Industrial Hygienist

Veterans Health Administration • Stockton, CA

28d • Onsite

About The Position

This position monitors a comprehensive Industrial Hygienist Program and serves as a technical authority on industrial hygiene and related issues which includes but is not limited to the following programs: hazard communication, personal protective equipment, hazardous materials and waste management program, infectious waste medical surveillance measurements and requirements, ergonomics, indoor air quality management, asbestos abatement, spill prevention and confined space. The position works directly for the Chief of Safety and also works with the Safety and Health group and the management/labor representative. Ensures the industrial hygiene program complies with standards set by VHA and JCAHO, OSHA, EPA, and other regulatory agencies. Consults and reviews VA publications, guidebooks, OSHA documents and regulations, the Federal Register, EPA regulations and other pertinent documents. Actively participates in and advises various committees, including the facility's Environment of Care Committee, on industrial hygiene matters. Assists facilities in meeting national and regional goals. Provides consultative and technical assistance to the health care system in overcoming or minimizing adverse health effects of unusual environmental health and related problems. Develops VANCHCS industrial hygiene policies and procedures. Plans, organizes, and administers comprehensive evaluation of VANCHCS facilities to identify potential occupational health hazards and the need for further investigative studies and surveys. Studies and surveys performed involved determining compliance with various established criteria, evaluating exposures, and advising on control measures and changes in work procedures or schedules to comply with established health requirements, and providing information for evaluation purposes. In performing surveys/studies, incumbent must select or devise methods and instruments, personally or through others, conduct measurements, and study and test materials associated with the work operation or work environment. Recommends improvement of programs through education, equipment purchase, and engineering/work practice controls. Prepares technical reports on results of evaluations.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Must complete all required steps in the process, including an online application, questionnaire, and online assessment.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable forms of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement.
• Must serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period.
• 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-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9.
• A bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree in industrial hygiene, occupational health sciences, occupational and environmental health, toxicology, safety sciences, or related science; or A bachelor's degree in a branch of engineering, physical science, or life science that included 12 semester hours in chemistry, including organic chemistry, and 18 additional semester hours of courses in any combination of physics, engineering, health physics, environmental health, biostatistics, biology, physiology, toxicology, epidemiology, or industrial hygiene.
• All science or engineering courses offered in fulfillment of the above requirements must be acceptable for credit toward the completion of a standard 4-year professional curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in science or engineering at an accredited college or university.
• For engineering degrees to be acceptable, the curriculum must be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) as a professional engineering curriculum.
• Certification from the American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH).
• One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the federal service) including: recognition, evaluation, corrective actions, and elimination of environmental conditions in the workplace that causes sickness, impaired health, or illness.
• Experience must demonstrate a professional knowledge of the theory and application of the principles of industrial hygiene and closely related sciences such as chemistry, physics and engineering controls.
• Work must have involved experience in all of the following areas: the acquisition of quantitative and qualitative data, and the measurement of exposures for a variety of chemical, physical, and biological stresses; the analysis of the data acquired and the prediction of probable effects of exposures on the health and well-being of workers; and the selection and recommendation of appropriate controls, including management, medical, engineering, education or training, and personal protective equipment.
• Experience must demonstrate a professional knowledge of the theory and application of the principles of industrial hygiene and closely related sciences such as physics and engineering controls.
• Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Nice To Haves

• A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
• If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

Responsibilities

• Monitors a comprehensive Industrial Hygienist Program.
• Serves as a technical authority on industrial hygiene and related issues.
• Ensures the industrial hygiene program complies with standards set by VHA and JCAHO, OSHA, EPA, and other regulatory agencies.
• Consults and reviews VA publications, guidebooks, OSHA documents and regulations, the Federal Register, EPA regulations and other pertinent documents.
• Actively participates in and advises various committees, including the facility's Environment of Care Committee, on industrial hygiene matters.
• Assists facilities in meeting national and regional goals.
• Provides consultative and technical assistance to the health care system in overcoming or minimizing adverse health effects of unusual environmental health and related problems.
• Develops VANCHCS industrial hygiene policies and procedures.
• Plans, organizes, and administers comprehensive evaluation of VANCHCS facilities to identify potential occupational health hazards and the need for further investigative studies and surveys.
• Determines compliance with various established criteria, evaluates exposures, and advises on control measures and changes in work procedures or schedules to comply with established health requirements.
• Provides information for evaluation purposes.
• Selects or devises methods and instruments, personally or through others, conducts measurements, and studies and tests materials associated with the work operation or work environment.
• Recommends improvement of programs through education, equipment purchase, and engineering/work practice controls.
• Prepares technical reports on results of evaluations.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.

What This Job Offers

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