Specialist - Occupational Safety

Westlake offers you the potential to enrich your work life and career experience in an entrepreneurial environment. We work together to enhance peoples' lives through our products and presence in the communities in which we operate.​

SUMMARY

This position implements safety, health and/or environmental programs and procedures at the site and provides a professional contact for Plant personnel to utilize in the decision making process during planning of projects, work tasks or other operations where hazard/risk analysis is necessary.  The position ensures programs and procedures are in place to help guide and direct plant personnel when consultation is not practical; Provides a liaison to our contractors for direction, interpretation and enforcement of the Westlake safety and health rules and regulations.  The position adds value indirectly by increasing worker morale by helping provide a cleaner, healthier work environment, and directly by reducing personnel injuries and property damage.  This position collaborates with company management teams in their health, safety, and/or environmental efforts.

This position is responsible for coordinating the Plaquemine emergency response activities, training the Emergency Response Teams, Incident Commanders, Off Site Emergency Responders and Emergency Operations Center Staff.  Reviews plans for expansion and new projects, testing and maintenance on all fixed and portable fire protection systems, and mobile apparatus; coordination of property insurance activities and follow up action items, trained and participate on RCA investigation teams, and conducting employee fire and emergency training. at the Plaquemine site.

This position is a first call for any off site HazMat responses.  Requires a working knowledge of applicable regulations and staying current at Off Site HazMat Specialist A and Off Site Incident Commander certifications.   This position also requires interfacing with media as well as all federal, state, and local agencies to protect and promote company integrity within the communities that we service. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following and will also be tailored area of focus (Occupational Safety), or a combination of focus areas:

Focus Area Health/ Safety

• Review, Revise and Draft Safety Procedures
• Develop, coordinate and conduct Health Training for employees and emergency response teams
• Participate in Emergency Response
• Provide Occupational Safety support for Turnarounds/Outages
• Defines and coordinates the administration of the occupational health service including the supervision of the services of contract health care providers, contract agencies and other vendors.

• Demonstrates strong safety culture through personal behavior and commitment to environmental, health & safety.
• Leads the PACE culture of safety.
• Provide subject matter expertise for OSHA and other related regulations
• Own and drive support for a specific Operating Unit(s) or area in Health and Safety matters

• Review, Revise and Draft Health and Safety Procedures
• Conduct Walk-Through Inspections and Life Critical Audits
• Support site with generating reports from incident reporting database and electronic systems
• Participate in incident investigations
• Develop, coordinate and conduct Safety Training
• Participate on Safety Committees
• Support Contractor Safety Management
• Other duties as assigned by the HSE Manager or Safety Superintendent

Focus Area Emergency Response Teams::

•    Organizes and Delivers Emergency Response Team Training

• Evaluate present state of readiness for Emergency Response Organization and make recommendations for improvement.
• Coordinate training programs.  Develop lesson plans and administer training.
• Develop response leaders within the ranks of the response teams and maintain a high level of morale and professionalism.
• Develop preplans, drill, critique, and improve as needed. 
• Monitors Status and Coordinates inspection and repairs for Fixed and Portable Fire Protection Systems
• Coordinate testing of fixed fire water systems. Participate in the testing and perform a close out with each plant operations and maintenance department to explain any deficiencies found. Make recommendations for improvements
• Review plans for new projects to assure that adequate means of suppression is included in the project.
• Participate in Property Insurance Visits
• Follow up on repairs to all emergency response equipment.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma required, College degree preferred
• Minimum of 10 years plant experience with emergency response experience
• Strong, proven facilitation, interpersonal and computer skills, with a good working knowledge of related databases and applications, and excellent verbal and written communication abilities
• Able to work in a team-oriented environment

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, stand, walk and climb; use hands to touch, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, and infrequently lift and/or move up to 50 lbs.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.   The employee must frequently make minor decisions requiring limited judgement, general decisions in the absence of specific directions, and perform activities requiring sustained concentration.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The noise level in the work environment is sometimes moderate when working in an office, however, some of the work may be required in the operating units which mandates usage of required PPE including safety glasses, hearing protection, etc.  May also result in exposure to outside elements and may require usage of stairs.  Travel may be required occasionally.

Westlake is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristics protected by applicable legislation.

If you are an active Westlake employee (or an employee of any Westlake affiliates), please do not apply here. You will apply via the Jobs Hub application in Workday.