Careers

Description:

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.

Duties

• Conduct industrial hygiene investigations of workplaces to determine employer compliance or non-compliance with WISHA Safety and Health Standards. 
• Conduct workplace exposure monitoring using established industrial hygiene practices and methods. 
• Conduct assessments of noise, heat, ventilation, biological hazards, chemical hazards, and permit required confined spaces. 
• Enter physical worksites unannounced to conduct compliance investigations. 
• Investigate complaints, referrals, and accidents to determine if the alleged hazards exist and employees are exposed to them. 
• Issue proposed citations and monetary penalties as appropriate.
• Ensure abatement of hazards identified during inspection.
• Document findings of workplace investigations and prepares written report. 
• Work with the Attorney General’s office and testify on behalf of the department in cases under appeal.

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.

 
To qualify as a CISHI1:
A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university involving major study in occupational safety and health, industrial hygiene or similar field AND one year* of professional experience as a professional industrial hygienist.

To qualify as a CISHI2 (any of the following):
Two years’ experience as a DOSH Compliance Industrial Safety and Health Investigator (CISHI/CSHO), or equivalent experience as a Federal OSHA or other state plan journey-level safety and health specialist or industrial hygienist.
OR 
Three years* of full-time professional experience as an employer’s safety director or manager, industrial hygienist, safety and health specialist, etc.
OR 
Five 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 four years* of occupational/industrial safety professional experience. Must possess a valid and unrestricted driver license.

To qualify as a CISHI3 (any of the following):
Five years’ experience as a DOSH Compliance Industrial Safety and Health Investigator (CISHI/CSHO), or equivalent experience as a Federal OSHA or other state plan journey-level safety and health specialist  
OR 
 Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH).
 OR 
 Five years* of full-time professional occupational/industrial safety 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 industrial hygiene or similar field AND five years* of occupational/industrial safety professional experience.
 
* A Master’s degree in industrial Hygiene or similar field may take the place of one year of professional experience as an industrial hygienist. 

DESIRED: 
Bilingual preferred. Bilingual jobs include a 5% salary increase for dual language responsibilities.

What we are also looking for:

• A desire to ensure worker safety through enforcement.