Safety Lead - Light Rail en Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority

About the Department

The Safety Lead - Light Rail is responsible for investigating all incidents with a Light Rail operations component (e.g., major events and near misses involving employee injuries, infrastructure damage, service interruption, etc.). The Safety Lead will respond to incidents, gather documentation and information, report to the appropriate parties, determine root causes, and collaborate with Light Rail Transportation to recommend feasible corrective action plans to improve safety programs, policies, and procedures. The Safety Lead will work closely with and support Light Rail Transportation to track and implement safety recommendations or corrective actions.

Position Duties

Safety Investigations

• Respond to incidents and accidents, assessing safety and oversee investigations and safety actions.
• Write, investigate, manage, review, comment on, and contribute to safety event, safety assessment and hazard analysis reports.
• Develop root cause analyses, including recommending feasible corrective actions for Light Rail Transportation activities across the authority, when necessary.
• Act as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) and interpretive authority for all Light Rail Transportation related safety matters and advise up to senior management.

Compliance

• Provide professional safety support including developing, updating, and interpreting MBTA polices, practices, codes and industry standards as needed to advance the application of safety programs across the authority. 
• Oversee the performance of safety activities, conduct assessments of safety programs, including field inspections, and procedure and policy reviews, to identify areas of improvements and corrective actions.
• Serve as key MBTA liaison working closely with field representatives from the State Safety Oversight Agency (SSOA) the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) regarding field response, incident investigations, information requests, and regular meetings.
• Conducts scheduled and unscheduled inspections and/or audits of MBTA facilities, work sites, specifications, infrastructure, vehicles, and equipment, ensure compliance with applicable Federal, State, and local codes, regulations and guidelines. 
• Coordinate with transit department heads and MBTA Safety management to review DPU monthly and quarterly meetings and agendas.
• Review and contribute to the accuracy of DPU investigative reports for Operational content (E&M and Transportation) and create Corrective Action Plans and coordinate with the appropriate departments and regulators to track until closure.

Safety Promotion & Training

• Promote safety in the field to the front-line employees which includes receiving safety concerns, distribution of Safety Flashes, promotional safety items and promoting the Employee Safety Reporting Program.
• Create, assist, and implement safety-related training throughout the organization. 
• Create and deliver training documents including Safety Flashes, SOPs on Transit related responsibilities, ROW safety, On-Call field response, Special Event duties, and Safety Rules Compliance Program (SRCP) practical training.
• Deliver technical field training for MBTA Safety staff and management including but not limited emergency response, Right of Way (ROW) hazards, proper safety promotional activities, safety assurance activities, and incident investigation. 

General Safety Management

• Provide operational management oversight of Safety Specialists, Safety Analysts and Safety Audit Coordinators.
• Respond, either directly or through others, to emergencies twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week.
• Travel to work sites and to assist at emergencies and/or events as needed.
• Uphold the rights and interest of a workforce by ensuring the fair and consistent application and strict adherence to the rules, regulations, collective bargaining agreements (if applicable) and policies of the Authority including the EEO, Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment and Anti-Retaliation policies.
• Drive a company or personal vehicle to visit/inspect work sites and to assist with emergencies and/or events as needed.
• Perform all other duties and projects that may be assigned. 

Supervision

• Oversight of Safety Specialists, Safety Analysts and Safety Audit Coordinators.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Six (6) years of experience in light rail operations with a focus on safety reviews, investigations, assessments, or training functions.

• One (1) year of supervisory, managerial, and/or leadership experience. 
• Valid Class D driver's license.
• Ability to drive and respond to incidents/accidents and perform safety oversight in various weather condition including extreme weather events on all shifts and any time of day or night.
• Demonstrated experience applying methods and techniques to mitigate safety issues by assessing safety hazards and ensuring corrective measures are followed.
• Effective organizational, analytical, confidentiality, quantitative, multi-tasking, and time management skills. 
• Experience applying safety knowledge by facilitating and processing safety-related programs. 
• Experience participating in incident response and/or investigations.
• Effective organizational, analytical, time management, and multitasking skills.
• Ability to respond to Operations (E&M and Transportation) related incidents in the field including walking the Right of Way (ROW) on track and ballast and carrying safety equipment to and from incidents/accidents on/off the ROW.
• Ability to complete, apply, and adhere to concepts in safety training including but not limited to SMS Fundamentals, ICS 100, 200, 700, and 800, as well as courses offered on websites hosted by MassDOT, FEMA, and TSI within the first month of employment.  
• Ability to complete a Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program (PTSCTP) within three (3) years of employment.
• Available to work all shifts and locations in the field as assigned or directed with proper PPE to perform safety oversight activities, investigations, manage safety activities in severe weather conditions, or any other circumstances that may potentially impact service or the safety of service.
• Ability to travel to incidents/accidents in various weather conditions in a timely manner.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information in an appropriate manner.
• Ability to supervise and work effectively with a diverse workforce. 

Other Qualifications

• A High School Diploma or GED with an additional seven (7) years of directly related experience substitutes for the bachelor’s degree requirement. 
• An associate degree from an accredited institution an additional three (3) years of directly related experience substitutes for the bachelor’s degree requirement. 
• A master’s degree in a related subject substitutes for two (2) years of general experience. 
• A nationally recognized certification, or statewide/professional certification in a related field substitutes for one year of experience.

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Experience as an LR Instructor, LR Dispatcher, LR yardmaster, LR Chief Inspector, LR Inspector, LR Supervisor, or equivalent positions.
• Four (4) years of experience in a supervisory role.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, transportation, safety, occupational health, or related field.
• Experience working in transportation, safety, or related field; and candidates demonstrating an understanding of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and/or DPU regulations, knowledge of American Public Transportation Association (APTA) standards, and/or experience conducting training. 
• Experience in the transportation industry with light rail.
• Completed the Transportation Safety Institute (TSI) Transit Safety and Security Program (TSSP) in Rail.
• Working knowledge/understanding of 49 CFR Part 659/672/673/674 (the State Safety Oversight Program), 49 CFR Parts 220 CMR 151.