About UMass Amherst
The flagship of the Commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued—and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges, and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental, social, economic, and technological challenges in our world.
Job Summary
The Lab Safety & Industrial Hygiene Services Officer provides comprehensive laboratory safety, biosafety, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation safety, and industrial hygiene services to the campus community, including risk assessments, inspections, trainings, and management of personal protective equipment (PPE) programs for all laboratories and the University community.
Essential Functions
- Performs inspection, identification, evaluation, elimination, and control of chemical, physical, environmental, and ergonomic health hazards.
- Conducts risk assessments on the use of particularly hazardous chemicals or processes, including nanomaterials, uses proper air monitoring techniques, and issues reports of findings and recommendations. Reviews SOPs for work with particularly hazardous materials and presents them to the Institutional Chemical Safety Committee for approval.
- Performs, schedules, and oversees laboratory safety assessments and documents follow-up corrective actions in a timely manner. Prepares departmental reports on lab safety assessment deficiencies. Maintains data on assessments and corrective actions.
- Assists Principal Investigators (PI) and researchers in the implementation of biological safety protocols and performs post-approval site visits to monitor progress and adherence to protocols and procedures. Assists with implementing programs that relate to all aspects of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation sources, including machine sources. Works closely with the Institutional Chemical Hazards Committee, Laboratory Safety Coordinators, Facilities and Campus Planning staff, and Physical Plant staff to recognize, evaluate, and control potentially hazardous occupational exposures.
- Conducts on-site assessments of safety systems, chemical and hazardous handling procedures, and storage facilities and inspects all science, research and other laboratories.
- Provides industrial hygiene services for campus employees, including hearing conservation, exposure monitoring, respiratory protection, occupational health monitoring, and indoor air quality assessments, aimed at prevention of occupational injuries and illness. Specifies and performs or oversees the maintenance and calibration of all EH&S industrial hygiene equipment and manages internal and external contracted industrial hygiene lab services. Establishes and/or maintains data on illness or injury prevention monitoring. Conducts injury and illness investigations, writes reports, and maintains records. Provides emergency response support (including off hours). Advises other health and safety personnel responding to emergencies on occupational health related matters.
- Develops and updates training materials for training sessions. Stays informed of new legislation, equipment, and procedures and promotes safety in laboratory design. Teaches pertinent seminars, training sessions and workshops to students, faculty, and staff. Initiates, develops, obtains approval, and implements policies, systems and standards for safety and industrial hygiene, and audits the same.
- Liaises with federal, state, and private agencies and universities. Maintains up-to-date competency in professional field. Performs administrative tasks: compiles monthly and annual reports and assists in review of program goals and objectives.
- Oversees inventory of all chemicals on campus in academic areas. Monitors and adjusts processes, and performs data verification, to maintain an accurate chemical inventory. Maintains schedule of re-inventorying chemicals in laboratories and ensures that lab door cards are up-to-date.
Other Functions
- Performs other duties as assigned.
- Contributes toward creating a positive and respectful workplace defined by personal and professional competence, integrity, and collaboration.
- Understands and contributes to implementation of departmental and institutional goals for achieving non-discrimination and creating a respectful, inclusive environment that is supportive of diversity.
- Uses access to sensitive and/or not yet public university-related information only in the performance of the responsibilities of position and exercises care to prevent unnecessary disclosure to others. Understands responsibilities with respect to conflicts of interest and behaves in ways consistent with law and with university policy.
Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)
- Bachelor's Degree Chemistry, Science, Industrial Hygiene, or related field and 2 years of relevant experience practicing laboratory safety, working in a research laboratory, or a combination of the two.
- Understanding of scientific practices and procedures and knowledge of laboratory/chemical safety principles and practices.
- Understanding of the current compliance requirements applicable to specialized research activities and facilities.
- Demonstrated ability to educate others in safe work practices and facilitate laboratory trainings.
- Ability to promote and assure continuous improvement. Ability to establish and maintain productive relationships with a full range of personnel. Strong commitment to customer service and collegiality.
- Ability to effectively mitigate stressful situations. Excellent problem-solving skills and judgment are critical.
- Demonstrated excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Demonstrated experience in word processing, spreadsheets, and various computer data management systems used in professional management organizations.
Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)
- Master's Degree in Chemistry, Science, Industrial Hygiene, or related field.
- Chemical Hygiene Officer upon hire.
- Certified Industrial Hygienist upon hire.
Physical Demands/Working Conditions
Ability to work in confined hazardous environments wearing protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus.
Additional Details
May supervise an average of 1-5 student employees at any given time.
Work Schedule
- Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM.
- Nights and weekends may be required
Salary Information
Level 28
PSU Hiring Ranges
Special Instructions to Applicants
Along with the application, please submit a resume, and cover letter. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references.
The University of Massachusetts Amherst welcomes all qualified applicants and complies with all state and federal anti-discrimination laws.