Industrial Hygienist

Veterans Health Administration • Brockton, MA

14h • Onsite

About The Position

These full-time Industrial Hygienist positions are in Facilities Management at the VA Boston Healthcare System’s West Roxbury and Brockton campuses. The role assesses work practices and environmental conditions for hazards to worker health and safety through studies, sampling, analysis, and reporting. It also reviews regulatory and safety notifications for hazardous products, manages chemical approvals and storage guidance, and recommends controls to address occupational and environmental hazards.

The work includes calibrating and adapting industrial hygiene equipment, conducting respirator fit testing, assessing emergency eyewash and shower facilities, and characterizing confined spaces. Field work takes place in clinical and research laboratories, offices, maintenance and patient-care areas, shops, and storage areas. The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. EST, for 40 hours per week. Ad-hoc telework may be authorized for occasional, non-routine assignments or special circumstances; this is not a virtual position.

Requirements

• Meet the Industrial Hygiene Series 0690 basic education or certification requirement: a qualifying bachelor’s or graduate degree; a qualifying bachelor’s degree in engineering, physical science, or life science with specified coursework; or certification from the Board for Global EHS Credentialing.
• For qualifying engineering degrees, the curriculum must be in a school of engineering with at least one ABET-accredited professional engineering curriculum; qualifying science and engineering courses must be acceptable toward a standard four-year professional degree.
• Qualifying experience must demonstrate professional knowledge of industrial hygiene principles and related sciences, including physics and engineering controls, and involve exposure measurement, data analysis and prediction of health effects, and recommending appropriate controls.
• For GS-09, have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-07, or meet the stated qualifying graduate-education substitution or combination of graduate education and experience requirements.
• Be a U.S. citizen and complete all required application steps, including the online assessment.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Meet the physical requirements of field investigations, including carrying moderately heavy equipment, standing, walking, bending, exposure to hazardous or unpleasant conditions, and lifting up to approximately 20 pounds; required protective clothing and equipment must be used.
• Complete a background/security investigation and online onboarding, and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Serve a one-year probationary period.
• Submit an accredited education transcript if relying on education to qualify; foreign education used for qualification requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with the transcript.

Responsibilities

• Assess work practices and environmental conditions for worker health and safety hazards by conducting studies, analyzing findings, and preparing reports.
• Review OSHA and EPA regulations, FDA reports, recall alerts, and other notifications to identify hazardous materials in use that may require removal.
• Promptly suspend use of hazardous products restricted by the medical facility, hold them separately pending disposition instructions, and consult with the Green Environmental Systems Coordinator.
• Collect samples using standard methods and review results to determine the nature and degree of toxic or hazardous materials in air, water, soil, and other constituents.
• Determine the measurements and methods required for industrial hygiene evaluations.
• Calibrate and adapt air sampling pumps, moisture meters, direct-reading instruments, screening devices, noise survey instruments, fit-testing equipment, and related equipment.
• Conduct respirator fit testing when health hazard evaluations require this personal protective equipment.
• Assess emergency eyewash and shower facilities and characterize confined spaces throughout the medical center.
• Review and approve hazardous materials for the medical facility using a chemical management system.
• Assist services with chemical storage and handling, including compatibility, allowable quantities, and product rotation to reduce waste.
• Survey and evaluate health hazards, determine compliance with occupational and environmental limits, evaluate exposures, and advise on control measures or work procedure and schedule changes.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered for higher or unique qualifications or VA special needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, consisting of 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid Federal holidays.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify after 60 days for a childcare subsidy of up to 25% of eligible childcare costs, subject to income and monthly maximum limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and a federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Ad-hoc telework may be authorized for occasional, non-routine assignments or special circumstances.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level