This is advanced professional occupational health and safety work for the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department.

An employee in this class is responsible for performing advanced specialized work in the investigation and prevention of job-related injuries and exposures. Responsibilities include planning and scheduling immunization programs and annual physical examinations, developing a comprehensive infection control program, maintaining medical records, responding to inquiries concerning infection control and infectious diseases, providing pre-counseling and post-counseling to exposed employees, and serving in a liaison capacity to hospitals, health departments and other facilities. The incumbent exercises considerable independent judgment and technical expertise in developing programs to minimize or eliminate job-related disease exposures and injuries by providing departmental employees with necessary information and equipment. General supervision is received from an administrative superior who reviews work through personal conferences and written reports for effective development and implementation of occupational health and safety programs.

ILLUSTRATIVE TASKS

Develops and maintains a comprehensive infection control program; investigates all significant exposures and on-the-job-injuries for compliance with established safety procedures and follow-up treatment.

Publishes a synopsis of all on-the-job-injuries and significant exposures together with possible preventive measures.

Formulates short and long-term goals for the overall health and welfare of departmental employees.

Maintains current information on local, state and federal laws and regulations related to infectious disease.

Maintains current records on all employees concerning annual physicals and status of vaccinations.

Responds to inquiries from employees and serves as an authority on infection control and infectious diseases.

Produces occupational health information; maintains a library of materials pertaining to medical and legal issues concerning emergency response and emergency medical services and infection control.

Coordinates work with other infection control officials at other fire departments, hospitals, clinics, health departments and other facilities.

Reviews the rehabilitation and therapeutic progress of employees; recommends changes in field unit operations in engineering controls and work practices.

Provides pre- and post-counseling to exposed employees.

Serves as chair of the Infection Control Committee; reviews pre- and post-infectious disease exposure reports and makes recommendations for changes in policies.

Performs related work as required.

KNOWLEDGES, ABILITIES AND SKILLS

Thorough knowledge of infection control methods, practices, procedures and technology.

Thorough knowledge of investigative techniques and methods used to identify causes of exposure to communicable disease.

Considerable knowledge of local, state and federal regulations pertaining to emergency response employers concerning threatening infectious diseases.

Considerable knowledge of employee physical examination records and related medical records.

Considerable knowledge of the management of a comprehensive infection control program.

Ability to effectively utilize infection control knowledges to determine and report on the risk of infection and communicable disease.

Ability to develop and maintain a comprehensive and effective infection control program.

Ability to counsel employees who have sustained job-related disease exposures and/or injuries.

Ability to coordinate work with infection control officials at hospitals, clinics, health departments and other organizations.

Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, verbally and in writing.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Nursing, Health Administration, Industrial Hygiene, Industrial Engineering, or related field. Possession of a State of Florida Registered Nurse license. Two years of professional experience in occupational health and safety administration including evaluating, treating and/or referring occupational illnesses and injuries and management of health records; or Possession of a State of Florida Registered Nurse license. Four years of professional experience in occupational health and safety administration including evaluating, treating and/or referring occupational illnesses and injuries and management of health records are required.

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