Safety Specialist at Lewis Tree Service, Inc. in Syracuse, New York

Job Description:

ABOUT THE JOB: The Lewis Tree Safety and Human Performance Team fosters a culture that promotes learning, innovation, and prioritizing safety work based on serious injury potential risks. We partner with Operations to support and deliver value to our frontline workers. The Safety Specialist's main responsibility is supporting crews in working safely. This role should assume approximately 60% travel which mostly entails field visits with crews and Operations Leadership.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Improve the safety of work.

• Join crews to understand the gap between how work is being done and the procedures / policies to update models of risk, identify challenges, surface good practices, and enhance operational discipline.

• Support crews in using safety and human performance tools and practices, ensuring that what the safety team produces is effective in the field.

• Advise on plans and methods to perform difficult or high-risk jobs safely. Facilitate an exchange of perspectives that evolve toward a shared picture of risk and a safer plan.


• Act as a scout, seeking and sharing information, good practices, and lessons across organizational boundaries.

• Lead projects and Learning Teams to advance Lewis Tree and line clearance industry safety through designing, testing, and deploying new practices and tools.


• Provide fresh insight and actionable suggestions to improve safety performance.

• Inspect fleet vehicles and equipment for required documents, operational safety features, and equipment in good operation condition.

Facilitate learning.

• Train and coach on:
  
  
  
  • working safely with utility line clearance tools such as saws (chain and hand), pruners, hanger poles, ropes and rigging tools, saddles, full body harnesses, aerial lifts, and more.
  
  
  • technical skills from fundamentals to advanced (i.e., roping and rigging, collision avoidance, climbing techniques).
  
  
  • safety related processes and risks (i.e., aerial rescue, electrical safety, 1st aid/CPR)
  
  
  
  


• Explore and learn about the latest safety and human performance science and practices.


• Learn, teach, translate, and coach executives, leaders, crews, and peers on understanding and applying safety and human performance theories, tools, and practices.


• Act as a storyteller, authoring story-style case studies based on real serious injury (potential) events to build collective memory.


• Design drills that incorporate human factors for action-based learning.


• Partner with operations to report close calls and incidents.


• Investigate and analyze events using methods to surface the "deeper story" and system gaps.


• Onboard new workers.

Influence change.

• Be "trail guides" who clear the way for change.


• Influence and model the behaviors to create a culture of trust, transparency, and openness.

• Lead conversations with customers to share how Lewis is implementing new view safety.

• Understand and implement strategy based in current safety science (Safety II, Resilience Engineering, "Safety Differently," "New View").


• Network with thought leaders redefining safety (Safety II, Resilience Engineering, "Safety Differently", "New View").


• Amplify the voice of, and advocate for, crews.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Associate degree in a related field or other recognized safety credentials such as CUSP, CTSP, or ISA Arborist or equivalent work experience.


• Five years of line clearance experience.


• Certified Tree Care Safety Professional credential (obtain)


• Driver's License is required. Must be familiar with large vehicle regulations.

WE NEED PEOPLE WHO:

• Are responsible, trustworthy, honest, and act with integrity.


• Are curious, creative, and willing to learn.


• Enjoy teamwork and actively contribute.


• Develop positive relationships, gain trust and respect for the company.


• Are willing to travel for storm and other types of support on short notice.

COMPETENT IN THESE AREAS:

• Line clearance work.


• Care and use of utility line clearance tree tools such as saws (chain and hand,) pruners, pole tools, ropes and rigging tools, saddles, full body harnesses, aerial lifts, chippers, and more.


• Tree worker personal protective equipment.

• Excellent written, oral, and presentation skills.


• OSHA, ANSI, DOT and tree industry regulations and standards.

• Computer, smart phone, and Microsoft products.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a person to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, a person:

• must regularly stand, walk, sit for extended periods of time, and reach.


• must occasionally stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, climb stairs and lift or move up to 35 pounds.


• is regularly exposed to an outdoor environment.


• is exposed to weather conditions.


• Will spend significant time driving a vehicle.

The position requires occasional travel including overnights by ground, rail, or air transportation.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

We Offer:

• Specialized paid training & certifications


• Career advancement opportunities


• Health insurance plans


• Paid time off


• Employee stock ownership plan


• Retirement & savings plans options


• Employee assistance program

Lewis Tree Service is an equal employment opportunity employer committed to providing equal opportunity for both applicants and employees. Lewis Tree Service prohibits unlawful discrimination or harassment of employees and applicants on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age (40+), religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, citizenship status, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic, all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training, apprenticeship, promotion, demotion, transfer, lay-off and termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment. Lewis Tree Service's practices and policies are administered in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.