This position is located within the Safety Section at the VA Boston Healthcare System in Brockton, MA. The Supervisory Safety and Occupational Health Specialist is responsible for developing and maintaining a comprehensive fire protection, safety, and industrial hygiene program for both divisions of the medical center and supported 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*** Duties include, but may not be limited to the following: Fire Protection: Develops programs to meet oversight (i.e., Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and other regulatory agency requirements. Develops, administers, implements and revises a comprehensive fire protection/prevention plan. Oversees testing and maintenance of fire protection and alarm equipment. Evaluates material and equipment for updating/replacement to meet changing technologies, standards, codes, and regulations. Maintains current proficiency in latest safety/fire safety related events, trends, and findings and incorporates the findings into practice. Provides for compliance with the Life Safety Code and other applicable National Fire Codes through a comprehensive inspection program of the entire health care system on a regular basis. Safety: Develops and maintains a comprehensive safety program. Reviews and improves the safety program by reviewing for OSHA compliance and for compliance with the applicable provisions of the JCAHO standards, the Life Safety Code and the National fire Codes produced by the NFPA so as to assure compliance throughout all campuses including Massachusetts National Cemetery, applicable Outreach centers, contract Nursing Homes and contract Residential Board and Care Facilities. Reviews accident reports and incident reports and directs and evaluates the effectiveness of corrective actions. Ensures all regulatory requirements are met. Industrial Hygiene: Reviews, plans, develops, implements and evaluates occupational safety procedures and policies to handle occupational hygiene issues (proper use of materials and equipment, carcinogens, antineoplastic, hazardous chemicals, biohazard, asbestos, noise abatement, respiratory protection, use of personnel protective equipment etc.). Responds to emergencies and implements proper safety procedures and analysis functions. Develops, implements and evaluates a comprehensive environmental protection program in compliance with US Environmental Protection Agency laws and regulations and any other rules, regulations, codes and standards of all other appropriate regulatory agencies. Additional Duties: Provides support to chairperson of the Environment of Care Committee. Implements, develops, conducts, maintains and revises a comprehensive Safety, Fire Prevention/Protection and Occupational Health training program. Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates, sets and adjusts short-term priorities, and prepares schedules for completion of work; evaluates work performance of subordinates; and provides advice, counsel, or instruction to employees on both work and administrative matters. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday; 7:00am to 3:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position at the GS-13 level, you must meet the following: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to the work of this position. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service. Requires 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 leading/directing the work of others in: 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; Working in occupational fields such as industrial hygienist, safety engineer, fire prevention engineer, health physicist, and occupational health nurse. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Accident InvestigationEducation and TrainingSafety 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: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion related to frequent inspections and surveys requiring considerable standing, walking, climbing, bending, crouching, stretching, reaching, or similar movements. Occasionally, there may be a need to lift and carry moderately heavy objects. The work may require some degree of agility and dexterity when for example, it involves inspecting laboratories, maintenance ships, or construction sites. Must be able to operate a motor vehicle to get to/from office and worksites. The work involves regular and recurrent exposure to hazards, unpleasantness and discomforts such as moving machine parts, shielded radiation sources, irritant chemicals, fumes, physical stresses, dust, high noise levels, adverse weather conditions, and high temperatures from steam lines. Protective equipment and clothing may be needed, including hard hat, safety shows, ear muffs or plugs, goggles, respirators, and gloves. 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 VA Boston Healthcare System 940 Belmont Street Brockton, MA 02301 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]