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Environmental Health and Safety Specialist

SSM Health · Madison, WI · Full time

Posted Sep 22, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you led a team that didn't report to you to fix a safety problem.

What they are checking: Whether they can influence clinical and facilities staff without direct authority.

How do you make safety training stick for busy nurses and staff who see it as a checkbox?

What they are checking: Whether they can make training practical and relevant so people actually change behavior.

What would you do

A construction project is starting next to an occupied patient unit. What safety steps do you put in place?

What they are checking: Whether they know infection control and interim life safety measures during construction.

A department keeps blocking fire exits with equipment after repeated reminders. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can escalate effectively and find practical solutions that stick.

During a real emergency, such as a power loss or severe weather, what is your role in the first hour?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the incident command structure and can act calmly under pressure.

About the work

This role leads emergency preparedness for the facility. Walk me through how you would plan and run a full-scale exercise.

What they are checking: Whether they can design realistic drills, involve the right people and turn findings into real fixes.

What parts of the Life Safety Code and Joint Commission Environment of Care standards do you see cited most, and how do you stay ahead of them?

What they are checking: Whether they know the common survey findings in healthcare facilities and prevent them proactively.

How do you manage hazardous materials and waste across a hospital, clinics and long-term care?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the different waste streams and rules across facility types.

How do you investigate an employee injury so that you find the real cause and not just blame the person?

What they are checking: Whether they look at systems and conditions, not just individual behavior, after an incident.

What industrial hygiene monitoring have you done, for example for chemicals or noise?

What they are checking: Whether they have hands-on testing experience, which the posting lists as part of the role.

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The full job description

As published by SSM Health.

It's more than a career, it's a calling. WI-SSM Health West Beltline Worker Type: Regular Job Highlights: Join a team where your work matters—every moment, every patient, every community. At SSM Health, you'll be empowered to grow, supported to thrive, and inspired to make a lasting impact. This role will help create and maintain a safe, compliant healthcare environment by leading safety programs, emergency preparedness efforts, and regulatory compliance initiatives. This work protects patients, visitors, and caregivers while ensuring our healthcare facilities are prepared to respond effectively to emergencies and operational risks. Department: Facilities Schedule: Full-time 40 hours per week on the day shift Apply today. SSM Health – We bring out the incredible in you, everyday. Job Summary: Environmental Health and Safety Specialist ensures that their assigned Health Care facility (hospital, Clinics, Long term Care) maintains a safe environmental for staff, visitors and patients; and lead the Emergency preparedness function for the facility. Job Responsibilities and Requirements: PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES • Provides subject matter expertise to lead collaborative teams to achieve operational excellence in Environmental Health and Safety, Fire and Life Safety, Hazardous Materials and Waste, and Industrial Hygiene. • Ensures compliance with regulatory standards such as NFPA, OSHA, DNR, EPA, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and The Joint Commission as well as State regulatory agencies. • Serves as internal auditor of compliance. Works independently or with others to collect, organize, and report data. Coordinates or conducts internal surveys and investigations and attends external regulatory inspections and provides guidance to achieve optimal results. • Provides leadership for the Emergency Preparedness program including assuring the JC/CMS Emergency preparedness requirements are met. • Manages and maintains Emergency Preparedness supplies, references and resources. • Acts as the Safety Officer or Liaison Officer in the Incident Command Team and as an active member of the Emergency Preparedness Committee. • Participates in Emergency Preparedness meetings with external agencies, local, regional and state levels. • Works in a constant state of alertness and safe manner. • Performs other duties as assigned. EDUCATION • Bachelor's degree in Environmental Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Public Health, or equivalent work experience in a related field. EXPERIENCE • One-year experience PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS • Frequent lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 0-25 lbs. • Frequent sitting, standing, walking, reaching and repetitive foot/leg and hand/arm movements. • Frequent use of vision and depth perception for distances near (20 inches or less) and far (20 feet or more) and to identify and distinguish colors. • Frequent use of hearing and speech to share information through oral communication. Ability to hear alarms, malfunctioning machinery, etc. • Frequent keyboard use/data entry. • Occasional bending, stooping, kneeling, squatting, twisting and gripping. • Occasional lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 25-50 lbs. • Rare climbing. REQUIRED PROFESSIONAL LICENSE AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS • None Department: 9260000069 Facilities and Real Estate (WI Region) Work Shift: Day Shift (United States of America) Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40 SSM Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. SSM Health provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Click here to learn more.

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