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Laboratory Safety and Health Specialist

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit: The Occupational and Environmental Safety Office (OESO) provides the focus for the administration of all safety programs for Duke University and Duke Health. OESO has the responsibility for developing institutional safety plans and policies; providing information and training to meet all regulatory requirements; providing technical consultation and guidance; conducting exposure and risk assessments; conducting safety audits; monitoring compliance with all safety policies; and investigating accidents, injuries, and reported unsafe conditions.

Specific to the Laboratory Safety Division: The Laboratory Safety Division coordinates the programs for evaluating, controlling, or eliminating both health and safety hazards in the laboratory environment.  The Laboratory Safety and Health Specialist supports these programs and reports to the Operations Manager of the Laboratory Safety Division of the OESO.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serve as a primary resource regarding health and safety within the laboratory environment.
• Conduct laboratory safety audits in research, clinical, and teaching laboratories.
• Communicate recommendations (verbal and written) for improvement to the laboratory regarding safety of laboratory staff.
• Develop and provide various laboratory safety training programs; communicate to lab personnel the training and  safety requirements for individualized work environments.
• Communicate federal, state and local regulations accurately and effectively to ensure safety compliance.
• Perform accident investigations and work with departments to correct safety hazards and develop preventative procedures. 
• Perform Job Hazard and/or Procedural Assessments and recommend measures to control exposures, including substitution of less hazardous materials, personal protective equipment (PPE), work practice changes, and engineering controls.  Provide follow-up assessment of recommendations.
• Make recommendations with respect to equipment purchase, engineering controls, workspace planning and work process planning.
• Develop reports documenting observations, exposure monitoring results, and recommendations for OESO and Duke independently.  Assist lower-level employees in developing reports and recommendations.  Compile and present reports to management related to safety and health activities.
• Provide solutions to a variety of problems where analysis of data requires evaluation of identifiable factors. Exercise judgment within defined policies and/or parameters in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions.
• Review planned expansion, modifications, or closures of facilities which affect occupational safety and health.  Contribute to the design of new laboratory facilities where hazardous materials will be used or hazardous processes will be located.
• Serve as a member of the OESO spill response team, which includes response on weekends and after regular business hours on a rotating schedule.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Engineering or a related field.
• Master's degree in Environmental Science, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Engineering or related field is preferred, but not required.

Experience:

• 3+ years of experience in lab safety and/or industrial hygiene with Bachelor's degree
• 2+ year of experience in lab safety and/or industrial hygiene with Master's degree

Degrees, Licensure, and/or Certification:

• Must have a valid driver's license.
• Must have completed or be able to complete First Responder- Operations Level Training (29 CFR 1910.120) within 90 days of hire.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Must have a basic knowledge of chemical and biological hazards in the laboratory environment.
• Must be familiar with applicable laboratory safety regulations and guidelines, including OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen, Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemical in Laboratories, and Hazard Communication standards;  the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/National Institutes of Health (NIH) Guidelines for Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories; the NIH Recombinant DNA Guidelines; the International Transport Aviation Association and the Department of Transportation's Guidelines for shipping biological materials; CLIA and CAP standards and other OSHA regulations or CDC/NIH Guidelines as necessary.
• Must communicate and work cooperatively with personnel in diverse positions, including professors, researchers, lab technicians, maintenance personnel, administrators, and regulators to apply regulatory requirements or guidelines to the unique environment of the research or clinical laboratory.
• Creative problem solving to recognize and analyze needs and develop programs to address needs.
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to locate and use appropriate technical resources in occupational safety and health.
• Ability to lift and carry heavy materials and equipment.
• Ability to climb/descend ladders and enter confined spaces to perform evaluations.
• Physically able to serve on a HAZMAT spill response team, including ability to wear respiratory protection.