EHS Specialist

Job Description

This role is a high impact change agent and positive safety culture ambassador. The safety culture ambassador must speak up and lead in uncomfortable situations for the betterment of the group. This is a critical “hands on” leadership and ownership role for ensuring safe employee practices are being implemented. Responsible for enforcing site employees’ compliance with all PPE and safety procedures even where non compliances may exist. Leading EHS Management Systems at the facility will be a key focus and taking safety to the next optimal level. Responsibilities include all aspects of the environmental, health and safety of the McHenry, IL location ensuring compliance with all local, state and federal regulations. You will be responsible for leading and implementing company behavioral based safety initiatives and injury/illness prevention. This position includes self-maintaining all OSHA specific requirements/logs and being a critical point person for all post accident investigations. Leader and facilitator of all safety team meetings, report meeting minutes and follow up on action items. This role will report directly to the Director of EHS.

Required Qualifications

Environmental:

Take ownership of the environmental compliance calendar in asset essentials and ensure on time completion of tasks.

Work with and provide data to 3rd party consultants that support regulatory reporting.

Health:

Lead and coordinate all industrial hygiene required activities (Hearing tests, respiratory fits tests).

Safety:

Overall owner and leader of all safety compliance and regulation.

Complete and document assigned inspections and reporting assignments. Work is to be accurate, properly documented and on time to submission date. (fire extinguishers, first aid kits, eye wash/safety showers, AED’s, fall protection, Powered Industrial Trucks, Machine Guarding, PPE)

Manage computer based training management system as a backup. User and assignments to be kept up to date monthly. Support corrective action development and track to closure.

Develop training and educational materials, lead training to all site employees and test knowledge of participants; oversee others conducting training/testing.

Conduct or facilitate Job Hazard Analysis (JHAs) with training implementation.

Conduct safety observations, including hazard/risk assessments, on routine and daily basis. Document findings requiring follow up using asset essentials work order system with completion of related action or corrective items.

Lead annual corporate site EHS assessments. Work with Plant Manager and EHS Team to develop actions to address findings. Manage findings to closure.

Other duties as required.

Desired Experience & Education and Physical Requirements

Manufacturing Aptitude & Affinity: Expected to spend most of time on the manufacturing floor (75%) and balance of time completing administrative work (25%) in order to achieve EHS targets regarding environmental, safety & health responsibilities.

Physical Demands: While performing duties, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to fingers, handle objects, feel, read, talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms and climb or balance. The employee is occasionally required to sit and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. While performing duties, the employee may be exposed to moving mechanical parts and fumes or airborne particles and high heat (some areas not climate controlled). Must be able to wear all required PPE.

Functional Experience or Aptitude: Direct experience strongly preferred but in the absence of direct experience, must demonstrate a reasonable aptitude for reading and interpreting federal, state and local laws as they pertain to occupational safety and health, clean air act, clean water act and the disposal of hazardous and/or industrial waste. Two years prior EH&S experience strongly preferred.

Leadership Qualities: Must be a motivational leader who can create a culture of excellence and accountability where employees want to come to work. Demonstrated planning experience, demonstrated safety excellence with strong data management, metric & results driven approach. Possesses strong work ethic & organizational skills. Must be a visible change agent for positive safety behaviors which include a comfort level for having challenging conversations and dialogues with employees and managers.

Key competencies required: working independently, customer centricity, collaboration, strong communication skills (both written and verbal), advanced critical thinking to analyze data and root cause problem solve, team leadership, interrelationship skills and participation. Ability to use ERP systems, Microsoft Office Suite, Asset essentials, Pure Safety, iAduitor programs effectively. Must demonstrate good communications and interrelationship skills in order to deal with outside agencies and employees in all areas of responsibility throughout the company. Will be required to assist with EHS CapEx Projects.

Education: High School diploma (or GED) required. Bilingual preferred. Bachelor’s Degree in a comparable or related study preferred, though not required. Must have an ASP® certification or equivalent professional EHS certification at time of hire or within one year in the role.Company Description

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