This position will serve at the Carl T Hayden Veterans' Administration MC in Phoenix, AZ in the Quality, Safety, and Improvement (QSI) Service's Safety Section. The primary purpose of the Safety Specialist is the elimination or minimization of human injury and property and productivity losses, caused by harmful contact incidents, through the design of effective management policies, programs, or practices.

Duties

Major duties include, but are not limited to: Conducts safety and occupational health surveys at the PVAHCS and its Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) and recommends measures to eliminate or control hazardous practices and conditions. Inspects worksite, machine and equipment operations, environmental conditions, work practices, protective devices and equipment, and safety procedures. Participates in PVAHCS EOC rounds, Construction safety rounds, and ensures that hazardous items/processes found are remediated by additional training for staff or needed repairs. Investigates mishaps, obtains statements from witnesses, and photographs mishap scenes. Records and photographs apparent violations of standards for use as evidence of existing hazards to support recommended corrective actions to supervisors/managers. Prepares and revises safety instructions and guides that are relevant to current or planned contractor and base employees. Advises supervisors and safety representatives of appropriate safety and occupational health measures to control or eliminate hazardous operating processes or environmental conditions. Provides fire safety and life safety training to staff and conduct periodic fire drills. Performs other related duties as assigned. Statement of Difference for the developmental GS-07 grade level: The duties are essentially the same as those described at the full performance level of the target position. However, during the developmental assignment, full performance range and level of selected functions will not be completely delegated to the employee until proper orientation and training have been completed and the incumbent has demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to accomplish the work at the full performance level. Physical Requirements: The work requires frequent onsite surveys necessitating prolonged standing, walking, climbing, bending, crouching, stretching, reaching and other physical movements. As stairs and aisles are often under construction, some physical coordination and balance is necessary. Work Environment: Work involves frequent exposure to construction hazards, high noise levels, and adverse weather conditions. Protective gear may be required when conducting surveys. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 07:30 am - 04:00 pm Position Description/PD#: Safety & Occupational Health Specialist/PD14343-0 and PD14344-0 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, 09/01/2023. 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-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. For a GS-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. 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. Basic requirements from individual standards to be met in addition to the Grade requirements: Undergraduate or Graduate Education: Major study in safety or occupational health fields (safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene), or degree in other related fields that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours of study from among the following (or closely related) disciplines: safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene, occupational medicine, toxicology, public health, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biological sciences, engineering, and industrial psychology. OR, Certificates: Certification as a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), or Certified Health Physicist (CHP), or similar certification that included successful completion of a written examination meets the requirements for GS-5. Applicants may also qualify for higher grade levels based on their education and/or experience. OR, Specialized Experience: Experience in or related to safety and occupational health that provided the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include managing safety or occupational health program elements. Developing and recommending safety and occupational health policy to higher levels of management. Applying safety and occupational health laws, regulations, principles, theories, practices, and procedures to advise on or resolve technical matters dealing with occupational safety and health requirements. Developing safety and occupational health standards, regulations, practices, and procedures to eliminate or control potential hazards. Developing or implementing programs to reduce the frequency, severity, and cost of accidents and occupational illnesses. Analyzing or evaluating new and existing jobs, processes, products, or other systems to determine the existence, severity, probability, and outcome of hazards. Designing or modifying workplaces, processes, products, or other systems to control or eliminate hazards. Inspecting or surveying workplaces, processes, products, or other systems for compliance with established safety and occupational health policies or standards and to identify potential new hazards. Training of workers, supervisors, managers, or other safety and occupational health personnel in safety or occupational health subjects. Work in occupational fields such as industrial hygienist, safety engineer, fire prevention engineer, health physicist, and occupational health nurse. GS-7 grade level: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 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 general demonstrative practices and procedures enabling the employee to interpret and apply basic standards, criteria, and operating instructions to specific unsafe acts and conditions. Knowledge of principal inspection and survey techniques sufficient to identify occupational hazards, and to determine elements giving rise to mishaps. Knowledge of basic safety and occupational health principles, common hazards, and protective measures, including safety devices, sufficient to provide informal training sessions and appropriate educational materials to employees. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 1 year of progressively higher-level graduate education or a bachelor's degree with Superior academic achievement that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. Note: For more information on Superior academic achievement see Education section below. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond half a year of graduate education. GS-9 grade level: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7 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 safety and occupational health principles, methods and standards, regulations, policies, and procedures applicable to conventional construction projects and necessary materials to control or eliminate hazardous environmental conditions and mechanical risks to personnel. Knowledge of established construction practices related to flooring, roofing, foundations, and interior electrical wiring of residential, commercial, and industrial structures sufficient to identify actual and potential hazards and to explain the need for applying specific safety measures where unsafe conditions are encountered. Skill in the interpretation of design criteria sufficient to review building plans, drawings, and sketches for compliance with applicable safety standards. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have master's or equivalent graduate degree or have 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a degree that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond 1 full year of graduate education. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Accident InvestigationPublic Safety and SecuritySafety Engineering 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. 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.

Note: Superior academic achievement is defined by:

1. Rank in the upper one-third of your class in the college, university, or major subdivision.
2. A grade-point average of "B" (a GPA of 2.95 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last two years of undergraduate study.
3. A grade point average of "B+" (a GPA of 3.45 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all courses in your major field of study, or those courses in your major completed in the last two years of undergraduate study.
4. Membership in a national honor society (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies.

Contacts

• Address Carl T Hayden Veterans' Administration Medical Center 650 East Indian School Road Phoenix, AZ 85012 US
• Name: Sofia Zadorian
• Phone: 1(512)434-9849
• Email: [email protected]