
This is the journey level in the series.