Safety Specialist - United Materials 1

WELCOME TO VCNA!

We are United Materials, part of Votorantim Cimentos North America (VCNA). We are currently looking for a Safety Specialist to join our team.

As the North American operations of Votorantim Cimentos, a global building materials and sustainability solutions leader in 11 countries, we are helping to make a positive impact and are transforming our world. We have a culture built on solid partnerships, long-lasting relationships, and opportunities for those who want to learn, grow and be part of a diverse and dynamic culture.

With solutions that include cement, ready-mix concrete and aggregates, we help to build homes, highways, hospitals, buildings, bridges, and schools across the Canadian and U.S. Great Lakes region and Northeast United States. Our commitment to excellence can be seen in those who invest and believe in what we do, those who share their lives with us, those who trust in our deliveries and those committed to innovation and a sustainable future.

Every day, we have the chance to accomplish something new and you're invited to be part of it.

Summary of the Role:

The Safety Specialist is responsible for actively promoting and maintaining a safe working environment by conducting workplace inspections, investigating safety incidents, developing and implementing safety training programs, ensuring compliance with internal and external safety regulations, and advising management on risk mitigation strategies to prevent injuries and promote employee health and wellbeing. This position may also conduct or facilitate safety audits, safety committees, and training for employees on proper safety procedures and equipment usage. This position requires travel to different locations throughout the Buffalo & Batavia market areas on a regular basis. 

Key Responsibilities:

Safety Inspections and Audits: Conduct regular inspections of work areas and equipment (including jobsites) to identify potential hazards, non-compliance issues, and unsafe practices; perform safety audits to assess overall safety performance and compliance with internal and external safety regulations.

Incident Investigation: Investigate workplace incidents and near misses to determine root causes, identify corrective actions, and implement preventive measures to avoid future occurrences. 

Safety Training and Education: Develop and deliver safety training programs for employees at all levels, covering topics like hazard recognition, new hire orientation, personal protective equipment (PPE) use, emergency procedures, and safe work practices. Facilitate other safety training such as LOTOTO, FSP training, operator training, confined space, arc flash, working at heights, CPR/First Aid/AED, etc.

Policy Development and Implementation: Assist in developing, updating, and enforcing company safety policies and procedures to ensure compliance with relevant occupational safety and health regulations.

Risk Assessment and Mitigation: Conduct risk assessments to identify potential hazards and develop appropriate mitigation strategies to minimize risks in the workplace.

Incident Reporting and Analysis: Maintain accurate records of safety incidents, near misses, and injuries; analyze data to identify trends and implement preventative actions.

Communication and Awareness: Promote safety culture by communicating safety information to employees through meetings, posters, and other channels. This includes communicating our safety expectations to customers at times.

Compliance Management: Monitor compliance with OSHA, MSHA, DOT, and NYSDOL regulations, industry standards, and company safety policies.

Collaboration with Management: Work closely with management to address safety concerns, provide recommendations for improvements, and ensure safety is a top priority.

Safety Culture Focused: Lead a positive safety culture where everyone in the organization is committed to safety and works together to improve it.

Qualifications and Competencies:

• Bachelor's degree (BSc or BEng) from four-year college or university; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of five (5) years of relevant work experience, preferably in the construction materials industry. 
• Equivalent experience can include a combination of an accredited non-university/ technical school level safety program and direct safety supervision in an industrial environment.
• Professional safety certifications such as Certified Safety Professional (CSP), OSHA 30, etc. preferred.
• Valid Clean Drivers License required
• Thorough understanding of OSHA, DOL, Homeland Security standards and other relevant company safety standards.
• Ability to identify safety issues, analyze root causes, and develop effective solutions.
• Creates processes necessary to achieve organizational goals. Organizes people and activities effectively. Utilizes internal metrics to effectively track progress completion. Seeks opportunities for synergy and integration. Simplifies complex processes. Uses resources efficiently.
• Actively employs analysis and synthesis skills; Gathers and analyzes available information from industry best practices and regulatory bodies and compares them to plant/equipment/employee conditions to determine whether circumstances are compliant. Incorporate the ability to effectively investigate issues, by using judgment that is consistent with standards, practices, policies, procedures, regulations and laws.
• Prioritizes and plans work activities. Uses time efficiently. Plans for additional resources. Integrates changes smoothly. Sets goals and objectives. Works in an organized manner. Ability to complete projects and duties as assigned in an accurate and timely fashion.
• Excellent communication skills required. Clear, concise, and professional communication to educate employees, management, and other stakeholders on safety matters. This includes professional communication with agencies such as OSHA, DOL, Homeland Security, etc. Bilingual in French is an asset.
• Ability to deliver various presentations and safety training to both front line employees and management.
• Keen attention to detail to identify potential hazards during workplace inspections, behavior observations, etc.
• Ability to coach employees and influence positive safety behavior to promote a safety-first, employee driven safety culture.
• Competent in utilizing Microsoft office and other safety software (such as eCompliance) to input and analyze safety data on a regular basis. Familiarity with data visualization software, such as Power BI, and strong excel skills considered an asset.

Physical Demands:

Physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This role involves-  Moderate-intermediate positions of moderate physical activity, e.g., sitting in one place, standing, walking, sustained keyboarding, working in awkward or constrained physical positions or confined/restricted space for up to 50% of the work day.

Work Environment:

Work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This position involves:

Frequent exposure to unpleasant/disagreeable conditions e.g. minor conditions of dust, dirt, noise, odors, inclement weather etc..

Work activities involve a frequent need to concentrate on a variety of sensory inputs for lengthy durations of time requiring diligence and attention to interpret effectively.

Frequent exposure with noticeable mental stress e.g. competing deadlines, angry clients, etc..

NOTE:

This position description is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements.  Employees may be required to perform any other job-related instructions as requested by their supervisor.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?

Being part of VCNA is being part of building famous landmarks such as Toronto's CN Tower, Roy Thompson Hall, Maple Leaf Gardens and the Darlington Nuclear Station and Ryerson Centre, St. Regis Chicago and 150 N. Riverside, Louis High-Speed Rail in Chicago and more

• Opportunities to collaborate with teams around the globe and growth opportunities in different areas
• Training, professional development
• Access to Employees Resource Groups (ERGs), including SheBuilds, which fosters mentorship, leadership development and community support for women at VCNA
• Tuition reimbursement/assistance
• Competitive wages, vacation and holiday time
• Medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance
• 401K
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP
• Educational scholarship program for dependents of regular salaried employees.
• Fertility drug coverage

Salary Range: $ 84,000-95,000/year

This posting is for a vacant position.

OUR PEOPLE

We care about people - all people. At VCNA, we take safety, health and wellness seriously. We're dedicated to giving our employees a safe workplace, our neighbors a safe environment and our customers a high-quality and safe product. Safety first -and always!

Our VC Way reflects who we are, inspiring us to unite our culture and be our best: Our Way of Being: ethical and respectful, Our Way of Working: together with excellence and Our Way of Thriving: with the courage to transform.

INCLUSION AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT

We have a results-oriented culture that values being open, honest, and authentic. It's part of our DNA. We are continually expanding our diverse and inclusive team by providing opportunities for everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability or economic status - a workplace where you can express your individuality and be your best self!