Laboratory Safety Specialist

The Laboratory Safety Specialist at Environmental Health & Engineering in Newton, MA, is responsible for ensuring safety in research and biopharmaceutical labs. Duties include risk assessments, air sampling, hazardous material management, and compliance inspections. The role also involves client communication and training, with a focus on environmental health and safety regulations. This position requires technical expertise and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
Technical Specialist II – Life Sciences

Job Summary:

As a representative of EH&E's Life Sciences team, a Technical Specialist II will operate in facilities ranging from professional research laboratories to biopharmaceutical companies. The Technical Specialist II is the bedrock of daily operation at our client sites, sometime operating in teams or independently to accomplish various Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) tasks. As a Technical Specialist II, you will have the autonomy to accomplish assigned tasks ensuring the overall success of the client EHS program and develop your technical expertise.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

Technical Expertise
• Perform risk assessments involving chemical and biological materials, at the direction of and with guidance from on-site subject matter experts.
• Conduct air sampling and personal monitoring for specific materials used in the research environment.
• Assist in shipping hazardous materials and biological materials; respond to occasional chemical, biological, and after-hours emergencies.
• Assist with incident investigations.
• Maintain hazardous chemical waste program compliance.
• Conduct or oversee periodic laboratory safety and biosafety inspections of laboratories by qualified personnel with respect to federal, state, and local government regulations and agencies’ policies. Conduct follow-up with laboratory personnel.
• Assist in development of regulatory/recertification calendar with Project Manager.
• Be a client resource to answer EHS related questions, using knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations, with the ability to provide regulatory reference as needed.
• Perform routine laboratory maintenance tasks i.e. eye wash/shower testing, door sign updates, inventory collections, fume hood testing ect.
• Update written materials regarding biological safety and laboratory EHS (e.g., Biosafety Manual, Chemical Hygiene Plan, Hazard Communication Plan, etc.).
• Perform respiratory protection fit-testing, as needed.
• Prepare and deliver laboratory EH&S training programs to clients.
• Participate in troubleshooting activities and Laboratory Safety Committee meetings.

Sales & Client Relations
• As a representative of EH&E, provide timely communication to client and internal EH&E requests.
• Be the primary contact communicating solutions to client questions by coordinating support from Project Manager (PM)/Subject Matter Experts (SME).

QA/QC
• Collect and present quality data (may include but not limited to observations collected during lab inspections) following specified quality control procedures and alert project managers on any deviations in procedures.
• Inspect, test and audit the performance of this equipment based on established Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).

Communication and reports
• Collaborate in a small team to investigate problems and maintain databases.
• Crafts emails, memos, manuals and or some contribution to reports for clients.
• Work with client to develop SOP’s and communications based on scientific knowledge/safety.

Financial Management
• Working with supervisor to proactively seek opportunities for project work.
• Be able to work within the deadlines of a specific project. Communicate any issues with project manager.

Minimum Qualifications, Skills & Abilities:
• Higher School Diploma/GED required.
• Bachelors degree in a related field (biology, microbiology, molecular biology, safety, industrial hygiene, chemistry, engineering) preferred.
• 1+ year of experience working in EHS or closely related field required.
• Experience working in a laboratory environment as a bench scientist or EHS professional preferred.
• OSHA 40/HAZWOPER, DOT/RCRA preferred.
• Possess teamwork, analytical & organizational skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft suite of products – Word, Excel, Outlook & PowerPoint.
• Driver’s license required. Must be comfortable with traveling to and working from different client locations.
• Must be comfortable with occasional weekend work as needed & on-call emergency duties.
• Business ownership thinking and entrepreneurial attitude preferred.
• Ability to be open and flexible to new project experiences.
• This job requires sitting, standing & lifting items up to 20lbs.
• Have working experience with MS Office products, such as Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint & Word.