LABORATORY SAFETY COORDINATOR

Cook County Health; Illinois; On-site; USD 99,000 - 112,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage

Pension Plan and Deferred Compensation

Paid Holidays, Vacation, and Sick Time

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Cook County Health is seeking a Laboratory Safety Coordinator to develop, support, and maintain the Laboratory Safety Program across major hospital laboratories. This role ensures CAP, Joint Commission, and other standards through audits, safety training, policy review, and regulatory readiness activities.

The position collects audit data, supports corrective actions, and works with leadership to improve safety practices and compliance; is involved in PDCA activities and environmental safety

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• Certification through ASCP or AMT as MT/MLS/MLT with proof at interview.
• Three (3) years in hospital, healthcare, or clinical lab setting.
• Two (2) years applying laboratory safety, regulatory, accreditation, or quality standards.
• Experience developing laboratory safety policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Develops and maintains the CCH Laboratory Safety Program across Stroger and Provident hospital labs.
• Collaborates with lab leadership to ensure CAP, Joint Commission, and other standards compliance.
• Performs monthly lab safety audits; minimum three audits per department annually.
• Serves as SME for laboratory department Environment of Care rounding.
• Maintains hazardous chemical inventories and proper storage, labeling, and disposal of chemicals.
• Participates in PDCA activities to drive continuous improvement in safety and compliance.
• Investigates safety concerns and processes issues with lab management.
• Reviews and updates laboratory safety policies and education modules for approval.

Skills

Laboratory safety

Regulatory compliance

Audit coordination

Policy development

HIPAA confidentiality

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

The final salary and offer components are subject to additional approvals based on Cook County Health (CCH) policy. Your placement within the salary range is dependent on a number of factors including your work experience and internal equity within this position classification at CCH. For positions that are represented by a labor union, placement within the salary range will be guided by the rules in the collective bargaining agreement.

Location

JOHN H. STROGER, JR. HOSPITAL

Department

Clinical & Anatomical Services - Administration

Shift

7:00am - 3:00pm

Salary

$98,947 - $111,983 Yearly

• Salary is commensurate with years of experience indicated at time of application submittal. Experience not disclosed or documented at the time of application will not be considered for initial step placement. *

Job Summary

The Laboratory Safety Coordinator is responsible for developing, supporting, and maintaining the Cook County Health Laboratory Safety Program. This position supports compliance with College of American Pathologists (CAP), Joint Commission, and other applicable laboratory safety standards through safety audits, new hire safety training, laboratory safety education, policy review, and regulatory readiness activities. The Laboratory Safety Coordinator collects and analyzes audit data related to safety practices and supports corrective action efforts to ensure continued compliance with laboratory regulatory safety standards.

Typical Duties

• Develops and maintains the CCH Laboratory Safety Program, including compliant safe work practices for pathology and laboratory medicine departments at Stroger and Provident hospital laboratories.
• Collaborates with laboratory leadership to support compliance with College of American Pathologists (CAP), Joint Commission, and other applicable regulatory and accreditation standards.
• Performs monthly laboratory safety audits and ensures at least three audits are completed per laboratory department annually. Submits completed safety audits to the Clinical Laboratory Quality Manager.
• Serves as the subject matter expert for laboratory department Environment of Care (EOC)rounding.
• Maintains hazardous chemical inventories and ensures appropriate storage, use, labeling, and disposal of chemicals.
• Participates in Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) activities to support continuous improvement related to laboratory safety, audit findings, and identified areas of non-compliance.
• Collaborates with laboratory management to investigate process issues, safety concerns, and barriers impacting safe laboratory practices.
• Reviews, develops, and updates laboratory safety policies and procedures for review, approval, and implementation by Laboratory Management.
• Reviews and updates laboratory safety education modules for review, approval, and implementation by Laboratory Management.
• Identifies performance deviations and monitors remedial actions related to laboratory safety.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university (Must provide official transcripts at time of interview).
• Certification through the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) or American Medical Technologists (AMT) as a Medical Technologist (MT), Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS), or Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT). (Must provide proof at time of interview)
• Three (3) years of work experience in a hospital, healthcare, or clinical laboratory setting is required.
• Two (2) years of experience applying laboratory safety, regulatory, accreditation, or quality standards is required.
• Experience developing policies and procedures related to laboratory safety is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Five (5) years of work experience in a hospital laboratory as a bench scientist.
• Experience supporting College of American Pathologists (CAP), Joint Commission, or otherlaboratory accreditation surveys.
• Experience conducting safety audits, identifying corrective actions, and monitoring compliancewith laboratory safety standards.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities And Other Characteristics

• Knowledge of laboratory safety standards, regulatory requirements, and accreditationinspection practices.
• Knowledge of College of American Pathologists (CAP), Joint Commission, and applicablelaboratory safety requirements.
• Knowledge of safe laboratory practices, including chemical handling, hazardous materials,personal protective equipment, and infection prevention procedures.
• Knowledge of policy and procedure development, review, and implementation.
• Proficiency using Microsoft Office, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain a high degree of accuracy.
• Ability to collect, review, and analyze audit data related to laboratory safety and compliance.
• Ability to identify safety concerns, performance deviations, and opportunities for processimprovement.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with laboratory leadership, staff, andinterdisciplinary teams.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of patient-related and operational information in accordancewith HIPAA requirements.
• Ability to prioritize work, manage multiple assignments, and meet deadlines in a healthcareenvironment.

Physical and Environmental Demands

This position is functioning within a healthcare environment. The incumbent is responsible for adherence to all hospital and department specific safety requirements. This includes but is not limited to the following policies and procedures: Personal protective equipment requirements, hand washing and sanitizing practices, department specific engineering and work practice controls, and any other work area safety precautions as specified by hospital wide policy and departmental procedures

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of the personnel so classified.

For purposes of the American with Disabilities Act, “Typical Duties” are essential job functions.

VETERAN PREFERENCE

PLEASE READ

When applying for employment with the Cook County Health & Hospitals System, preference is given to honorably discharged Veterans who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States for not less than 6 months of continuous service

To Take Advantage Of This Preference a Veteranmust

• Meet the minimum qualifications for the position
• Identify self as a Veteran on the employment application by answering yes to the question by answering yes to the question, “Are you a Military Veteran?”
• Attach a copy of theirDD 214, DD 215 or NGB 22(Notice of Separation at time of application filing. Please note: If you have multiple DD214s, 215s, or NGB 22S, please submit the one with the latest date. Coast Guard must submit a certified copy of the military separation from either the Department of Transportation (Before 9/11) or the Department of Homeland Security (After 9/11).

Discharge papers must list and Honorable Discharge Status. Discharge papers not listing an Honorable Discharge Status are not acceptable

OR

• A copy of avalid State ID Card or Driver’s Licensewhich identifies the holder of the ID as a Veteran, may also be attached to the application at time of filing.

If items are not attached, you will not be eligible for Veteran Preference

VETERANS MUST PROVIDE ORIGINAL APPLICABLE DISCHARGE PAPERS OR APPLICABLE STATE ID CARD OR DRIVER’S LICENSE AT TIME OF INTERVIEW.

Benefits Package

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
• Basic Term Life Insurance
• Pension Plan and Deferred Compensation Program
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Holidays, Vacation, and Sick Time
• You may also qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
• 100% Tuition reimbursement for nursing-related programs

For further information on our excellent benefits package, please click on the following link: http://www.cookcountyrisk.com/

MUST MEET ALL REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AT TIME OF APPLICATION FILING.

• Degrees awarded outside of the United States with the exception of those awarded in one of the United States’ territories and Canada must be credentialed by an approved U. S. credential evaluation service belonging to the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE). Original credentialing documents must bepresented at time of interview. *

Please note all offers of employment are contingent upon the following conditions: satisfactory professional & employment references, healthcare and criminal background checks, appropriate licensure/certifications and the successful completion of a physical and pre-employment drug screen.

CCHHS isstrictlyprohibitedfromconditioning,basingor knowinglyprejudicingor affectinganytermoraspectofCountyemploymentorhiringuponorbecauseofany politicalreasonorfactor.

COOK COUNTY HEALTH & HOSPITALS SYSTEM IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.