Safety Specialist, Great Lakes East (Toronto) 1

VCNA•Toronto, ON

88d•CA$82,000 - CA$102,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Responsible for actively promoting and maintaining a safe working environment by conducting workplace inspections, investigating safety incidents, developing and implementing safety training programs, ensuring compliance with internal and external safety regulations, and advising management on risk mitigation strategies to prevent injuries and promote employee health and wellbeing. This position may also conduct or facilitate safety audits, safety committees, and training for employees on proper safety procedures and equipment usage. This position will require travel to different Terminal locations throughout Canada and the U.S. market areas on a regular basis.

Requirements

Thorough understanding of OSHA, OHSA, CNESST, Department of Labour, WorkSafeNB, industry standards (such as CSA and ANSI) and other relevant company safety standards.
Ability to identify safety issues, analyze root causes, and develop effective action plans.
Creates processes necessary to achieve organizational goals. Organizes people and activities effectively. Utilizes internal metrics to effectively track progress completion. Seeks opportunities for synergy and integration. Simplifies complex processes. Uses resources efficiently.
Actively employs analysis and synthesis skills; Gathers and analyzes available information from industry best practices and regulatory bodies and compares them to plant/equipment/employee conditions to determine whether circumstances are compliant. Incorporate the ability to effectively investigate issues, by using judgment that is consistent with standards, practices, policies, procedures, regulations and laws.
Prioritizes and plans work activities. Uses time efficiently. Plans for additional resources. Integrates changes smoothly. Sets goals and objectives. Works in an organized manner. Ability to complete projects and duties as assigned in an accurate and timely fashion.
Excellent communication skills required. Clear, concise, and professional communication to educate employees, management, and other stakeholders on safety matters. This includes professional communication with governmental agencies.
Ability to deliver various presentations and safety training to both front line employees and management.
Keen attention to detail to identify potential hazards during workplace inspections, behavior observations, etc.
Ability to coach employees and influence positive safety behavior to promote a safety-first, employee driven safety culture.
Competent in utilizing Microsoft office and other safety software (such as eCompliance, Avetta) to input and analyze safety data on a regular basis.
Bachelor's degree (BSc or BEng) from four-year college or university; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Minimum of five (5) years of relevant work experience, preferably in the building construction materials industry.
Equivalent experience can include a combination of an accredited non-university/ technical school level safety program and direct safety supervision in an industrial environment.
Frequent travel will be required up to 50% of the time. Ability to travel to different Terminal locations with reliable transportation.
A clean driving license is required.
Occasional travel to the United States may be required. Therefore, a Passport will be required or will need to be obtained while employed with VCNA.
Moderate amount physical activity, e.g., prolonged walking, sitting, standing, walking up and down ladders and tall structures, sustained keyboarding for up to 50% of the workday, ability to lift and carry up to 20 pounds.
Occasional exposure to the elements while working on an industrial site, as well as other operational by-products such as dust, dirt, odors, noise, etc.
Work activities involve a frequent need to concentrate on a variety of sensory inputs for lengthy durations of time requiring diligence and attention to interpret effectively.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with data visualization software, such as Power BI, and strong excel skills considered an asset.
Professional safety certifications such as Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP), OHSA 30 etc. considered an asset
Bilingual English/French as asset

Responsibilities

Conduct regular inspections of work areas and observe behaviors to identify potential hazards, non-compliance issues, and unsafe practices; perform safety audits to assess overall safety performance and compliance with internal standards and external safety regulations. This includes managing and supporting our health and safety management system.
Investigate all workplace incidents including near misses to determine root causes, identify corrective actions, and implement preventive measures to avoid future occurrences.
Develop and deliver safety training programs for employees at all levels, covering topics like hazard recognition, new hire orientation, personal protective equipment (PPE) use, emergency procedures, and safe work practices. Facilitate other safety training such as LOTOTO, operator training, confined space, arc flash, working at heights, CPR/First Aid/AED, etc.
Assist in developing, updating, implementing and enforcing company safety policies and procedures to ensure compliance with relevant occupational safety and health regulations.
Conduct risk assessments to identify potential hazards and develop appropriate mitigation strategies to minimize risks in the workplace.
Maintain accurate records of all safety incidents, hazard Id’s and corporate leading indicators; analyze data to identify trends, implement preventative actions and promote continuous improvement.
Promote safety culture by effectively communicating safety information to employees, contractors and visitors through meetings, posters, and other channels. This includes communicating our safety expectations at times.
Monitor compliance with OSHA, OHSA, CNESST, Department of Labour, WorkSafeNB, industry standards (such as CSA and ANSI) and corporate internal standards.
Work closely with management and other stakeholders to address safety concerns, provide recommendations for improvements, and ensure safety is a top value.
Lead a positive safety culture where everyone in the organization is committed to safety and works together to improve it.

Benefits

Training, professional development
Access to Employees Resource Groups (ERGs), including SheBuilds, which fosters mentorship, leadership development and community support for women at VCNA
Tuition reimbursement/assistance
Competitive wages, vacation and holiday time
Medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance
RRSP and DC (CAN) and 401K (U.S.)
Employee Assistance Program (EAP): confidential support for you and your family (CAN)
Educational scholarship program for dependents of regular salaried employees.
Fertility drug coverage
Paid Maternity Leave Top Up