Occ Health & Safety Technician

Augusta University

Augusta, GA

Job posting number: #7111966

Posted: September 28, 2022

Job Description

Occ Health & Safety Technician

Job ID: 249223
Location: Augusta University
Full/Part Time: Full-Time
Regular/Temporary: Regular

About Us
Augusta University is Georgia's innovation center for education and health care, training the next generation of innovators, leaders, and healthcare providers in classrooms and clinics on four campuses in Augusta and locations across the state. More than 9,000 students choose Augusta for educational opportunities at the center of Georgia's cybersecurity hub and experiential learning that blends arts and application, humanities, and the health sciences. Augusta is home to Georgia's only public academic health center, where groundbreaking research is creating a healthier, more prosperous Georgia, and world-class clinicians are bringing the medicine of tomorrow to patient care today.

Location

Augusta University –
Our Health Sciences Campus:
1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA 30912

Our Summerville Campus:
2500 Walton Way, Augusta, GA 30904

Job Summary
OHS Technicians ensure a safe and regulatory compliant work place through review, evaluation, and analysis of work environments; hazardous materials inventory and waste management; training and consultation; spill response; and clinical support. OHS Technicians perform work in the radiological, biological, chemical, fire, industrial hygiene, and occupational safety programs under the technical supervision of OHS program managers. These programs are intended to minimize work place and learning environment risks to faculty, staff, students, and visitors.

Responsibilities
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Laboratory Surveillances
• Inspect research laboratories for the safe and compliant use of radiological and biological materials and hazardous chemicals
• Provide on-site coaching and consultation to laboratory personnel to improve safety and compliance; Document surveillances for follow-up action and review by regulatory agencies

Hazardous Material Inventory Management
• Track the purchase, delivery, and receipt of radiological and biological materials, and laboratory chemicals
• Ensure that staff and faculty who order radiological and biological materials and laboratory chemicals are authorized to possess the materials, and observe inventory limits
• Update, or cause laboratory personnel to update, the hazardous material inventory database to reflect receipt, use, or disposal of hazardous materials

Hazardous Waste Management
• Ensure proper storage of radiological, biological, and chemical waste at the point of origin
• Collect, package, and transport radiological and chemical wastes to the Material Safety Storage Facility, and biological wastes to the bio-waste trailer
• Properly store, and ultimately dispose radiological, biological, and chemical wastes
• Monitor the storage of universal wastes (lamps, ballasts, batteries), tires, and oil, and coordinate disposal through authorized vendors
• Dispose of Drug Enforcement Agency controlled substances through approved destruction methods
• Document waste management activities for review by regulatory agencies.

Ensure Safety of University Buildings
• Conduct Life Safety inspections of university buildings
• Inspect Fire Extinguishers
• Certify the proper operation of fume hoods
• Test safety showers and eyewash stations
• Conduct sidewalk surveys to identify tripping hazards
• Document inspections, tests, and observations for follow-up action and review by regulatory agencies

Indoor Environmental Quality
• Respond to indoor environmental quality complaints and assess conditions for odors, temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide levels, and heating, ventilating, and air conditioning performance
• Evaluate the impact of water intrusions through measurement of saturation of building materials. Designate areas of required remediation to Facilities Operations personnel
• Sample for evidence of indoor mold, obtain air and take samples, and submit them to a servicing laboratory using chain of custody techniques

Clinical Support for Medical Use of Nuclear Materials
• Receive and inspect radioactive packages at delivery
• Transport nuclear materials to the patient treatment room, operating room, or clinic
• Prepare inpatient rooms to minimize radioactive contamination
• Brief patients on the radiation safety aspects of their treatment
• Monitor patients to determine when they are safe for discharge
• Decontaminate patient treatment areas
• Dispose radioactive waste
• Document activities for review by regulatory agencies.

Hazardous Material Spill Response
• Respond to spills of radioactive and biological materials and hazardous chemicals
• Coordinate assistance from Public Safety, if necessary to control the scene
• Contain the spill
• Assist affected employees, to include personnel decontamination
• Direct staff on spill clean-up, or in the case of substantial or particularly hazardous material, perform the clean-up
• Properly dispose of contaminated materials
• Make internal notifications
• Document actions for follow-up and review by regulatory agencies.

Emergency Response
• Support enterprise emergency response, including hazardous materials/mass casualty events at AUMC, by providing monitoring, materials, assistance, and advice for receipt and treatment of casualties contaminated with radiological or biological materials, or hazardous chemicals
• Serve on a rotating basis as the OHS emergency on-call contact for off-duty, weekend, and holiday periods
• Respond to security alarms at specially secured locations, housing radiation sources of national security concern; Provide radiation monitoring and guidance to first responders on the condition of secured sources and appropriate radiation protection measures
• Guide and direct the fire department and other first responders to the scene of a fire at AU; Advise on chemical, biological, and radiological hazards that might be present at the scene
• Perform all other job-related duties as assigned

Required Qualifications
Associate's degree from an accredited college or university in chemistry, biology, nuclear science, industrial hygiene, environmental science, radiation protection, laboratory science, occupational safety, or closely related discipline
or
High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent from a recognized State or Federal accrediting organization with a minimum of four years of directly applicable experience and completion and passing of the OHST Training component; with the ability to wear a respirator and valid drivers license.

Preferred Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in chemistry, biology, nuclear science, industrial hygiene, environmental science, radiation protection, laboratory science, occupational safety, or closely related discipline.
• Two years' experience as an environmental, heath, and safety technician in industry, academia, or at a medical facility. Certified Hazardous Materials Manager designation.
• National Registry of Radiation Protection Technologists. Occupational Health and Safety Technologist certification. Certified Safety Professional. Georgia Firefighter certification.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

KNOWLEDGE
• Basic understanding of algebra, chemistry, biology, radioactivity and radiation, and industrial hygiene principals
• Working knowledge of laws, regulations, and AU rules regarding the safe and compliant use of hazardous chemicals, biologicals, and radiologicals; occupational safety and health standards; industrial hygiene principles; and fire safety requirements
• Engineering, personal protective equipment, and administrative controls for the safe use of hazardous materials
• Laboratory and clinical practices associated with the use of radiological, biological, and chemical materials
• Customer service principles and practices

SKILLS
• Effective verbal communication
• Effective written communication
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Active listening
• Reading comprehension
• Critical thinking
• Judgment and decision making
• Complex problem solving
• Instructing
• Persuasion
• Coordination
• Service orientation

ABILITIES
• Ability to maintain an established work schedule
• Mechanical aptitude
• Ability to interact and communicate effectively at all levels and across diverse cultures
• Ability to understand and follow instructions precisely
• Ability to work independently and as a team member
• Ability to use test and monitoring equipment
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Ability to draw conclusions and recommend courses of action
• Ability to develop and deliver OHS training material for various personnel
• Ability to safely drive an AU vehicle
• Detail oriented
• Proficient in Microsoft Office abd other computer software/databases

Shift/Salary/Benefits
Shift: Days; Monday - Friday

Salary to be commensurate with qualifications of selected candidate within the established range (generally minimum-midpoint) of the position

Recruitment Period: 9/15/22 - Until Filled

Augusta University offers a variety of benefits to full-time benefits-eligible employees and some of our half-time (or more) employees.

Benefits that may be elected could include health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, Teachers Retirement System (or Optimal Requirement Retirement), as well as earned vacation time, sick leave, and 13 paid holidays.

Also, our full-time employees who have been employed with us successfully for more than 6 months can be considered for the Tuition Assistance Program. Consider applying with us today!

Conditions of Employment
All candidates are required to successfully pass a Background Check review prior to starting with Augusta University.

The primary work location for this position is within the Augusta University Medical Center or other Augusta University Health System Clinic Space and is subject to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services guidelines. The selected candidate will be required to provide proof of COVID vaccination or an approved exemption. Your application to this position confirms you are aware of this requirement and agree to provide proof of either COVID vaccination or our organization's approval of a medical or religious exemption.

All employees are responsible for ensuring the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of sensitive [patient, student, employee, financial, business, etc.] information by exercising sound judgment and adhering to cybersecurity and privacy policies during the course of their employment and beyond.

Driver's License Statement
The Human Resources Division will request a driver's history report for the identified top candidate(s) for this position. We will initiate this through our Background Check Vendor; this report will come from the Department of Motor Vehicles. The selected candidate must have a valid driver's license.

Equal Employment Opportunity
Augusta University is proud to be an equal opportunity employer welcoming applicants from underrepresented groups, including individuals with disabilities and veterans.

Other Information
This position is also responsible for promoting a customer friendly environment and providing superior service to our patients, students, faculty, and employees. “Augusta University is a patient-and family-centered care institution, where employees partner everyday with patients and families for success.”
Augusta University is a tobacco free environment and the use of any tobacco products on any part of the campus, both inside and outside, is strictly prohibited.

To apply, please visit: https://apptrkr.com/3489304



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