Research Safety Specialist 2

Sacbar; Palo Alto (CA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Stanford University is seeking a Research Safety Specialist to serve as an EH&S liaison to researchers in laboratories. Working as part of the Lab Safety team, you will develop and help implement and maintain research safety programs to enable researchers to achieve good safety and health performance, including laboratory chemical or industrial hygiene, risk assessment, high hazard registration, and PPE.

If you see yourself working closely with the research and teaching laboratories to provide

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in arts/science in related allied/scientific field and three years progressively responsible experience in occupational safety and health, emergency response/management, environmental science, and/or allied/scientific field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain programs, systems, and procedures necessary to ensure the overall safety and health of employees and the community.
• May develop and conduct employee and student training, emergency preparedness activities, and/or assurance and accreditation programs.
• Identify, assess, and monitor workplace hazards (including but not limited to, chemical, physical, biological, and radiological) that could be present in the work area; remediate hazards, and/or recommend improvements to minimize hazard potential.
• Investigate accidents, incidents, injuries, and complaints concerning potential hazards or unsafe conditions in the workplace.
• Recommend improvements in processes, design, procedures, and operating equipment to minimize hazard potential.
• Provide technical advice and university interpretation of various government regulations and university policies; maintain working knowledge of specific government regulations.
• May act as a lead or technical expert and provide direction to less experienced personnel working on health/safety programs.

Skills

Health & safety surveys

Risk assessment

Regulatory interpretation

Effective communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in allied/scientific field

Tools

Regulatory databases

Job description

The Department of Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) at Stanford University is the principal health and safety office at Stanford University. We support and advance the teaching, learning and research activities at Stanford by promoting a safe and healthy campus environment. Our mission is to provide and coordinate programs and services that minimize safety, health, environmental, and regulatory risks in a manner consistent with fiscal and environmental stewardship. We are comprised of 9 technical groups with more than 50 specialists who work in the field with top researchers, faculty, staff, and students to support the mission and research of Stanford University. The work environment is team-oriented, collaborative, deadline-driven, and dynamic.

In addition to providing routine EH&S program services, our staff provides support as needed during University emergencies. All EH&S staff are to comply with governmental regulations and University policies and procedures regarding health and safety and are expected to serve as strong models and advocates for research health and safety.

The Research Safety Specialist will serve as an EH&S liaison to researchers in laboratories. Working as a member of the Lab Safety team, you will develop and help implement and maintain research safety programs to enable researchers to achieve good safety and health performance. Examples include laboratory chemical or industrial hygiene, risk assessment, high hazard registration, and personal protective equipment (PPE). If you see yourself working closely with the research and teaching laboratories to provide health and safety support for research design, problem solving, identification and promulgation of best practices, training, and compliance assistance, then this may be the career opportunity for you!

Core Duties:

Develop, implement, and maintain programs, systems, and procedures necessary to ensure the overall safety and health of employees and the community.

May develop and conduct employee and student training, emergency preparedness activities, and/or assurance and accreditation programs.

Identify, assess, and monitor workplace hazards (including but not limited to, chemical, physical, biological, and radiological) that could be present in the work area; remediate hazards, and/or recommend improvements to minimize hazard potential.

Investigate accidents, incidents, injuries, and complaints concerning potential hazards or unsafe conditions in the workplace.

Recommend improvements in processes, design, procedures, and operating equipment to minimize hazard potential.

Provide technical advice and university interpretation of various government regulations and university policies; maintain working knowledge of specific government regulations.

May act as a lead or technical expert and provide direction to less experienced personnel working on health/safety programs.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Education & Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in arts/science in related allied/scientific field and three years progressively responsible experience in occupational safety and health, emergency response/management, environmental science, and/or allied/scientific field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Demonstrated ability to conduct effective health and safety surveys, quantitative and qualitative exposure/risk assessments, and data analyses; ability to provide recommendations for exposure/risk control.
• Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with diverse audiences; ability to explain technical concepts clearly and concisely.
• Ability to maintain current knowledge of and interpret specific government agency requirements (statutes, regulations, licenses, and permits) and university policies.
• Working knowledge of the scientific and technical aspects of various regulatory requirements and potential impact on assigned work area(s).
  

Desired expertise includes:

• Experience in research safety and industrial hygiene.
• Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Associate Safety Professional (ASP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), or similar credentials.
• Familiarity with basic guidelines, standards, and other regulatory documents applicable to health and safety.
• Scientific background to enable technical discussions with researchers in multiple disciplines.
• Willingness to participate in an iterative design process, coupled with an appreciation of feedback, to engage in regular process improvement and solution-driven thinking.
• Team-first approach, collaborative growth mindset, and positive attitude when working with all levels of researchers and staff.