Safety Technician

Veterans Health Administration • Spokane, WA

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

Serve as a Safety Technician in the Environmental Health & Safety department at the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane, Washington. The role supports occupational and environmental safety, health, fire protection, and life-safety activities across clinical and non-clinical worksites, buildings, plants, and grounds. The position is offered at GS-6 and GS-7 levels, with potential promotion to the full performance level without further competition if regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade does not guarantee promotion.

The announcement is open continuously through December 31, 2026. Applications received after the initial November 9, 2026 cutoff will be referred at regular intervals until the position is filled. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Telework may be authorized and eligibility will be discussed during the interview. This is not a virtual position. Relocation and recruitment incentives, critical skills incentives, and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens and complete the application, questionnaire, and required online assessment. The position is subject to a background/security investigation and a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period. Participation in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program is required. The work involves frequent standing, walking, climbing, crouching, and stretching, and occasional lifting of moderately heavy objects. The announcement states that no pre-placement physical examination is required and that physical requirements essential to the job can be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment.

Qualification may be based on specialized experience, directly related graduate education, or a combination of experience and education. GS-6 applicants generally need one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-5, or six months (nine semester hours) of directly related graduate education. GS-7 applicants generally need one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-6, or one year (18 semester hours) of directly related graduate education. Federal employees and certain former Federal employees must also meet the applicable time-in-grade requirement. Transcripts are required when education is used to qualify.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• Complete all required application steps, including the application, questionnaire, and online assessment.
• Meet the applicable GS-6 or GS-7 qualification requirements through specialized experience, directly related graduate education, or an equivalent combination.
• GS-6 specialized experience: one year equivalent to at least GS-5; alternatively, six months (nine semester hours) of directly related graduate education may be substituted, or experience and education may be combined.
• GS-7 specialized experience: one year equivalent to at least GS-6; alternatively, one year (18 semester hours) of directly related graduate education may be substituted, or experience and education may be combined.
• Relevant specialized experience includes identifying, preventing, or eliminating safety hazards; safety training or promotion; practical knowledge of occupational and environmental safety hazards, survey techniques, and control and preventive methods.
• GS-6 experience examples include knowledge of fire prevention and protection standards, life-safety requirements and building codes; fire extinguishers, emergency eyewash and showers, hazardous-material storage, handling and disposal, and respiratory protection equipment; and computer applications for hazardous-material management, incident records, inspection reports, and respirator fit testing.
• GS-7 experience examples include technical knowledge of health-care facility hazards, hazard abatement and surveillance, applicable environmental, occupational safety and health, and fire-protection standards, and the ability to conduct meaningful inspections and correct identified hazards.
• Submit transcripts if education is used to qualify; qualifying education must be from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency.
• Current Federal employees and certain former Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements: 52 weeks at GS-5 for GS-6 or 52 weeks at GS-6 for GS-7. Applicable SF-50 documentation must be submitted.
• Selected applicants must complete online onboarding and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• 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 frequent standing, walking, climbing, crouching, and stretching, and occasional lifting of moderately heavy objects.

Responsibilities

• Inspect clinical and non-clinical worksites, buildings, plants, and grounds to identify hazards and assess potential harm to employees and the environment.
• Conduct workplace inspections and assess compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Assist higher-graded staff with environmental, occupational safety and health, and fire and life-safety inspections and assignments.
• Respond to reports of unsafe conditions and work practices that have caused or could cause injury, illness, exposure, or property damage.
• Observe safety practices and procedures, including equipment utilization.
• Monitor safety checklists for compliance with safety requirements.
• Report findings to the appropriate service chief and delegated occupational health Industrial Hygienist.
• Identify violations of established requirements and safe practices and recommend hazard-elimination measures using applicable guidelines, regulations, and recommended practices.
• Support phases of occupational health and safety inspections.
• Prepare reports of findings and propose corrective measures.
• Provide leaders and employees with guidance and training on general safety and occupational health topics, mishap prevention, and safe working practices.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.
• VA may, upon request and approval before appointment, credit job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service toward the annual-leave accrual rate; approval is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed