Environmental Health Safety Specialist (I &II)

Description

Penn Medicine is dedicated to our tripartite mission of providing the highest level of care to patients, conducting innovative research, and educating future leaders in the field of medicine. Working for this leading academic medical center means collaboration with top clinical, technical and business professionals across all disciplines.

Today at Penn Medicine, someone will make a breakthrough. Someone will heal a heart, deliver hopeful news, and give comfort and reassurance. Our employees shape our future each day. Are you living your life's work?

Entity: Corporate
Department: Corporate Safety
Location: 150 Monument Road
Hours: (must live reasonable distance from location) Hybrid, Day Shift.

EHS Specialist I

The position will plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate and direct assigned portions of the University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS) safety programs and related activities. These related activities can include fire and life safety; hazardous materials and chemical safety; emergency preparedness; ergonomics and injury prevention; construction safety and ILSM, and training staff to respond appropriately to ensure a safe environment. The position will assist with overseeing accident & injury prevention programs, hazard surveillance surveys at hospital and off-site locations, emergency preparedness activities, and construction safety and ILSM (Interim Life Safety Measures).

Primary responsibility will include life safety management (approximately 75%) to assure compliance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). This work activity will require limited weekend and off-shift time commitments. This position may also be assigned a variety of other safety related duties that will assist the Emergency Management and Safety Department

(EMSD) in maintaining a safe environment for patients, visitors and staff. These additional responsibilities may include recognition, evaluation, monitoring and control of facility, operational and environmental safety factors occurring in a major health system with multiple buildings and functions for patient care, medical education and research.

The EHS Specialist I will also be responsible for support and enforcement of regulatory requirements for healthcare from the Joint Commission, the PA Department of Health, OSHA and local codes and ordinances.

The EHS Specialist I will also provide education and hands-on training to staff. The position will examine and reinforce the use of work practice controls as well as personal protective equipment to minimize the risk of injury.

Accountabilities
Life Safety & Industrial Service Line

• Performs monthly testing of portable fire extinguishers at UPHS mapped facilities as assigned by the Corporate Manager of Fire and Industrial Safety.
• Facilitates life safety door inspections and coordinates documentation of fire door inspections and provides annual reports to assigned UPHS facilities.
• Assists with annual life safety assessments within fire safety service line.
• Conducts programmatic assessments for industrial safety service line.

Work Safety

• Assures compliance with NFPA 10 relative to portable fire extinguisher inspection and maintenance activities.
• Coordinates all appropriate documentation for extinguisher and fire door inspections to maintain regulatory compliance.
• Coordinates assessment of fire extinguisher installation to assure proper distance and types of extinguishers utilized within facilities.
• Coordinates annual inspections and required hydrostatic testing elements associated with extinguisher maintenance program.
• Assists with life safety assessments of facilities in collaboration with Manager of Fire and Industrial Safety and Fire Safety Engineer.
• Coordinates planning, design, implementation, ongoing evaluation and monitoring of life safety program initiatives that provide for a safe environment of care for our patients, visitors, staff, and the surrounding community.
• Reviews/investigates/tracks/trends fire-related accident and incident reports for patterns, cause and effect and makes appropriate recommendation for improvement and implementation of preventative or corrective actions.
• Assists in providing fire extinguisher and other life safety program related education to staff at UPHS facilities.
• Performs investigations, and diagnostics of reported departmental operational, life safety and fire code compliance and general “safety related” issues for the assigned operating sites/entity. Develops recommended interventions where appropriate and monitors progress of interventions to correct such problems.
• Participates and contributes to UPHS safety management program initiatives for employee education, infection control and awareness training, and other resources developed for communication of the safety activities or knowledge to our staff, patients and visitors.
• Develops a familiarity and understanding of the functions, operations, priorities, and safety concerns of departments and operational areas of the practices and the variety of sites and settings operated.
• Responsible for initiating safety standards and policy/procedure development as appropriate to operations in areas of responsibility.
• Provide education and hands-on training to staff in safe lifting practices and computer ergonomics.

Compliance and Risk Management

• Performs and documents regular assessments of regulatory and code compliance, hazardous operations and the general condition/operation of the facility for development of safety concerns, issues or unsafe practices.
• Assists departments with assessing life safety risks associated with safety issues regarding operations, facilities, equipment and job analysis.
• Researches and performs analysis of data from a variety of sources including human resources, risk management, employee health, quality assurance and personal investigation to coordinate development of focused prevention programs to reduce job related injuries, utilizing the full array of modern methods and technology available.
• Performs staff support of the Entity Safety Committee (EOC), ad hoc and standing sub-committees and other groups as assigned by the Associate Director or Director.
• Responds to fire, safety and hazardous incident emergencies at any UPHS operating sites, as needed, assuming the role assigned.

Work Relationships

• Establishes contacts and working relations with all areas and departments of the assigned entity and other UPHS entities as needed.
• Works with consultants as necessary/assigned and implements programs or revisions as indicated/required providing for follow through.
• Consults other UPHS Safety Management staff for guidance and expertise as needed and appropriate.
• Monitoring/Data Collection
• Monitors and collects/produces data regarding levels of compliance with the variety of regulatory and standard setting bodies applying to the healthcare setting.
• Monitors practice activities and operations for opportunities to improve safety practices and regulatory compliance.
• Monitors level of employee satisfaction and dissatisfaction, receives feedback and suggestions for improving workplace satisfaction, operations and effectiveness.
• Identifies applicable regulations and standards impacting the areas of responsibility and assists in performing development of plans to meet guidelines, etc.
• Monitors activity at institutional and/or departmental level related to level of compliance with institution-wide programs including the safety program.

Problem Solving

• Resolves problems related to work assignments and department functions or services in a timely and effective manner.
• Recognizes problems as they occur and/or monitors records and trends to identify recurrent problems.
• Identifies and uses resources available to provide assistance in resolving problems and/or issues.
• Determines effective solution or best course of action by reviewing the alternatives and considering effect of actions/solution upon the healthcare setting, department or section involved.
• Resolves problems by initiating and/or recommending selected course of action or solution.
• Communicates course of action in a positive manner to all involved.

Information Exchange

• Communicates work methods and/or other information to staff, clients, associates and supervisors accurately, clearly, and concisely.
• Explains work procedures and methods to others.
• Listens carefully to others in order to respond appropriately, answer questions or obtains needed information.
• Maintains confidentiality in communications, when appropriate.

Coordination

• Maintains effective coordination of ongoing or specific activities to accomplish work activities and program goals.
• Develops and maintains contacts with other departments to coordinate inter-related activities and program goals
• Maintains efficient operations by making timely requests to others and responding quickly to requests.
• Keeps others informed of progress on work activities to insure efficient coordination of activities.

Work Organization

• Organizes work activities to ensure their proper and timely completion.
• Schedules work time effectively by assigning priorities to daily, weekly, and monthly work activities.
• Recognizes that activities may require complex schedule coordination because of inter-related nature of activities.
• Avoids crisis through systematic planning and follow through.
• Maintains effective relationships within the healthcare setting and University system, and with a variety of outside agencies, contractors and consultants.

Reports and Records

• Creates, compiles, assists in maintaining and filing records, logs and records of safety related subjects. Writes concise, accurate reports and correspondence. Compiles statistical data as necessary.

Minimum Requirements
Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Safety (public or environmental), fire prevention, emergency management, environmental science

Required Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated project management skills
• Demonstrated written communication skills
• Demonstrated interpersonal/verbal communication skills
• Understanding of health care operations
• Understanding of regulatory guidelines
• Knowledge of fire and safety standards

EHS Specialist II

The position will plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate and direct assigned portions of the University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS) safety programs and related activities. These related activities can include fire and life safety; hazardous materials and chemical safety; emergency preparedness; ergonomics and injury prevention; construction safety and ILSM, and training of staff in these disciplines in order to ensure a safe environment. The EHS II assists with oversight and participation in one or more service lines that include Environmental, Fire/Life Safety, Occupational/Injury Prevention, and/or Emergency Management program disciplines, and will report to the respective manager of the assigned service line.

The EHS Specialist II is also responsible for support and enforcement of regulatory requirements for healthcare from the Joint Commission, the PA Department of Health, OSHA and local codes and ordinances. The EHS Specialist II position continues to support EHS Level I activity while expanding responsibility and duties directed toward program enhancements that create departmental efficiencies as well as improvements to patient, staff and visitor safety. Some examples include: hazard surveillance, accident investigations, environmental assessments, risk assessments, gap analysis, injury prevention, etc.

This position requires significant on-site presence at entities due to the service line needs for inspections, assessments, testing and training.

Accountabilities

• Delivers timely reports and inspections relative to entity compliance with Joint Commission standards, chapters and elements of performance pertaining to Life Safety, Environment of Care and Emergency Management as well as OSHA, EPA, DOH and other regulatory agencies.
• Performs job hazard analyses independently and identifies work practice controls to minimize risk of injuries.
• Performs inspections, accident investigations and other incident follow-up to identify patterns, cause and effect or additional factors in order to mitigate risk of property loss, injuries or fatalities.
• Oversees and efficiently manages electronic methods for filing records, logs and various safety related subject matter.
• Makes appropriate recommendations for improvement and implementation of preventative or corrective actions
• Works independently with minimal supervision delivering timely quality product to one or more service line area(s.)
• Manages, implements and monitors one or more programs within a service line discipline maintaining all necessary data and documentation.
• Demonstrates a professional, courteous, and respectful demeanor that reflects favorably on self and the Emergency Management and Safety Department.
• Manages and implements tasks or programs centered around one or more service line disciplines which may include: respiratory fit testing and training, fire extinguisher inspections and recordkeeping, life safety inspections in healthcare or business/ambulatory occupancies, LOTO, Fall Protection, Confined Space, injury prevention, ergonomics and other safety categories.
• Coordinates and collaborates with key stakeholder departments whose interaction with plays a critical role in successful environmental health and safety and Environment of Care programs. Examples include: Employee Health/Occupational Medicine, Human Resources (HR), HR Information Services, Lab Medicine, Nursing and Facilities.)
• Instructs, leads, coordinates education and hands-on training to staff relative to one or more disciplines which may include respiratory protection, fire and life safety, employee injury prevention, ergonomics, safe patient handling or other environmental safety topic.
• Develops recommended interventions where appropriate and monitors progress of interventions to mitigate occupational and environmental stressors such as fire risk, biological and chemical exposures, ergonomic injuries, fall injuries, etc.
• Researches and performs analysis of data from a variety of sources including Human Resources, Risk Management, Employee Health, Quality Assurance and others supportive of program development focused on preventing or reducing job related injuries
• Responds to fire, safety and hazardous incident emergencies occurring across Penn Medicine operating sites as needed, assuming the role assigned.
• Independently resolves problems related to investigations, work assignments, department functions or services in a timely and effective manner.
• Develops, instructs, leads and coordinates programs, education and hands-on training to staff relative to one or more disciplines which may include respiratory protection, fire and life safety, injury prevention, ergonomics, safe patient handling or other environmental safety topic.
• Performs duties in accordance with Penn Medicine and entity values, policies, and procedures
• Other duties as assigned to support the unit, department, entity, and health system organization

Minimum Requirements
Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Occupational or Environmental Safety ( fire prevention, emergency management, environmental science, or physical/occupational science) or other related field is required.
• 3+ years Direct safety experience as an EHS I at UPHS or meets the qualifications of such in an equivalent industry experience or aggregate thereof

Licenses, Registrations, and Certifications

• Professional certification demonstrating technical knowledge and content matter expertise within one or several safety related disciplines is preferred.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Computer skills and ability to navigate software tools in support of Emergency Management and Safety department functions and organizational needs. Proficiency in Microsoft Office platform.
• Fundamental understanding of basic occupational safety and environmental standards (OSHA, EPA)
• Ability to understand the connection of occupational safety and environmental standards to Joint Commission
• Applies knowledge of regulations and standards related to one or more specific areas of responsibility.
• Able to recognize that work related duties may require complex schedule coordination because of inter-related nature of activities and therefore can organize, prioritize and manage accordingly to meet timelines and deliverables.

We believe that the best care for our patients starts with the best care for our employees. Our employee benefits programs help our employees get healthy and stay healthy. We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits program that includes one of the finest prepaid tuition assistance programs in the region. Penn Medicine employees are actively engaged and committed to our mission. Together we will continue to make medical advances that help people live longer, healthier lives.

Live Your Life's Work

We are an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, familial status, genetic information, domestic or sexual violence victim status, citizenship status, military status, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable law.