These positions are located within the MSHA, Enforcement Division, Pineville, WV and Logan, WV Field Office. This position serves as a Mine Safety & Health Specialist (Roof Control), and authority on issues and related problems encountered in the mining industry. The incumbent is responsible for matters pertaining to specialty aspects of mining activities and conducts comprehensive safety and health investigations and inspections as required This position is inside the bargaining unit.

Duties

The responsibilities described are for the full performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope performed with less independence, and limited complexity. As an Authorized Representative (AR) of the U.S. Secretary of Labor, the incumbent performs the following duties to enforce the mine safety and health laws and promote safety and health in the mining industry. Participates in investigations involving roof falls, rib collapses, or other severe violations of safety standards that present some of the most serious, unusual, and hard-to-define problems to resolve. The incumbent mays serve as a roof control expert on teams investigating roof/rib fall accidents. Plans and requests for variance or waiver from mandatory safety standards submitted by mine operators for approval. During the review process, the incumbent may conduct on-site investigations to determine whether conditions at the mine are the same as portrayed in the plan, acquire information that may not be clear from the plan, or discusses technical problems causing the plan not to be acceptable. Prepares drawings of roof bolting, timbering, and pillar removal sequence plans. Assists in developing new or modified roof control regulations, standards, and inspection procedures. Advises mine operators and other Federal and State inspectors of new or unusual roof control systems, methods of major safety problems relating to roof control, and other significant safety issues and technological developments. Evaluates and discusses the acceptability of new mine safety and health methods and equipment with manufacturers and miner operators. Advises mine operators and other Federal and State inspectors of new or unusual roof control systems, methods of major safety problems relating to roof control, and other significant safety issues and technological developments. Evaluates and discusses the acceptability of new mine safety and health methods and equipment with manufacturers and miner operators. Independently conducts a wide variety of onsite safety and health inspections and investigations of mines, preparation plants, and related facilities. These inspections and investigations may include unique equipment and processes, persistent safety and health problems, and extremely complex systems. Prepares written reports of inspections and investigations, issuing citations and orders for violations found during examinations.

Requirements

• Must be at least 16 years old.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Candidate required to obtain the necessary security/investigation level.
• Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.
• Subject to pre-employment and random drug tests.
• Requires medical exam and must maintain physical requirements.
• Requires a valid driver's license.
• Subject to a drug test prior to appointment at GS-11 and GS-12 grade levels.

Qualifications

The Mine Safety and Health Inspection Series, GS-1822, has basic requirements for positions covered by this standard. Applicants must meet both the basic requirements (IOR) and specialized experience for the specific grade level to qualify. To qualify for this position, your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements as defined below. If qualifying based on experience, be sure these types of examples are evident in your resume. Basic Requirement: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower level: Performing mine safety and health inspection, analysis and evaluation of safety aspects of mining industry operations and processes; or evaluation, analysis or development of agency programs. Examples of creditable experience include: Direct on-site inspection; special accident investigation; development of mine safety and health standards; data analysis and evaluation of operational mine safety and health programs; special assessments; and development of industry-wide training or safety and health awareness programs. Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To qualify for the GS-11 grade level: Applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-09, in the Federal Service. Specialized experience must include at least two of the following: Participates/assists in conducting a wide variety of on-site safety and health inspections and investigations of mines, preparation plants and related facilities; Participates/assists in investigations involving roof falls/rib collapses or other severe violations of safety standards that present some of the most serious, unusual, and hard to define problems to resolve; and/or; Assists roof control experts on teams investigating accidents involving roof/rib fall accidents/hazards or issues. To qualify for the GS-12 grade level: Applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-11, in the Federal Service. Specialized experience must include at least three of the following: Independently conducts a wide variety of on-site safety and health inspections and investigations of mines, preparation plants and related facilities; Independently investigates roof falls/rib collapses or other severe violations of safety standards that present some of the most serious, unusual, and hard to define problems to resolve; Serves as a roof control expert on teams investigating accidents involving roof/rib fall accidents/hazards or issues; and/or; Experience with mining methods, such as design, installation, operations or maintenance of mining systems or equipment related to roof control. Medical Requirements Applicants and employees must be physically able to perform arduous duties efficiently and without hazard to themselves or others. Medical examination is required for all applicants for positions that involve regular or intermittent performance of inspection, investigation, rescue duties, or duties involving on-site visits. Medical conditions that constitute a hazard to safe and efficient job performance are disqualifying. The presence of medical disorders that would be aggravated by the environmental conditions of these positions and thereby hinder safe and efficient job performance are also disqualifying. Remediable defects and/or curable diseases will not permanently disqualify an applicant for appointment, but may result in the applicant's suspension from the appropriate list of eligibles pending submission of medical evidence or correction of the condition. Uncorrected distant vision must test at least 20/50 Snellen in one eye and 20/70 in the other, correctable with eyeglasses (contact lenses are not acceptable) to at least 20/30 Snellen in one eye and 20/50 in the other. Near vision must be sufficient to read without strain printed material the size of typewritten characters Normal depth perception and field of vision are required, as is the ability to distinguish basic colors. Applicants, with or without the use of a hearing aid, must have no hearing loss in either ear of more than 40 decibels in the 500, 1000, or 2000 Hz ranges.

Education

There is no education substitution at the GS-11/12 grade levels.

Contacts

• Address Mine Safety and Health Administration 200 Constitution Avenue NW Washington, DC 20210 US
• Name: Patti Parks
• Phone: 202-693-2646
• Email: [email protected]