Safety Officer

A career with Johnson County Government is more than just a job, it is an opportunity to serve a diverse and expanding community in meaningful ways.  We challenge ourselves to be a different kind of government because we care deeply about our community and each other. 

The Financial Management & Administration Department provides accounting and financial reporting, grants management, debt management, accounts payable, procurement, surplus disposal process, purchasing card program, risk management, payroll, employee benefit programs, and shared administrative services for County departments and agencies.

The Financial Management & Administration Department’s Risk Management Division is currently seeking qualified candidates for the position of Safety Officer. The position will be filled based on the candidate’s qualifications.

Review of applications will begin on May 13, and the posting will remain open until filled.

Responsibilities Include: 

• Contributes to a healthy and safe environment for County employees and public visitors; conducts formal semi-annual inspections of all County facilities to assure compliance with applicable regulations and standards and recommends changes in departmental safety practices; conducts inspections of road work zones, monitors safety procedures in the construction and repair of County facilities, and other operations as requested or deemed necessary; conducts ergonomic evaluations; conducts noise sampling for detection of excessive decibel levels; issues reports to responsible person of affected department, noting recommendations and/or violations; conducts follow up inspections to ensure that violations have been corrected and recommendations have been adopted.
• Contributes to the general awareness of safety and safety programs through facilitation of training (e.g., new employee orientation and Supervisor’s Training Institute) and develops/refines materials for those presentations; contributes to accident, loss prevention, and safety awareness by facilitating and/or personally conducting safety and certification training programs; conducts or facilitates safety and health training as requested and/or required; participates in departments’ safety meeting, as requested, especially as they pertain to operations in public works, wastewater, and facilities management.
• Contributes to the County’s program of identifying and eliminating safety, health, liability and property risks of loss; investigates certain employee work-related bodily injury accidents for cause and corrective action recommendations; investigates County vehicle and premises accidents for root cause; issues written report of findings and recommendations for corrective action; reviews and analyzes loss data to identify trends and works with the Risk Manager to reduce the frequency and severity of losses based on this data; utilizes loss data to drive decisions regarding safety incentive programs.
• Contributes to accident and loss prevention through the development of written safety and loss prevention procedures, programs, and periodic newsletters; advises and assists departments in establishing and writing of safety-related guidelines, procedures, and loss prevention strategies; develops and implements safety and loss prevention policies and procedures.
• Keeps abreast of safety regulations and new and pending legislation to ensure County compliance with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations; interacts with other safety professionals and compliance officials through safety organizations, meetings, and individual networking.
• Contributes to the effective operation of the Financial Management & Administration’s Risk Management Division, by assisting in policy development, participating in Risk Management team meetings and processes, and by assisting with risk managements tasks, as needed and requested by the Risk Manager, especially during times of high claim volume or other administrative requirements; represents Johnson County on various local, state and national organizations and committees, i.e. Public Employees Section, National Safety Council; Missouri and Kansas Chapter, National Safety Council; American Society of Safety Engineers; American Public Works Association; serves in advisory capacity on County Safety Committees; chairs monthly Vehicle Accident Review Committee.

Required Qualifications 

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health & Safety, Occupational Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Occupational Health, Industrial Engineering or related field, and three (3) years’ safety and loss prevention experience with an emphasis on safety programs and training, safety regulations and statutes, safety audits, ergonomics, and Industrial Hygiene.

Must be comfortable and able to present to groups, both small and large, and must have the skills and knowledge to demonstrate (when required) the safe uses of various types of equipment and ways to perform a task safely.

Must have a working knowledge of American Congress of Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), American National Standards Institute (ANSI), National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH), and all other regulating agencies.

This position requires, at times, excessive standing and/or walking, exposure to extreme temperatures, fumes, chemicals, heights, loud noises and certain weather conditions. The successful candidate must be able to communicate in loud environments and be heard over ambient noises and/or with hearing protection on.  Must have visual acuity to perform an activity such as visual inspection involving small defects, small parts, and operation of machines; use measurement devices.

Preferred Qualifications 

Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH); Five (5) years of professional safety/loss control experience.