This position is located within the Industrial Hygiene and Safety Department at the VA Western New York Healthcare System in Buffalo, NY. The Safety Engineer - Construction Safety Officer, is responsible for the implementation of a proactive and comprehensive construction safety program to reduce the potential for injury and illness to staff, related activities.

Duties

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Major duties include, but are not limited to: Safety Engineering 65% Monitors construction and renovation project designs to assess and ensure inclusion in the design package any special occupational safety and health analyses to be made in conjunction with the specified work area or installation of equipment. Reviews and evaluates project submittals including Contractor training records, Accident Prevention Plans and Activity Hazard Analysis for all construction and renovation projects. Ensures that the specific safety requirements for construction and renovation operations are implemented during facility projects. Works with facility leadership to integrate human factors engineering into planning and operational activities, this includes the review of requests for proposals and contracts to ensure safety engineering criteria, principles, and techniques are considered in the development and procurement of contracted work. Serves as the technical safety expert to explore, evaluate and incorporate new technology into construction program plans. Evaluates renovation and construction projects in conjunction with other professionals to assess risks. Helps coordinate implementation of interim measures such as additional fire drills, education of staff, publication of measures taken, increased inspections of the construction site, etc. Independently schedules and conducts on-site inspections of the construction and renovation sites to ensure compliance with safety requirements. Identifies, evaluates, analyzes and recommends means for controlling a wide variety of construction safety issues. All inspections are documented and deficiencies are tracked to completion. Responds to and investigates complaints relating to construction safety issues, takes actions of any imminent danger situations and intercedes when a threatening condition exists. Issues various permits related to the construction/renovation work. Provides safety related training using a wide variety of materials, publications, exhibits and visual aids; promotes safety through oral presentations designed to inform management, supervisors and employees of potential hazardous exposures, applicable directives, and construction safety topics. Assists facility managers in the development and review of safety training requirements. Industrial Hygiene /Administrative/Other 35% Conducts industrial hygiene and hazard surveillance inspections and surveys throughout the Hospital including outpatient and administrative facilities located off campus to determine compliance with standards set by TJC, NFPA, OSHA, VA and other regulatory agencies. Observes employee performance, environmental conditions, facilities, and equipment. Identifies hazards and unsafe conditions and practices. Updates and advises Employee Health Physician as to medical surveillance requirements for employees working with hazardous materials as determined by OSHA. Reviews and/or prepares accident reports and investigates those pertaining to construction safety. Consults with Patient Safety and Infection Control to ensure patient safety in areas adjacent to construction sites. Actively participates in and advises the facility's GEMS and Infection Control Committees. As conditions warrant or need arises, performs any other assigned tasks related to other program areas with the Safety Office such as Emergency Management, GEMS, Industrial Hygiene and Fire Protection and Prevention. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required 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.

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirement: Degree (bachelor's or higher) in engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET); or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships) (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics (d) thermodynamics (e) electrical fields & circuits (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties) and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. Transcripts (official or unofficial) required. ~OR~ Combination of education and experience: college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying professional engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: Professional Registration or Licensure: Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions. Documentation must be provided. ~OR~ Written Test - Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Documentation must be provided. ~OR~ Specified Academic Courses - Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described above in number 1. Transcripts (official or unofficial) required. ~OR~ Related Curriculum - Successful completion of curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided you have had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.) Transcripts (official or unofficial) required. In addition to meeting the Basic Requirement, you must also meet one of the following additional experience and/or education requirements to qualify at the GS-11 level: EXPERIENCE: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-9) in the Federal service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Safety Engineer - Construction Safety Officer, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. The professional engineering experience required is defined as non-routine engineering work that required and was characterized by (1) professional knowledge of engineering; (2) professional ability to apply such knowledge to engineering problems; and (3) positive and continuing development of professional knowledge and ability. Such experience would include performing professional engineering and scientific work involving safety, health, and environmental issues anticipating, dealing with, eliminating, or controlling hazardous conditions, exposures, and practices; conducting accident investigations and inspections or reviews of facilities, plans, and equipment. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. ~OR~ EDUCATION: Successful completion of three (3) years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. in engineering or equivalent doctoral degree. The education is qualifying if it provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the Safety Engineer - Construction Safety Officer position. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ COMBINATION: A combination of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond the second year) and specialized experience, as described above, which may be used to meet total experience requirements for this grade level. The education portion is qualifying if it provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the Safety Engineer - Construction Safety Officer position. 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 as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: CommunicationsComplianceProblem SolvingSafety EngineeringTechnical Competence IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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. 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; religious; 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. Physical Requirements: Investigations and surveys require considerable walking, climbing, prolonged standing and crouching, while carrying sampling equipment and measuring devices. Personal protective equipment must often times be worn and occasional working or otherwise uncomfortable environments.During surveys and investigations, the person in this position is subjected to all risks and discomforts associated with construction and industrial activities of the agency. 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

IMPORTANT: 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: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov).

Contacts

• Address VA Western New York Healthcare System 3495 Bailey Avenue Buffalo, NY 14215 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]