Health & Safety Advisor

POSITION PURPOSE SUMMARY

Sturgeon County is seeking a dedicated and forward-thinking Health and Safety Advisor to continue fostering a strong culture of safety across our municipal operations. This key position is responsible for coordinating the County’s health and safety management system and related initiatives, ensuring compliance with Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Act, Regulation, and Code. As a trusted advisor, you’ll play a vital role in protecting our employees, supporting safe service delivery, and contributing to the well-being of our community.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Health and Safety Program Development (40%) 

• Develops, coordinates, monitors, and updates all components of the Health & Safety Management System and initiatives.
  • Develops and recommends health and safety policies, procedures, and practices aligned to applicable legislation likely to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
  • Ensures practices are consistent and comply with applicable legislation, administrative policies, and directives. 
  • Updates and implements changes to the Health and Safety Management System in accordance with the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety legislation and keep departments updated on new or revised OH&S regulations.
• Ensures Health and Safety Management System documentation is reviewed and revised as needed. 
• Acts as a Health & Safety Management System Auditor (COR/AMHSA):
  • Completing the required internal audits.
  • Arranging for a consultant to conduct external audits and assist with internal audits as needed.
  • Develops and implements post-audit action plans based on the audit results to ensure the continuous improvement of the HSMS.
• Liaises with the Workers Compensation Board to manage active files, appeals, and the “Return to work” program as needed. 
  • Acts as administrator of the WCB claims management and rehabilitation program. 
• Ensures the Joint Health and Safety Committee meets, retains records, and addresses relevant matters in accordance with the JHSC Terms of Reference and Alberta OHS legislation.
• Attends departmental health and safety meetings as required.
• Ensures health and safety information is maintained in a way that it is current and readily available to all. 
• Develops and maintains corporate health and safety statistical information.

Coaching and Consulting on Health and Safety matters (20%) 

• Encourages and enhances a positive health and safety culture through implementation of health and safety practices, applying concepts, principles and practices involved in the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, control, prevention, reduction and elimination of hazards, incidents, injuries, and disabilities of employees.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with employees, supervisors, managers, senior managers, and external contacts, interacting in a manner that builds trust, credibility, and rapport.
• Acts as a resource to departments and committees on health and safety issues. 

Hazard Assessments, Safe Work Practices, Incident and Safety Investigations (20%) 

• Ensures Hazard Assessments for appropriate departments are completed and reviewed in accordance with the applicable Directive. 
• Ensures Safe Work Practices for appropriate departments are reviewed and updated in accordance with the Health & Safety Management System.
• Ensures incidents for appropriate departments are reported and investigated in accordance with the applicable Directive. 
• Completes required workplace inspections for appropriate departments in accordance with the ap
• Ensure Emergency Response Drills are conducted in accordance with the applicable Directive.

Health & Safety Training (10%) 

• Develops and facilitates in-house health and safety training.
  • Assists in the coordination of health and safety training events.
  • Recommends health and safety training and competency testing requirements. 
• Conducts the health & safety portion of the orientation process with new or transferred employees. 

Other Related Duties (10%) 

• Assist HR Manager in the development and monitoring of the annual Health & Safety budget, in collaboration with H&S Associate.
• Coordinates the annual Health & Safety event.
• Provides support and guidance to procurement services and Sturgeon County project managers responsible for hiring other parties to perform work on behalf of Sturgeon County. 
• Provides support and back up relief to the H&S Associate
• Performs special projects as required.
• Adheres to applicable responsibilities and accountabilities as outlined in the Sturgeon County Health and Safety Management System.

KNOWLEDGE, EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND EXPERIENCE 
The following are required in this position:

• Knowledge of the principles, standards, and practices of the relevant areas of Occupational Health & Safety and Human Resources. 
• Knowledge of the principles and practices involved in training personnel is required.
• Knowledge of and experience with applying Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety legislation, Human Rights Act, and Employment Standards Code.
• Post-secondary degree in a related occupational health and safety or human resources field.
• Completion of the following (or equivalents) from the Alberta Municipal Health and Safety Association:
  • Recognized Municipal Health & Safety Advisor.
  • Certified Peer Auditor.
• Membership with a safety association and possessing or working towards the Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) designation.
• Current First Aid certificate.
• Ability to interact effectively, courteously, and professionally with the public and other municipal staff which contributes to a positive teamwork environment.? 
• Excellent verbal and written communication, presentation, and facilitation skills. 
• Ability to professionally engage, generate common understanding, and create a shared vision in an environment of diverse stakeholders.? 
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative and constructive relationships at all levels of the organization and with representatives of external agencies.? 
• Ability to exercise and apply sound judgment, analyze, and solve complex problems, take initiative, and make informed decisions.
• Maintaining confidentiality when dealing with sensitive situations and/or information.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to set and manage among conflicting priorities while meeting deadlines. 
• Ability to work in a team environment and independently.? 
• Proficiency when using the Microsoft suite of products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). 
• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant and progressively responsible occupational health and safety experience, including providing professional consultation, support, and advice, and conducting investigations.

The following are considered assets or preferences in this position:

• Additional experience in developing occupational health and safety related policies, procedures, and related programs. Equivalent combinations of training and experience may be considered.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL EFFORTS 

• Job is normally performed in an office or office like environment and requires visits to other County worksites, with control over when they schedule their field visits. Exposure to variations in weather and site conditions.
• This position works primarily indoors, with limited physical requirements of walking, bending, standing, or reaching.
• This position may have longer periods of time sitting/standing at a desk with visual concentration, but the position has control over when to take breaks. 
• Interruptions and distractions occur but are not expected to interfere with the ability to complete the work required. 
   

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