Biological Safety Specialist - (496488 )

University of Houston; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 57,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Houston is seeking a position in the Environment Health & Safety department to conduct lab and shop safety audits, provide safety training, and maintain regulatory records. The role may support hazardous waste management and policy development while ensuring compliance with state and federal requirements.

Ideal candidates will have a four-year degree (or equivalent), at least one year of related experience, and strong knowledge of biological hazards and safety guidelines.

Qualifications

• Requires a 4-year degree from a college or university or equivalent training.
• Minimum of one year of directly job-related experience.
• Preferred: Technical certification or licensing directly related to the job.
• Must have a basic knowledge of biological hazards in the laboratory environment.
• Must be familiar with applicable biological safety regulations and guidelines, including bloodborne pathogens.
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Audits campus for assigned safety areas, including biological safety, chemical safety, general laboratory safety, hazardous waste material safety, laser safety, regulatory compliance activities, occupational safety, radiation safety, shop safety and X-ray machine safety.
• Maintains records of safety programs, in compliance with state and federal regulations; documents findings on EHS audit reports, and maintains applicable computer databases.
• Evaluates work area and practices for proper safety controls and makes requirements to develop work practices that reduce the potential for accidents.
• Implements safety programs in assigned area of specialisation such as blood borne pathogen, radiation dosimetry, hazardous waste or job safety analysis.
• Develops and trains faculty, staff and students in various safety programs, including biological safety, chemical safety, general laboratory safety, hazardous waste material safety, laser safety, regulatory compliance activities, occupational safety, radiation safety, shop safety, x-ray machine safety and/or customized training for unique hazardous operations.
• Collects, maintains and/or evaluates chemical inventory records for each laboratory or shop location.
• Provides assistance in managing campus waste streams. This may include collection and transportation of hazardous waste, creation or validation of associated profiles, along with documents for vendor and regulatory agencies.
• Maintains working knowledge of federal, state and local regulations requirement and ensures proper implementation.
• Responds to, investigates and documents accidents, incidents and/or emergencies, including spills and potential overexposure to hazardous material as part of the emergency response team.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

Department: Environment Health &Safety Salary: $56,800-$64,600

Description:

Conducts safety audits of laboratories and trade shops, providessafety training and maintains regulatory records. May alsoimplement hazardous waste management program and developdepartmental policies and procedures. Pursuant to the State ofTexas Executive Order No. GA-48, this position researches, workson, or has access to critical infrastructure and requires theability to maintain the security or integrity of the Universityinfrastructure. This position requires personnel be routinelyreviewed to determine whether or not criminal history or continuousconnections for the government or political apparatus of a foreignadversary might prevent the employee from being able to maintainthe security or integrity of the infrastructure.

1. Audits campus for assigned safety areas, including biologicalsafety, chemical safety, general laboratory safety, hazardous wastematerial safety, laser safety, regulatory compliance activities,occupational safety, radiation safety, shop safety and X-raymachine safety.

2. Maintains records of safety programs, in compliance withstate and federal regulations; documents findings on EHS auditreports, and maintains applicable computer databases.

3. Evaluates work area and practices for proper safety controlsand make requirement(s) to develop work practices that reduce thepotential for accidents.

4. Implements safety programs in assigned area of specializationsuch as blood borne pathogen, radiation dosimetry, hazardous wasteor job safety analysis

5. Develops and trains faculty, staff and students in varioussafety programs, including biological safety, chemical safety,general laboratory safety, hazardous waste material safety, lasersafety, regulatory compliance activities, occupational safety,radiation safety, shop safety, x-ray machine safety and/orcustomized training for unique hazardous operations.

6. Collects, maintains and/or evaluates chemical inventoryrecords for each laboratory or shop location.

7. Provides assistance in managing campus waste streams. Thismay include collection and transportation of hazardous waste,creation or validation of associated profiles, along with documentsfor vendor and regulatory agencies. Other duties may also includebulking hazardous waste activities and review/revision of bulkingprocedures.

8. Maintains working knowledge of federal, state and localregulations requirement and ensures proper implementation.

9. Responds to, investigates and documents accidents, incidentsand/or emergencies, including spills and potential overexposure tohazardous material as part of the emergency response team.

10. Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

MQ: Requires a thorough understanding of both theoretical andpractical aspects of an analytical, technical or professionaldiscipline; or the basic knowledge of more than one professionaldiscipline. Knowledge of the discipline is normally obtainedthrough a formal, directly job-related 4 year degree from a collegeor university or an equivalent in-depth specialized trainingprogram that is directly related to the type of work beingperformed.

Requires a minimum of one (1) year of directly job-relatedexperience. None. Preferred: Technical certification or licensingdirectly related to the job.

Additional Posting Information:

• Must have a basic knowledge of biological hazards in thelaboratory environment.
• Must be familiar with applicable biological safety regulationsand guideline, including bloodborne pathogens.
• Must communicate and work cooperatively with personnel in diversepositions, including professors, researchers, lab technicians,engineering and operations/facilities maintenance personnel, andadministrators to apply regulatory requirements or guidelines tothe unique environment of the research or clinicallaboratory.
• Must be detail oriented.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and be able to learnand use EHS databases.
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills.

All positions at the University of Houston-System are securitysensitive and will require a criminal history check.

The University of Houston System and its universities are EqualOpportunity Institutions. Everyone is encouraged to apply.