Safety & Occupational Health Specialist
About The Position
This position serves as a Safety and Occupational Health Specialist in the Safety Section of Engineering at the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Hampton VA Health Care System. Under the direct supervision of the Safety Manager and Chief Engineer, the specialist supports Safety, Occupational Health, Industrial Hygiene, Environmental, Fire Safety, and Emergency Management programs at a medical center with a diverse range of programs. The role advises the Safety Manager and provides guidance and technical assistance to medical center management. It includes planning and conducting inspections across patient care areas, laboratories, engineering shops, administrative offices, and community residential care settings; reporting on compliance and safety violations; recommending hazard abatement; investigating accidents; and conducting and monitoring required safety-related training. The position is permanent and is not virtual. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A current, valid state-issued driver's license is required. Promotion to the full performance level may be possible without further competition when regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Relocation and recruitment incentives, as well as permanent change of station, are not authorized.
Requirements
- U.S. citizenship is required.
- A current, valid state-issued driver's license is required.
- Applicants must meet the applicable time-in-grade requirements if they are current or former federal employees applying under the stated conditions.
- Applicants must meet the Individual Occupational Requirement for the Safety and Occupational Health Management Series 0018 through qualifying education, specialized experience, or an eligible certification.
- For GS-07, applicants need one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-05, including relevant knowledge of safety and occupational health principles, methods, and standards and skill interpreting design criteria for review of building plans, drawings, and sketches.
- For GS-09, applicants need one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-07, or qualifying graduate education, or an eligible combination of education and experience.
- A transcript must be submitted when education is used to qualify. Foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency.
- Applicants must complete the application, questionnaire, and required online assessment.
- Tentatively selected applicants for testing-designated positions are subject to urinalysis for illegal drug use; refusal results in denial of VA employment.
- Selected applicants are subject to a background/security investigation and must complete online onboarding and acceptable employment-identification requirements.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
- The selectee must serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.
Responsibilities
- Advise the Safety Manager and assist in providing guidance, technical assistance, and advice to medical center management on effective application of safety programs.
- Plan, organize, and administer comprehensive inspections of inpatient care areas, laboratories, engineering shops, administrative offices, and community residential care settings.
- Prepare reports on compliance with and violations of safety and protection requirements and applicable agency regulations and standards.
- Issue notices of unsafe working conditions when inspection findings warrant and recommend hazard-abatement methods and corrections to unsafe conditions or practices.
- Investigate and analyze accidents and safety reports, evaluating causal factors and environmental conditions.
- Conduct and monitor safety, occupational health, Joint Commission, emergency management, and fire-protection training required by VA, Joint Commission, and OSHA regulations.
- Evaluate and report on safety-related training conducted across the station.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Benefits
- Federal employees receive access to a comprehensive benefits package for themselves and their families. The specific benefits offered depend on position type and eligibility.
- VA may approve credit for job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining annual leave accrual; approval is not guaranteed and must be requested before appointment.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
