Industrial Hygienist @ Veterans Health Administration

Job Summary

The position is located in the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Service and ensures the industrial hygiene elements of the Occupational Safety and Health program are implemented in accordance with standards set by the Veterans Health Administration, The Joint Commission, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and applicable VA and VHA directives.

Qualifications

IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION AT THE GS-11 LEVEL, YOU MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS: BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: Applicants must meet one of the following requirements. The education must be accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. Courses in the history or teaching of chemistry are not acceptable. (TRANSCRIPT AND/OR CERTIFICATION REQUIRED) A. You must possess a bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree in industrial hygiene, occupational health sciences, occupational and environmental health, toxicology, safety sciences, or related science; OR B. You must possess a bachelor's degree in a branch of engineering, physical science, or life science that included 12 semester hours in chemistry, including organic chemistry, and 18 additional semester hours of courses in any combination of chemistry, physics, engineering, health physics, environmental health, biostatistics, biology, physiology, toxicology, epidemiology, or industrial hygiene; OR C. You must possess a Certification from the Board for Global EHS Credentialing (formerly American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH)).

IN ADDITION TO THE BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT ABOVE, YOU MUST ALSO MEET ONE OF THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-9) in the Federal service. Specialized Experience: Experience working as an industrial hygienist or in a similar occupation in a large facility with responsibility for making decisions or recommendations concerning critical industrial hygiene matters and controlling health hazards such as toxic chemicals, contaminated water, noise and other factors that affect safety and health issues.

Qualifying experience involves the recognition, evaluation, corrective actions, and elimination of environmental conditions in the workplace that causes sickness, impaired health, or illness. This experience must demonstrate a professional knowledge of the theory and application of the principles of industrial hygiene and closely related sciences such as physics and engineering controls. Such work must have involved experience in all of the following areas: the acquisition of quantitative and qualitative data, and the measurement of exposures for a variety of chemical, physical, and biological stresses; the analysis of the data acquired and the prediction of probable effects of exposures on the health and well-being of workers; and the selection and recommendation of appropriate controls, including management, medical, engineering, education or training, and personal protective equipment.

OR EDUCATION

A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree that provided the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work of Industrial Hygienist.

OR COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

A combination of successfully completed progressively higher-level graduate education and specialized experience as described above which meets the total experience requirements for this grade level. Only graduate level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with experience. For example, an applicant with 6 months of appropriate experience equivalent to GS-9 (50 percent of the experience requirement for GS-11) and 45 semester hours of appropriate graduate education (50 percent of the education requirement for GS-11, in excess of that required for GS-9) would be qualified for a GS-11 position (assuming that there is no evidence that the attended college or university requires more than 18 semester hours as equivalent to a year of graduate study). 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/.

Major 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 and responsibilities include: Inspecting medical facilities to identify potential occupational health hazards and the need for further investigative studies and surveys.
• Acquiring quantitative and qualitative data to prepare various comprehensive and legally sufficient reports to assess the overall effectiveness of the industrial hygiene program.
• Conducting studies of work operations and processes to determine compliance with various established criteria.
• Interpreting results of studies for the work environment in terms of possible impairment to health, nature of health impairment, potential for medical center damages, etc.
• Examining work environments for compliance with health and safety requirements.
• Preventing and eliminating environmental issues in the workplace that cause sickness, impaired health, or illness.
• Performing analysis of substances to determine the nature and degree of toxic materials present.
• Determining and recommending control measures and procedures that will be suitable and effective for the environment.
• Receiving and disposing of hazardous wastes and maintain appropriate records in accordance with existing EPA standards, state laws, and VA regulations.
• Evaluating environmental conditions to identify a variety of hazards including physical, chemical, and biological hazards; ionizing and non-ionizing radiation; and other environmental agents.
• Providing technical review of plans and specifications for new constructions, maintenance and repair, replacement, or modification projects; assuring all codes and standards are incorporated into the plan design so proper occupational health protection systems are maintained or provided . Making recommendations to correct all deficient design criteria noted, citing the appropriate code or standard.
• Updating and advising Occupational Health as to medical surveillance requirements for employees working with hazardous materials or in hazardous environments as determined by OSHA.
• Specifying appropriate signs and labels, approving overall facility controls, providing the correct laser safety training as needed, and designating both laser and incidental staff.
• Performing the Nominal Hazard Zone (NHZ) evaluation, making sure that appropriate control measures are in place as well as approving alternate controls.
• Performing other duties as assigned.
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved

Requirements

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Physical

Requirements

The performance of duties requires long periods of walking, standing, crawling, kneeling and bending. Moderate lifting and carrying of equipment, use of personal protective devices, and work in hazardous and confined spaces is required. Use of all appendages, good vision and hearing are necessary. Emotional and mental stability are required. Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Required Documents" below for details.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.