Safety & Occupational Health Specialist

Veterans Health Administration • Sioux Falls, SD

8h • Onsite

About The Position

The Safety & Occupational Health Specialist supports safety and health staff in regulatory compliance, research, training, program development, accident prevention, and safety surveys in a healthcare environment. The position also assumes additional responsibility for the safety program and conducts comprehensive inspections related to safety, occupational health, construction, fire prevention, fire protection, and fire inspection programs.

The specialist collaborates with supervisors, safety and occupational health committees, and other staff to identify and control hazards; investigates injuries and illnesses; maintains accurate program data and documentation; develops educational materials; and conducts employee safety and orientation classes. The role also participates in managing the service operating budget, conducts workplace inspections, reviews corrective actions, and recommends strategies for exposure surveys.

The position is not virtual. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Approximately half of the work is in an office, with frequent site visits and exposure to construction and other workplace hazards. The position is offered at GS-09 or GS-11, with potential promotion to the full performance level subject to regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Meet applicable time-in-grade requirements if currently or formerly employed by the Federal government in the circumstances described in the announcement.
• Qualifying experience or education for the GS-09 or GS-11 level is required. Qualifying specialized experience relates to safety and occupational health and may include identifying workplace hazards and risks, collecting and analyzing data, preparing reports or procedures, reviewing corrective actions, and recommending hazard-control measures.
• For GS-09 experience qualification: one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07; alternatively, qualifying graduate education or a combination of experience and graduate education may be used.
• For GS-11 experience qualification: one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-09; alternatively, qualifying doctoral-level graduate education or a combination of experience and graduate education may be used.
• Submit transcripts if using education to qualify. Education must be from an institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education; foreign education requires a certificate of foreign equivalency.
• Complete all required application steps, including the online assessment.
• Meet pre-employment requirements, including background/security investigation and onboarding; acceptable identification is required.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA health care personnel.
• Serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• The work involves prolonged sedentary periods and frequent site surveys that may require prolonged standing, walking, climbing, bending, stooping, stretching, reaching, and other physical movement. High physical coordination, balance, and good health are required for work involving fire code inspections, construction sites, and hazardous materials.
• Personal protective equipment may be required during surveys and investigations of hazardous operations.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with supervisors, safety and occupational health committees, and other staff to eliminate or control hazardous operations and conditions.
• Identify hazards, detect risks, determine causal relationships, and develop recommendations to abate safety and occupational health hazards.
• Study variables and retrace sequences to identify sources of reported injuries and illnesses.
• Assure the validity of collected data, accurate documentation and summaries, and maintenance of program information.
• Examine available data to identify possible sources of losses.
• Prepare summary documentation related to safety and occupational health.
• Develop educational materials and techniques related to safety and occupational health.
• Conduct safety and orientation classes for employees.
• Participate in management of the service operating budget, including safety, occupational health, and fire protection matters.
• Conduct workplace inspections to identify violations.
• Review proposed or required corrective actions to ensure hazard abatement.
• Recommend sampling strategies for exposure surveys.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package available to the employee and family, subject to position and benefits eligibility.
• VA may offer newly appointed federal employees credit for job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining annual leave accrual, subject to approval.

What This Job Offers

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