Industrial Hygienist

Veterans Health Administration•Erie, PA

13d•Onsite

About The Position

The Industrial Hygienist is assigned to the Erie VA Medical Center (VAMC) within the Office of Performance and Quality and is responsible for planning and administering environmental and industrial hygiene programs. The role leads development, implementation, and ongoing maintenance of the facility’s Green Environmental Management System (GEMS), Healthcare Environmental Regulatory Compliance (HERC), and Industrial Hygiene programs, including associated policies and procedures. The position oversees environmental compliance involving air emissions, wastewater, drinking water, waste, fuel and oil storage, spill prevention, and NEPA, and interacts with federal, state, and local environmental agencies. It also provides technical advice on occupational health hazards, conducts exposure assessments, recommends controls, and develops respiratory protection, hearing conservation, and employee training programs. The Industrial Hygienist supports committees, inspections, audits, incident investigations, and environmental budget activities. The role is based at the Erie VAMC and is not a virtual position. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; compressed or flexible scheduling is authorized, and ad-hoc telework is available.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship is required.
Meet the Individual Occupation Requirement through one of the following: a bachelor’s or graduate/higher degree in industrial hygiene, occupational health sciences, occupational and environmental health, toxicology, safety sciences, or a related science; a bachelor’s degree in engineering, physical science, or life science with the specified coursework; or certification from the Board of Global EHS Credentialing.
For the specified engineering, physical science, or life science degree pathway, have 12 semester hours in chemistry, including organic chemistry, and 18 additional semester hours in an approved combination of chemistry, physics, engineering, health physics, environmental health, biostatistics, biology, physiology, toxicology, epidemiology, or industrial hygiene.
Meet the GS-11 specialized experience requirement: one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-09, including relevant environmental management, compliance, waste and pollution prevention, budget, policy, and project experience.
Submit transcripts if qualifying based all or in part on education.
Complete the required application steps, questionnaire, and online assessment.
Meet applicable Selective Service registration requirements for males born after December 31, 1959.
Complete a background/security investigation and online onboarding, and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel requirement.
Serve a one-year probationary period.
The work has no inherent physical requirements essential to job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment.

Responsibilities

Develop, plan, implement, and sustain the facility’s GEMS/HERC program, taking a lead role in environmental policies and procedures.
Prepare and submit permits; lead facility self-assessments, inspections, and other environmental investigations.
Work with facility leadership to integrate environmental considerations into planning and operations, and coordinate environmental activities with regional representatives.
Participate in preconstruction meetings to explain GEMS requirements to contractors.
Serve as subject matter expert and consultant for regulated medical waste, sharps, hazardous waste, and recycling contracts.
Maintain the Waste Tracking System by entering monthly waste-disposal data.
Participate in financial and budget execution activities related to environmental programs.
Assure compliance with environmental requirements concerning air emissions, wastewater, drinking water, solid and hazardous waste, fuel and oil storage, spill prevention, NEPA, and other applicable areas.
Interact with federal, state, and local environmental agencies regarding facility environmental issues.
Administer the Erie VAMC GEMS Committee through the Comprehensive Environment of Care program and participate in national VA GEMS committees.
Train employees and lower-grade environmental staff.
Review the continuing regulator accountability matrix report weekly to oversee facility environmental compliance timelines.
Develop, plan, implement, and sustain the facility’s Industrial Hygiene program and related policies and procedures.
Advise VA personnel on industrial hygiene matters, including hazardous substances, exposure controls, and hazardous chemical disposal.
Conduct and document baseline exposure assessments and reassessments in coordination with relevant subject matter experts for work areas throughout the VA medical facility.
Recommend exposure controls, administrative controls, or personal protective equipment to eliminate or reduce occupational health hazards.
Develop and maintain the Respiratory Protection Program, including policies, fit testing, and training.
Develop and maintain the Hearing Conservation Program, including policies, training, and noise evaluations.
Initiate and periodically review Industrial Hygiene Exposure Assessments.
Provide technical consultation and serve on the Comprehensive Environment of Care Committee, Accident Review Committee, Emergency Preparedness subcommittee, Infection Prevention Committee, and Radiation Safety Committee.
Design, prepare, and conduct employee training on chemical handling and disposal, job safety analysis, noise, silica, and other industrial hygiene topics.
Accompany OSHA, EPA, IDEM, VISN, or other occupational health inspections of the Medical Center, CBOC, or leased facilities.
Lead environmental audits and incident investigations, conduct root cause analyses, develop corrective actions, and track incidents through closure.
Perform other duties as assigned.