EH&S SpecialistAt — Port of Long Beach

Position Description:  Under general supervision, the intern will participate in developing, implementing, and administering a comprehensive safety management program for the Port of Long Beach ; conduct field audits, investigations, and job safety analyses; and participated in the development of  safety training programs in compliance with federal and state laws and regulations.

Example of Duties:

• Assists in developing, implementing, coordinating, and administering a comprehensive health and safety management program for the Port, including industrial safety, occupational health and safety, hazardous materials and hazard abatement, and accident prevention programs, to ensure compliance with all federal and state laws and regulations for employee occupational health and safety;
• Assists with the coordination of a variety of training classes and programs to ensure employee compliance with Port safety measures, including confined space, air monitoring, personal protective equipment, respiratory protection, construction and work zone traffic safety, fall protection, alcohol and drug awareness, lifting techniques, CPR and first aid, hearing protection, hazard communications, hazardous waste operations, and emergency response and others; tracks dates and schedules required annual retraining classes;
• Assists manager and supervisor training on managing employee health and safety; conducts and participates in safety meetings with departments;
• Assists special and periodic health and safety inspections of Port facilities and operations to identify safety and environmental hazards;
• Performs routine job safety analyses of facilities, equipment, work areas and work practices and prepares reports of findings and recommendations; performs industrial hygiene and noise monitoring of specific work sites and locations; performs ergonomic evaluations of employee work stations and processes; performs periodic special inspections and investigations, including noise level analyses, indoor air quality, and others; follows up to ensure action on safety and other abatement notices;
• Assists with responses to the scene of employee personal injury accidents and environmental-related incidents and conducts accident/incident investigations; analyzes details, devise effective countermeasures, and prepares detailed reports of findings and recommended remedial actions; prepares incident documentation and necessary reporting;
• Participates in drafting new safety policies and procedures; reviews work specifications for safety and health regulations and codes; enforces Port safety and health policies and procedures;
• Maintains departmental records for federal and state occupational health and safety regulatory compliance;
• Periodically checks the operation of, monitors, and calibrates safety equipment to ensure conformance with Port standards in use;
• Performs other related duties as required.

Training:  

What does the job shadowing consist of - Safety intern job shadowing involves observing an experienced safety professional to learn daily occupational health and safety (OHS) routines. It primarily consists of workplace hazard inspections, safety training sessions, incident investigations, and reviewing compliance regulations.

Examples of Core Shadowing Activities

• Safety Tours & Walkthroughs: Accompanying a safety manager to observe routine checks of the facility, looking for hazards like blocked emergency exits, improper PPE usage, or unsafe equipment.
• Incident Investigations: Sitting in while the EH& S Manager collects evidence, takes witness statements, and documents how a workplace injury or near-miss occurred.
• Safety Meetings & Briefings: Attending daily toolbox talks, safety committee meetings, or management reviews to see how safety culture is communicated across teams.
• Compliance Documentation: Observing how professionals track metrics, log incidents in OSHA or EPA databases, and audit safety records.

What does the mandatory training consist of

Mandatory training for a safety intern consists of foundational safety standards (like OSHA regulations), site-specific hazard identification, and emergency protocols. It also includes specialized modules suited to the industry (e.g., construction fall protection, manufacturing lockout/tagout) and hands-on training for hazard assessments and incident investigations.

The specific training and educational requirements you can expect to navigate generally include:

• Basic Regulatory Compliance: Overview of the OSHA Training Requirements by Job Role and Industry or general industry standards. Many employers mandate an initial 10-hour or 30-hour OSHA outreach course before you step onto a job site.
• Emergency & Evacuation Protocols: Learning fast exit routes, assembly points, and emergency leaders to guide coworkers during crises like fires or severe weather.
• Industry-Specific Technical Skills: Targeted training based on the host environment. Construction interns often undergo fall protection, trenching, or scaffolding safety. Manufacturing interns typically study Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) and machine guarding.
• Hazard Communication (HazCom): Instruction on reading Safety Data Sheets (SDS), handling chemicals, and utilizing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Intern-Specific Workplace Safety: Standard operating procedures on how to perform risk assessments, conduct job shadowing, and investigate health concerns safely without putting yourself in harm's way

Are safety procedures included within the orientation – Yes, the orientation includes safety train on IIPP, EAP, PPE etc.

Also, there is bi weekly one on one meetings, monthly staff meetings and feedback during these meetings and daily evaluation. Interns are also assigned online CALOSHA safety trainings for e.g. lead and asbestos awareness, accident investigation’s, Workplace Violence Prevention Training, Fire Extinguisher Training etc.

Learning Outcome:

The intern will gain experience in the following;

Write safety policies and procedures
Develop flow charts
Perform safety audits