This position provides support the entire VANCHCS Safety and Health program, as part of the Safety and Occupational Health Service. They shall report to the Safety Officer in the administration and execution of the Safety and Health Program.

Duties

Major duties include, but are not limited to the following: The incumbent conducts workstation evaluations to identify specific problem areas involving how an employee interacts with their workspace environment-under the guidance of the Industrial Hygienist. Workstation seating, lighting, screens, keyboards, work surfaces and work practices shall all be evaluated. Recommendations shall be developed for necessary adjustments to the workstation and any additional ergonomic equipment that may be necessary to create a workstation that minimizes the risk of musculoskeletal injury. Written reports of findings, actions taken, and recommendations shall be prepared. They must order and distribute ergonomic equipment and a wide variety of Personal Protective Equipment in coordination with the Industrial Hygienist. Assists in the respiratory fit testing for new employees and recurring annual fit testing and maintains documentation. Incumbent will assist in evaluations/inspections and other duties associated with the IH program. The Incumbent conducts various training, i.e., New Employee Orientation and environmental topics; such as proper storage of hazardous wastes, and DECON entry-level. Assists the Environmental Specialist by coordinating the transfers of waste from point-of-use areas to the storage lockers. Performs periodic inventories of the DECON supplies. Assists in planned and unplanned Emergency Management activities in the field and in the Hospital Command Center with the Planning Chief and Safety and Security Leaders. Incumbent is responsible to coordinate NCHCS updates of the personnel notification system to keep the database current. Information must be managed in a timely and confidential manner. Coordinates contingency telecommunication device testing as required by V ACO to include GETS cards, broadband use with laptop computers, separate analog telephone lines, amateur radio systems and satellite phones. Incumbent conducts timely fire drill activities as assigned and maintains comprehensive system documents. The Safety Specialist observes and documents fire drill activities and records the events in an approved after action document. The incumbent educates staff in the proper procedures for fire safety. Work Schedule: Full Time. Monday-Friday. 8:00am-4:30pm. Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Safety Technician (OA)/PD10782A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/31/2023. Time-In-Grade Requirement: 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-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Individual Occupational Requirement: Specialized experience that involved: (l) identifying, preventing, or eliminating safety hazards in work methods or environmental conditions; or (2) safety training or promotion. Such experience must have provided a practical knowledge of occupational and environmental safety hazards, survey techniques, and control and preventive methods. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: biological technician, medical technician, engineering technician, fire prevention inspector, and environmental health worker? (This experience must be well documented in your resume.) Proficiency Requirements: In addition to meeting experience or education requirements, applicants for these positions must show possession of the following skills, as appropriate. Applicants may meet these requirements by passing the appropriate performance test, presenting a certificate of proficiency from a school or other organization authorized to issue such certificates by the Office of Personnel Management local office, or by self-certifying their proficiency. Performance test results and certificates of proficiency are acceptable for 3 years. Agencies may verify proficiency skills of self-certified applicants by administering the appropriate performance test. 40 words per minute typing speed Words per minute are based on a 5 minute sample with three or fewer errors. In addition must also meet the below requirements. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Knowledge of database, spreadsheet, word processing, PowerPoint and graphics programs and the ability to develop and prepare tables, charts and graphs for presentation or publication. Skill to operate desktop computer to maintain data bases and produce reports and correspondence. A qualified typist is required. (This experience must be well documented in your resume.). OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed one full year of graduate education of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a major field of study related to the work of the position which provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of this position. (NOTE: TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH THE APPLICATION MATERIALS. CONFERRAL OF DEGREE(S) EARNED SHOULD BE PRESENT ON TRANSCRIPT(S). UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT(S) IS OK.). OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond bachelors degree. (To compute the percentage, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond two years by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify.) You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and ManagementCustomer ServiceDatabase AdministrationPrinciples of FinanceTelecommunications Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: Performance of inspections requires regular and recurrent standing, walking, stooping, climbing, bending, and lifting of some light items of equipment up to 40 pounds such as storage containers and boxes. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address VA Northern California Health Care System 10535 Hospital Way Mather, CA 95655 US
• Name: Sydnee Holmes
• Phone: 504-635-8084
• Email: [email protected]