Job Description

Context of job:

The Ammon Pinizzotto Center, located on the University of Delaware STAR Campus, is home to more than 40 faculty from diverse departments as well as several interdisciplinary research centers and University-wide core facilities. The Safety Lead is a partner to these myriad research groups and centers and provides support and oversight on laboratory and general building-related safety matters. The Safety Lead is the main point of contact to the Environmental Health and Safety team as well as interfaces with safety representatives from research groups, from diverse academic departments, and with other appropriate individuals in the building and across campus. Under general direction, the Safety Lead plans arranges its own tasks, and applies standard policy or procedure to routine problems or duties without the benefit of specific guidelines. He/she provides industrial hygiene, and occupational safety services at the Ammon Pinizzotto Center and has responsibility to help ensure that researchers are meeting safety-related expectation, policies, and regulations. Candidates should have experience and knowledge in assessing laboratory hazards (including chemical hazards and biological hazards), collecting pertinent data to document findings, and supporting the development of laboratory safety programs.

The Safety and Health Specialist will be responsible for conducting laboratory surveys, support research studies, obtaining basic information on processes, hazards, and controls, and ensuring laboratory personnel are aware of safety resources and general requirements. The position requires a team-oriented professional with strong organizational skills as well as excellent writing and oral communication skills. The ideal candidate will have experience with academic research safety, specifically in chemical and biological hazards, reviewing hazardous material operation protocols, conducting laboratory inspections, and risk assessments.

The Safety Lead assists with developing and implementing new procedures for resolving non-routine matters that are highly visible. University policy, government regulations, institutional precedents, professional standards, and accepted best practices govern independent action. The Safety Lead routinely interacts with students and staff and functions as an internal consultant in safety and health matters relating to occupational and environmental issues.

This position is designated Essential Personnel for specific University operations.

Major responsibilities:
Responsible for implementing the University's chemical hygiene, chemical safety, biosafety, and radiation/laser safety programs within the Ammon Pinizzotto Biopharmaceutical Innovation Center (APBio).
Serve as APBio Chemical Hygiene Officer and Chair of the Safety Committee.
Develop, plan, and implement cohesive building safety compliance programs, including emergency plan, and laboratory waste streams.
Write and communicate general and technical safety policies and procedures, including SOPs for hazardous materials and/or hazardous process conditions, and building training.
Foster a preventive positive safety culture within the community.
Conduct compliance and risk assessments.
Serve as point of contact for Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) and respond as part of an emergency team (liaison to EHS) to incidents involving fire, hazardous materials, environmental and chemical spills, gas leaks, indoor air quality issues, floods, and other emergencies.
Conduct near-miss and incident investigations with members of the APBio community.
Cultivate and maintain effective working relationships with dept heads, faculty, staff, and students to promote safety and ensure compliance.
Perform regular inspections of laboratories and related facilities areas, including loading dock, gas cylinder storage, and chemical storage areas.
Coordinate with facility manager on Requests for Services, and building utility/facilities activities.
Oversee emergency equipment is available and compliant with University policies. Initiates purchases and stocks items needed on a routine basis.
Track and manage building-wide safety compliance through BioRaft, including required training and quarterly inspections.
Track and manage building-wide chemical storage and use quantities through ChemInventory to ensure compliance with IBC MAQs and NFPA 45.
Support the management of laboratory chemical and compressed cylinder inventories.
Manage safety aspects of shared/common-use lab spaces, such as linear equipment room, and shared instrumentation rooms.
Provide quarterly safety reports to management.
Serve as APBio representative in the University Lab Building and Manager Safety Committee
Perform additional duties as required.
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree, Advanced degree preferred, in biological science, chemical science, and/or engineering with a minimum of four years of significant safety-minded experience in an industry setting. Or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Specialized training related to chemical safety including HAZWOPER training for emergency response.
Trained in Process Safety Management (PSM) and PSM Auditor
Associate Safety Professional (ASP) Certification
Additional certifications preferred: CHO, CSP (ASP), CIH, and CHMM
Project Management certification or PMP preferred.
Proficient in the OSHA Laboratory Standard, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and applicable federal, state, and local regulations that relate to chemical storage and use.
Ability to do a complete risk assessment for the use of hazardous chemicals in chemical and biological laboratories and non-laboratory settings.
Ability to apply RCRA regulations in the university setting.
Knowledge of engineering controls, chemical exposure monitoring techniques, laboratory design, and standard laboratory practices.
Experience examining and re-engineering procedures to minimize risk of exposure and incidents.
Experience providing emergency response support.
Ability to respond to campus emergencies after hours and on weekends/holidays, as needed.
Effective written and oral communication skills. Demonstrates excellent collaboration with faculty, students, and staff.
Demonstrates an understanding and consideration of the differing needs and concerns of individuals with varying identities, cultures, and backgrounds.
Committed to fostering a workplace culture of belonging, where diversity is celebrated, and equity is a core value.