Safety Engineer (General) Series

California State Personnel Board Specification

Series established January 26, 1978

Scope

This series describes two levels of professional safety engineering work and is used by the Department of Industrial Relations to provide job training and advancement for persons interested in a career in safety engineering.

Definition of Series

Under supervision through in-service and on-the-job training, to learn the principles, practices, and techniques of safety engineering; to assist in and perform progressively more difficult and responsible tasks in compliance inspection and accident prevention work and staff assignments in support of these activities; and to do other related work.

Definition of Levels

Junior Safety Engineer

This is the recruiting and learning level. Under supervision in a training program, to learn safety codes and standards, accident prevention principles, and their application to industrial operations; to learn techniques of making field inspections, conducting investigations, and identifying hazards; and to learn other relevant skills.

Assistant Safety Engineer

This is the first working level. Incumbents assist fully qualified journeypersons in the performance of their duties and, under supervision, perform assigned professional engineering work of average difficulty including conducting routine compliance inspections; investigating accidents; preparing and disseminating information on safety principles, regulations, standards, and methods; and preparing reports.

Minimum Qualifications

Junior Safety Engineer

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with a degree in engineering. (Registration as a senior in a recognized institution will admit applicants to the examination, but they must produce evidence of graduation or its equivalent before they can be considered eligible for appointment.)

Assistant Safety Engineer

Either I

Experience: One year of experience performing the duties of a Junior Safety Engineer in the California state service.

Or II

Experience: Two years of experience as a Safety Technician II in the California state service.

Or III

Experience: Two years of experience in another State or Federal Occupational Safety and Health Program performing duties comparable to Assistant Safety Engineer. or

Experience: Two years of full-time experience directly related to safety enforcement in industrial or commercial plants and/or construction sites. and

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with a degree in engineering. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education one a year-for-year basis.)

Knowledge and Abilities

Junior Safety Engineer

Knowledge of: Functions, goals, and objectives of the CAL/OSHA Program and the Division of Industrial Safety; basic safety principles and practices; basic principles of safety engineering, industrial hygiene, or environmental or occupational health; practical application of such principles to the health and safety of industrial workers; report writing.

Ability to: Objectively interpret and apply rules and regulations; gather and analyze data; establish and maintain effective relationships with those contacted in the course of the work; learn safety engineering principles and effectively apply such knowledge; prepare clear and concise reports; analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action; learn rapidly.

Assistant Safety Engineer

Knowledge of: All of the above, and Safety Orders of the Division of Industrial Safety and applicable provisions of the Labor Code; techniques of making field inspections and conducting investigations.

Ability to: Make field inspections and conduct investigations; detect unsafe conditions and practices; interpret and apply Safety Orders of the Division of Industrial Safety and applicable provisions of the Labor Code.

Special and Personal Requirements

All Levels:

Demonstrated interest in and aptitude for industry safety work; willingness to accept increased responsibility; willingness to travel throughout an assigned area of the State; possession of, or ability to immediately obtain, a valid motor vehicle license.

Additional Desirable Qualifications

All Levels:

In appraising the relative qualifications of candidates, consideration will be given to the extent and type of pertinent education and experience over and above that required under "Minimum Qualifications."

Class History

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* This was approved as an SPB staff calendar item.