Workplace Safety Coordinator

Job Description:

Reporting to the Workplace Safety Manager, the Workplace Safety Coordinator assists with the administration and evaluation of the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre’s (RVH) Workplace Safety Management System – an integral component of RVH’s promise of safety. This role provides workplace safety support to ensure a physically and psychologically safe environment for employees, students, professional staff, volunteers, and service providers (collectively, workers), and to achieve compliance with legislative and best practice requirements. This role also assists with providing content expertise to ensure ongoing compliance with all existing legislative and best practice requirements to promote a diverse and inclusive culture of workplace safety.

As part of the Workplace Safety team, the Coordinator will:

• Conduct and coordinate the scheduling of qualitative or quantitative respirator fit testing for all workers in the health centre
• Conduct or ensure assessments, inspections and audits of facilities, work areas and equipment for compliance with OHS legislation are performed regularly and when required (i.e., JHSC inspections, leader inspections, Workplace Violence Risk Assessments, WSIB Safety excellence Program, and sling and lift inspections). Assist with corrective action and/or education as required. Monitor all outstanding action items for completion
• Assist as time permits with the review of work-related injury, illness and hazard reports to identify root causes and ensure appropriate investigations and prevention plans are developed to prevent reoccurrence, collaborating with other RVH team members including the JHSC as required. Also, assist with complying metrics for this information, to identify trends or provide for internal reporting
• Attend JHSC meetings to provide support, guidance and act as a resource
• Provide appropriate information, advice, guidance and resources regarding workplace safety and redirect or escalate queries as appropriate
• Assist in the development and maintenance of workplace safety education to all workers on their rights and responsibilities under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) as well as RVH safe work practices and deliver training and education, as required
• Assist with the creation, maintenance of corporate policies and procedures pertaining to workplace safety and provide related education as requested
• As required, participate in interactions with or visits by regulatory agencies
• Remain calm under pressure/stress while prioritizing competing deadlines and/or supporting RVH employees (workers and leaders)
• Maintain absolute confidentiality regarding worker’s/patient’s personal health information.
• Under the direction of the Manager assist to evaluate the Workplace Safety Program and recommend improvements
• Exhibit the core values of the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre: Work Together, Respect All, Think Big, Own It and Care.

Education:

• Post-Secondary Diploma in Occupational Health & Safety or health-related field; or, other Post-Secondary Diploma with a Post-Graduate Certificate in Occupational Health & Safety. Canadian Registered Safety Technician certification considered an asset.
• Ontario Joint Health and Safety Committee Level 2 certification preferred, or ability to complete within 1 year of start date.
• Respirator Fit Tester certification preferred, or ability to complete within 1 year of start date.

Experience:

• Minimum one year experience working in an Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) related field with at least 1 year in a healthcare environment
• Knowledge of OHS municipal, provincial and federal legislation and the ability to interpret, comply with and apply relevant legislation to the workplace using codes of ethics, practice standards, workplace policies and procedures and human rights legislation.
• Demonstrated decision-making skills, with the ability to form and defend independent judgements and to apply sound judgement in assessing situations and taking initiative accordingly (i.e . determining root cause for reported accidents/incidents and reviewing inspection reports)
• Ability to work effectively and demonstrate composure under pressure and in stressful situations, and to meet multiple and competing deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the demonstrated ability to collaborate with others and problem solve
• Experience with compliance program application, investigations and report writing.
• Demonstrated quality and performance data collection, analysis and interpretation.
• Experience using OHS information systems such as Parklane, Meditech, and Kronos.

Competencies:

The Workplace Safety Coordinator will demonstrate the following competencies that reflect the RVH Core Values and Code of Conduct:

• Strong verbal and written communication skills to effectively interact with others
• Proven ability to develop and maintain professional relationships and to leverage relationships to achieve results
• Ability to carry out multiple tasks and prioritize while maintaining high quality results

• Commitment to fostering a physically and psychologically safe work culture, and creating and maintaining a positive and inclusive work environment
• Excellence in interpersonal sensitivity, tact and diplomacy to effectively support and transparently represent the program/organization with employees, leaders, and external partners

• Strong ability to promote and implement workplace safety initiatives
• Strong skills in analytical problem solving, and quality results-oriented service delivery, under competing time and organizational pressures

• Ability to manage workload effectively to successfully achieve standards of excellence in the delivery of workplace safety initiatives
• Adaptable to changing work practices and procedures

• Foster a safe workplace for all RVH workers, volunteers and visitors

Competency with the Microsoft Office suite, and healthcare electronic documentation systems (e.g., Kronos, Meditech, Parklane)