Sr Specialist, EH&S

Provides guidance and ensures compliance with all applicable safety, industrial hygiene, and security-related governmental regulations, corporate standards, and site policy standards enabling the site to minimize risk and meet all regulatory and legal obligations. Provides technical expertise to the department and serves as an expert to the organization. Develops and carries out improvement activities for the SHE Department.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Ensures regulatory compliance and provides guidance enabling the site to minimize risk and meet all corporate, regulatory, and legal obligations, such as OSHA standards, permissible exposure limits, etc. Develops, implements/coordinates and monitors safety, industrial hygiene, and security programs (exposure assessments, incident investigations and reduction, safety/health/industrial hygiene/security awareness, behavior-based safety, etc.) that enable the site to continuously improve in safety, health, and security performance, and address all exposures issues such as chemical, noise, thermal, physical/ergonomic, etc. Works with staff (all levels, with production operations focus) to minimize risks to employees.

• Develops safety/health/security policies and procedures to instill a "total compliance culture" in accordance with appropriate regulations: OSHA, Corporate SHE and Security requirements, etc. Develops, revises and implements Standard Operating Procedures. Actively participates in risk management at site utilizing tools such as Process Hazard Analyses, Risk Assessments, and Root Cause Analyses. Assists with or leads investigation of incidents to ascertain causes, recommend preventative measures to prevent reoccurrence, and effectively communicate learning points to staff.

• Assist Environmental Engineer with maintaining compliance to all applicable environmental regulations and permits for Avient Protective Materials. Proactively interpret environmental requirements, including by not limited to: Title V air quality, RCRA hazardous waste, wastewater, etc. Establish and maintain compliance systems.

• Assist Environmental Engineer with environmental reporting to site and regulatory authorities to meet permit requirements.

• Develops documentation to collect all exposure information. Analyzes and maintains data on safety, industrial hygiene and security performance. Responsible for report issuance as required. Monitors occupational injury cases in conjunction with Site Occupational Health Services.

• Works with Training Department staff to develop, implement, coordinate and maintain safety, health and security-related training content. Provides direction and guidance to Avient Protective Materials employees and contractors regarding safety, industrial hygiene and security issues (including orientations and updates to maintain compliance and/or introduce new initiatives). Works with Site Safety Committee as directed.

• Provides guidance and support and ensures compliance for the safe work permitting (e.g., hot-work, confined space entry, lock-out tag-out try-out, etc.) process, including issuing/approving and auditing compliance to same. Performs other routine audits as assigned (procedural, SHE Req., Security Req., etc) to ensure effectiveness of programs and communicates/resolves findings as required. Provides support for emergency response preparedness as applicable to site.

• Maintains current knowledge of the safety, health, and security issues in the external environment, evaluating its application to the site. Assists in the evaluation of new regulations to determine impact/liability to the site. Networks with plant, corporate, and professional safety, health, and security organizations. Represents site safety, health and security interests with the community and professional organizations. Interacts with government officials and other visitors as required.

• Carries out special assigned safety, health and security-related projects, and other duties as assigned.

• Assists in the management of EPA Title V air emissions program for Avient Protective Materials in accordance with all federal, state, and local regulatory requirements, inclusive of monthly reporting obligations.

• Maintain annual training requirements on hazardous waste. Specific job holders will complete more detailed training as well.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

• BS degree in Safety, Safety Engineering, Industrial Hygiene or related field
• 5 years of relevant experience, preferably in a chemical or textiles industry

• Technical knowledge to perform responsibilities (RCA, HAZOP, machine safety, etc.) with minimal supervision is required

• Knowledge and experience in own discipline. In addition, knowledge and experience of:

  • Good analytical, oral/written communication, interpersonal and trouble shooting skills, and prior leadership experience are required.
  • Ability to manage multiple assignments concurrently.
  • Experience in project management.
  • Excellent technical writing skills and attention to detail.
  • Demonstrated experience in a safety related field.
  • Experience in process hazard analysis and root cause analysis.
  • IH experience in chemical, noise and physical/ergonomic exposure (preferred).

Physical/Environ. Demands

• Requires standing and sitting for extended periods of time, talking and listening.
• Must be able to walk and use hands.
• Occasionally requires bending, stooping, climbing ladders and stairs.
• May occasionally be required to lift, push or pull up to 50 pounds.
• Typically work is in a manufacturing environment where noise level is loud.
• Generally requires the use of personal protective equipment such as safety glasses, safety shoes, hearing protection, hard hat, respiratory protection.
• Occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions.
• May be exposed to working in extreme heat and humidity.

Our purpose at Avient Corporation is to be an innovator of materials solutions that help our customers succeed, while enabling a sustainable world.

Innovation goes far beyond materials science; it's powered by the passion, creativity, and diverse expertise of 9,000 professionals worldwide. Whether you're a finance wizard, a tech enthusiast, an operational powerhouse, an HR changemaker, or a trailblazer in materials development, you'll find your place at Avient.

Join our global team and help shape the future with sustainable solutions that transform possibilities into realities. Your unique perspective could be the key to our next breakthrough!

We believe that all of our global employees are leaders and that the six most important behaviors for driving our strategy and culture are the same no matter if an employee is a leader of self, a leader of others, or a leader of the business.

By playing to win, acting customer centric, driving innovation and profitable growth, collaborating seamlessly across Avient, and motivating and inspiring and developing others and yourself you will accelerate your ability to achieve Avient's strategic goals, to meet our customer needs, and to accomplish your career goals.

At Avient, we believe a wide variety of thoughts, ideas and backgrounds gives us the creativity to be successful in a rapidly changing world. In support of this, we stress equality of opportunity for all qualified individuals in accordance with applicable laws. Decisions on hiring, promotion, development, compensation or advancement are based solely on a person's qualifications, abilities, experience and performance.

Avient is an equal opportunity employer. We maintain a policy of non-discrimination in providing equal employment to all qualified employees and candidates regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, protected veteran's status, or other legally protected classification in accordance with applicable federal, state and local law. If you need an accommodation because of a disability to complete an online application, please contact the Avient HR Team by emailing, ApplicationAccommodation@Avient.com.