Safety and Training Officer

Statement of Duties

The Safety and Training Officer is responsible for the overall management of the Water and Sewer Department’s safety, health, and associated training programs.

Essential Functions:

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

• Researches, develops, and implements safety programs in areas such as accident investigation and prevention, motor vehicle safety, confined space, hearing conservation, ergonomics, and various Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) mandated programs.
• Ensures the department is in full compliance with OSHA, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the Department of Transportation (DOT), and other federal, state, and local mandated programs.
• Develops and regularly reviews safety policies, procedures, and disseminates information.
• Provides research and technical expertise, designs programs and/or analysis, and makes recommendations to management on a variety of difficult safety or health issues, programs, topics, training, or enforcement concerns including current or proposed regulations and their potential impact upon operations.
• Investigates incidents and accidents, to include responding to accident locations, taking photos, preparing sketches and notes, and conducting post interviews.
• Investigates safety issues of the Water and Sewer Department, including claims forwarded by other departments and staff.
• Provides court testimony as required.
• Oversees the development and implementation of a variety of training programs to include safety and professional topics, as well as maintains training attendance records.
• Recommends annual training goals and conducts annual training assessments.
• Performs building, work site and equipment inspections; collects and maintains appropriate accident and injury statistics, regulatory documentation, and records; conducts work site interviews and safety discussions; collects data analysis to identify trends; completes job hazard analysis reports as well as accident or incident investigations and follow-up reports; performs hazard assessments; conducts defensive driving evaluations.
• Coordinates with other personnel or outside agencies where necessary; assists with Safety and Health Committees.
• May serve on special committees or projects.
• The job is considered essential and will be required to work during and following emergency situations.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Recommended Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety, Health, Industrial Hygiene, or a closely related field and 3 – 5 years of progressively responsible experience in safety or health with 1-3 years of supervisory experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Special Requirements

• Successful pre-employment physical examination
• Valid Class D driver’s license
• OSHA 30-hour training for construction and general industry
• OSHA Confined Space Entry Training

Must successfully complete the required OSHA general industry and construction Certified Safety and Health Official (CSHO) programs within two years of employment.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill

Knowledge: Knowledge of the principles and practices of occupational safety and health, program development, research methods and report presentation; knowledge of the principles and practices of project management, work breakdown structures, communications planning, team management, scheduling, budgeting, accounting and finance methods; knowledge of environmental laws and regulations; knowledge of applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations related to construction and general industry, environment, occupational safety and health regulations.

Ability: Ability to produce written documents with clearly organized thoughts using proper sentence construction, punctuation and grammar; use and interpret graphical information such as construction plans, schematic drawings, flow charts, layouts and other visual aids, and electronic project management applications; interpret information accurately and make decisions according to existing laws, regulations and policies; ability to manage multiple projects of various complexities with competing interest and multiple funding sources.

Skill: Proficient communication skills, both verbal and written as well as the ability to deal with co-workers and the public in tense situations; proficiency with computers in all office software.

Work Environment

The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of offices; field work will require exposure to outside elements. Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant. Work may require some agility and physical strength, such as moving in or about construction sites or over rough terrain or standing or walking most of the work period. Employee may be required to work beyond normal business hours in response to emergencies, to attend evening meetings, or complete work assignments. Performance of essential functions may require exposure to hazardous materials/chemicals, odors, temperature, weather, and noise extremes, or traffic hazards.

Physical and Mental Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions.

Physical Skills

Employee will spend time in the office and in the field during construction projects. Work effort involves an equal mix of sitting, standing, and walking to perform work tasks. Work requires some agility such as moving in or about construction sites or over rough terrain. There may also be some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of moderate weight (up to 30 lbs.). Employee may be standing for periods longer than two to three (2-3) hours at a time and may encounter inclement weather. Some combination of stooping, kneeling, crouching, and crawling may be required.

Motor Skills

Duties may involve assignments requiring application of hand and eye coordination with finger dexterity and motor coordination. Examples include operating a motor vehicle, using a personal computer, or climbing a ladder.

Visual Skills

Visual demands include constantly reading documents for general understanding and for analytical purposes, making detailed visual observations, and routinely reviewing non-written materials such as maps and blueprints for analytical purposes.

Hours: Full-Time
Salary: $70,358.09 annualized, plus benefits
Union: Non-Union
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Pre-Employment Requirements: This is a safety sensitive position. Must pass a driving history check and pre-employment drug screening / physical prior to employment.
Date Posted: August 8th, 2024

City of Somerville residents are especially encouraged to apply.

The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request. Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or

Pre-Employment Requirements for All Employees:

• MA Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) clearance
• Completition of Conflict-of-Interest Law Education training for municipal employees

Overview of Total Rewards:

• 4 weeks annual vacation (for non-union positions) union positions vary by contract
• Medical insurance through the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) - 80% of premium costs paid by City
• Dental coverage low and high plans through Cigna
• Vision care through Vision Service Plan (VSP)
• Long term disability through Sun Life
• Group and voluntary life insurance through Boston Mutual
• Health Care and Dependent Care flexible spending through Benefit Strategies
• Deferred compensation plans through a choice of three vendors
• Free, confidential services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provided by E4Health
• Annual cancer screening & wellness release
• Somerville Retirement Pension System
• Tuition reimbursement
• MBTA pass program
• FREE Blue Bikes membership
• Eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

Benefits listed are for benefits-eligible positions and the above information is meant to be a general overview of the benefit programs offered by the City of Somerville and not a binding contract.