Safety Engineer (Industrial) Series
California State Personnel Board Specification
Series established May 24, 1973
Scope
This series specification describes the levels of professional safety engineering classes in the electrical engineering discipline which are used in the Department of Industrial Relations.
Definition of Series
Classes in this series are involved in the development, administration and enforcement of the State's safety orders, or in consultants relating to the safety orders. Incumbents may be assigned to the CAL/OSHA Consultation Division or the Division of Industrial Safety's Compliance Unit, the Standards Research and Development Unit, or the OSH Standard's Board.
Factors Affecting Position Allocation
The scope and level of responsibilities assigned, complexity of work, independence and consequence of action, impact of decision making on affected programs, and the degree of supervision exercised and received serve as differentiating factors between individual levels.
Entry Levels
Entry into this series is at the Associate Safety Engineer level and may be promotionally from the class of Assistant Safety Engineer or from outside State service.
Definition of Levels
Associate Safety Engineer (Industrial)
This is the professional journey level and incumbents work in either the Standards and Research and Development Unit, the Compliance Unit, the CAL/OSHA Consultation Division, or the OSH Standards Board. This level conducts safety surveys; investigates occupational safety and health complaints associated with industrial and other occupational safety and health-related disciplines; investigates accidents, determines the cause and the means of preventing their recurrences; reports on seriousness of violations and makes recommendations where possible prosecution is indicated to the Division's Bureau of Investigation; interprets safety orders and consults with employee organizations, employers and the public in the development of revisions to, or additions of safety orders. Conducts seminars and workshops for industry and consults with labor, management, employees and other governmental agencies on how compliance with safety orders can be achieved. Reviews new and existing Federal standards, regulations, and directives for comparison with State standards. Participates in the preparation of documents, materials, and exhibits used in Standards Board's hearings; and may participate as a technical advisor for the Standards Board at public hearings and meetings.
Senior Safety Engineer (Industrial)
This is the first full supervisory level and incumbents work in either the Standards and Research and Development Unit, the Compliance Unit, the CAL/OSHA Consultation Division, or the OSH Standards Board.
(1) In a specific geographic area, plans, organizes, directs and supervises the work of a group of Safety Engineers (Industrial) and Technicians. (2) A Senior Safety Engineer (Industrial) conducts complex studies and analyses; initiates investigations into occupational safety and health complaints associated with industrial and other occupational safety and health-related disciplines, and accidents; reviews and makes recommendations on reports of the seriousness of violations found. Coordinates with Division staff in comparison of Federal/State standards; conducts committee meetings to revise or propose new safety orders within the California Plan. (3) Develops programs for promotion of safety concepts; consults with labor, management and public groups on the more complex and sensitive safety engineering problems and plans and implements seminars for industry and in-service training of staff. May participate as technical advisor to the Standards Board during public hearings.
Principal Safety Engineer (Industrial)
This level plans, organizes, and directs the work of staff through subordinate supervisors in either the Standards Research and Development Unit, the Compliance Unit, the CAL/OSHA Consultation Division, or the OSH Standards Board and is responsible for maintaining effective, comprehensive safety orders applicable to industrial safety engineering; monitors the field program for uniformity in application and enforcement of relevant safety orders; assures that new or revised safety orders proposed for adoption by the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board are in conformance with the Labor Code, the State Occupational Safety and Health Plan and Federal requirements; issues interpretations of safety orders; advises the Division Chief, the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board and field staff on technical matters involving industrial safety engineering.
Minimum Qualifications
Associate Safety Engineer (Industrial)
Either I
Two years of experience performing the duties of the class of Assistant Safety Engineer in the California state service.
Or II
Experience: Either
1. Two years of safety engineering experience in industrial work; or
2. Three years of professional industrial engineering experience. and
Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with specialization in engineering. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.)
Senior Safety Engineer (Industrial)
Either I
Two years of experience in the California state service performing the duties of an Associate Safety Engineer (Industrial).
Or II
Experience: Four years of experience as a safety engineer with responsibility for organizing and administering a comprehensive safety program, at least two years of which shall have been in industrial safety engineering; and
Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with specialization in engineering. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.)
Principal Safety Engineer (Industrial)
Either I
In the California state service:
1. One year of experience performing the duties of a District Manager, Division of Occupational Safety and Health, and two years of experience performing the duties of an Associate Safety Engineer (Industrial); or
2. One year of experience performing the duties of a Senior Safety Engineer (Industrial); or
3. Three years of experience performing the duties of an Associate Safety Engineer (Industrial).
Or II
Experience: Five years of experience as a safety engineer with overall responsibility for organizing and administering a comprehensive safety program, at least two years of which must have been in an administrative or supervisory capacity with responsibility for the work of other safety engineers engaged in industrial safety engineering. and
Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with specialization in engineering. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.)
Knowledge and Abilities
Associate Safety Engineer (Industrial)
Knowledge of: General engineering principles and methods as well as those specifically applicable to industrial safety engineering; principles and practices of safety engineering; operations, methods, equipment and safety devices primarily applicable to the industrial engineering safety orders of the Division of Occupational Safety and Health applicable to the industrial discipline; applicable provisions of the Labor Code; accident prevention techniques; sources of information on accident prevention work; consultation techniques; how to develop and present evidence in legal hearings.
Ability to: Do difficult safety investigation work; detect unsafe conditions and practices; promote and conduct safety campaigns; assist in the preparation and revision of safety orders; interpret and apply the safety orders of the Division of Occupational Safety and Health and applicable provisions of the Labor Code; learn the basic principles and techniques of safety engineering in related Occupational Safety and Health disciplines; analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action; address groups; speak and write effectively; prepare reports and dictate correspondence; present evidence and act as the Division representative in legal hearings.
Senior Safety Engineer (Industrial)
Knowledge of: All of the above, and purposes, organization and activities of the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, OSH Standards Board, and the CAL/OSHA Consultation Service; labor laws and compensation laws as applied to the work of the Division of Occupational Safety and Health; industrial health hazards; principles of effective supervision and training; understanding of, and effectiveness in carrying out State and departmental equal employment opportunity and affirmative action policies.
Ability to: Do all of the above, and consult on complex and sensitive safety engineering problems with labor, management and public groups; conduct meetings and coordinate with other State and Federal agencies; direct the work of staff; apply the policies of the Department of Industrial Relations and the Division to which assigned.
Principal Safety Engineer (Industrial)
Knowledge of: All of the above, and research methodology and evaluation techniques as applied to safety engineering.
Ability to: Do all of the above, and evaluate and act upon requests for variances and extensions; develop safety regulations to eliminate causes of accidents; organize and develop support techniques related to the needs of field safety engineers in the prevention of industrial accidents; serve as a technical consultant to the Division of Occupational Safety and Health; the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board; the CAL/OSHA Consultation Service; and the public in safety matters.
Special Personal Characteristics
Associate Safety Engineer (Industrial)
Senior Safety Engineer (Industrial)
Willingness to undertake additional training as needs are identified; willingness to live and work in an assigned area of the State; keenness of observation, tact, and maturity.
Principal Safety Engineer (Industrial)
All of the above, and demonstrated capacity for assuming increasing administrative responsibility; willingness to travel throughout an assigned area of the State.
Class History
