The Safety Technician is responsible for supporting a comprehensive safety, fire prevention, and inspection program for the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System. The major duties consist of fire equipment inspections, performing safety inspections, conducting ergonomic evaluations, maintaining safety bulletin boards, displays and scheduling/conducting fire drills.

Duties

DUTIES INCLUDE, BUT NO LIMITED TOO : Performs safety protection inspections where the hazards and potential severity could be of a high degree. The safety situations are difficult to recognize and require advanced, innovative methods in order to reduce or eliminate them. Inspects areas and buildings to include Engineering shops (carpentry, electrical, plumbing, air conditioning, painting, mechanical, grounds maintenance, refrigeration, machine, boiler & AC plant), oxygen storage, patient care areas (general medical, surgical, ICU, isolation rooms/areas, geriatrics and intermediate care services, psychiatric, nursing home care, and ambulatory care), clinical and research laboratories, parking lots, and outdoor work areas including construction sites. Discusses safety-related situations with personnel and searches technical manuals, and fire/safety codes to ascertain proper means for resolving workplace hazards. Determines measures to reduce or eliminate the potential for fire or safety hazards. Composes inspections reports and follows up on any discrepancies to ensure deficiencies are corrected. Inspects all facility portable fire extinguishers in accordance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards and takes immediate action to resolve identified deficiencies. Makes or recommends changes in basic safety protection, equipment, procedures or station policies. Participates in the investigation of safety incidents by inspecting areas and interviewing individuals. May appear as a witness before courts or boards of inquiry. Makes thorough inspections and evaluations of conditions prior to issuing permits for cutting/welding with gas or arc equipment and above ceiling work. Ensures proper hot work and above ceiling permits and safeguards are in effect while such work is performed. Maintains and documents proper closure of permits. Conducts ergonomic evaluations in accordance with the expectations described within the VA Ergonomic Guidebook and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Guidance. Develops, organizes, and maintains the records of the Safety Program. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday; 8:00am to 4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Safety Technician/PD516-10940-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): 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, 03/12/2024. Individual Occupational Requirements Specialized Experience: 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. or, Education and Training: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of subjects such as safety, fire prevention, industrial hygiene, or other directly related subjects. AND You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized experience: Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: performing safety protection inspections where the hazards and potential severity could be of a high degree; inspecting areas and buildings to include Engineering shops (carpentry, electrical, plumbing, air conditioning, painting, mechanical, grounds maintenance, refrigeration, machine, boiler & AC plant), oxygen storage, patient care areas (general medical, surgical, ICU, isolation rooms/areas, geriatrics and intermediate care services, psychiatric, nursing home care, and ambulatory care), clinical and research laboratories, parking lots, and outdoor work areas including construction sites; discussing safety-related situations with personnel and searches technical manuals, and fire/safety codes to ascertain proper means for resolving workplace hazards; determining measures to reduce or eliminate the potential for fire or safety hazards; composing inspections reports and follows up on any discrepancies to ensure deficiencies are corrected. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a possess a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. OR, Combination of Experience & Education: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an appropriate specialized experience and post high school education beyond 60 semester hours (beyond the second year). NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Compliance InspectionPublic Safety and SecurityTechnical Competence 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: The work involves working in an office environment, walking through areas to conduct inspections, lifting fire extinguishers or other equipment weighing 40 pounds or more, demonstrating use of equipment, frequent walking, bending, climbing, and crawling. Occasional period of physical exertion are required during fire alarm, patient evacuation or any other emergency that may occur or is reported. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address CW Bill Young Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 10000 Bay Pines Boulevard Bay Pines, FL 33744 US
• Name: Miguel Viera-Rodriguez
• Phone: 787-641-7582
• Email: [email protected]