EHS Specialist

SUMMARY:

The Safety Specialist observes operations and facilities, identifies hazards & corrective actions, and engages employees & supervisors in the effort to achieve local EHS objectives and ensure compliance with environmental, health and safety regulations for Viking operations within the United States.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Assists with implementation of the company’s Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) program at the plant level, and support the development & administration of Viking policies, procedures & work instructions under direction of the EHS Director.
• Set the standard and cultivate the EHS culture in the plant.  
• Strong Environmental knowledge preferred.
• Works with multiple operational teams to jointly ensure compliance with all relevant environmental, occupational health, and workplace safety regulations and standards.
• Helps ensure consistent administration of ALL company & plant-level policies and internal requirements as they relate to safety within the workplace.
• Drafts various Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Work Instructions (WIs), Safe Work Permits, and associated forms to communicate both regulatory and company requirements and expectations regarding associated EHS programs within Viking.
• Periodically reviews various EHS programs and SOPs as required by regulation, and proposes revisions as needed to ensure that these documents are both current and effective.
• Meets periodically with other operational & design teams within the organization to ensure that all delegated EHS activities, including assessments, periodic reviews, SOP/WI revisions, corrective actions and associated tasks remain on schedule until completion.
• Leads cross-functional teams in conducting regular Hazard Assessments of activities, equipment, and operations on the plant floor to evaluate the potential for safety & health hazards that employees may encounter while performing their job.
• Conducts and documents Industrial Hygiene investigations per industry standards and as assigned by EHS leadership, including: noise, heavy metals and acid airborne concentrations, indoor air quality (i.e., asbestos, bio aerosols), and ergonomics.
• Conducts floor-level Hazard Assessments and EHS compliance assessments as directed by the Director of Environmental, Health & Safety.
• Generates proposed Corrective Actions (CAs) to address safety hazards and related findings, works to obtain consensus from all parties involved, and tracks CAs through to completion.
• Provides EHS expertise and assistance to both Engineering and Operations with the planning and execution of all process modifications, including the procurement & installation of new equipment before installation on the plant floor.
• Administers the SDS System and associated chemical safety program, including requirements for hazard communication and global harmonization.
• Supports the development of EHS training tools and educational programs and improve utilization of the Viking Education Development Center (EDC) as a tool for completion of regulatory required safety training within the organization.
• Provides classroom-based safety training and documents completion of all training events.
• Conducts informational EHS meetings and training sessions to satisfy regulatory requirements and promote general safety concepts and safety consciousness not specifically driven through use of the LMS.  This may include but is not limited to:  safety orientation; hearing conservation; respiratory protection; hazard communication; electrical safety (lockout/tagout); chemical safety; material handling and powered industrial vehicle permits; personal protective equipment; emergency response planning; and first aid response personnel.
• Assists the EHS department as requested with Incident Investigations and assists with administration of the Viking Workers Compensation Program.
• Serves as a leader of the Viking Safety Committee and actively participates in any activities or assessments assigned by the committee.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

 Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health & Safety, Occupational Safety, Environmental Science, Industrial Hygiene, or a related field.

• OR five (5) years of related experience and training; or an equivalent combination of education and experience in a manufacturing environment.

• 3+ years of experience in EHS within a manufacturing, industrial, construction, warehousing, or corporate environment.
• Working knowledge of OSHA regulations, EPA requirements, and applicable state and local safety regulations.
• Experience conducting hazard assessments, job safety analyses (JSA), risk assessments, and safety audits.
• Ability to develop, implement, and maintain EHS programs, policies, and procedures.
• Strong experience leading incident investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective action plans.
• Proficiency in safety training development and delivery for employee populations at multiple levels.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and documentation skills.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to influence and engage employees and leadership.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and EHS reporting systems.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across departments.

Additional Preferred Qualifications

• Professional certifications such as ASP, CSP, CHST, CIH, or ISO 45001 Lead Auditor.