Workers’ Compensation & Safety Specialist

Job Description

This team member must be located within 40 miles of the Blue River PetCare corporate office (1 S. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606).

This team member must be able to travel an average of 30% via car/plane.

The Safety & Worker’s Compensation Specialist plays a pivotal role in fostering a safe and compliant work environment across all Blue River PetCare locations. This position is responsible for administering the organization’s workers’ compensation program and leading workplace safety initiatives across veterinary clinics and support facilities. This role ensures compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations while promoting a culture of safety in environments involving animal handling, medical procedures, pharmaceuticals, and laboratory work.

The position partners with operation, clinic leadership and HR to reduce workplace injuries, support injured employees, manage regulatory reporting, and implement safety programs specific to veterinary clinical settings.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Workers’ Compensation Administration

• Manage/oversee full lifecycle of workers’ compensation claims including injury reporting, claim submission, investigation, and closure
• Liaise with third-party administrators, monopolistic states, insurance carriers, medical providers, and legal counsel
• Investigate workplace injuries including animal bites, scratches, lifting injuries, sharps exposures, and slips/falls
• Track and monitor claim status, reserves, and claim costs
• Coordinate return-to-work and modified duty programs for injured employees
• Provide guidance to clinic managers and employees on workers’ compensation procedures and reporting requirements
• Maintain workers’ compensation records and documentation according to regulatory requirements
• Identify injury trends across clinics and recommend strategies to reduce risk and claim cost
  
  

Veterinary Workplace Safety Program Management

• Develop and implement workplace safety programs, protocols, and policies tailored to veterinary clinic environments
• Conduct safety audits and risk assessments across veterinary clinics and support locations to mitigate potential safety risks
• Partner with clinic leadership to address hazards such as animal handling and restraint, needlestick and sharps injuries, lifting and ergonomic risks, chemical exposure (cleaners, medications, anesthetic gases), radiation exposure from imaging equipment and laboratory and biological hazards
• Promote proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Lead incident investigations for workplace accidents, injuries, near-miss incidents; document findings and ensure corrective actions are implemented
• Create and maintain safety policies, emergency procedures, and clinic safety manuals
• Create and facilitate a safety committee to promote safety culture across locations
• Develop and deliver new hire and annual safety training programs for veterinary clinic staff. Coordinate training on topics such as safe animal handling and restraint, radiation safety, proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and pharmaceutical handling
• Provide safety guidance and coaching to clinic managers and supervisors
• Maintain accurate safety records, including incident reports, training records, and compliance documentation
• Stay current on evolving safety standards and regulations, ensuring continued compliance
  
  

OSHA Compliance and Regulatory Management

• Ensure compliance with all applicable OSHA regulations including standards related to veterinary medical environments.
• Maintain OSHA logs and documentation including OSHA 300, 300A, and 301 forms.
• Oversee reporting of recordable workplace injuries and illnesses.
• Manage OSHA inspections, documentation requests, and regulatory inquiries.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA programs such as:
• Bloodborne Pathogen Standard
• Hazard Communication
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Radiation safety requirements
• Sharps safety and disposal
• Monitor regulatory updates and communicate changes to leadership and clinic teams.
  
  

Data Analysis & Program Improvement

• Track and analyze workplace injury data, OSHA recordables, workers’ compensation costs and lost-time injuries
• Develop reports and dashboards for leadership on safety performance and worker’s compensation data
• Use data and reporting to identify trends and recommend preventative strategies to reduce injuries and cost
• Partner with HR and operations to continuously improve workplace safety programs
• Performs other duties as assigned
  
  

Requirements

Desired Skills:

• Experience supporting multi-location operations or field-based employees
• Experience supporting healthcare, veterinary, laboratory, or clinical environments
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to manage sensitive information with confidentiality and professionalism
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with field-based teams
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications
• Experience with safety management systems, claims management software, or HRIS platforms
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Three or more years of multi-state experience managing workers’ compensation claims or workplace safety programs
• Working knowledge of OSHA regulations and reporting requirements
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Three or more years of experience managing both workers’ compensation claims and workplace safety programs in a veterinary setting
• Professional certifications such as: Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Associate Safety Professional (ASP), Occupational Health and Safety Technologist (OHST), Workers’ Compensation Professional (WCP)
  
  

Travel

• Up to 30% travel to visit locations as needed to conduct safety audits, incident investigations, training, and workplace assessments
  
  

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position 75% of the time
• Occasionally moves about inside the office to access file cabinets, supplies, and office machinery
• Frequently communicates with managers, employees, and vendors at remote locations using email and phone; must be able to exchange clear, accurate information in these situations
• Frequent keyboarding/use of computer for data entry
• Occasionally moves equipment and supplies weighing up to 15 pounds
• May frequently communicate and collaborate with co-workers in the office
  
  

Supervision

• None, but must be able to mentor more junior staff members
  
  

Work Location: Hybrid in Chicago, IL

Compensation And Benefits

Salary Range: $85,000-95,000 per year

Blue River PetCare team members are eligible to participate in the discretionary annual bonus program.

Blue River PetCare Offers The Following Benefits

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Flexible & Health Spending Accounts
• Disability, Life Insurance, and Critical Illness Coverage
• Retirement plans with company match
• Paid Time Off (PTO), Holidays, and Bereavement
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Paid Volunteer Time-off
• Pet Perks with industry vendor partners, including deals on insurance, preventatives, food, and supplies
• Chicago CTA Transit Program Benefits
• Discounted gym memberships for local Chicago team members
• Childcare discounts with KinderCare
• Exclusive travel, entertainment, and retail discounts
• Hybrid and remote opportunities
  
  

We’re proud to announce that Blue River PetCare is a certified Great Place To Work!

Blue River PetCare is a multi-state owner and operator of high-quality veterinary hospitals, with our corporate office located in downtown Chicago. We provide an exit strategy for owners of veterinary hospitals who are looking to reduce the headaches of business and diversify their asset base while continuing to practice or who are seeking to transition their practice as they consider retirement. We believe strongly in the local franchise and work with our hospitals to strengthen their existing hospital brands and carry on the legacies which have been established.

Diversity is embraced at Blue River PetCare and the uniqueness of all individuals is supported. All qualified applicants will be considered for all positions regardless of race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status or ancestry.