Safety Officer

Description

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Safety Officer manages a surveillance system that collects and analyzes data for the safety committee. This includes:

• Active searches for safety hazards by conducting facility safety tours together with the team members.
  • • Documented surveys of all patient care areas and non-patient care areas of the hospital every 3 months.
  • Serves as a member of the Environment of Care Committee and represents the committee when necessary at medical management meetings and reviews of the safety program.  Monitors Safety/Environment of Care Committee recommendations and actions to measure effectiveness and reports to executive management on this.

• • Develops implements and monitors hospital-wide safety management programs based on evaluation of organizational expertise, applicable law, regulations and accepted practice.  Ensures that the hospital complies with national safety regulations, contractual safety requirements and when necessary, JCIA/CBAHI environment of care/safety requirements deemed.

• • Establishes an occurrence quality indicator system in conjunction with the occurrence variance reporting and tracking system which triggers investigation of all incidents involving property damage, occupational illness, or patient, personnel or visitor injury.

• • Reviews, investigate, and make recommendation for internal reports of failures, hazards, use errors and other deficiencies related to safety management (physical and chemical hazards), life safety management (fire prevention), equipment management (safe medical devices) and utilities management (emergency power).

• • Prepares and submits annual management reports for hospital executive management and for outside regulatory agencies.

• • Represents the hospital in meetings with regulatory agencies that address safety related issues.

• • Coordinates the development, implementation and monitoring of departmental safety/environment of care policies and procedures.

• • Develops and conducts formal safety related education programs for the hospital to include:

• • • Safety and Security program
    • Hazardous materials and waste management programs
    • Internal and External emergency programs
    • Fire and life safety;
    • Utility System management programs
    • Electrical safety (use of extension cords, frayed cords, broken outlets,  broken prongs);
    • Accidents, injury and hazard reporting;

• • Maintains training records on all of the above safety education programs and reports to department heads on the compliance rate for attendance at mandatory safety education sessions.

• • Responds to employee, patient and visitor safety concerns by examining safety related issues, preparing recommendations for corrective actions and ensures appropriate follow-up.

• • Serves as a resource to departments in developing safe working practices and in maintaining a safe working environment.

• • The Safety Officer is subject to being on-call 24 hours/7 days /week to respond to emergencies

• • Provide personalized coordinated care, and support for staff and families.

• • Treat people with dignity, compassion, and respect.

QUALIFICATIONS  :

• • Bachelor’s/Diploma degree in, health science, hospital administration, industrial hygiene, engineering, safety management or related field.  A formal post graduate qualification in safety management recognized by the regulatory authority in his country of origin would be an advantage.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE :

• • He/she should have at least four years experience working in the field of safety, preferably in the healthcare environment.

SPECIALIZED SKILLS:

• • Knowledge of JCIA /CBAHI accreditation policies, practices and management are highly desirable.

• • Demonstrated knowledge of the requirements of occupational and safety related training programs as well as  national or internationally recognized safety regulations and having the ability to interpret regulatory safety related legislation is required.

• • Candidate must also demonstrate effective human relations and communication skills.

• • Must be computer literate and have the ability to create and manage data bases for the safety program.

• • Applicants must clearly demonstrate the ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.

• • Excellent in English communication.

• • Ability to work on own and as part of a team.

• • Self motivated

• • Organizational skills

COMPETENCE:

• Meets deadline of submission of reports.

• Effective communication skills.

REQUIRED ATTITUDE TO PERFORM THE JOB:

• • Proper effective, can work without any supervision and compassionate communication.
  • Proper, effective and compassionate communication.