What are the responsibilities and job description for the Safety & Occupational Health Specialist position at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs?
Summary
The Safety & Occupational Health Specialist position is located at the Royal C Johnson Veterans Memorial Hospital in Sioux Falls - SD. They perform a variety of functions related to the identification - evaluation - and control of safety and health hazards and to the promotion of healthful and safe working conditions. The work includes surveys; coordination with other health and safety specialists; administration of occupational - life - and fire safety programs.
Qualifications
TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION AT THE GS-12 LEVEL YOU MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) in Federal Service that has equipped me with the knowledge - skills - and abilities necessary to perform the duties of a Safety and Occupational Health Specialist - GS-12. Qualifying specialized experience includes: 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. Qualifying specialized experience includes what is stated above - as well as: assignments being performed independently - with little or no supervision - only consulting with the supervisor when unusual problems are encountered; recognizing potential hazards associated with a variety of operations and processes; conducting surveys/inspections of working conditions to determine nature of hazardous exposures; analyzing findings to recommend or develop corrective/control measures; auditing for compliance with established guidelines; developing policies to improve safety conditions; and preparing training concerning occupational - life - and/or fire safety. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title - duties - month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. 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/. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. Investigations and surveys involve moderate physical exertion - including carrying equipment - climbing - standing - walking - and bending - as well as use of personal protective devices and occasional work in confined spaces. Work Environment: The work involves exposures to all the hazards and discomforts including chemicals - noise - dust - aerosols - fumes - and operating equipment. Protective clothing or equipment - including respiratory protection - may be necessary. Much of the work is performed in an office setting - although exposure to industrial hazards is expected multiple times weekly during walk-through surveys conducted individually or conducted as part of a larger study. Work is self-directed at this level.
Duties
The Safety & Occupational Health Specialist position is located at the Royal C Johnson Veterans Memorial Hospital in Sioux Falls - SD. They perform a variety of functions related to the identification - evaluation - and control of safety and health hazards and to the promotion of healthful and safe working conditions. The work includes surveys; coordination with other health and safety specialists; administration of occupational - life - and fire safety programs.
Qualifications
TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION AT THE GS-12 LEVEL YOU MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) in Federal Service that has equipped me with the knowledge - skills - and abilities necessary to perform the duties of a Safety and Occupational Health Specialist - GS-12. Qualifying specialized experience includes: 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. Qualifying specialized experience includes what is stated above - as well as: assignments being performed independently - with little or no supervision - only consulting with the supervisor when unusual problems are encountered; recognizing potential hazards associated with a variety of operations and processes; conducting surveys/inspections of working conditions to determine nature of hazardous exposures; analyzing findings to recommend or develop corrective/control measures; auditing for compliance with established guidelines; developing policies to improve safety conditions; and preparing training concerning occupational - life - and/or fire safety. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title - duties - month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. 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/. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. Investigations and surveys involve moderate physical exertion - including carrying equipment - climbing - standing - walking - and bending - as well as use of personal protective devices and occasional work in confined spaces. Work Environment: The work involves exposures to all the hazards and discomforts including chemicals - noise - dust - aerosols - fumes - and operating equipment. Protective clothing or equipment - including respiratory protection - may be necessary. Much of the work is performed in an office setting - although exposure to industrial hazards is expected multiple times weekly during walk-through surveys conducted individually or conducted as part of a larger study. Work is self-directed at this level.
Duties
- ***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION - YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Develop - plan - implement - and manage a comprehensive occupational safety and fire protection program
- Direct the development of facility occupational - life - and fire safety policies - programs and procedural documentation
- Conduct in-depth surveys and evaluations of working conditions/environments to determine the nature and magnitude of hazardous exposures and the effectiveness of existing control measures
- Participate in review of plans for new or modified facilities - processes - and materials for the evaluation of the adequacy of hazards
- Ensure compliance with various guidelines and standard for the health care system
- Ensure employees are appropriately protected from emerging hazards
- Conduct education and training for the health care system staff and for other personnel on specific occupational - life - and fire safety program requirements
- Advise top leadership - supervisors - managers - and safety committees of appropriate measures to control or eliminate potential hazards
- Compose correspondence in response to all inquiries - deficiencies - or action plans regarding matters pertaining to the occupational - life - and fire safety programs
- Develop policies - programs - and procedures designed to improve safety conditions and thereby reduce the incidence of injuries
- Monitor contracts and scheduled work for fire suppression and protection systems
- Performs other duties as assigned
- Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Telework: This position may be authorized for telework
- Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Salary : $89,508 - $116,362