L&I DOSH Compliance Industrial Safety and Health Investigator 3 (CISHI3) – Safety #5131 Full Time

 
L&I’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) administers the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA) law by developing and enforcing rules that protect workers from hazardous job conditions. Our investigators visit about 5,000 workplaces each year and cite businesses that violate health and safety rules.  

The Compliance Safety and Health Investigator (CISHI) positions are used to maintain Federal approval of the state plan occupational safety and health program that is necessarily authorized under statute, Chapter 49.17 RCW, the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA).  DOSH Compliance investigators have enforcement authority over all employers in the state of Washington.  This includes private and public sector, state, county, and city authorities. The approved State program at the Department of Labor and Industries must be maintained as-effective-as the federal OSHA compliance program.  The work is aimed at ensuring all employers comply with workplace safety and health laws and rules to prevent worker and public fatalities, injuries and illnesses, to include compliance enforcement through legal processes and procedures.

CISHI-3s are senior level safety and health investigators that have attended a defined new hire course that includes over 360 classroom hours (provided upon hire). They conduct highly complex investigations and inspections of safety and health hazards in all industries independently or in teams. This includes fatalities or accident investigations, resulting in hospitalizations, amputations, or loss of an eye.

They lead CISHI-1 and CISHI-2 investigators and inspectors, or work as part of a team assisting and supporting CISHI-5 supervisors and CISHI-6 expert level industrial safety and health engineers in highly complex investigations and inspections.  
All of this work is crucial to the safety and health of the workers of the State of Washington, and directly impacts and supports the Department’s mission, “Keep Washington Safe and Working”.

For this position, telework is permitted on occasion dependent upon business needs and supervisor approval. The assigned duty station for this position is Seattle, Tukwila, or Bellevue, Washington.
 
Learn more about DOSH here: 50 Years of DOSH
 
See all of our current L&I DOSH position openings here: Current L&I DOSH open positions

Some of what you’ll do:

• Independently conduct thorough fatality investigations to determine root cause and other contributing factors.  
• Independently investigate accidents resulting in hospitalizations, amputations, or loss of an eye.
• Conduct highly complex safety investigations of workplaces using independent judgment within established guidelines to determine the type and extent of suspected environmental and occupational safety hazards (e.g. manufacturing plants, construction projects, etc.).  
• Conduct pre-investigation research including any necessary review of electronic files and relevant references that may require hours of sitting or standing.
• Enter physical worksites unannounced to conduct compliance investigations. 
• Assist CISHI-6 engineers on more complex investigations, such as catastrophic events where multiple fatalities and/or hospitalizations have occurred. 
• Thoroughly investigate accidents to determine root causes and contributing factors, provide documentation to back up conclusions and prepare detailed report by assembling all information gathered during the investigation.
• Investigate complaints and referrals to determine if the alleged hazards exist and employees are exposed to them.
• Document findings, prepare a detailed report and respond to the complainant established policy.
• Investigate worksites to identify safety hazards while taking field notes, photos, videos, or other appropriate documentation methods.
• Determine employer compliance or non-compliance with WISHA Safety and Health Standards and write reports documenting employee exposure along with proposed citations and monetary penalties as appropriate.
• Ensure abatement of hazards identified during inspection by ensuring employer knows how to send in required paperwork enclosed in the Citation and Notice, contacting employers when abatement is nearing its due date (if the department has not received the employer certification of abatements), e-mailing copies of the certifications forms when they have been misplaced by the employer, sending official letters on non-abatement compliance, and notifying their supervisor that they have completed the above steps and the employer has not complied so a follow-up inspection can be assigned.
• Works with the Attorney General’s office and local prosecutors on highly complex and difficult cases.
• Testifies on behalf of the Department as primary witness for all inspections conducted, and testifies as witness to any other inspections participated in.  Performs evidence handling of highly complex cases.
• Provide field training to CISHI1 and CISHI2 inspectors. Provide guidance and assistance to CISHI1 and CISHI2 investigators as needed.
• And much more!

REQUIRED:

• Must be physically capable to walk through a variety of workplaces such as large manufacturing plants with metal stairways, catwalks, ladders, and walk through rough terrain.  Must also be able to be exposed to weather (wearing appropriate weather gear) for long durations.
• A valid and unrestricted driver license.

AND

• Five years’ experience as a DOSH Compliance Industrial Safety and Health Investigator (CISHI/CHSO), or equivalent experience as a Federal OSHA or other state plan journey-level safety and health specialist or industrial hygienist. 

         OR 

• Certified Safety Professional (CSP). 

          OR 

• Five years of full-time professional experience as an employer’s safety director or manager, industrial hygienist, safety and health specialist, etc. 

          OR 

• Seven years of full-time journey level occupational/industrial safety experience in one or more of the following industries: Government, military, public health or related safety and health field. 

          OR 

• A Bachelor of Science degree from a regionally accredited university in occupational safety and health, industrial hygiene or similar AND five years of occupational/industrial safety professional experience. 

DESIRED: 

• Bilingual preferred; persons of all languages are encouraged to apply. Bilingual jobs include a 5% salary increase for dual language responsibilities.

What we are looking for:

• A strong desire to ensure worker safety with a thorough understanding of safety and health rules and regulations and ability to identify safety related hazards in a variety of workplaces.
• Strong written, verbal and interpersonal communications skills with ability to write comprehensive and concise reports detailing identified hazards.
• Willing and able to work with hostile clients or customers (both internal and external).
• Knowledge of Safety and Health Rules and Regulations, the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (WISHA) and the federal government’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The ability to explain to customers what their businesses must do to comply with these regulations.
• Enforcing Laws, Rules and Regulations–Enforces governmental laws, rules and regulations, and initiates enforcement actions in such a way that the public perceives as fair, objective and reasonable.
• Perform duties safely; model the behavior we expect to see.

Things You Need To Know  
State employees who meet the qualifications will become eligible for a generous retirement package at the end of the employee’s career. Click on the “Benefits” tab to learn more.
 
At L&I, your voice matters. In addition, L&I is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety and health and security of Washington’s 3.3 million workers. Take a look at this brief video and learn more about why L&I is an employer of choice.
 
For this position, telework is permitted on occasion dependent upon business needs and supervisor approval. The assigned duty station for this position is Any L&I location in King Co. (Region 2), Washington.
 
For positions where in-office work is necessary, the frequency of telework will be discussed with the supervisor of the position at the time of offer.
 
Application process  
We will contact the top candidates directly to interview for this position. Because we base the selection on information provided by you, it is in your best interest to identify the knowledge, skills, and abilities that address the mandatory and desirable qualifications described in the announcement.
 
Please include the following documents with your application:

1. A cover letter describing specific qualifications.
2. A current resume detailing applicable experience and education.
3. A list of at least three professional references with current telephone numbers.

 
Other information

• A job offer is contingent upon completion of a background check that includes a criminal record review.
• For positions requiring travel, you must have a valid unrestricted driver’s license and have insurance if driving a privately owned vehicle on state business.
• This position is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).
• Candidates who are offered a job with L&I must possess work authorization that does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa now or in the future.
• The Department of Labor & Industries complies with the employment eligibility verification requirements of the federal employment eligibility verification form, I-9. The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States consistent with the requirements of that form on the first day of employment.
• Please note: L&I may use this announcement to fill multiple permanent and/or non-permanent positions.

 
Did You Know?
Washington is America’s Top State to live, play, and work, according to U.S. News (2021). Join the L&I team and enjoy all the Evergreen State has to offer.
 
In addition to offering a positive balance between life and work, L&I provides one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation. We also believe your voice matters. We value our employees and their work-life balance by encouraging flexible schedules. L&I is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety and health and security of Washington’s 3 million workers.
 
 
Veterans Preference
Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference should attach to their application a copy of their DD-214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Please blackout any personally identifiable data such as Social Security numbers. For further information, contact L&I’s [email protected].
 
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer
L&I employees come from all walks of life. We strive to hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
 
We believe in the importance of recognizing the value each of us contribute to the success of the agency mission. Having a diverse workforce is this agency’s greatest resource of strength and knowledge. It is through the combination of talents and abilities that we can pursue finding effective measures to provide the best customer service. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace for everyone and we strongly mean everyone.
 
The State of Washington is an equal opportunity employer. Persons with a disability who need accommodation in the application process or testing process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, may call 360-902-5700. TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service.
 
You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor this as you interact with our award-winning diverse and inclusive organization.
 
For more Information
If you have any questions regarding this job posting, program, or the agency, please contact the recruiter, Lori Hensin (she/her/hers) at [email protected].