Industrial Safety and Health Inspector - Consultation

Job Description

The Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards (DLS) strives for a Massachusetts free of workplace hazards that cause injuries and illnesses, where wages are paid fairly and equitably, and the most vulnerable workers are protected. We work with public and private sector partners in helping make Massachusetts a great place to work and to do business.

The Massachusetts SafetyWorks Consultation Program provides free, on-site consultive services designed to help Massachusetts employers recognize and control safety and health hazards at their worksites. SafetyWorks Consultation also helps employers establish and/or improve their required safety and health programs and answer safety and health related questions.

Position Overview:

This position will perform professional duties in the area of industrial hygiene and occupational safety and health including, but not limited to, the inspection of workplaces to identify, evaluate and determine corrective action of existing and potential occupational safety and health hazards. Serves as consultant to employers on improving safety and health programs and assisting with safety and health training. Provide technical support to staff, employers, employees and outside agencies on complying with applicable OSHA and other occupational safety and health regulations/standards, including but not limited to NFPA, ANSI, ACGIH, and NEC.

Detailed Summary of Duties and Responsibilities:

• Position performs industrial hygiene surveys of workplaces in Massachusetts at the request of employers under the U.S. Department of Labor/ Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) Consultation Program to recognize, evaluate and control occupational hazards.
• Recognizes and evaluates workplace safety and health hazards through the use of observations, industrial hygiene principles, industry work practices, personal interviews, analytical measurements and by reviewing existing health and safety programs. Surveys focus on physical and chemical hazards in the general and construction industries relating to items such as hazard communication, personal protective equipment, respiratory protection, confined space, and noise exposure.
• Collects, interprets, and evaluates industrial hygiene samples. Compares sampling results to consensus standards and federal regulations in order to determine proper control measures relevant to occupational health. Utilizes, calibrates and maintains industrial hygiene field equipment, such as air sampling pumps, sound level meters, noise dosimeters, gas detectors, ventilation meters (Anemometers) and direct reading instruments.
• Performs mathematical computations used by industrial hygienists and safety professionals to evaluate and control occupational health hazards.
• Prepares comprehensive written reports in a timely manner to document findings and determine methods to abate known and potential hazards.
• Informs employers and employees of identified occupational hazards, control methods, and occupational safety and health principles and practices. Ensures that employers correct hazards and provides guidance to employers to determine the methodologies best utilized including engineering and/or administrative controls.
• Possesses a basic knowledge of safety and health regulations and standards, including OSHA, NFPA, ANSI, NEC, etc.
• Identifies, gathers, and reviews available data, technical/scientific literature, policy and regulatory references to plan, conduct, and document a workplace visit. Uses such resources to gain a thorough understanding of the industry, the establishment's inspection history (if applicable), and industry-specific work processes, operations, hazards, standards, and terminology.
• Researches/reviews control and abatement procedures relevant to the expected work processes and operations. Applies knowledge of occupational industrial hygiene principles, practices, techniques, procedures, regulations and standards to identify and evaluate occupational safety and health hazards and recommend abatement methods. Applies technical knowledge when determining abatement feasibility and effectiveness.
• Recognizes apparent hazards and violations of regulations and standards; documents hazards, violations, and abatements in accordance with SafetyWorks Consultation Program policy and other departmental procedures.
• Conducts training and presentations. Assists in drafting materials regarding occupational safety and health topics.
• Attends and participates in meetings, conferences, and programs in order to discuss and/or keep abreast of changes in the industrial safety and health fields.
• Ability to communicate effectively in oral expression and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain harmonious working relationships and to deal tactfully with co-workers, employers, employees, representatives of state and federal agencies, unions, and the general public.
• Ability to work independently with flexible working hours that can routinely extend beyond normal business hours depending on the job site.