Safety Technician at Rio Tinto

About Rio Tinto: Rio Tinto is a leading global mining and materials company. We operate in 35 countries where we produce iron ore, copper, aluminum, critical minerals, and other materials needed for the global energy transition and for people, communities, and nations to thrive.

We have been mining for 150 years and operate with knowledge built up across generations and continents. Our purpose is finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs—striving for innovation and continuous improvement to produce materials with low emissions and to the right environmental, social and governance standards. But we can’t do it on our own, so we’re focused on creating partnerships to solve problems, create win-win and meet opportunities.

About Rio Tinto Lithium: On 5 March 2025, Rio Tinto completed the acquisition of Arcadium Lithium and combined it with its Rincon asset to form Rio Tinto Lithium, establishing Rio Tinto as a global leader in the supply of energy transition materials and one of the world’s top lithium producers. 

Position Summary: HSE Tech will be assigned to an operations department. This position will need to be proactive, staying a step ahead of Operations on safety and environmental hazards. In doing so, HSE Tech assists with all HSE related activities pertinent to their assigned department, helps to identify special requirements within the department, assists with training on assigned safety topics such as regulatory requirements and Rio Tinto Lithium policies. The HSE Tech will be largely responsible for assisting, teaching and auditing areas of the site.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist with safety culture change effort,
• Interpret site Safety & Health programs and procedures and assist with compliance,
• Assist with incident investigations and identifying root causes, 
• Assist with Risk Ranking,
• Participating in the Safety Committee Meetings and planned functions,
• Assist with / Tech employees and Rio Tinto Lithium project teams with proper completion of HSE required permits, 
• Audit Life Critical permits daily and sign off, 
• Help to drive the Procedure Use and Adherence Process, (PUAP)
• Facilitate Risk Assessments, What If Analysis etc.
• Assists with MOC’s including GSR’s, PSSR’s and JTHA’s,
• Implement corrective actions for known and newly identified unsafe conditions by leading projects and/or through working with Rio Tinto Lithium Engineering and engineering consultants
• Assists with site Variances for procedure deviations and drive areas to have Equipment Specific Isolation Plans (ESIP’s)
• Performs Crane Pre-Lift checklists as needed
• Be trained in hydro blast operations from safety responsibilities
• Interacts with Site Contractors and performs safety evaluations as necessary
• Perform internal safety audits to ensure conformance to Rio Tinto Lithium and Bessemer City safety management system,  
• Assist with the plant wide HSE training program and conduct training as needed,
• Performs a monthly Life Critical Audit and assist with employees that need assistance,
• Participates in the Cority process and enters events weekly,
• Performs safety walks and area Safety ECS meetings with the HSE team.
• Participate in the Plant Emergency Response Team, (PERT), (must be clean shaven while at work).  
• Other job duties as may be assigned from time to time.

Education and Experience: 

• HS Diploma or GED required
• Three (3) years’ experience in Health, Safety & Environmental
• Good understanding of general industry safety regulations
• An understanding of Risk Assessment processes

Knowledge and Skill Requirements:

• Must be able to handle confidential information with appropriate control
• Must be able to effectively use and train site employees on reporting tools such as Cority
• Must have Solid computer knowledge/skills (Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook) required.
• Be willing to complete training such as Certified Safety Manager or other relevant classes to further education  

Safety Requirement: All employees are expected to carry out their work functions in a healthy and safe manner, to encourage and support safe work practices at all times, and to report and/or rectify any unsafe conditions that may come to their attention immediately.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to walk and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand; climb or balance and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and color vision.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is frequently exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts; fumes or airborne particles and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Personal Protective Equipment – (position specific) Must wear PPE as required based on job duties or when traveling to locations where PPE is essential.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

RIO TINTO LITHIUM employs people across a broad range of occupations in locations across the world. We are looking for people to join us in creating, developing, and improving our products, our processes, and our markets. Employees enjoy competitive compensation, a menu of work/life benefits and opportunities to continue developing their skills and building their career. 

RIO TINTO LITHIUM is an Equal Opportunity Employer, EEO, AAE, MFDV and supports a drug free workplace.