This position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Mid Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), VA Medical Center Hampton, VA, in the Safety Section of the Engineering Service. Is responsible for performing work in support of Safety, Occupational Health, Industrial Hygiene, Environmental, Fire Safety, and Emergency Management programs for a medical center engaged in a diversity of programs, including medical, psychiatric, and alcohol/drug abuse.

Duties

Works in a regulatory and enforcement capacity to assure compliance with all applicable criteria adopted or developed by the VA to recognize, evaluate, control and eliminate hazards encountered in the operation and maintenance of the Facility and provides support to the Construction Safety Specialist regarding construction areas. Plans, organizes and administers a series of comprehensive inspections of the inpatient care areas, laboratory areas, engineering shops, administrative offices, as well as other off site areas. Provides reports on compliance and violations of safety and fire protection mandates, in compliance with the guidelines and regulations developed by Veterans Affairs Central Office, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, The Joint Commission (TJC), Environmental Protection Agency, National Fire Protection Association, Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and other agencies. Issues notices of unsafe working conditions when inspection findings warrant and recommends methods to correct unsafe conditions or practices. Investigates employee and patient or visitor complaints relating to safety issues, takes action to mitigate imminent danger situations, and intercedes when a threatening condition exists. Investigates arid analyzes accidents and safety reports from services and evaluates the causal factors and environmental conditions that annual lead to accidents; devises measured to control hazards detected; prepares annual reports, statistical and/or investigative reports as required by the VISN Director, the Safety Manager, the Industrial Hygienist, Green Management System, and the Medical Center Director. Conducts and monitors safety; occupational health, TJC, CARF, emergency management and fire protection training for all medical center staff. Plans, organizes and administers the inspections of all off site facilities to ensure the safety of Veterans placed and ensure compliance with Life Safety Code. Reports findings to social work service regarding the adequacy of the facilities and suitability of the home for continuation in the Veteran placement program. Assists in the development, preparation and updating of comprehensive safety program policies, standard policies operating procedures; participates in the CEMP, and all other program policies and procedures. Assists in the preparation, updating, monitoring and reporting phases of Occupational Health issues with employee accidents/injuries/illnesses as reported in the Automated Safety Incident Surveillance and Tracking System (ASISTS) computer package. Analyze work environment and practices to ensure appropriate safety measures are in place. Identifies unsafe work practices and develops plans effective to correct the deficiencies. Serves as lead and manages the weekly EOC Survey Program to include scheduling, documenting input of all work orders and track closure of all finds. Inspects worksite, machine and equipment operations, environmental conditions, work practices, protective devices and equipment, and safety procedures, records and photographs apparent violations of standards for use as evidence of existing hazards. Studies records and files covering mishaps, injuries, and equipment maintenance data: reviews safety activities from evidence of compliance with prescribed safety requirements. Conducts Respiratory Fit Test training, selections, use and maintenance of the respirators. Provide reports in compliance with Qualitative Fit Test and Quantitative Fit Test methods. Certifies employees are annually fit tested in accordance with regulations developed OSHA 29 CFR 1910. 314 (Respiratory Protection), ANSI Z88.2 (American National Standard for Respiratory Protection) ANSI Z88.10 (Respiratory Fit Testing Methods). Prepares, organizes and updates, the Facility's Right to Know Act/Safety Data Sheets (SDS) program. Ensures inventories are completed and SDS manuals and the online SDS management system are current and accurate. Provides training to all department SDS POC's in the use of the computerized on-line SDS management system. May perform other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Safety & Occupational Health Specialist/PD025320 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved 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, 08/16/2024. 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-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: You may qualify based on your experience/education as described below: Individual Occupational Requirements: Undergraduate and Graduate Education: 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 OR Experience: In or related to safety and occupational health that provided the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: Managing safety or occupational health program elements. Developing and recommending safety and occupational health policy to higher levels of management. Applying safety and occupational health laws, regulations, principles, theories, practices, and procedures to advise on or resolve technical matters dealing with occupational safety and health requirements. Developing safety and occupational health standards, regulations, practices, and procedures to eliminate or control potential hazards. Developing or implementing programs to reduce the frequency, severity, and cost of accidents and occupational illnesses. Analyzing or evaluating new and existing jobs, processes, products, or other systems to determine the existence, severity, probability, and outcome of hazards. Designing or modifying workplaces, processes, products, or other systems to control or eliminate hazards. Inspecting or surveying workplaces, processes, products, or other systems for compliance with established safety and occupational health policies or standards and to identify potential new hazards. Training of workers, supervisors, managers, or other safety and occupational health personnel in safety or occupational health subjects. Work in occupational fields such as industrial hygienist, safety engineer, fire prevention engineer, health physicist, and occupational health nurse. In addition to the individual occupational requirements above, you must have the following: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Developing safety and occupational health standards, regulations, practices, and procedures to eliminate or control potential hazards; Developing or implementing programs to reduce the frequency, severity, and cost of accidents and occupational illnesses; Analyzing or evaluating new and existing jobs, processes, products, or other systems to determine the existence, severity, probability, and outcome of hazards; Designing or modifying workplaces, processes, products, or other systems to control or eliminate hazards developing and recommending safety and occupational health policy to higher levels of management; applying safety and occupational health laws, regulations, principles, theories, practices and procedures to advise on or resolve technical matters dealing with occupational safety and health requirements; analyzing or evaluating new and existing jobs. OR Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Master's or equivalent degree or 2 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 a total qualifying experience as a percentage of the specialized experience required plus creditable education equal to 100 percent. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: ComplianceCritical ThinkingHealth Risk AnalysisVulnerabilities Assessment 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: Accomplishes on-site visits throughout the facility and requires moderate physical exertion, including transporting equipment, climbing, standing, walking and bending, as well as using personal protective devices, and occasional work in confined spaces. Must have good hearing, eyesight, color and depth perception, and the use of all limbs. Working Environment: The work is performed in an office setting with frequent exposure to a wide variety of hazards found in health care areas, laboratories, shops, construction sites and areas with possible exposure to operating machines, equipment, hazardous materials, high noise levels, dust and chemicals. Travel accomplished usually is to conduct inspections, attend meetings, seminars, or other activities related to the position. As a condition of his/her initial entrance on duty in this position, the incumbent must submit to, and pass a physical examination, pulmonary function testing, respirator certification, and be fitted to wear a respirator. 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 Hampton VA Medical Center 100 Emancipation Drive Hampton, VA 23667 US
• Name: Michael Schultz
• Phone: 804-274-9694
• Email: [email protected]