The Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center is recruiting for one (1) Occupational Safety & Health Specialist who reports to the Chief Occupational Health and Safety. Incumbent is responsible for the implementation and evaluation of a comprehensive safety program. Welcome to VA Long Beach Tibor Rubin - History WMC Total Rewards - Power Apps

Duties

Duties include but are not limited to: Serves as an occupational safety and health specialist who plans, schedules, and conducts difficult inspections in establishments and worksites where there is a strong probability of encountering hazardous work processes and materials, and unsafe environmental conditions, involving a substantial number of employees. Conducts safety surveillance audits and inspections on a frequent basis according to the required standards and regulations and depending on the degree of hazard. Obtains immediate corrective action of conditions, which are of imminent danger to life or limb. Investigates hazardous conditions, equipment, practices, etc. to identify and analyze the nature and severity of hazards and possible remedial actions (i.e., elimination, correction, or protection). Ensures corrective actions are initiated and consults with subject matter specialists and managers about changes in work processes and proposed methods to eliminate unnecessary risks and control hazardous conditions. As required, investigates or assist investigators in investigating accidents/mishaps, obtains witness statements, photographs the accident scene, records circumstances and extent of injuries, estimates cost of property damages, and prepares a report of findings which includes recommendations to correct unsafe acts or conditions which caused the accident. Performs as an experienced specialist in safety work that involves a combined approached to unusual or complex safety and occupational health management issues. Plans, develops, and implements safety promotional and educational campaigns containing aspects of difficult issues that are designed to meet both general and specific goals of reducing accidental occurrences and meet unique local situations. Promotes safety campaign and education materials; selects appropriate medium (i.e., lecture, campaign, safety meeting, posters, video, e-learning, brochures, training assembly, etc.) for use in promoting safety; ensures that safety standards are published in appropriate training manuals; and establishes necessary safety committees. Research various sources of information for promotional items and campaigns to initiate and maintain interest in accident prevention and occupational health for at-work and off-the-job employee activities. Updates educational and promotional informational bulletin boards and disseminates information via contemporary communication means to all assigned areas. Determines areas for emphasis; develops or adapts material for safety campaigns and training courses and conducts technical training for personnel; assists operating officials in establishing safety committees, participates in committee meetings, and provides technical guidance and assistance. Ensures the distribution of information and guidance developed by accident prevention committees is distributed to all pertinent parties. Remains abreast of recent advances in safety and occupational health knowledge and technical know-how. Develops and prepares supplements to guidelines developed by higher authority and initiates written procedures implementing technical safety standards, codes, and safety requirements for a variety of operations or activities within the serviced area. Conducts comprehensive analytical surveys and/or studies of serviced safety programs. Reviews safety policies, procedures, and regulations published by serviced organizations. Works closely with all personnel in the establishment of realistic safety requirements and compliance with applicable directives and regulations. Evaluates technological changes in the workplace and recommends appropriate safety measures for possible application. Proposes plans that are well-developed and account for potential difficulties with alternative solutions and approaches. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Safety & Occup Hlth Spec/PD13919A and PD13918ARelocation/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, 11/27/2023. 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-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9. 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. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-9/11 For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. 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. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study - Safety and 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. Specialized Experience GS-11: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Safety & Health Program Manager, Developing and recommending safety and occupational health policy to higher levels of management, Developing or implementing programs to reduce the frequency, severity, and cost of accidents and occupational illnesses. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. 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 2 years of graduate level education, if related. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:Analysis and Problem SolvingCommunicationInspectTechnical CompetenceExperience 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: Most work is performed in an office or workplace setting, and the work is sedentary in nature. There may be some walking, standing, bending and carrying of light items, occasionally carrying moderate weight items, but no specific physical demands are required to perform the work. The regular and recurring work is carried out in an office or workplace environment. The work is usually performed in a well-lighted, heated, and ventilated space. Normal safety measures prevail. The work occasionally requires special safety precautions such as utilizing safety gear or following particular safety procedures. 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. If basing qualifications of education you must have a Major study -- 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.

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 Long Beach VA Medical Center 5901 East Seventh Street Long Beach, CA 90822 US
• Name: Derek Norman
• Phone: 562-826-8000 X5488
• Email: [email protected]