Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To anticipate, recognize, evaluate and quantify physical, biological and chemical occupational health hazards and recommend control measures in industrial, construction, mining and institutional workplaces; to provide professional advice and consultation to officials in industry, government and other agencies regarding a variety of occupational health matters; to gather scientific data on occupational health hazards; and, to participate in the development of occupational health standards, guidelines and codes.

Duties / Responsibilities :

To ensure compliance and enforcement of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and all related regulations, with an emphasis on enforcement of the Occupational aspects of the Act and regulations.

1. Provides advice, consultation and instruction on a variety of occupational health hazards to professional groups, Health and Safety Committees, Ministry inspectors and engineers, senior industry officials, colleagues and associates by performing such duties as:
- explaining requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, outlining legislated and work standards, recommending measures to meet legislated standards to ensure maximum worker protection;
- promoting the internal responsibility system, developing and maintaining relationships with workers and their representatives, employers and their representatives;
- evaluating hazardous working conditions, recommending corrective action such as changes to processes, ventilation, personal protective devices, additional employee training and work practices, etc.;
- recommending additions, revisions and changes to Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) standards based upon research findings, maintaining high level of health and safety margin in workplace processes;
- reviewing material safety data sheets for compliance with Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), adequacy and completeness, advising inspector with regard to application of WHMIS to specific product or deficiencies in company practices;
- contributing to the development and preparation of occupational health standards, the development of regulations, codes and operating policies, as a participant on standards committees in conjunction with other ministry officials, as assigned or through the collection data related to ministry research studies in accordance with general parameters set by others;
- evaluating data and test results received from technologists;
- assisting ministry engineers with pre development reviews, for e.g., providing advice on field experience with effectiveness of a ventilation system;
- reviewing current literature to keep abreast of current developments, advances and practices in the field of occupational health; presenting occupational hygiene sessions to organized labour, associations, employer groups, as requested;
- as assigned, providing orientation training and guidance to new hires and secondees, periodically reviewing their reports, ensuring trainees/secondees understand office/service procedures;
- coaching and/or providing technical guidance to other employees;
- attending courses, seminars and conferences on related matters;
- keeping certification current to applicable standards.

2. In accordance with long and short term program goals and objectives and administrative direction, as set by management under an individual work plan, conducts audit visits, research studies and investigations into potential sources of occupational health hazards in Ontario workplaces by performing the following tasks:
- conducting inspections/investigations to determine compliance with legislated standards, best practices and guidelines; performing workplace visits as requested by Ministry inspectors and engineers, officials in industry, union officials, individual workers, health and safety professionals, Workplace Safety & Insurance Board, and other agencies, especially in cases requiring further scientific investigation;
- collecting on site scientific data on occupational health hazards by observing industrial processes and work practices, taking readings utilizing a variety of direct reading instruments, i.e. velometers, gas detectors, noise level indicators, analyzing results, interpreting and reporting findings, preparing reports based on findings;
- determining nature and extent of occupational health hazards, recommending control measures to reduce or eliminate hazards in accordance with acceptable levels of exposures as set out in Ministry legislation and regulations, other accepted guidelines (CSA standards, American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Industrial Ventilation Manual) or standard industrial hygiene practices;
- identifying contravention of all pertinent legislation, with particular emphasis on health-related issues, issuing orders, imposing a time based compliance or stop work order, lifting stop work orders, prosecuting;
- initiating follow up field visits to determine adequacy of compliance with previous orders.

Management has the right to assign other duties.

Staffing and Licencing :

Certification in occupational hygiene by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene or Canadian Registration Board of Occupational Hygienists essential; in addition, a post-graduate degree in occupational hygiene or related sciences from a university with recognized standing.

Valid driver's license (Ontario Class G).

Knowledge :

Job requires knowledge of occupational hygiene and/or related fields (eg ergonomics, radiation, non-ionizing radiation, chemical, biological and physical agents in the workplace). Good knowledge of federal occupational health and safety legislation, pertinent regulations and issues (eg. Hazardous Products Act, Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System, Provincial Offences Act related codes and standards); detailed knowledge of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Regulations, MOL policies, standards and practices to inspect, investigate, audit, assess, write orders, and make recommendations; advise inspectors, engineers, employers, unions, employees and other Occupational Health and Safety professionals; and respond authoritatively to general and specific complaints and enquiries. Job requires knowledge of related occupational health research, observation and investigative techniques to carry out inspections and investigations at workplaces and in the community (eg testing radiation levels in homes), interview worker and employer representatives, gather all relevant information and evidence. Job requires knowledge of Ministry and Government business plans to develop local partnerships with external stakeholders (eg safe workplace and professional associations, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board). Job requires knowledge of trends, new developments and hazards in the field of occupational health in order to identify and evaluate hazards regarding facilities, technical and mechanical processes, chemical, biological and physical agents in the workplace and make recommendations. Job requires knowledge of labour-management relations and internal responsibility system to develop and maintain relationships with both parties. Job requires knowledge of court/inquest procedures, processes and practices to submit information for legal action and appear in court/at inquests as a professional witness. Job requires knowledge of personal computers and related software (eg word processing, spreadsheets) in order to develop data from investigations and inspections, prepare reports and recommendations, use sector and work planning systems, and to input/access network information/data systems (eg Merged Information System).

Skills :

Ability to identify and evaluate occupational health and safety hazards; ability to determine specifics of complaints or enquiries received over the telephone, in person or in writing to identify issues and provide responses and recommendations; ability to establish productive working relations with labour/management groups; good report writing, analytical, problem solving and organizational skills and excellent oral communication and interpersonal skills. Job requires conducting independent investigations, inspections and audits by carrying out physical inspections of the workplace, obtaining testing on or testing equipment, machinery and environmental conditions (eg air quality, noise and radiation levels), interviewing workers, their representatives and employer representatives, reviewing operating processes and evaluating the impacts in light of current specialty knowledge to identify their actual or potential impacts on employees' health, determine whether or not to issue an order, and to make recommendations. Job requires interpersonal and dispute/conflict resolution skills to resolve issues and disputes (eg work refusals) between labour and management in highly confrontational or adversarial situations. Job requires analytical and evaluation skills to interpret information collected that is scientific and/or technical in nature, assess whether employer's operation is in compliance with legislation, regulations, policies, codes and standards, and recommend strategies/action(s) to be taken. Job requires determining probable causes of complaints and symptoms, and integrating causes with literature findings. Job requires delivering presentations to internal and external stakeholders, and appearing at hearings and court proceedings as an professional witness. Job requires coaching and/or providing technical guidance to other employees.

Freedom of Action :

Job requires working within relevant provincial or federal statutes and regulations related to Occupational Health and Safety, and within related codes and standards for occupational health, current scientific knowledge and thinking on impacts of various conditions on occupational health (eg Occupational Exposure Limits), working within the context of ministry and division business plans, administrative and program policies and procedures. Job requires conducting on-site investigations and inspections to determine compliance with legislation by interpreting intent of legislation, regulations, standards and ministry policies, identify impacts of conditions and practices, and deciding whether or not to issue or rescind an order, recommend legal action and what recommendations to present. Job requires making authoritative recommendations to engineers, inspectors, management, employees and other Occupational Health and Safety professionals. Job requires providing advice, interpretation and information in response to enquiries and complaints of general and specific nature. Job requires coordinating own workload with other ministry staff and external agencies (eg Safe Workplace Associations) based on targets and priorities, formulating enforcement strategies within Ministry business and operational plans, referring complex and unusual issues to Provincial Specialists.
Frequent travel to workplaces within an assigned geographical area, including travel after hours is required.