Health & Safety Officer. Donegal County Council

Transcription

1 CANDIDATES INFORMATION BOOKLET June 2016 Health & Safety Officer Donegal County Council

2 ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government An Roinn Comhshaoil, Oidhreachta agus Rialtais Aitiuil 1. Character Each candidate must be of good character Health and Safety Officer Qualifications 2. Health Each candidate must be in a state of health as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service. 3. Education, Experience etc. Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms for the office a) Hold an honours degree ( Level 8 in the National Framework of Qualifications) in : (i) Health and Safety, Or (ii) Engineering, Architecture, and/or Science, with a diploma in Health and Safety b) Have a satisfactory knowledge of the following: Effective communications and liaison with officials from the regulatory authorities, The management of risks from fire such as fire prevention and the carrying out of fire drills, Risk management in relation to hazardous substances and occupational diseases, Providing the required input for health and safety related training course/s and manuals for the organisation, Understanding of Local Government, and the construction industry, Health and Safety legislation, statutory requirements, their implications for the workplace, and an appreciation of the legal process,

3 c) Have at least 3 years satisfactory relevant experience, including adequate experience in the areas specified below: The management of an appropriate audit process, Planning practical and effective methods, both preventative and remedial, of promoting work practices that comply with health and safety requirements, Of working with committees, The preparation and regular revision of Health and Safety statements and strategies, Staff supervision, and relevant administration, Maintaining accurate records, particularly of inspection findings, of incidents and accidents, and the preparation of reports, and statistical data required by management and the H.S.A., The regular review of work methods and processes, which identify and take account of all relevant hazards, Supporting line managers in the preparation, implementation, and regular review of safety related documentation including risk assessments, including advising on how risks can be reduced, Operating a safety management system. d) Possess a full, clean driving licence. MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES To provide the local authority, with appropriate services of an executive, administrative or management nature as are required for the exercise and performance of any of its powers, duties and functions. Principle Duties and Responsibilities: 1. Preparing health and safety strategies, developing internal policy and preparation of implementation plans together with assisting in their delivery; 2. Supporting line managers in carrying out risk assessments and advising on how risks could be managed. In certain cases carrying out the actual risk assessment; 3. Outlining safe operational procedures which identify and take account of relevant hazards; 4. Carrying out regular site inspections to check policies and procedures are being properly implemented; 5. Developing, implementing and managing an audit process to ensure that the local authority is complying with health and safety legislation; 6. Planning practical and effective methods, both preventative and remedial, of promoting health and safety and safe working practices; 7. Attending various safety meetings including Safety Committee, Safety Teams, Specific Safety meetings, Central Safety Management Team and Workplace Partnership; 8. making changes to working practices that are safe and comply with legislation; 9. leading in-house training with employees about health and safety issues and risks; 10. keeping records of inspections findings and producing reports suggesting improvements;

4 11. keeping records of incidents and accidents and producing statistics for management; 12. Keeping up to date with new legislation and ensuring the organisation is aware of new and pending legislation 13. Liaising with officials from the regulatory authorities to ensure the organisation is compliant with mandatory regulations; 14. Producing management reports, newsletters and bulletins; 15. carrying out accident investigations on site and producing subsequent reports and recommendations; 16. Carrying out fire drills; 17. Preparation and presentation of reports and attending various meetings of Council with elected members, staff, general public and regulatory agencies; 18. Ensuring the safe installation of equipment; 19. Advising and assisting on a range of specialist areas, e.g. fire regulations, hazardous substances and use of chemicals, noise and vibration, safeguarding machinery and occupational diseases. 20. Carry out duties, which are specified by management relating to the protection from and the prevention of occupational risk and accidental loss in the Council 21. Assist employees in carrying out their safety responsibilities by making them familiar with their obligations under the safety legislation and the Council Safety Statements; 22. Review, update and periodically review the relevant safety statements; develop, update and review periodically the Councils overall Safety Management System; 23. Assist in establishing and maintaining means of safety representation and consultation between management and employees within the meaning of safety legislation; 24. Liaise with safety representatives and provide guidance, advice and support to safety representatives on an, as required basis; 25. Assist in devising, implementing and presenting safety training programmes for both management and staff; 26. Assist in programmes and campaigns, which promote safety awareness and culture among management and staff; 27. Review all accident reports and ensure that, where required, they are reported to the Health and Safety Authority; to investigate all serious accidents and accidents which expose a potential for danger and to produce findings intended to prevent recurrence; to review trends and provide feedback to management and staff in the areas affected; 28. Review and comment on and make recommendations on documents prepared by Council for tendering and subsequent submissions received from private consultants, suppliers and contractors with a view to determining compliance and adequacy of safety measures; 29. Develop and review safe work practices; Safe Systems of Work, Method Statements either individually or in conjunction with other staff in the relevant services; 30. Supervision of any assigned staff; 31. Working closely with the management and staff of the council to ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, that the Council meets its obligations under Health, Safety and Welfare legislation. This responsibility to be commensurate with the level and grading of this post in a comparative manner to other posts at this level across the organisation; 32. Other duties as may be assigned by the Chief Executive, these may include duties of an administrative, technical, engineering or other nature and may not be directly related to Health and Safety; 33. Advise on legislation developments, which may affect Safety, Health and Welfare at work; 34. Co-operate and liaise with the insurance claims section in providing and using information, which is mutually beneficial to exercising respective duties. To provide

5 expert safety reports required by legal advisors to pursue the Council s interest in the case of litigation; 35. These tasks, which are indicative rather than exhaustive, are carried out under general supervision. Persons appointed will be required to work in any location within the Donegal County Council administrative area. In addition, persons appointed may be assigned to a county wide function across a range of Directorates or to a specific directorate or a combination of both. The assignment could change from time to time; 36. The holder of the post will, if required, act for an employee of a higher level 37. Perform other such duties appropriate to the post as it may from time to time be required by the Chief Executive. Salary Scale: 62,276 to 74,183 (analogous to SEE pay scale). COMPETITION PROCESS Completing the Application Form Applications must be made on the official application form and all sections of the form must be fully completed. The admission of a person to a competition, or invitation to attend an interview, is not to be taken as implying that Donegal County Council is satisfied that such a person fulfils the requirements of the position. Closing date The closing date for receipt of applications is: Friday, 22 July 2016 Applications will only be accepted on the prescribed application form and should be forwarded by way of to vacancies@donegalcoco.ie with Health & safety Officer quoted in the reference line. Please also forward 3 copies of the application form together with copies of relevant qualifications to: Human Resources Dept, Donegal Co. Co., 3 Rivers Centre, Lifford, Co. Donegal. Note: Candidates wishing to compete in this competition must hold the relevant qualifications, evidence of which must be submitted to the Human Resources Dept by the closing date.

6 Selection methods These may include: shortlisting of candidates on the basis of the information contained in their application to reduce the list of candidates to a more manageable number for interview; a competitive interview Candidates should make themselves available on the date requested by the Council and should make sure that the contact details specified on the application form are correct. Donegal County Council will not be responsible for refunding any expenses incurred by candidates. Short-listing In the event of a short-listing exercise being employed, an Expert Panel will convene to examine the application forms and assess them against pre-determined criteria based on the requirements of the position. It is therefore in your own interest to provide a detailed and accurate account of your qualifications/ experience on the application form. Right to information and review The Council is committed to offering feedback and information to candidates. Any candidate who wishes to have a decision or the process reviewed, can request same. Any such request must be submitted in writing, stating the grounds of the request, and this must be submitted within 5 working days from the date of notification of a relevant decision. Confidentiality Subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, 2014 applications will be treated in strict confidence.