Building Code and Life Safety Specialist

Yale New Haven Health; New Haven (CT); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Yale New Haven Health seeks a Fire and Life Safety Coordinator to inspect hospital life safety systems, ensuring compliance with NFPA, Joint Commission, and state regulations, and maintaining documentation.

This onsite, full-time role involves plan reviews, risk assessments, inspections, training, and KPI reporting. Associates degree in Fire and Occupational Safety + 5 years hospital facilities experience preferred.

Qualifications

• Associates degree in Fire and Occupational Safety or related field preferred.
• 5 years of hospital facilities engineering or related experience.
• Ability to read code publications and review construction documents; strong communication and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Conduct hazard surveillance inspections across hospital spaces per applicable codes.
• Prepare written inspection reports and share with management for corrective action.
• Provide bi-monthly KPI reporting on Safety Management Plan.
• Coordinate and manage ITM inspections for fire protection systems.
• Respond to fire alarm notifications during working hours.
• Oversee NFPA and UL discharge tests for fire pumps.
• Supervise inspections of hand-held extinguishers and maintain records.
• Advise on life-safety questions and coordinate with authorities.

Skills

Regulatory compliance

Code publications reading

Communication

Organizational skills

Problem solving

Computer skills

Education

Associates degree in Fire and Occupational Safety

Job description

To be part of our organization, every employee should understand and share in the YNHHS Vision, support our Mission, and live our Values. These values - integrity, patient-centered, respect, accountability, and compassion - must guide what we do, as individuals and professionals, every day.

Performs a variety of duties which are critical to insure the proper performance and maintenance of numerous life safety systems throughout the Hospital, while maintaining Life Safety System Documentation for Regulatory Agencies (Joint Commission and Department of Public Health). In addition, is engaged with numerous committees: Emergency Management, Environment of Care Committee, Safety Committee, Occupational Health and Facilities Safety Program. Conducts on-going inspections, drills, and monitoring of fire and life safety systems and related environmental conditions to insure the Hospital's compliance with Federal, State, and Local Fire and Building Codes and maintains the Hospital's state of fire emergency preparedness. Reports findings to members of the Management Team and assists in their efforts to rectify those non-compliant conditions. This position requires the coordinator to be onsite full-time.

EEO/AA/Disability/Veteran

Responsibilities

• Conducts regularly scheduled hazard surveillance inspections throughout all public, mechanical, office and other related spaces as evidenced by written inspection reports, using Federal, State, JCAHO, and Local Fire and Building Codes, regulations, guidelines, and recommended good work practices.
• Prepares a written report concerning the observation while conducting regular inspections including EOCC Rounds, and circulates that report to management team members and department representatives of those areas inspected for corrective action, as evidenced by the report copies being shared with the co-chairs of the Occupational Health and Facilities Safety Program.
• As an EOCC Member, you will provide Bi-Monthly reporting of Key Performance Indicators related to the Safety Management Plan of each year. A "Year End Review" will be written and presented to the Committee along with the creation of the proceeding years Annual Management Plan.
• Represents YNHH in the Emergency Management Safety and Security Committee (EMSSC) as the Fire sub-committee.
• Participates as a team member in the Environment of Care (EOCC) Rounds process providing specific expertise in the safety area. Along with other Rounds process providing specific expertise in the safety area. Along with other Rounds participants, inspects all areas throughout the Hospital documenting findings accordingly.
• Assists and advises area or department representatives in rectifying inspection exceptions and fire protection-related problem solving, as evidenced by the sharing of correspondence and other documentation with the Manager of Distributed Systems.
• Coordinates vendors to perform the Inspection, Testing, and Maintaining (ITM) on the performance of all automatic fire suppression, sprinkler/standpipe systems, all Fire Alarm Systems and devices according to the Joint Commission/NFPA, IRI, and UL criteria. The management, accuracy, and timeliness of all required documentation is the responsibility of this coordinator.
• This coordinator will respond to all Fire Alarm notifications during regular working hours and document accordingly.
• Coordinates vendors to perform the Inspection, Testing, and Maintaining (ITM) of all fire extinguishers according to the Joint Commission/NFPA, IRI, and UL criteria. The management, accuracy and timeliness of all required documentation is the responsibility of this coordinator.
• Along with the Hospital's Fire Protection Insurance carrier, conducts annual NFPA, IRI, and UL discharge performance tests of all fire pumps, as evidenced by copies of IRI test data sheets and written reports. The management, accuracy and timeliness of all required documentation is the responsibility of this coordinator.
• Responsible for the supervision of monthly and annual, visual inspections of all hand-held fire extinguishers and standpipe hose racks throughout the Hospital in accordance with NFPA standards, as evidenced by updated computer data base inventory controls and computer generated reports. Also responsible for the training of personnel to perform said inspections, as well as being responsible for replacing any faulty extinguishers and having those extinguishers serviced by an outside contractor. The management, accuracy and timeliness of all required documentation is the responsibility of this coordinator.
• Conducts plan reviews for code compliance of all architectural and mechanical construction documents, regardless of size, for Hospital renovation and construction projects. Schedules plan review meetings for larger projects, as necessary, with the local Fire Marshal after initial plan review and personally presents the plan for his approval to secure buildings permits.
• Conducts regular progress inspections of all new construction and renovation projects to ensure compliance with pre-approved, code compliant construction plans. Notifies responsible individuals to take corrective actions regarding any hazardous or non-compliant conditions, as observed in the field.
• Evaluates and approves, as appropriate, all scheduled Impairments and shutdowns of fire suppression and detection systems. Evaluates and approves all hot work permit applications to conduct such work throughout the Hospital.
• Inspects, as necessary, all site locations of active fire suppression and detection systems impairments, as well as hot work activity to insure that all work is being performed according to applicable national, state, and local standards.
• Schedules, coordinates, and reports on the annual and special inspection visits of the Hospital's property loss insurance carrier's representatives and field engineers, as reported to the Director of Plant Engineering.
• Reviews, summarizes as necessary, and circulates the reports resulting from insurance carrier and regulatory agency inspection visits, and coordinates and monitors activity necessary to correct exceptions noted in those reports.
• Schedules, coordinates, conducts, evaluates, and documents all Hospital fire drills that are required by the State Fire Safety Code and the JCAHO, as evidenced by the development of the annual drill schedule, maintenance of a complete and accurate documentation file, and the management of the computerized, e-mail participation system.
• Provides bi-monthly Life Safety Management and quarterly Safety Management reports to the committee, as required by the JCAHO.
• As necessary, performs fire investigations (Not "Cause & Origin") to resolve any fire incidents throughout the Hospital to maintain a fire safe environment for employees, as evidenced by reports and other documentation forwarded to the Director of Plant Engineering.
• Routinely follows a problematic fire/life safety condition, which is in need of constant supervision until completely resolved.
• Represents the Director of Plant Engineering, as necessary, in all matters concerning fire/life safety issues, which the Director is unable to attend due to scheduling conflict or absence from the Hospital.
• Is responsible for the coordination and implemenation of all required inspections with the local authorities. Examples (but not limited to) Fire Marshal Inspection (annual), Fire Department Pre-plan Inspections (on request), etc.
• Responsible for the creation of new and annual review of existing, Fire Responce Plans (drawings/PDF) with all departments. Approved revisions to be uploaded to the YNHH Sharepoint Site.
• Advises on real-time life-safety questions and issues raised by clinical departments.

Qualifications

EDUCATION

Associates degree in Fire and Occupational Safety, Engineering, or other related field is preferred plus on-the-job training, healthcare setting preferred.

EXPERIENCE

Five (5) years experience in Hospital Facilities Engineering, loss prevention, fire protection, engineering, code enforcement or related experience.

SPECIAL SKILLS

Must be able to read and interpret technical code publications, as well as review and understand architectural and mechanical construction documents. Must have good problem solving and organizational skills to manage inspection reports and follow-up with corrective actions on deficiencies. Must have excellent communication, interpersonal, and instructional skills. Must have good organizational and computer skills.