Environmental Health And Safety Specialist

The Environmental Health and Safety Specialist manages the University's hazardous material, hazardous waste, and laboratory safety initiatives while ensuring compliance with state and federal regulatory agencies.

About the University of New England

UNE is Maine's largest private university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study-abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible online offerings. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to positively impact a world full of challenges. We are the state's top provider of health professionals and home to Maine's only medical and dental colleges, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care programs, and nationally recognized programs in the marine sciences, the natural and social sciences, business, the humanities, and the arts.

UNE offers a generous comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. The package includes varied health and dental plans; a retirement plan that includes up to an eight percent match; extensive paid leave including holidays, vacation, sick, and personal time; and educational benefits. Please visit the Human Resources Benefits site for additional information regarding UNE's benefits package.

Responsibilities

Hazardous Waste Management

• Conduct inspections of all laboratories and other waste generating facilities on campus.

• Identify containment, segregation, storage, and labeling issues and implement corrective action (i.e., trays, complete labels).

• Maintain an inspection program for all Satellite Accumulation Areas (SAA) and Main Accumulation Area (MAA) on campus.

• Post emergency response information and NFPA signage at appropriate areas. Inspect and place spill response equipment in each SAA and MAA.

• Classify routine hazardous waste streams (i.e., oil, organic solvents) for profiling.

Universal Waste Management

• Establish and oversee management of universal waste, electronic waste and associated waste storage areas and shipments.

• Keep universal waste management plan current with most recent State regulations.

• Develop and conduct Universal Waste training for personnel involved in handling universal waste materials.

• Maintain inspection program for Universal Waste Storage Areas.

Bio-Medical Waste Management

• Manage contract for the transport and disposal of biomedical waste from University facilities.

• Develop and conduct training for UNE employees for the proper packaging, handling and emergency protocols for biomedical waste.

• Perform annual review and update, if necessary, of the UNE Exposure Control Plan, which addresses the biomedical waste generated at the University.

Hazardous Materials Handling

• Implement a chemical purchasing and inventory program to comply with inventory requirements of the National Fire Protection Association, Maine Dept. of Environmental Protection and the Local Emergency Planning Committee.

• Maintain current database of all chemicals stored, used and disposed on the Biddeford and Portland campuses.

• Administer Chemical Inventory Management Software and train new system users.

• Assist in developing hazardous waste minimization goals and objectives and take lead in implementation of them.

• Keep a record of hazardous waste generated by departments and summarize on a semi-annual basis for purposes of hazardous waste minimization planning.

• Provide assistance to hazardous waste generators in identifying ways to eliminate or reduce waste.

• Conduct training programs for employees to meet awareness of function-specific work hazards and safety training requirements.

• Manage Surplus Materials storage, re-distribution, and/or disposal including identification of most beneficial use and/or destinations.

Recycling Program Management

• Manage, in conjunction with Facilities Management, the University-wide recycling program. This recycling program is expected to be continually improved upon wherever economically and logistically feasible. It currently includes office paper, cardboard, batteries, redeemable bottles and cans.

• Work with students and student organizations as well as faculty organizations to maintain and improve the University-wide recycling program in residence halls and academic spaces.

Environmental Management System Coordination

• Provide support and coordinate activities of Environmental Management System Development Committee (titled UNE School-wide Environmental Awareness System).

• Coordinate and/or chair meetings, take minutes, document progress.

Documentation/Record Keeping

• Maintain an organized system for accessing manifests, waste profiles and Land Disposal Restriction forms, certificates of recycling and other required documents.

• Complete timely annual reports for the Maine Department of Environmental Protection:

• Tier II reports, due annually in March, record annual hazardous waste shipments

• Toxic Use Reduction Reports, due July of even years, record the amount of hazardous waste reduction the University has achieved.

• Develop quarterly or periodic audit reports as well as cost-benefit analysis, timelines, metrics reports, justification for budget items, etc.

• Other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in biological/chemical science, or a combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills have been acquired.

• Additional training regarding hazardous waste management and laboratory chemical storage is preferred.

• Must be knowledgeable in the areas of laboratory safety, safe storage of chemicals and inspection procedures.

• Must be able to lift 5 to 10 pounds in order to conduct inventories and transport chemicals.

• Must be able to provide support in various buildings on both the Biddeford and Portland campuses.

• Valid Maine driver's license.

• Experience with relational database management and/or chemical inventory management software is preferable.

EEO Statement Summary

Consistent with federal and state law and University policy, the University of New England is committed to the fundamental concept of equal opportunity for all of the members of the University community. The University prohibits, and will not tolerate, discrimination in employment, the provision of academic services or in any other area of University life based on race, color, sex, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, ethnicity, genetic information, HIV status, or status as a veteran. Prohibited bias factors should not motivate decisions regarding students, employees, applicants for admission, applicants for employment, contractors, volunteers or participants in and/or users of institutional programs, services, and activities.

COVID Vaccination Statement (PLEASE NOTE)

Employees in clinical settings must meet the State of Maine's immunization requirements for clinical activity.