Exam Bulletin

Department of Transportation

Exam Code: EX-3532

Examination Plans Included:

  • SAFETY SPECIALIST, CALTRANS - Open

Final Filing Date: Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Bulletin Updates

  • Any editable section on the Exam Bulletin has been updated.

Classification Details

SAFETY SPECIALIST, CALTRANS: $3,317.00 - $7,549.00 per Month

View the SAFETY SPECIALIST, CALTRANS classification specification.

Application Instructions

Please Note: Examinations and Applications must both be submitted via ECOS and Surveymonkey for your attempt to be considered.  Your cut-off window for processing is determined only after both items have been received.  Results may take between 4-6 weeks to process after each cut-off date indicated above. 

Upcoming Filing Cutoff Dates:

  • 8/31/2025
  • 9/30/2025
  • 10/31/2025
  • 11/30/2025
  • 12/31/2025

Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) must be received or postmarked by the filing date indicated above. Applications postmarked, personally delivered or received via interoffice mail after the filing date will be processed in the next group.

Who Should Apply:

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

  • SAFETY SPECIALIST, CALTRANS - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

    3532

For SAFETY SPECIALIST, CALTRANS, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-03532

How To Apply:

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

You may apply by mail to:

  • Caltrans Examination Services (MS 86)
    Caltrans
    Examination Services
    P.O.Box 168036
    Sacramento, CA 95816

Indicate the Examination Code and Classification(s) on your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678).

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

  • Caltrans
    Examination Services
    1727 30TH STREET
    Sacramento, CA 95816
    8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    **Candidates are responsible for obtaining proof of mailing or submission of their exam.

Indicate the Examination Code and Classification(s) on your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678). All applicants must provide proof of identification. Accepted forms of identification are: 1) a photo identification card or 2) two forms of signed identification.

Special Testing Arrangements:

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

Minimum Qualifications

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

Unless otherwise stated in the Minimum Qualifications, qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one pattern and are distinguished as "Either" 1, "or" 2, "or" 3, etc. For example, applicants possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 1 and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 2 may be accepted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirement.

00109807 - SAFETY SPECIALIST, CALTRANS

Either I

Experience: Two years' experience in the California state service performing occupational safety-related duties in a classification equivalent in level of responsibility to an Assistant Caltrans Administrator, Range C.

Or II

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with specialization in engineering, industrial hygiene, chemistry, physics, biology, or in a field directly related to occupational safety and health. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for up to two years of the educational requirement.) and

Experience: Two years' experience as a safety consultant or specialist in the construction, maintenance, laboratory or equipment disciplines, conducting safety inspections to identify worker safety hazards and offering advice on the prevention of industrial accidents to public or private entities.

Definition of Terms:

"Graduation from college..." - receipt of Bachelor's degree

"performing occupational safety-related duties..." - Performing duties such as inspections, investigations, trainings, presentations, interpreting state, federal, and local regulations.

"Equivalent in level of responsibility to an Assistant Caltrans Administrator, Range C." - Experience of the type and length of time in a class at the same (or higher) level of responsibility as an Assistant Caltrans Administrator within the state service.

"Two years' experience as a safety consultant or specialist..." 70% of duties must be safety related and indicated on an approved duty statement or official document.

 

Position Description

00109807 - SAFETY SPECIALIST, CALTRANS

These classes comprise the career path for the Department's Safety Program and consists of entry and training through journey, advanced specialist and manager levels.

Persons in these classes are responsible for the development, implementation and enforcement of the Department's comprehensive Injury and Illness Prevention Program. Responsibilities include safety investigations and inspections, site reviews, training and information sharing, and development and implementation of departmental safety procedures in conformance with laws, rules and departmental policies. Positions in Headquarters function as liaison to District safety office staff relative to interpretation and implementation of safety and health laws, rules, policies and standards.

This is the entry and training, extended training, and full journey level class for Caltrans' Safety Program. Under general direction, incumbents perform a full range of safety-related duties in both the Headquarters and District setting within Caltrans. Incumbents conduct safety inspections and accident investigations; perform office and work site reviews to ensure safe working conditions with authority to request work stoppage in the event of serious safety violations; respond to safety-related complaints; interpret and apply laws, rules and policies to further develop the Department's Safety Program including ergonomics, electrical safety, and hearing conservation; recommend corrective action for law/rule violation; provide consultation and training to departmental staff relative to safety-and health-related problems; represent the Department/District in administrative hearings; maintain vehicle accident data and identify accident trends; are responsible for the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and the employee wellness program; monitor the safety incentive award program; coordinate development of the safety newsletter; and do other related work.

Special Personal Characteristics:

Willingness to undertake additional training to meet job needs; willingness to travel and work in various locations throughout the State; keenness of observation, tact, and a professional demeanor.

For information regarding position location(s), please refer to the Eligible List Information section.

Examination Information

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1Supplemental ReportWith Application100%

Components that are due with your application will be scored and will count toward your final examination result. Failure to submit these items may result in disqualification or elimination from the examination.

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

Knowledge of: The principles, practices and methods of construction, maintenance, laboratory, equipment or office functions as they relate to safety and health; methods, operations and devices used in the Department's work places and the safety and health hazards associated with these work places; laws, rules, practices, and policies associated with various departmental disciplines; methods and techniques used in safety inspections, accident prevention, consultation, training and technical report writing; the Department's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and employee wellness program; and procedures relative to handling of safety grievances and workers' compensation issues.

Ability to: Conduct safety inspections and accident investigations; detect occupational safety, health hazards and unsafe working conditions and practices; interpret and apply laws, rules, policies, and practices; develop and maintain effective working relationships; analyze situations accurately and take effective action; communicate effectively; write effectively and prepare technical reports and correspondence; prepare and deliver presentations to small and large groups, both internal and public; act in a lead capacity; and represent the Department with other State and local agencies.

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Open eligible list for the SAFETY SPECIALIST, CALTRANS Classification will be established for:

  • Department of Transportation

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 12 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Resulting Eligibility List(s) will be used to fill vacancies throughout the State of California.

Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

  • A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
  • A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

Testing Departments

  • Department of Transportation

Contact Information

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

Department of Transportation
California Department of Transportation
Examination & Recruitment Services MS-86
P O Box 168036
Sacramento, CA 95816-8036
Phone:
askexams@dot.ca.gov

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Drug Free Statement

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free State work place. Any applicant for State employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective, because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing civil service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

General Information

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

Department of Transportation reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Your CalCareer Account)
By Mail
In Person (see bulletin for details)
Alternate Application Process

While we recommend that you utilize your CalCareer Account to take advantage of all the tools available, you may choose to apply for this examination without using your account. In this case, print and complete the Exam Application Package Checklist and include it if you submit a hard copy application.

Exam Application Package Checklist

Blank Application Form (STD678)

Accommodation Request (STD679)