Environmental/Health and Safety Officer

Department: Human Resources 

Job Type: Limited Term

Full-time/Part-time: Full Time (>=1249 hrs/year) 

Campus: Brantford 

Reports to: Manager, Compliance and Risk Assessment

Employee Group: PAG 

Application Deadline: 01/10/2025 

Requisition ID: 8844 

Wilfrid Laurier University is a leading multi-campus university that excels at educating with purpose. Through its exceptional employees, students, researchers, leaders, and educators, Laurier has built a reputation as a world-class institution known for its rich student experience, academic excellence, and global impact. With a commitment to Indigenization and commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, Laurier’s thriving community has a place for everyone.

Laurier has more than 21,000 students and 2,100 faculty and staff across campuses in Waterloo and Brantford, as well locations in Kitchener and Milton. The university is committed to providing an inclusive workplace, a flexible work policy and employing a workforce that is reflective of local and national demographics. Laurier's Waterloo, Kitchener, and Brantford campuses are located on the shared traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnaabe, and Haudenosaunee peoples. This land is part of the Dish with One Spoon Treaty between the Haudenosaunee and Anishnaabe peoples and symbolizes the agreement to share, protect our resources, and not to engage in conflict.  Laurier's Milton campus is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, and part of the Nanfan Treaty of 1701 between the British Crown and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Manager, Compliance and Risk Assessment, the EHS Officer is responsible for planning, developing and implementing a broad spectrum of environment, health and safety systems and initiatives for the Brantford, Northwest Territories, and Milton Campuses, and in some cases for the University at large. The EHS Officer will act as a primary resource to all Brantford, Northwest Territories, and Milton departments by clarifying regulatory requirements, researching and communicating best practices. The position’s responsibilities will be very broad in nature in order to support the overall requirements of the Brantford, Northwest Territories, and Milton Campuses.

The Officer oversees the university-wide workplace inspection and training programs in order to ensure compliance in these areas. The position will also support the implementation of the University-wide travel risk management program.

In collaboration with the SHERM team, the Officer will work to develop, evaluate and monitor programs which support the University’s and SHERM’s strategic commitments. This position will be based out of the Brantford Campus, but will be required to regularly attend both the Waterloo and Milton Campuses, as required.

Accountabilities

Program Development

• Develops, reviews and manages local requirements (Brantford/Milton/Northwest Territories) of comprehensive university wide environmental, safety and risk management programs.

Compliance (Regulatory and Internal)

• Administers hazardous waste program in accordance with relevant provincial legislation.

• Maintains contractor documentation as required by the Contract Labour Policy, as required.

• Communicates with required regulatory authorities, including the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLTSD), verbal and in writing, following critical injuries.  Meets with MLTSD Inspectors following critical injuries.

• Communicates with relevant Fire Department’s for follow up completion of inspections.

Workplace Violence Prevention

• Responds to urgent situations and leads the safety planning for staff and faculty who may encounter, or be exposed to violence on the Brantford, Northwest Territories and Milton Campuses.

• Meet the stakeholders to resolve low/moderate risk workplace violence situations, as requested. Works cooperatively with the Manager, Compliance and Risk Assessment and/or the Safety and Compliance Specialist for higher risk situations.

• Provides workplace violence environmental risk assessments, as required.  

• Handles confidential and sensitive information with discretion.

Safety Risk Management

• Assists in the development and implementation of Laurier’s Experiential Learning and Unpaid Placement Program risk management programming.

• Supports and provides instruction to placement coordinators, faculty, and staff on training and safety requirements related to experiential learning opportunities (co-op, unpaid placements, volunteers, etc.).

• Collects, tracks, and submits any required reporting metrics to the Ministry of Colleges and Universities or private insurance providers.

• Supports the Event Safety Risk Management Program on the Brantford, Northwest Territories, and Milton Campuses by helping event organizers develop event safety risk management plans.

• Supports the implementation and maintenance of Symplicity Horizons (Journey) software solution for off-campus activities including login issues and entering tickets to support. 

• Supports students, faculty, in staff in the application of the Off-Campus Activities Program and the administration of Laurier’s travel safety software.

• Responds to inquiries related to off-campus field research or travel from University stakeholders including the Office of Research, Faculties, and Students.

• Conducts reviews of off-campus travel safety plans, consulting with the Manager Compliance and Risk Assessment on high-risk plans.

• Provides input, and supports the development of processes, guidelines, and programs related to travel risk management.

Organizational Safety Services

• Responds to requests for workplace hazard evaluations and prepares reports and recommendations using professional judgment.

• Conducts investigations for employees, students and visitors.

• Works with various levels of supervision to ensure correction of unsafe conditions.

• Assists the SHERM specialists to develop, evaluate, and monitor programs, policies, and procedures.

• Provides advice to the Brantford, Milton, and Northwest Territories campus on work design and modification and performs ergonomic assessments.

• Supports Safety Management System Program and Safety Review Processes on the Brantford, Northwest Territories, and Milton locations.  

• Responsible for the implementation of fire safety and emergency management programming on the Brantford, Northwest Territory, and Milton Campuses, in cooperation with the Emergency Management and Fire Safety Officer.

Workplace inspections and Joint Health and Safety Committee Support  (University Wide)

• Leads the implementation and maintenance of the workplace inspection management software (Pervidi).

• Works with software provider to customize audit software (forms, reports) to meet the needs of the university and the Joint Health and Safety Committees (JHSC) at all campuses.

• Works with software provider with regards to trouble shooting issues, creation of new reports, and optimizing the database to increase its efficiency for both the software administrator and the portal user.

• Provides training to new JHSC Auxiliary Worker Members (AWM) regarding hazard identification and the use of the software.

• Prepares standard reports detailing all outstanding safety hazards for all buildings listed under the JHSC Multi-Site agreement, and provides them to the JHSCs for follow-up.

• Oversees AWM inspections and guides Faculty/Department on the internal inspections.

• Completes inspections if AWMs are unable to under exceptional circumstances.

• Works with FAM, the JHSC, faculty and staff on ensuring space assignments are kept up to date within the inspection software.

• Works with the management to ensure that their areas are inspected and held accountable for completing their assigned inspections.

• Assists the JHSC members to follow up with various levels of supervision to ensure correction of unsafe conditions.

• Acts as liaison between the JHSC and managers regarding H&S issues as they relate to workplace inspections for the campus.

• Supports any Health and Safety Representatives at the Milton and Northwest Territories locations.

• Supports the JHSC efforts and compliance as it relates to reviewing and implementing the Multi-Site JHSC Terms of Reference.

• Provides support during JHSC meetings by providing advisory support and taking meeting minutes.

Training (University Wide)

• Oversees SHERM’s health and safety training program (in-class and on-line).

•  Oversees the implementation training record management software and processes with the support of SHERM Administrative Assistant.

• Provides general H&S training to all employees and students, as applicable.

• Organizes and ensures workplace-specific training which focuses on the hazards and control measures for specific jobs is provided, on request of the supervisor.

• Converts all in-class courses to on-line using the training software and ensures that all training keep pace with legislative changes.

• Develops and implements the SHERM annual training plan.

• Coordinates SHERM training with the support of the SHERM Administrative Assistant.

• Assists CUPE Health & Safety Officer to conduct monthly health and safety presentations on the Brantford and Milton Campuses.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Health and Safety or related discipline plus two years experience in occupational health and safety discipline or related field

• Certificate in Occupational Health & Safety from a recognized institution

• Designation as a certified registered safety professional is desirable

• An extensive knowledge of the Occupational Health and Safety legislation and regulations as well as all other related federal, provincial and regional laws

• Detail-oriented with a strong working ability with computer applications and database software; advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office products

• Excellent communication (written, oral and presentation) skills

• Proven analytical and problem solving skills and the ability to exercise soundjudgment and respond effectively to a wide variety of environmental health and safety concerns are critical

• Ability to interact and effectively communicate environmental, health and safety procedures to faculty, staff, and students

• Organizational and time management skills

• Experience in an academic research environment

Hours of work

This is a full-time limited term position with an expected end date of January 31, 2027. The normal hours of work are Monday to Friday 8:30am-4:30pm. 

This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement, as per Policy 8.14 (Flexible Work Policy). In-person attendance for events, as required to meet operational needs, is expected. On occasion, this schedule may need to be adjusted to meet operational requirements.

Compensation

Level: D

Rate of pay: $ 37.22 to $ 39.35 per hour with an annual step progression on anniversary date to $ 42.54 per hour. Considerations for new hire step placements include, qualifications and length/depth of required experience, relevant market rates for similar jobs, internal equity, and estimated learning curve in starting the job.

Wilfrid Laurier University endeavors to fill positions with qualified candidates who have a combination of education, experience, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position while demonstrating Laurier's Employee Success Factors.

Equity, diversity and creating a culture of inclusion are part of Laurier’s core values and central to the Laurier Strategy. Laurier is committed to increasing the diversity of faculty and staff and welcomes applications from candidates who identify as Indigenous, racialized, having disabilities, and from persons of any minority sexual and gender identities. Indigenous candidates who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact the Office of Indigenous Initiatives. Candidates from other equity deserving groups who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact Equity & Accessibility. We have strived to make our application process accessible, however if you require any assistance applying for a position or would like this job posting in an alternative format, please contact Human Resources. Contact information can be found at careers.wlu.ca/content/How-to-apply/

Should you be interested in learning more about this opportunity, please visit www.wlu.ca/careers for additional information and the online application system. All applications must be submitted online. Please note, a resume and cover letter will be required in electronic form.