The Safety and Occupational Specialist is an integral member of the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center (RHJ VAMC) Safety and Health program, ranging from fire safety to environmental management and industrial hygiene. The candidate serves in this role supporting safety and health staff in regulatory compliance, research, training, program development, accident prevention, environmental management, construction safety, and safety surveys in a healthcare environment

Duties

The specialist performs survey work to identify and evaluate hazardous and nonhazardous industrial work operations and conditions and to recommend corrective procedures where the potential for injury or property damage exists. Participates as member of team led by a higher graded specialist, conducting a limited segment of a major inspection of a large service, life safety hazards; surveys construction sites, the use of machine guards, and chemical storage areas; drafts a report of findings proposing corrective measures for unsafe conditions and hazardous work practices. Conducts independent inspections of small services where exposure and type of hazard is predictable in advance. Provides informal instruction to work leaders and employees covering a variety of standard, general safety and occupational health subjects including mishap prevention, safe working practices, and construction safety. Analyzes accident and injury reports, studying data to discover trends and mishap causes, and to develop recommendations for eliminating or controlling the hazards detected. Investigates mishaps involving personnel or damage to machinery, tools, materials, or equipment; describes in writing mishap circumstances, illustrating automotive accidents with diagrams; analyzes actions or conditions contributing to the mishap and recommends measures to eliminate similar mishap occurrences. Compiles statistical data to determine mishap trends and to identify and apply proper preventive methods. Develops and carries out safety education activities including a safety orientation training series for new employees, and subject courses on safety reporting procedures and fire drill training; promotes safety through poster campaigns, displays of safety equipment, and timely news articles; and participates in community and regional safety planning conferences. Inspects warehouses and contents, including storage and material handling operations, shop machinery and related mechanical processes, protective clothing, and fire suppression equipment; applies regulations and standards and sound safety practices to detect hazardous operations and conditions and recommends proper safety and occupational health measures to eliminate or minimize the possibility of injury to personnel and damage to property Knowledge of safety and occupational health principles, practices, procedures, and regulations applicable to the performance of a full range of complex safety and occupational health management responsibilities at a military installation involving planning, organizing, directing, operating and evaluation of a safety and occupational health program for warehousing, printing, steam plant, transportation, and equipment maintenance operations. Knowledge of underlying psychological and physiological factors sufficient to plan and implement installation wide safety education activities and promote the safe working practices and sound equipment operation procedures essential to the achievement of an efficient and safe working environment. Knowledge of industrial work processes, material handling techniques, motor vehicle maintenance practices, compressed gases, shop machinery design, and industrial fire hazards sufficient to investigate and determine causal factors contributing to mishaps or incidents and resulting in hazardous working conditions. Work Schedule: 7:30-4:00pm Mon-Fri Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Safety & Occup Hlth Spec/PD077670 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): 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, 04/17/2024. 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-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. 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. Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: CommunicationsCompliance InspectionFire ManagementPublic Safety and Security 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: 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

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Contacts

• Address Ralph H Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 109 Bee Street Charleston, SC 29401 US
• Name: Armon Franklin
• Phone: (843) 577-5011
• Email: [email protected]