EHS Specialist

The EHS & Compliance Specialist is charged with administering safety programs and supporting WH efforts to drive the safety culture. This position will identify and promote safety best practices, identify and recommend training programs, manage workers compensation programs.

The EHS & Compliance Specialist is part of a small but mighty HR team supporting nearly 200 employees in Wright-Hennepin and Heartland Security Services. This position reports to the VP of Human Resources and partners closely with the HR Generalist, Facilities Manager, and Payroll & Benefits Administrator. We will look for HR & Safety Specialist to maintain compliance with local, state and federal rules and regulations.

Location

This will be a full-time in-office position located at WH Headquarters in Rockford, MN. Rockford is located on Hwy. 55, 15 minutes west of I-494.

Compensation & Benefits

Base salary range: $32.00-40.00/hour plus annual bonus

Wright-Hennepin offers a competitive benefits package to support your health, financial well-being, and work-life balance:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with generous company match and contributions to a Health Savings Account
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Eligibility for annual bonus opportunities
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), including dependent care options
• Tuition reimbursement and development opportunities
• Additional wellness, financial, and support resources for employees and families

What you'll do 

40% Safety Program Support and Training

• Provide analysis of risks by evaluating the effectiveness of initiatives through safety assessments and compiling and interpreting data to identify gaps. Develop and implement action plans to mitigate risks.
• Meet with department leaders to understand safety needs and administer safety trainings based on needs assessment.
• Lead WH Safety Committee and Medical Response Team. Conduct meetings, assign action items, and ensure progress made towards actions.
• Ensure employees have access to safety trainings and track progress towards completion. 
• Develop and communicate policies and procedures to manage workplace accidents and injuries.
• Manage and analyze safety metrics and influence organization.
• Track Safety Improvement Plan progress and act as primary contact for on-site safety audits. Create and lead action plans as a result of audit findings.
• Provide recommendations for programs based on industry best practices.
• Coordinate post-accident injury and near miss investigations. Assist with employee interviews, equipment inspections and site inspections, review personal protective equipment, materials and job-site specific gear. Review OSHA regulations and provide training guidelines. 

25% OSHA, DOT, and EPA Compliance

• Act as Organization’s primary Designated Employer Representative (DER). 
• Manage DOT Driver Clearinghouse for new hires and run queries annually for all drivers. 
• Review policies and procedures to ensure compliance with FMCSA, DOT, and OSHA standards. Schedule training for drivers and ensure drivers maintain necessary licenses.
• Coordinate quarterly random drug screens and train supervisors on reasonable suspicion drug screen processes. 
• Perform onsite inspections to ensure compliance with OSHA and coordinate industrial hygiene services such as noise levels, equipment and air quality, etc.
• Manage Safety Data Sheets, update and maintain compliance.
• Manage spill plan processes and oversee fuel tank compliance.
• Maintain compliance for environmental issues and concerns and submit documentation. 

15% Worker’s Compensation

• Lead process for handling Workers Compensation injuries. Act as first point of contact for employees and supervisors on workplace injuries.
• Partner with employee, supervisor and workers compensation vendor on employee’s injury.
• Work with supervisors to determine light duty and return to work status and ensure return-to-work paperwork is complete as needed.
• Submit claims, complete earnings schedule etc.

10% Emergency Response

• Provide guidance and assist with planning annual Emergency Response Planning drills. 
• Manage quarterly updates for ERP document
• Support emergency response drills.
• Serve as first point of contact for all emergencies and ensure timely incident reporting to leadership.

10% Safety On-Boarding

• Create new hire on-boarding safety training, set up new hires with MVR, and complete pre-employment safety activities. 
• Conduct new hire safety orientation.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in safety, Industrial Hygiene, Occupational Health, Business, Human Resources, Psychology or related field strongly preferred
• 3+ years of experience in a safety, compliance, or HR Generalist role
• Experience with OSHA, DOT, EPA or other regulatory agencies
• Experience with Workers Compensation administration

Licenses/Certificates

• Valid Driver’s License
• CSP or ASP preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of relevant regulatory, industry standards and best practices
• Demonstrated ability to use analytics and identify trends
• Must be capable of building strong relationships with partners throughout the organization and with external partners
• Demonstrated flexibility and ability to operate within an ambiguous and changing environment
• Proven strong planning, organization and prioritization skills
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills
• Ability to resolve conflicts and diffuse difficult situations
• Ability to handle personnel matters and difficult situations with extreme poise, tact and maintain highest level of confidentiality
• Demonstrated strong consultative and influencing skills
• Experience conducting employee training 
• Ability to be on-call and take after-hours emergency calls