Job Abstract

Walnut Valley Water District is excited to announce that we are accepting applications for the position of Safety Officer.

The District
At Walnut Valley Water District, we believe in putting people first. We understand the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance while striving for excellence in everything we do. Our vision statement, "Shared Values, Shared Results," reflects our commitment to collaboration, integrity, and success. As a team member, you'll be part of a dedicated workforce and enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your personal and professional growth.


The Safety Officer performs a variety of professional-level duties involved in the development, organization, implementation, and coordination of a variety of safety and risk management programs including workers’ compensation, security, training, safety/environmental management, and emergency management programs. This role operates under the administrative direction of the Director of Administrative Services.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Administers continued implementation and oversight of the District’s Safety Program promoting an injury and illness free workplace; reviews, develops, and updates safety related policies and procedures as required by law or as necessary; develops and provides training of various safety topics to employees; inspects District facilities, equipment, and records for compliance with state and federal occupational safety and health standards.
• Develops and enforces safety policies and procedures in compliance with State and Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rules and regulations.
• Oversees and participates in the day-to-day operations of programs designed to reduce risk and ensure work place safety and facility security; performs a variety of professional level duties involved in the development, organization, implementation, and coordination of a variety of safety and risk management programs including workers’ compensation, security; training, safety/environmental management, and emergency management programs.
• Responds to the scene of accidents/injuries; conducts thorough investigations and analyses of conditions and circumstances related to the accident/injury; prepares reports with findings and recommendations.
• Facilitates and conducts safety training and coordinates training with internal and external subject matter experts; develops training content, including presentations and training materials; ensures all training is tracked in appropriate database.
• Oversees and participates in the implementation and administration of the District’s DOT program.
• Coordinates and conducts quarterly Safety Committee meetings; prepares agendas and informational packets; implementation of corrective actions.
• Oversees and participates in the management and implementation of the District’s Risk Management Program; receives, investigates, and processes all claims filed by members of the public and other organizations; prepares reports with findings and recommendations; coordinates with claimants, ACWA/JPIA, attorneys, other insurance carriers and District personnel.
• Works closely with ACWA/JPIA risk management staff to coordinate periodic inspections and respond to follow-up inspection reports.
• Conducts special and periodic inspections of District facilities and operations to identify safety hazards; issues reports of hazards and required abatements; responds to the scene of employee personal injury accidents; prepares required reports on employee accidents and accident trends.
• May review contract documents to ensure that insurance requirements are met and maintained; may review contract language to ensure effective risk transfer has taken place.
• Participates in the implementation and management of the District’s comprehensive security systems, building access, and monitoring systems.
• Conducts ergonomic evaluations and provides feedback to employees related to ergonomic issues, makes recommendations; maintains records related to ergonomic evaluations.
• Prepares or advises on the development of specifications for the purchase of safety equipment; periodically checks the operation or use of safety equipment to ensure conformation with District expectations.
• Participates in the on-going implementation and coordination of the District’s Emergency Response Plan ; performs a full range of duties to ensure the District is prepared to handle a disaster; trains staff on the principles of the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS); develops emergency exercises and drills and analyzes staff response and efforts; coordinates the efforts of staff to develop standard procedures to operate under duress and abnormal circumstances.
• Participates in the development and implementation of the District’s Training and Employee Development Program related to safety and risk management; develops required training courses by occupational category for all job classifications; provides training in various topics including occupational safety and health, professional development, and emergency management; ensures that employees receive required training and regulatory obligations; coordinates the implementation and maintenance of a training program and database.
• Performs related duties as required.

TYPICAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

• Requires sufficient mobility to work in an office setting and to travel to various locations as the need arises
• Ability to conduct inspections and investigations at varying locations.
• Communicates with District Management, co-workers, and the public in face-to-face, one-on-one, and group settings.
• Occasional exposure to non-office settings when investigating claims or performing work-site inspections.
• Must be able to carry, push, pull, reach, and lift objects and supplies weighing up to 30 lbs.
• Regularly uses a telephone for communication.
• Stands or sits for extended time periods.
• Uses office equipment such as computers and copiers.
• Hearing and vision within normal ranges.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Principles and practices of developing and administering a safety and risk management program.
• Risk management principles including those related to managing risk in a local government, risk assessment, risk retention, risk transfer, claims and litigation management, loss control, workers’ compensation, safety, security, and emergency response.
• Water industry safety standards and requirements.
• Basic principles and practices of program development and administration.
• Standard organizational and management practices as applied to the analysis and evaluation of programs, policies, and operational needs.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations pertaining to workplace safety.
• Techniques of developing and conducting workplace training programs.
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and statistical databases.
• Methods and techniques of effective technical, administrative, and financial record keeping, report preparation, and presentation.
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Mathematical principles.

ABILITY TO:

• Participate in planning, organizing, directing, coordinating, and evaluating comprehensive safety and risk management programs.
• Perform responsible and difficult programmatic and administrative duties involving the use of independent judgment and personal initiative.
• Participate in the development and administration of safety and risk management program goals, objectives and procedures.
• Conduct investigations, safety audits, and related research and prepare findings and recommendations in a clear and concise manner.
• Understand the organization and operation of the District, assigned programs, and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities.
• Understand, interpret, and apply administrative and departmental policies and procedures as well as pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
• Research, analyze, and formulate recommendations, work plans, and activities regarding planning, technical, and administrative issues.
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Establish and maintain various data collection, record keeping, tracking, filing, and reporting systems.
• Prepare clear and concise technical and administrative reports.
• Provide training to others.
• Operate and use modern office equipment including a computer and various software packages.
• Respond to emergency and problem circumstances in a clam, organized, effective manner, dealing as necessary with conflict, to arrive at an effective course of action.
• Exercise good judgment and maintain confidentiality in maintaining critical, sensitive, and confidential information, records, and reports.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to pass a pre-employment physical.
• Valid California Driver's License - Class "C". Must maintain an acceptable driving record as determined by the District's insurance carrier.
• Telephone in service at all times.
• Reliable personal transportation.

OVERTIME ASSIGNMENTS

The purveyance of water is a vital service to the community and as such requires the availability of District personnel at all times. Consequently, Administrative employees, including the Safety Officer, will be required to respond to emergency calls, accept periodic overtime assignments (includes evenings and weekends), and perform any and all other duties deemed necessary by the District. Lacking a bona fide excuse satisfactory to the District, a failure to report when called could result in termination.

FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT

For the purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Safety Officer shall be considered an "exempt" position.

“AT WILL” EMPLOYMENT

This is an “at will” position without expectation of indefinite employment and may be terminated at any time without cause within the total discretion of the appointing authority.