Environmental Health and Safety Technician at Pacific Recycling, Inc

Welcome to Pacific Recycling, Inc. We are a family-owned and operated scrap metal recycling facility. We have been recycling metal in Lane County for over 25 years. Pacific Recycling has a strong reputation in the community for its employees’ strong work ethic, friendly personalities, and honest business conduct. We are proud to be an equal-opportunity employer.

Position Summary

The Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Technician is responsible for supporting and promoting a safe, healthy, and environmentally compliant workplace within a metal scrap recycling operation. This position assists with safety inspections, regulatory compliance, employee training, incident investigations, environmental monitoring, and implementation of company safety programs. The EHS Technician works closely with operations personnel to identify hazards associated with scrap processing, heavy equipment operation, cutting and torching activities, traffic control, and material handling.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Conduct routine safety inspections of the recycling yard, processing areas, maintenance shops, and administrative facilities.
• Identify hazards and recommend corrective actions to prevent injuries and property damage.
• Monitor compliance with company safety policies and regulatory requirements.
• Inspect work areas for housekeeping, fire hazards, machine guarding, lockout/tagout compliance, and PPE usage.
• Perform safety observations and behavioral safety audits.

Incident Investigation

• Assist in investigating workplace injuries, near misses, equipment incidents, spills, fires, and property damage events.
• Collect witness statements, photographs, and relevant documentation.
• Prepare incident reports and track corrective actions through completion.
• Analyze trends and recommend preventive measures.

Environmental Compliance

• Assist with compliance activities related to stormwater pollution prevention, spill prevention, waste management, air quality, and environmental permits.
• Conduct routine inspections of stormwater controls, spill kits, containment systems, and waste storage areas.
• Assist with environmental sampling, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements.
• Support spill response and environmental emergency preparedness activities.

Training and Employee Engagement

• Conduct new employee safety orientations.
• Deliver toolbox talks and safety meetings.
• Train employees on PPE requirements, hazard communication, emergency response procedures, and safe work practices.
• Promote employee involvement in safety initiatives and continuous improvement efforts.
• Track and publish monthly training completion reports

Regulatory and Administrative Support

• Conduct and prepare samples as required for oil and gas recovery.
• Assist with regulatory inspections and audits.
• Track corrective actions and compliance deadlines.
• Support contractor safety management and visitor safety programs.

Industry-Specific Responsibilities

• Monitor safe operation of mobile equipment, including forklifts, wheel loaders, excavators, material handlers, and skid steers.
• Assist with traffic management programs for trucks, customers, and equipment operating within the facility.
• Ensure compliance with cutting, welding, torching, and hot work procedures.
• Verify proper storage and handling of compressed gas cylinders and fuel systems.
• Monitor radiation detection and prohibited materials screening programs.
• Assist with fire prevention efforts involving combustible materials, lithium-ion batteries, and fuel-containing scrap.
• Support confined space, lockout/tagout, and fall protection programs as required.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• One to three years of safety, environmental, industrial, construction, manufacturing, or recycling experience preferred.
• Working knowledge of OSHA regulations and safe work practices.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
• Valid driver’s license with acceptable driving record.

Preferred Certifications

• OSHA 30-Hour General Industry
• First Aid/CPR/AED Certification
• HAZWOPER 24-Hour or 40-Hour Certification
• Forklift Operator Trainer Certification

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Frequent walking on uneven surfaces.
• Ability to climb ladders, stairs, and elevated platforms.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to wear required PPE, including hard hat, safety glasses, steel-toe boots, hearing protection, gloves, and respiratory protection when required.
• Ability to work around heavy equipment, moving vehicles, dust, noise, and industrial machinery.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Completion of scheduled safety inspections.
• Closure rate of corrective actions.
• Employee training completion rates.
• Reduction in recordable injuries and near misses
• Regulatory compliance performance.
• Environmental inspection and reporting completion.
• Participation in safety observations and employee engagement activities.
• Completing tasks in the compliance calendar as scheduled in a timely manner

Work Environment: This position is primarily based at an active metal scrap recycling facility and requires regular exposure to industrial operations, heavy equipment traffic, noise, dust, weather conditions, and scrap-processing activities. The EHS Technician will spend significant time in the field interacting with employees and monitoring operational activities to promote a culture of safety and environmental stewardship.