Occupational Health and Safety Specialist (1-Year Temporary)File Reference Number: IC-084

Employees may from time-to-time also become members of Project Teams. Project Teams focus resources on the development and deployment of specific initiatives, which may be product, service or project-oriented. These teams have approved plans, goals and timelines. Teams may consist of employees from different units or may be multi-disciplinary, depending on requirements. Project teams are intended to have a defined time-line and are not intended to encompass ongoing activities or duties, which should reside in Service Unit Plans.

Team Leaders or Project Managers may be employees appointed by the Management team, or Managers appointed by the Vice-President, Operations. They are expected to lead their teams by developing and implementing approved plans, and reporting on progress. The Management team participates in the review of plans, evaluates priorities and resources, team progress and provides advice and support to ensure team success.

1. Receives questions relating to occupational health and safety. Clarifies their content, scope and background to ascertain the inquirer’s technical knowledge and information needs and the format of the response to the question. Ensures all pertinent information is recorded in the database. (30%)


2. Responds to questions related to occupational health and safety issues. Identifies, retrieves and evaluates scientific and technical information and uses professional judgment in the preparation of responses to inquiries requiring her/his expertise. This includes occasions when specialist knowledge is required to provide authoritative advice and information when literature references and precedents do not exist. Communicates these technical concepts clearly. (30%)


3. Participates and leads in projects as assigned. When leading, establishes processes, and ensures project members meet required obligations and deadlines. Duties include planning and scheduling deliverables and resources, managing client expectations and timelines, resolving issues, monitoring progress, reviewing and presenting project results to clients for final approval. (25%)


4. Reviews and approves the technical content of inquiry responses prepared by inquiries staff, and ensures that the information is accurate and unbiased. Writes and edits e-courses, publications, OSH Answers, presentations and project reports as assigned. (10%)


5. Other duties, as assigned, including representing CCOHS on assigned external initiatives. (5%)

The position reports to the Manager, Inquiries Service, and is one of thirteen employees within the Inquiries Service Unit. The incumbent is a member of the Inquiries Service Unit and also may serve in other Project Teams to which s/he is assigned. All work is planned and implemented under the direction of a Manager.

The incumbent has a sound knowledge of a range of occupational health and safety topics. The incumbent has the ability to research, analyze and assess technical issues in an in-depth manner in order to provide answers to occupational health and safety-related inquiries, as well as a broad knowledge of external information resources and the mandate and role of CCOHS. Excellent searching skills are required, as well as the knowledge of and the ability to choose the best starting points for searches on internal databases and/or Internet sources, as appropriate. Organizational skills are required to deal with the volume and variety of inquiries received.

The incumbent possesses good interviewing skills both oral and written, to work with other staff members and to deal with clients.

The incumbent works closely with members of the Inquiries Service Unit, and with other Project Teams as assigned. S/he must adjust to frequently changing priorities and deadlines, and notify the affected Project Team Leader(s) and Service Unit Manager(s) should time constraints or other challenges arise that require resolution.

The incumbent must use professional judgment, knowledge and experience when developing information products and answering inquiries. In some cases, knowledge on a particular subject is incomplete, inconclusive or contradictory. S/he must determine the most appropriate information to be included, the level of detail and the best approach to explain the concepts to the selected audience. S/he will often make these decisions in consultation with others, but often the final decision rests with the incumbent.

The incumbent is accountable for completing work agreed to and assigned daily.

The Inquiries Service Unit handles approximately 8,000 questions per year on a wide variety of occupational health and safety topics. Responses to questions are provided using a combination of information obtained through re-usables (documentation prepared to answer similar-type questions), publications, computerized information products including databases and full-text products on the World Wide Web. Questions are answered within prescribed standards of quality and response time. The incumbent is responsible for negotiating Clients information needs in the context of the services and mandate of CCOHS.

The incumbent is responsible for providing responses to clients. The incumbent is responsible for ensuring that the information received from clients is presented factually, confidentially and in an unbiased manner appropriate to a tripartite organization. The incumbent is also responsible for reviewing and approving the technical content of inquiry responses prepared by information staff. The incumbent is also responsible for writing and editing e-courses, publications, OSH Answers, presentations and project reports as assigned.

Physical Effort: The employee works at a computer (keyboarding and mousing to read and reply to e-mail, prepare reports, review information, etc.) for the majority of the work day. The work is interspersed with non-computer based activity, such as reading, proof-reading, photocopying, filing. The employee has some control over the workload and has the opportunity to get up, stretch, and walk on a regular basis. Some stooping and lifting (or handling of light material) may be required.

Physical Environment: The employee works at a desk and/or a computer workstation with a keyboard and a mouse for the majority of the work day. The workstation and desk are ergonomically set up, with a wrist rest, mouse rest, document holder, task lamp, as required. The lighting meets standards and there are adjustable blinds on the windows as required. The building environmental controls meet general office requirements.

Sensory Attention: The position requires concentration to compose, enter data, proof-read, quality assure, read routine information, communicate with others via e-mail, search for information and listen to others carefully. Listening to inquirers attentively, concentration when preparing responses to inquiries and performing searches.

Mental Stress: There are priorities and deadlines which need to be met on a regular basis. There are interruptions from colleagues, supervisor or telephone calls. The employee has some control over the pace of work. Work may be repetitious. There is no control over the amount of work, as phones need to be answered; deadline pressures due to inquirers’ demands; there are frequent interruptions when working on inquiries. Must be “up” at all times when speaking with inquirers.

• Post-secondary degree in one of the Health Sciences with specialization in occupational health and safety. Knowledge of chemistry and toxicology is desirable. Four years’ experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Working experience and ability to interview the public in an information setting, by telephone or in person, with courtesy, good judgment and tact.
• Ability to analyze subjects and organize information resources.
• Understanding of the organization and presentation of statistical information.
• Experience using published and unpublished information resources.
• Experience with web design and health and safety searching on the Internet.
• Effective interpersonal skills and excellent ability to work in a team environment.
• Excellent oral (public speaking) and written communication skills are required.
• Ability to communicate in both official languages is highly desirable.
• Certification as a CRSP and/or CIH/ROH or the ability to achieve one or more of these designations is highly desirable.