Safety Specialist I (Laboratory Safety)

The University of Texas at El Paso; El Paso (TX); On-site; USD 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Prescription, Life Insurance

Wellness platform

Paid Vacation & Sick Leave

Paid Holidays

Employee Discounts & Perks

Employee Education Assistance

Job summary

The University of Texas at El Paso is seeking a Laboratory Safety Specialist to support biological and laboratory safety, chemical hygiene, and hazardous waste management on the El Paso campus. This on-site role reports to the Associate Director of Laboratory Safety and collaborates with researchers, programs, and campus regulators.

Responsibilities include developing and delivering safety training, conducting inspections, maintaining records, and ensuring compliance with OSHA, CDC, EPA, and

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree required.
• Two years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and laboratory experience.
• Preferred: Bachelor’s degree in science or engineering; safety certifications such as ASSE/CSP or CIH.

Responsibilities

• Assist development and maintenance of laboratory safety programs and hazardous waste handling procedures.
• Perform safety inspections of laboratories, equipment, and facilities and follow up on corrective actions.
• Deliver in-person and online safety training to laboratory personnel and building occupants.
• Coordinate packaging, transporting, and disposing of hazardous and biological wastes.
• Assist in incident reporting and investigations related to hazardous materials and safety.
• Maintain records in the CampusOptics data management system and track safety metrics.

Skills

Laboratory safety

Hazardous waste

OSHA knowledge

Training delivery

Regulatory compliance

Education

Associate’s Degree

Tools

CampusOptics

Microsoft Office

Job description

Position Information

Hiring Department: Environmental Health & Safety

Reports To: Associate Director of Laboratory Safety

Job Location: El Paso, Texas (Fully On Site)

Posting End Date: Open until filled. This posting may close once a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received.

Hours: 40 hours per week, standard Monday- Friday 8:00am- 5:00pm.

FLSA status: Non-exempt

Earliest Start Date: As soon as possible.

Salary: $42,000 Annually

Required Application Materials

• Resume
• List of three references

Position Summary

Under the direction of management, incumbent will be responsible for providing technical assistance, coordination, training, consultation, and subject matter expertise in support of biological and laboratory safety, chemical hygiene, food safety, respiratory protection, biohazardous and hazardous waste management. The individual will work with campus researchers, academic programs, and external regulators to ensure a safe and compliant environment.

Statement Of Duties And Responsibilities

• Assists with the development, implementation, and maintenance of programs and procedures for laboratory safety inspections, safety equipment inspections, hazardous waste handling, hearing conservation, and respiratory protection.
• Performs and oversees follow up safety inspections of laboratories, equipment, and facilities to evaluate corrective actions.
• Also conducts safety assessments and inspection of campus buildings to include offices, classrooms, laboratories and mechanical rooms. Works with faculty, staff and students to promote awareness of biological safety, chemical hygiene, laboratory safety, food safety, respiratory protection hearing conservation and occupational health hazards if present.
• Designs and delivers the appropriate safety training programs through in-person and on-line training systems to educate laboratory personnel, building occupants, and service personnel in laboratory safety, food safety, respiratory protection hearing conservation and occupational health programs. Maintains training records.
• Assists with the development, implementation, and maintenance of laboratory safety programs that include procedures for packaging, transporting, and disposing of hazardous wastes including biological and chemical waste.
• Trains laboratory personnel in hazardous materials shipping.
• Assesses available biohazardous/hazardous waste treatment and disposal alternatives, including costs involved, to compare economic impact of alternative methods.
• Assists in developing comprehensive spill prevention programs and reviews laboratory plans for spill prevention; prepares reports of findings concerning spills.
• Responds on behalf of Environmental Health and Safety to hazardous materials spills, fire alarm activations and other campus emergencies. Prepares and submits incident reports and accident investigations to management.
• Coordinate the inspection of biosafety cabinets (BSC’s) and ensure its safe usage by providing training to laboratory users as needed and requested.
• Inspects safety equipment in laboratories; eye wash stations, safety showers, fire extinguishers, chemical fume hoods and performs annual testing to ensure safe operation. Submits work orders when necessary for repairs.
• Coordinates calibration of monitoring and safety equipment.
• Maintains working knowledge of OSHA, CDC, USDA, NIH, EPA, TCEQ, NFPA and other government regulations. Keeps up with current and new technologies developed by the industry.
• Performs air monitoring tests for indoor air quality investigations.
• Performs ergonomic evaluations and generates ergonomic evaluation reports. Present findings of ergonomic evaluations to management and stakeholders.
• Enters assessments, inspections and safety consultations into data management system, CampusOptics.
• Tracks performance metrics to include resolution of safety issues noted or observed.
• Knowledge of all Microsoft Office software and able to learn and use institutional data management systems.
• Has knowledge of molecular biology techniques, microbiology principles, chemical compounds and their characteristics, compatibilities and reactions with other chemical compounds.
• Complies with all State and University Policies.
• Other duties may be assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities: No supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Required Qualifications

Education: Associate’s Degree.

Experience: Two years of experience, related to the statement of duties and responsibilities; or equivalent combination of education and laboratory experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in science or engineering field.
• Two years of safety experience.
• Two years of laboratory research experience in related field.
• Associate Safety Professional, Certified Safety Professional, or Certified Industrial Hygienist.

Why Pick UTEP

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP ) is a comprehensive public research university that is increasing access to excellent higher education. We advance discovery of public value and positively impact the health, culture, education, and economy of the community we serve.

UTEP is America’s leading Hispanic-serving university. Located at the westernmost tip of Texas, where three states and two countries converge along the Rio Grande, 84% of our 26,000 students are Hispanic, and half are the first in their families to go to college. UTEP offers 170 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs at the only open-access, top-tier research university in America.

This is an especially exciting time to join UTEP as it advances the goals of its 2030 Strategic Plan . Built around the institution’s core strengths—its location, its people, its supportive culture, and its community partnerships—the plan lays out a bold vision for the next decade, aimed at maximizing the University’s regional impact and national stature.

What UTEP Offers

Miner Perks and Benefits

• Benefit Package includes: Medical, Prescription, Life Insurance and Wellness platform
• Voluntary Benefits: Dental, Vision, Additional life insurance, UT Flex, Short and Long - term disability plans
• Retirement Programs
• Longevity Pay
• Paid Vacation & Sick Leave
• Paid Holidays
• Employee Discounts & Perks
• Employee Education Assistance program
• And much more! Visit our Benefits Summary Page for more information on our additional benefits.

Disclaimer: Eligibility for perks and benefits may vary based on part-time or full-time employment.

Additional Information

Note: To the extent that this position involves research, work, or access to critical infrastructure as referenced in Executive Order GA-48, being hired for and continuing to be employed in this position requires the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure.

The primary accountabilities are intended to describe the general content of and requirements of this position and are not intended to be an exhaustive statement of duties. Incumbents may perform all or some of the primary accountabilities listed. Specific tasks or responsibilities will be documented in the incumbents’ performance objectives as outlined by the incumbents’ immediate supervisor or manager. This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code

• 51.215, which authorizes the employer to obtain criminal history record information. A valid driver’s license issued by the State where the applicant resides and insurability as defined in UTS 157 may be required to perform the position's essential functions.

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee must frequently stand and walk. The employee must regularly sit; use hands to feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee must lift and move up to 50pounds.

The noise level for this work environment is usually moderate.

In keeping with its access, excellence, and impact mission, The University of Texas at El Paso is committed to a learning and working environment that honors the talents, respects the differences, and nurtures the growth and development of all. We seek to attract faculty and staff who share our commitment.

The University of Texas at El Paso is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity in employment or the provision of services in accordance with state and federal law. Discrimination on the basis of sex includes an employee’s or prospective employee’s right to free from sexual harassment under Title IX of the Higher Education Amendments of 1972. Inquiries—including the filing of a Formal Complaint or reporting an incident—about the application of Title IX may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, who can be reached by phone at [phone], by email at [e-mail] , or by mail at 500 W. University Ave., El Paso, TX, Kelly Hall, Room 223C.

For accommodation information for employees and applicants with disabilities, please contact UTEP's Equal Opportunity Office at [e-mail] .