Safety and Occupational Health Specialist
The incumbent is responsible for assisting the Safety Officer in the planning, organizing, directing, and evaluation of the Medical Center's Safety, Occupational Health and Fire Compliance Programs for the VAWRJ and the CBOCS. This position manages the compliance, regulations and administrative functions of the fire program. The Planning requires assisting in the development of all programs. Directing requires assisting in the coordination of priority setting, internal and external communications, and corrections of any program deficiencies. Evaluation requires assisting with data collection and management so that this data can be utilized in determining areas where improvements can be made to meet all required code and regulations. Administrates and assists with all safety program components in the safety office, which can include investigations of injuries, fires, construction injury/violations and preparing required reports of investigations as well as reports for VA Region and VACO relating to VAWRJ. Reviews safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene, occupational safety standards and environmental compliance regulations, codes, standards and guidelines from VA, OSHA, TJC, EPA, NFPA, and other regulatory agencies, and advises the VA Medical Center's Safety and Occupational Health Manager of methods to comply with these standards. Assists in the development and follow-through of corrective action plans based on assessments and critiques of drills, exercises, events, investigations, inspections & discovered deficiencies. When potential hazards to employees, patients or the public and the environment are suspected, selects appropriate investigational methods, analytical instruments and sampling criteria to evaluate hazards. Prepares specifications and purchase documents for contracting/purchasing of services to analyze and address recognized concern. Develops reports and requests immediate action from VA management to correct conditions that might be expected to cause serious illness, injury or death to employees and patients. Furnishes technical guidance to management, supervisors and employees concerning safety, occupational health and environmental compliance and acts as a resource on matters pertaining to safety, occupational health and environmental compliance hazard prevention. Participates in and promotes safety, occupational health and environmental compliance awareness program, compliance, education and training through such activities as new employee orientation, annual training, and promotion of National Fire Prevention Week. Conducts and supports safety, occupational health and fire compliance inspections of work areas to determine compliance with standards set by OSHA, EPA, TJC, NFPA, VA and other regulatory agencies. Assists with inspections of the facility on a regular schedule as required in ensuring conformity with safety, occupational health, fire safety and environmental compliance, documenting deficiencies and participating corrective action plan development based on these findings. The incumbent documents these deficiencies and submits work orders, memorandums or other effective means for corrective action with follow-up inspections to ensure corrections are accomplished. Supports and participates in safety, health, fire and environmental compliance items to included documentation and compliance with regulatory inspections such as satellite accumulation areas, spill kits, storage areas (i.e. fire cabinets) and fire detection, protection and alarm equipment systems such as smoke detectors, fire & smoke barriers and sprinklers. Updates and advises management staff (i.e. employee health physician as to medical surveillance requirements and respiratory program compliance for other collaborative programs) for employees working with hazardous materials determined by OSHA and Other regulations, codes and guidelines. Support policies, programs and procedures designed to inform management, supervisors and employees of potential hazardous exposures, applicable directives, regulations, codes, and guidelines to improve safety conditions and thereby reduce the incidence of injuries and resulting Federal Employee Compensation Act Claims (FECA). Promotion Potential:
The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule:
Full Time Telework:
Not Available Virtual:
This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#:
Safety and Occupational Health Specialist/PD02752-0 and PD00753-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives:
Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/05/2020. Time-In-Grade Requirement:
Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note:
Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:
Individual Occupational Requirements Education Undergraduate and Graduate Education:
Major study -- safety or occupational health fields (safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene), or degree in other related fields that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours of study from among the following (or closely related) disciplines:
safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene, occupational medicine, toxicology, public health, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biological sciences, engineering, and industrial psychology OR Experience General Experience (for GS-5 positions):
Experience in scientific or technical work that provided an understanding of the basic principles and concepts of the safety and occupational health field. Creditable general experience must have demonstrated the achievement of knowledge equivalent to the education described above. Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5):
Experience in or related to safety and occupational health that provided the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include:
Managing safety or occupational health program elements. Developing and recommending safety and occupational health policy to higher levels of management. Applying safety and occupational health laws, regulations, principles, theories, practices, and procedures to advise on or resolve technical matters dealing with occupational safety and health requirements. Developing safety and occupational health standards, regulations, practices, and procedures to eliminate or control potential hazards. Developing or implementing programs to reduce the frequency, severity, and cost of accidents and occupational illnesses. Analyzing or evaluating new and existing jobs, processes, products, or other systems to determine the existence, severity, probability, and outcome of hazards. Designing or modifying workplaces, processes, products, or other systems to control or eliminate hazards. Inspecting or surveying workplaces, processes, products, or other systems for compliance with established safety and occupational health policies or standards and to identify potential new hazards. Training of workers, supervisors, managers, or other safety and occupational health personnel in safety or occupational health subjects. Work in occupational fields such as industrial hygienist, safety engineer, fire prevention engineer, health physicist, and occupational health nurse. OR Certificates Certification as a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), or Certified Health Physicist (CHP), or similar certification that included successful completion of a written examination meets the requirements for GS-5. Applicants may also qualify for higher grade levels based on their education and/or experience. Specialized
Experience:
You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7 for the GS-9 and GS-9 for the GS-11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. OR, Education:
Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for the GS-9 grade level you must have a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. For the GS-11 you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related OR, Combination:
Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education . You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
Analytical ThinkingCommunicationProblem SolvingTeamworkTechnical Competence Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note:
A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements:
Survey or work 'requires regular and recurrent physical exertion such as walking, standing, bending, climbing, crouching. reaching and lifting of a variety of moderately heavy items such as large metal lids in storage containers, and entry into confined spaces. Regular and recurring onsite evaluations and inspections involve exposure to chemical and biological hazards while performing laboratory, maintenance shop, nursing homes, clinics and CBOC surveys. Where there are moving machine parts, acid fumes, irritant chemicals, and high noise levels, protective clothing and equipment is frequently required. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https:
//www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule:
Full Time Telework:
Not Available Virtual:
This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#:
Safety and Occupational Health Specialist/PD02752-0 and PD00753-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives:
Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/05/2020. Time-In-Grade Requirement:
Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note:
Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:
Individual Occupational Requirements Education Undergraduate and Graduate Education:
Major study -- safety or occupational health fields (safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene), or degree in other related fields that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours of study from among the following (or closely related) disciplines:
safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene, occupational medicine, toxicology, public health, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biological sciences, engineering, and industrial psychology OR Experience General Experience (for GS-5 positions):
Experience in scientific or technical work that provided an understanding of the basic principles and concepts of the safety and occupational health field. Creditable general experience must have demonstrated the achievement of knowledge equivalent to the education described above. Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5):
Experience in or related to safety and occupational health that provided the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include:
Managing safety or occupational health program elements. Developing and recommending safety and occupational health policy to higher levels of management. Applying safety and occupational health laws, regulations, principles, theories, practices, and procedures to advise on or resolve technical matters dealing with occupational safety and health requirements. Developing safety and occupational health standards, regulations, practices, and procedures to eliminate or control potential hazards. Developing or implementing programs to reduce the frequency, severity, and cost of accidents and occupational illnesses. Analyzing or evaluating new and existing jobs, processes, products, or other systems to determine the existence, severity, probability, and outcome of hazards. Designing or modifying workplaces, processes, products, or other systems to control or eliminate hazards. Inspecting or surveying workplaces, processes, products, or other systems for compliance with established safety and occupational health policies or standards and to identify potential new hazards. Training of workers, supervisors, managers, or other safety and occupational health personnel in safety or occupational health subjects. Work in occupational fields such as industrial hygienist, safety engineer, fire prevention engineer, health physicist, and occupational health nurse. OR Certificates Certification as a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), or Certified Health Physicist (CHP), or similar certification that included successful completion of a written examination meets the requirements for GS-5. Applicants may also qualify for higher grade levels based on their education and/or experience. Specialized
Experience:
You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7 for the GS-9 and GS-9 for the GS-11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. OR, Education:
Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for the GS-9 grade level you must have a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. For the GS-11 you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related OR, Combination:
Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education . You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
Analytical ThinkingCommunicationProblem SolvingTeamworkTechnical Competence Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note:
A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements:
Survey or work 'requires regular and recurrent physical exertion such as walking, standing, bending, climbing, crouching. reaching and lifting of a variety of moderately heavy items such as large metal lids in storage containers, and entry into confined spaces. Regular and recurring onsite evaluations and inspections involve exposure to chemical and biological hazards while performing laboratory, maintenance shop, nursing homes, clinics and CBOC surveys. Where there are moving machine parts, acid fumes, irritant chemicals, and high noise levels, protective clothing and equipment is frequently required. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https:
//www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.
- Department:
0018 Safety and Occupational Health Management - Salary Range:
$52,905 to $83,210 per year
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
|
|
 | |
