State of Maryland

An Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Program Specialist is the full performance level of work in the inspection of workplaces to ensure compliance and  enforce State and federal occupational safety and health laws, regulations and standards. Employees in this classification do not supervise but provide direction to lower-level Occupational Safety and Health Compliance Officers.  Employees in this classification may supervise support staff.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from an Occupational Safety and Health Compliance Officer Manager, Chief, Occupational Safety and Health Enforcement or other designated supervisor.  Employees in this class may be required to work evenings and weekends and are subject to call-in during non-work hours in response to emergency situations such as accident investigations.  The work requires travel to work sites such as construction or manufacturing sites where conditions may be noisy, dirty and uncomfortable and requires the employee to use specialized safety equipment such as hearing protection, fall safety devices, goggles, head protection and respiratory protection.  Employees may work in environments where there may be exposure to a variety of physical and health hazards, such as falling debris, noxious fumes, live electrical wiring and asbestos particles.  The work requires climbing ladders, working at elevated heights and in confined areas and carrying test equipment such as voltage testers, sound level meters, penetrometers and pressure gauges.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Occupational Safety and Health Program Specialist is differentiated from an Occupational Safety and Health Compliance Officer Lead in that the Occupational Safety and Health Compliance Officer Program Specialist has statewide responsibility for the inspection of workplaces to ensure compliance and  enforce State and federal occupational safety and health laws, regulations and standards while the Occupational Safety and Health Officer Lead assigns, reviews and approves the work of and trains lower-level Occupational Safety and Health Compliance Officers assigned to a particular region in the State.  The Occupational Safety and Health Program Specialist is differentiated from the Occupational Safety and Health Compliance Officer Supervisor in that the Occupational Safety and Health Compliance Officer Supervisor has supervisory responsibility for lower-level Occupational Safety and Health Compliance Officers in a region. 

Reviews complex non-compliance inspection reports to determine completeness, accuracy, technical and legal sufficiency, proper application of the standards, proper calculation of penalties and consistency among regions;

Cites errors and returns incorrect or incomplete inspection reports to compliance officers for correction;

Notes repeated or continuing problems and advises Occupational Safety and Health Compliance Officer Supervisors, Managers and Chief of problems and suggests corrective measures;

Provides technical guidance and oversight in an area of special expertise, such as standards and policy or crane safety;

May recommend or develop training programs to address field training needs based on review of work and work products;

Provides interpretation of federal and State laws and program requirements to Occupational Safety and Health Compliance Officers and Supervisors;

Prepares and maintains correspondence, monthly reports, summary reports and case files;

Attends meetings, seminars, workshops and conferences to keep abreast of changes and new technology in the field;

Attends field investigations to observe the work of field investigators for quality control purposes;

May conduct informal conferences with employers and employer representatives to discuss the Occupational Safety and Health Program's purpose, procedures and requirements and to determine whether violation notices or penalties should be affirmed, modified on rescinded;

May review abatement letters or visit work site to ensure compliance of temporary or permanent correction in accordance with recommended corrective action;

May determine the validity and urgency of safety and health complaints and assign complaints to the appropriate region or agency for investigation;

May notify employers of complaint allegations and complainants of investigation results;

May investigate discrimination complaints made by employees and recommend an appropriate course of action for case disposition to the Assistant Commissioner;

May oversee the work of support staff;

May testify at administrative hearings or court proceedings;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of State and federal occupational safety and health laws, regulations and standards;

Knowledge of safety inspection and accident investigative procedures and methods;

Knowledge of the nature, purpose and safe operation of a variety of equipment, tools and machinery used in industrial, manufacturing and construction operations;

Skill in interpreting, applying and explaining State and federal occupational safety and health laws, regulations and standards;

Skill in recognizing actual and potential safety and health hazards and recommending a corrective course of action; Skill in preparing accurate and concise reports;

Skill in exercising tact, discretion and good judgment in dealing with employers and compliance program staff;

Ability to provide technical advice and oversight of compliance work.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: Four years of experience in the inspection of work places to ensure compliance and initiate enforcement of state and federal occupational safety and health laws, regulations and standards.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute additional experience in the interpretation and application of fire, health or safety regulations and the preparation of narrative reports documenting factual findings of inspections or investigations on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

2. Candidates may substitute 30 credit hours, including 12 credit hours in construction, engineering, fire, manufacturing, or occupational safety and health technologies for one year of the required experience.

3. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non- commissioned officer in General Inspection, Investigation, Enforcement and Compliance classifications or General Inspection, Investigation, Enforcement and Compliance specialty codes in the Inspection, Investigation, Enforcement, and Compliance field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

1. Employees in this classification are subject to call-in and, therefore, will be required to provide the employing agency with a phone number where they can be reached.

2. Employees in this classification are subject to substance abuse testing in accordance with Code of Maryland Regulations 17.04.09, Testing for Illegal Use of Drugs.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit C- Regulatory, Inspection and Licensure classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial, and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining. Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.