Career Center

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

The University of Michigan (U-M) Environment, Health, & Safety (EHS) department promotes health, safety, and environmental compliance. At U-M, safety on the job and protection of the environment are everyone’s responsibility. EHS provides leadership at all levels of the University to maintain a safe and healthy workplace.

EHS has an opening for an experienced Laser Safety Specialist, to serve as Laser Safety Officer (LSO) and provide technical expertise and guidance on the safe use of lasers in research and medicine at U-M. The position may involve limited oversight of the use of radioactive materials (RAM) and ionizing radiation-producing machines in research. The U-M laser safety program includes over 1,000 active Class 3A and Class 4 research lasers in approximately 300 labs, including the Zetawatt-Equivalent Ultrashort (ZEUS) Pulse Laser System. This position is within the U-M Radiation Safety Service and reports to the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO).
 

Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Coordinate, audit, and participate in safety activities relating to research and medical uses of lasers (or ionizing radiation), to minimize risk to researchers, employees, students, and visitors.
• Assist the RSO in day-to-day coordination, implementation, and improvement of U-M laser safety and ionizing radiation safety programs, including the development of standard operating procedures.
• As LSO, promote the safe use of lasers (or ionizing radiation), identify and control hazards/risks to workers and the public (including ALARA), and ensure/verify compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and University policies.
• Provide technical consultation, advice/guidance, and oversight (to departments, faculty, staff, and students) regarding the safe use of lasers (or ionizing radiation), including new protocols, hazard/dose minimization, storage and security, and waste/disposition management.
• Perform laser (or radiological) safety evaluations/inspections/surveillance, identify and hazards, investigate unsafe practices, incidents, and unusual occurrences, perform necessary follow-up activities, recommend procedural improvements and corrective actions, and prepare reports. Recognize safety concerns outside primary area of focus (e.g., general lab safety).
• Observe, participate in, and assess procedures involving lasers (or ionizing radiation) to ensure compliance with safety policies and reduce/minimize exposure to researchers, employees, students, and visitors. Assist with engineering and administrative controls and provide guidance on personal protective apparel. Take appropriate action to stop unsafe practices, if warranted.
• Develop and implement departmental and institutional safety policies and procedures, maintain measures to control hazards, and evaluate compliance with policies. Manage issues or projects within required timelines.
• Develop/update and provide laser (or ionizing radiation) safety, hazard awareness, regulatory compliance, and emergency response training to researchers, staff, ancillary/support personnel, students, and visitors.
• Evaluate laser (or ionizing radiation) exposures to employees and members of the public, including review of dosimetry results, evaluation of compliance with applicable regulations and limits, ALARA investigations, and documentation.
• Approve laser purchases (restricted commodity).
• Provide consultation to employees and pregnant workers.
• Manage lasers (or radiation-producing machines), including registration, inventory management, technical support, and required recordkeeping (including database maintenance).
• Conduct ionizing radiation and contamination surveys, sealed source inventory and leak tests, RAM and radiation-producing machine inventories, program audits, decontamination and release/decommissioning, and effluent and environmental monitoring.
• Review and evaluate applications and amendments for use of lasers (or ionizing radiation) in research (including animal research).
• Perform (or assist with) shielding evaluation/assessment, design, and surveys.
• Respond to and participate in mitigating laser incidents, radiological incidents, radioactive spills, and waste-related incidents. Be reachable/available for after-hours response or reachback support for emergencies.
• Evaluate research protocols and lab construction/renovation plans to identify potential safety concerns and provide recommendations to ensure safety and compliance.
• Accompany regulators during inspections, respond to inquiries from regulators, and schedule regulatory inspections of lasers and radiation-producing machines.
• Interpret and implement federal, state, and local regulations/standards, rules, guidance, and policies concerning health and safety issues relating to the use of lasers (and ionizing radiation), and develop/implement measures to ensure safety and compliance.
• Operate and maintain laser (or ionizing radiation) detection instrumentation, including calibration and repair.
• Complete or participate in all assigned safety/compliance and workplace improvement training.
• Special projects and other job-related duties, as assigned.
   

• Bachelor’s degree in health physics, radiological health, basic or applied science, engineering, safety, industrial hygiene, or related field.
• Knowledge of the principles/concepts, fundamentals, and best practices/methods of laser safety (or health physics/radiation protection) and the risks associated with exposure.
• Working knowledge of (and experience interpreting) applicable federal and state laws/regulations, standards (including ANSI Z136.1), and guidance pertaining to the possession and safe use of lasers (or ionizing radiation), and appropriate technical resources.
• Relevant, practical experience in laser safety (or health physics/radiological safety), preferably at an academic/biomedical research facility of similar scope/function.
• Experience (or training) with mathematical and computational laser (or health physics) evaluations, such as assessment of exposures and associated risks.
• Experience with compliant laser (or ionizing radiation) safety program recordkeeping.
• Ability to pass U-M criminal background check (see Background Screening below).
• Eligible to work in the U.S. and possess a valid and unrestricted U.S. driver’s license.
   

• Master’s degree or relevant Board Certification (e.g., CLSO, ASP, CSP, CIH)
• Demonstrated competence in oral and written communication, including written and in-person training/instruction/presentations and communicating technical information clearly and concisely.
• Self-motivated, ability to work with supervision and professional judgment, managing the safety program within an assigned functional area, and ability to work independently or as a team.
• Detail-oriented, demonstrated organizational and time management skills, and ability to manage/prioritize, track, and complete tasks/projects within established deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal skills and able to interact professionally and effectively with wide variety of individuals (researchers, staff, students, administrators, and regulators), behaving in accordance with institutional values.
• Committed to customer service, timely response, collaboration, cooperative professional relationships, and diversity.
• Ability to use sound judgment and act decisively in high-stress or emergency situations. Demonstrated critical thinking and analytical skills.
• Familiarity with U-M, and knowledge of U-M policies and procedures.
• Competent using PC, office productivity applications, presentation applications, and database applications (especially EHS Assistant).

Physical Requirements*

• Position involves presence in research and/or health care environments and waste management facilities where radioactive, hazardous, and/or infectious materials, and lasers are used or stored. Position may involve occupational exposure to ionizing radiation and patients, and occasional controlled contact with chemical or biological agents.
• Able to push, pull, and lift/move/transport 10 pounds routinely (e.g., packages, radiation detection equipment, or shielding).
• Able to move freely throughout facilities (including stairs), have dexterity to survey areas that may not be easily accessible, and endurance to perform emergency response activities and field/lab visits.
• Able to wear personal protective equipment (including laser protection eyewear), wear radiation dosimetry, and submit bioassays (if required).
• Able to pass a physical exam for emergency response activities wearing personal protective equipment (including a respirator, if required)
• If required to work in or around animal facilities, enrollment in appropriate medical surveillance program may be required.
   

This vacancy may be underfilled at a lower classification (EHS Rep Senior), depending on the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate.

U-M Facilities and Operations (F&O) seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as a reflection of our commitment to serve the diverse people of Michigan, to sustain the excellence of the university, and to offer our faculty, staff and students richly varied disciplines, perspectives, and ways of knowing and learning.

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks.  Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.  The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

U-M COVID-19 Vaccination Policy

COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters when eligible, are required for all University of Michigan students, faculty and staff across all campuses, including Michigan Medicine.  This includes those working remotely.   More information on this new policy is available on the Campus Blueprint website or the UM-Dearborn and UM-Flint websites.