Health and Safety Operational Specialist (Water and Wastewater)

at  Region of Waterloo

Health and Safety Operational Specialist (Water and Wastewater)
Job Number: 1448
Job Type: Full-Time
Location: 150 Frederick St - Regional Admin Headquarters
Number of Positions: 1
Department: Infrastructure and Program Planning
Division: Engineering and Environmental Services
Hours of Work: 35
Union: CUPE 1883
Grade: CUPE 1883 Grade 013
Salary Range: $41.19 - $46.67 per hour

OUR STORY:

Committed to fostering opportunities for current and future generations, the Region of Waterloo is an inclusive, thriving and sustainable region of connected rural and urban communities with global reach. Our mission is to serve, engage and inspire, by delivering quality services to a diverse population of 630,000+, while creating a healthy, collaborative environment of learning, respect and innovation.
This is a place where employees are valued and recognized for their talents and contributions to our success. Our employees take pride in making a difference in people’s lives through the work that we do. We are looking for people like you to help make it happen.
The Role
Supports leadership with the Division’s participation in safety management system programs to align with the corporate health and safety program. Supports safe project management, building operations, and maintenance across the Division. Coordinates assessments of safety hazards, including designated substances, electrical safety, hazardous energy, fall protection, and confined spaces. Plans and coordinates remediation and abatement capital projects. Closes operational work gaps in collaboration with management to ensure the Division complies with occupational health and safety legislative requirements.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Works with corporate health and safety staff regarding issues for the Division, including clarifying, investigating, documenting, and reporting as required.
• Works in partnership with corporate health and safety staff on the development and implementation of a divisional safety management program as a subset of the corporate program, including training, document management, procedures, and potentially delivering exercise development and facilitation.
• Monitors to ensure designated substance surveys for Region-owned divisional buildings are complete and current. Advises leaders and staff on safety legislation, requirements, codes, and procedures, and develops safety procedures and protocols, including documentation, reporting, and coordinating with corporate health and safety staff as appropriate.
• Monitors to ensure pre-start health and safety reviews (PSHSR) are conducted where appropriate and reviews safeguarding measures to protect staff, contracted resources, and equipment as required. Coordinates health and safety training in partnership with the corporate health and safety team as required. Assists leadership to build a health and safety culture with staff.
• Coordinates designated substance surveys, including asbestos assessments per the corporate asbestos management plan, and in alignment with divisional process equipment reporting requirements. Makes recommendations and works to implement best practices related to designated substances with management.
• Coordinates, procures, interprets, and critically analyses consultant technical and engineering reports and findings to identify errors, questions, and determine extent of asbestos/designated substances in regional properties. Plans and implements asbestos investigations and testing programs, studies, and remediation and abatement for capital projects.
• Coordinates annual asbestos reassessments and inspections; reviews/interprets reports and ensures reporting requirements are met. Updates centralised reporting system and maintains documentation for vendors and contractors.
• Reviews and critically analyses consultant technical and engineering reports and findings to identify health and safety-related errors and questions and determine situations of hazardous energy in building operating equipment.
• Develops, implements, and assists in maintaining a data management system for designated substances, electrical safety, hazardous energy, fall protection, and confined spaces, including links to other hazard inventory databases. Administers the online safety standards repository for the Division, including document access, subscription fees, and user issues/ troubleshooting.
• Investigates and reports on building and/or process-related incidents (e.g., indoor air quality, lighting levels, noise, mould situations) with management, and coordinates with corporate health and safety staff as appropriate. Assists corporate health and safety staff on more serious incidents as required.
• Interprets TSSA codes, legislation, and regulations for equipment operation and safety practices for divisional staff.
• Offers review and provides technical opinions on consultant-based design solutions for fall restraint situations for inclusion in scope of work for capital projects.

Additional Duties/Responsibilities

• Advises leadership when safety practice due diligence is required per procedures, including for designated substances. Liaises with corporate health and safety staff for compliance requirements tracked in the safety management system.
• Establishes pre-qualified vendor list for safety-related work (e.g., designated substance surveying, abatement, arc flash studies). Coordinates consultant selection processes, including all phases of the tender process. Reviews and negotiates work plans/budgets. Ensures signing, sealing, and provision of insurance certificates and bonding.
• Oversees (on leadership’s behalf) phases of abatement and remediation projects. Interprets construction documents.
• Arranges material/equipment testing inspections. Establishes deficiency lists, conducts final inspections, and issues completion certificates as requirements are met.
• Arranges equipment, arc flash, and hazardous energy assessments. Interprets results of assessments, provides recommendations, and coordinates mitigation of hazardous conditions through equipment adjustment, modification, or replacement. Conducts final inspections; develops equipment safety placards, verifies accuracy, and publishes documents to asset management system; establishes deficiencies; and corrects standard operating procedures (accountability rests with management).
• Recommends strategy for leadership’s approval to identify occupational health and safety legislative compliance requirements with corporate health and safety staff. Coordinates with divisional staff to develop a compliance requirement database and verify compliance. Coordinates/ assists in resolving non-compliance issues including supporting management to document procedures to ensure consistent compliance with new safety practices.
• Prepares detailed project budget estimates; establishes budget requirements for in-house services; and provides input into team and divisional budgets. In consultation with Manager, negotiates/ authorises claims, disputes, payments, extra work, requirements, and contract/design changes. Arranges purchase orders; prepares, reviews, approves/recommends payments to consultants and contractors. Coordinates retention of holdbacks per Construction Lien Act, and negotiates with bonding companies in the event of default/other claims/disputes.
• Acts as a technical expert/resource to divisional staff, project teams, consultants, and other parties, as it relates to the Division’s buildings, and in coordination with corporate health and safety staff as appropriate. Exchanges information, collaborates, provides technical expertise/ advice, and participates on interdepartmental project teams. Represents the Division as a technical expert in water and wastewater-specific health and safety, electrical safety, hazardous energy, and other safety-related issues.
• Orients and reviews work quality of consultants and other professional and technical contractors in collaboration with overall responsible staff. In collaboration with Manager, enforces contract terms and budgets. Participates to ensure operations and project teams, contractors, and consultants on regional sites comply with health and safety and other related legislation.
• Assists to select, guide, and monitor the work of consultants, suppliers, and contractors. Coordinates staff training on new safety measures and processes. Directs the work of students.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge and skills are acquired through a 3-year degree or diploma in occupational health and safety or a degree/diploma in a related field (e.g., science, engineering) with additional health and safety related courses/seminars, plus 3 years of related experience.
• Ability to attain valid First Aid/CPR Certificate.
• Knowledge of and ability to comply with policies, procedures, regulations, collective agreements, and legislation (e.g., environmental protection, construction lien, health and safety, Ministry guidelines, contact law, Ontario Regulation 278/05, Designated Substance - Asbestos on Construction Projects and in Buildings and Repair Operations; R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 347, as amended made under the Environmental Protection Act; transportation of dangerous goods), and codes (e.g., TSSA, national building; Ontario Fire Marshal’s Regulations) and CSA Standards.
• Analytical, problem solving, and continuous improvement skills to investigate and evaluate issues and plan and implement appropriate solutions; organise time effectively and administer simultaneous projects; identify potential difficulties and their causes and generate workable solutions; and research and prepare technical reports and project specifications.
• Human relations, communication, and presentation skills to provide guidance while reviewing the work of divisional staff and/or consultants/contractors; develop and maintain effective working relationships; communicate complex technical issues to staff and the public; negotiate contracts and project requirements (as it relates to health and safety matters); and participate as an effective team member.
• Computer skills with ability to use software such as Microsoft Office, GIS, relational databases, and designated substances databases.
• Ability to write technical reports and recommendations to council and committees, contracts, specifications, and correspondence, with management and in alignment with corporate health and safety programs.
• Ability to read and interpret technical reports, correspondence, manuals, journals, design specifications, contracts, and legal documents.
• May be required to alter working hours to respond to issues; may be requested to work weekend hours for same.
• Ability to travel within and outside Waterloo Region.
• Ability to support and demonstrate the Region’s values.

The Region of Waterloo is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection process. At the Region, we respect, encourage and celebrate our diversity. The Region of Waterloo is committed to providing accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require an accommodation, please notify us and we will work with you to meet your needs.
Alternate formats of this document are available upon request. Please contact the Service First Contact Centre at phone number (519) 575-4400, TTY number (519-575-4608) to request an alternate format.
Please note: Due to the high volume of applications we receive, only those candidates selected for an interview with be contacted through email. Please check your spam or junk folder occasionally as some candidates have noticed our emails in those folders (Gmail and Hotmail in particular).

Duties/Responsibilities

• Works with corporate health and safety staff regarding issues for the Division, including clarifying, investigating, documenting, and reporting as required.
• Works in partnership with corporate health and safety staff on the development and implementation of a divisional safety management program as a subset of the corporate program, including training, document management, procedures, and potentially delivering exercise development and facilitation.
• Monitors to ensure designated substance surveys for Region-owned divisional buildings are complete and current. Advises leaders and staff on safety legislation, requirements, codes, and procedures, and develops safety procedures and protocols, including documentation, reporting, and coordinating with corporate health and safety staff as appropriate.
• Monitors to ensure pre-start health and safety reviews (PSHSR) are conducted where appropriate and reviews safeguarding measures to protect staff, contracted resources, and equipment as required. Coordinates health and safety training in partnership with the corporate health and safety team as required. Assists leadership to build a health and safety culture with staff.
• Coordinates designated substance surveys, including asbestos assessments per the corporate asbestos management plan, and in alignment with divisional process equipment reporting requirements. Makes recommendations and works to implement best practices related to designated substances with management.
• Coordinates, procures, interprets, and critically analyses consultant technical and engineering reports and findings to identify errors, questions, and determine extent of asbestos/designated substances in regional properties. Plans and implements asbestos investigations and testing programs, studies, and remediation and abatement for capital projects.
• Coordinates annual asbestos reassessments and inspections; reviews/interprets reports and ensures reporting requirements are met. Updates centralised reporting system and maintains documentation for vendors and contractors.
• Reviews and critically analyses consultant technical and engineering reports and findings to identify health and safety-related errors and questions and determine situations of hazardous energy in building operating equipment.
• Develops, implements, and assists in maintaining a data management system for designated substances, electrical safety, hazardous energy, fall protection, and confined spaces, including links to other hazard inventory databases. Administers the online safety standards repository for the Division, including document access, subscription fees, and user issues/ troubleshooting.
• Investigates and reports on building and/or process-related incidents (e.g., indoor air quality, lighting levels, noise, mould situations) with management, and coordinates with corporate health and safety staff as appropriate. Assists corporate health and safety staff on more serious incidents as required.
• Interprets TSSA codes, legislation, and regulations for equipment operation and safety practices for divisional staff.
• Offers review and provides technical opinions on consultant-based design solutions for fall restraint situations for inclusion in scope of work for capital projects

Additional Duties/Responsibilities

• Advises leadership when safety practice due diligence is required per procedures, including for designated substances. Liaises with corporate health and safety staff for compliance requirements tracked in the safety management system.
• Establishes pre-qualified vendor list for safety-related work (e.g., designated substance surveying, abatement, arc flash studies). Coordinates consultant selection processes, including all phases of the tender process. Reviews and negotiates work plans/budgets. Ensures signing, sealing, and provision of insurance certificates and bonding.
• Oversees (on leadership’s behalf) phases of abatement and remediation projects. Interprets construction documents.
• Arranges material/equipment testing inspections. Establishes deficiency lists, conducts final inspections, and issues completion certificates as requirements are met.
• Arranges equipment, arc flash, and hazardous energy assessments. Interprets results of assessments, provides recommendations, and coordinates mitigation of hazardous conditions through equipment adjustment, modification, or replacement. Conducts final inspections; develops equipment safety placards, verifies accuracy, and publishes documents to asset management system; establishes deficiencies; and corrects standard operating procedures (accountability rests with management).
• Recommends strategy for leadership’s approval to identify occupational health and safety legislative compliance requirements with corporate health and safety staff. Coordinates with divisional staff to develop a compliance requirement database and verify compliance. Coordinates/ assists in resolving non-compliance issues including supporting management to document procedures to ensure consistent compliance with new safety practices.
• Prepares detailed project budget estimates; establishes budget requirements for in-house services; and provides input into team and divisional budgets. In consultation with Manager, negotiates/ authorises claims, disputes, payments, extra work, requirements, and contract/design changes. Arranges purchase orders; prepares, reviews, approves/recommends payments to consultants and contractors. Coordinates retention of holdbacks per Construction Lien Act, and negotiates with bonding companies in the event of default/other claims/disputes.
• Acts as a technical expert/resource to divisional staff, project teams, consultants, and other parties, as it relates to the Division’s buildings, and in coordination with corporate health and safety staff as appropriate. Exchanges information, collaborates, provides technical expertise/ advice, and participates on interdepartmental project teams. Represents the Division as a technical expert in water and wastewater-specific health and safety, electrical safety, hazardous energy, and other safety-related issues.
• Orients and reviews work quality of consultants and other professional and technical contractors in collaboration with overall responsible staff. In collaboration with Manager, enforces contract terms and budgets. Participates to ensure operations and project teams, contractors, and consultants on regional sites comply with health and safety and other related legislation.
• Assists to select, guide, and monitor the work of consultants, suppliers, and contractors. Coordinates staff training on new safety measures and processes. Directs the work of students.
• Performs related duties as assigned