HazMat & Waste Safety Manager

The HazMat & Waste Safety Manager acts as the Safety Department's liaison to the health system environment for regulatory safety compliance specifically related to hazardous materials, chemicals, and waste. This position advises and trains Health System physicians, nurses, direct care providers and support services staff on appropriate and relevant occupational health and safety issues including PPE, engineering controls, chemicals, hazardous materials, regulated medical waste and hazardous medications handling and disposal. The Hazmat & Waste Manager is responsible for compliance and communication with regards to regulations and standards set forth by the Virginia Department of Environment Quality (DEQ), Joint Commission and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Essential Job Statements

Manages the Annual Required Education Hazardous Materials and Waste Management compliance survey program. Document inspection activity and maintain appropriate documentation required for Joint Commission compliance.

Oversees monthly tracers to identify improvement opportunities where hazardous chemicals, hazardous medications or hazardous waste are present.

Conducts workplace assessments according to an established schedule and submits recommendations and staff training to minimize hazard exposure to staff, visitors, and patients.

Participates in weekly Environment of Care Support Services' Rounds and in Emergency Preparedness Exercises.

Leads/chairs the HazMat & Waste Environment of Care Subcommittee and participates in other interdisciplinary committees and activities of departments to enhance the culture of safety.

Within the scope of this Subcommittee Chair capacity, the manager has responsibility for multiple disciplines/roles from other departments (i.e. EVS, Infection Prevention, Plant Operations, etc.) and their respective metrics, objectives, initiatives, as relevant to the Subcommittee's activity under the broader Environment of Care Committee.

The HazMat & Waste Manager is responsible for reporting quarterly to the EOCC updates on the Subcommittee's activity.

Manages and oversees the HazMat/Waste/Chemical safety services provided by the VCU Safety & Risk Management team to VCU Health System via the annual Operational Services Agreement (OSA).

Provides Chemical Inventory management including working towards one software to maintain up-to-date Safety Data Sheets for all hazardous materials. - Annual Updates

Maintains required Environment of Care Committee Standing Reports (Monthly/Quarterly) to include:

• Chemical Inventory List
• Safety Data Sheets
• Exposure Injury Review
• Emergency Procedures
• HazMat and Waste Spills and Exposures
• Radioactive Materials
• Energy Sources (X-Ray Equipment, MRI and Laser Equipment)
• Hazardous Medications
• Hazardous Gases and Vapors
• Hazardous Wastes
• Conduct risk assessments to identify need for eyewash stations in the health system.

Patient Population

Not applicable to this position.

Employment Qualifications

Required Education:

Bachelor's Degree in Sciences, Safety, Business, Environmental Science, or related discipline from an accredited program

Preferred Education:

Master's Degree in Public Health, Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Information Technology or related discipline from an accredited program.

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt

Licensure/Certification Required:

CHEM (Certified Healthcare Environmental Manager) or CHMM (Certified Hazardous Materials Manager) within one (1) year of employment

Licensure/Certification Preferred:

Certification or eligibility for CIH (Certified Industrial Hygienist) and/or CSP (Certified Safety Professional) preferred

Minimum Qualifications

Years and Type of Required Experience

Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in a healthcare environment with specific experience in the following areas:

• Direct knowledge of waste management processes and practices.
• Experience with inspecting facilities for potential hazardous/ environmental violations, evaluating investigational findings, determining corrective action, ensuring sustainability of corrective actions where required.

A minimum of 2 (two) years' experience managing a hazardous materials and waste management program.

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

Cultural Responsiveness

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred:

N/A

Working Conditions

Periods of high stress and fluctuating workloads may occur.

General office environment.

Required to car travel to off-site locations, occasionally in adverse weather conditions.

May be exposed to limited hazardous substances or body fluids. *

* Individuals in this position are required to exercise universal precautions, use personal protective equipment and devices, and learn the policies concerning infection control.

Physical Requirements

Physical Demands: Lifting/ Carrying (0-50 lbs.), Lifting/ Carrying (50-100 lbs.), Push/ Pull (0-50 lbs.), Push/ Pull (50-100 lbs.), Stoop, Kneel, Squat, Balance, Bending

Work Position: Sitting, Walking, Standing

Additional Physical Requirements/ Hazards

Physical Requirements: Manual dexterity (eye/hand coordination), Reach above shoulder, Color Vision

Hazards: Exposure to toxic/caustic/chemicals/detergents, Exposure to moving mechanical parts, Exposure to dust/fumes

Mental/Sensory - Emotional

Mental / Sensory: Strong Recall, Reasoning, Problem Solving, Hearing, Speak Clearly, Write Legibly, Reading, Logical Thinking

Emotional: Fast pace environment, Able to Handle Multiple Priorities, Frequent and Intense Customer Interactions

The HazMat & Waste Safety Manager acts as the Safety Department's liaison to the health system environment for regulatory safety compliance specifically related to hazardous materials, chemicals, and waste. This position advises and trains Health System physicians, nurses, direct care providers and support services staff on appropriate and relevant occupational health and safety issues including PPE, engineering controls, chemicals, hazardous materials, regulated medical waste and hazardous medications handling and disposal. The Hazmat & Waste Manager is responsible for compliance and communication with regards to regulations and standards set forth by the Virginia Department of Environment Quality (DEQ), Joint Commission and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Manages the Annual Required Education Hazardous Materials and Waste Management compliance survey program. Document inspection activity and maintain appropriate documentation required for Joint Commission compliance.

Oversees monthly tracers to identify improvement opportunities where hazardous chemicals, hazardous medications or hazardous waste are present.

Conducts workplace assessments according to an established schedule and submits recommendations and staff training to minimize hazard exposure to staff, visitors and patients.

Participates in weekly Environment of Care Support Services' Rounds and in Emergency Preparedness Exercises.

Leads/chairs the HazMat & Waste Environment of Care Subcommittee and participates in other interdisciplinary committees and activities of departments to enhance the culture of safety.

• Within the scope of this Subcommittee Chair capacity, the manager has responsibility for multiple disciplines/roles from other departments (i.e. EVS, Infection Prevention, Plant Operations, etc.) and their respective metrics, objectives, initiatives, as relevant to the Subcommittee's activity under the broader Environment of Care Committee.
• This Subcommittee meets on a quarterly basis, unless business needs require otherwise, and the HazMat & Waste Manager is responsible for reporting quarterly to the EOCC updates on the Subcommittee's activity.
• Similarly, this role is accountable for compliance with all regulatory standards within the VCUHS environment related to Joint Commission's EC.02.02.01 chapters and elements of performance.

Manages and oversees the HazMat/Waste/Chemical safety services provided by the VCU Safety & Risk Management team to VCU Health System via the annual Operational Services Agreement (OSA).

• The VCUHS Safety Department is responsible for portions of the salary of multiple VCU employees (most of which are also VCUHS Contingent Workers) that provide services via the OSA, and for all listed job titles/roles within the Laboratory/Chemical/Biological/Environmental Safety Services, a percentage of them (approximately 5-8 VCU roles) report to the HazMat & Waste Manager role as it relates to services within the VCUHS environment.
• These roles include Lab Safety Officers, Lab Safety Specialists, Lab Safety Technicians, Hazardous Waste Technicians, Biosafety Specialists, and Biosafety Technicians.

Provides Chemical Inventory management including working towards one software to maintain up-to-date Safety Data Sheets for all hazardous materials. - Annual Updates

Maintains required Environment of Care Committee Standing Reports (Monthly/Quarterly) to include:

Chemical Inventory List Safety Data Sheets Exposure Injury Review Emergency Procedures HazMat and Waste Spills and Exposures Radioactive Materials Energy Sources (X-Ray Equipment, MRI and Laser Equipment) Hazardous Medications Hazardous Gases and Vapors Hazardous Wastes

Conduct risk assessments to identify need for eyewash stations in the health system.

EEO Employer/Disabled/Protected Veteran/41 CFR 60-1.4.

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