Serves as an Industrial Hygienist at the Eastern Oklahoma VA Healthcare Center (EOVAHCS) where duties include, but are not limited to the following: asbestos control and abatement, ethylene oxide, formaldehyde, hearing conversation, hazard communication, nitrous oxide, mercury, hazardous and infectious waste management, water testing and treatment, respirator program, and anti-neoplastic drugs. This is for the new facility James Mountain Inhofe VA Medical Center in Tulsa.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. This position has an Individual Occupational Requirement that must be met in order to be considered: INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT: Basic Requirements The education must be accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education(external link) at the time the degree was obtained. Applicants must meet one of the following requirements: 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 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 Certification from the American Board of Industrial Hygiene(external link) (ABIH). Courses in the history or teaching of chemistry are not acceptable. Evaluation of Education All science or engineering courses offered in fulfillment of the above requirements must be acceptable for credit toward the completion of a standard 4-year professional curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in science or engineering at an accredited college or university. For engineering degrees to be acceptable, the curriculum must be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) as a professional engineering curriculum. Evaluation of Experience 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. Note: All experience must be clearly annotated on your resume under your job history as applicable. If you are basing your qualification on education, you must provide a transcript from an accredited institution of higher learning. Failure to do may result in an unqualified rating In addition to the Individual Occupation Requirement, you must also meet the specialized experience and/or directly related education below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Professional knowledge of industrial hygiene principles, procedures, standards, equipment, techniques, and methods. Knowledge to a full range of industrial and hazardous operations such as: clinical, research, nuclear medicine and radiological procedures; use and storage of hazardous drugs and materials, building construction; maintenance shops; generating plants; warehousing; grounds maintenance; hazardous waste handling and disposal; and various other medical center operations where there is exposure to hazardous materials and environments. Knowledge and skill in the use of a full range of industrial hygiene sampling techniques, instrumentation, analytical methods, and control measures utilized to identify and control industrial hygiene exposures. Knowledge of administrative practices to manage and direct an industrial hygiene program including planning and initiating surveys of work operations to identify and quantify hazardous conditions, and personal contact with medical center personnel to convey information and obtain corrective action. Knowledge and ability to prepare technical written and oral detailed plans, survey reports, corrective action, and follow up reports. OR Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. Education must be directly related to the position. OR Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond a bachelors degree. (See requirements above) You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Analysis and Problem Solving Communication Health Risk Analysis Technical Competence 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: 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. 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 of this position include but are not limited to.... The employee administers specific industrial hygiene programs for a facility. The employee leads industrial hygiene surveys and investigations to determine the nature and severity of hazards. The employee applies appropriate sampling techniques and procedures and may oversee the work of contractors engaged to perform specific monitoring. The employee prepares technical reports identifying health hazards and recommends measure for the reduction or elimination. The employee conducts briefings with supervisors to discuss industrial hygiene programs, the findings from industrial hygiene evaluations, and the approach to be taken to mitigate hazards. The employee participates in the facility Safety Committee, Accident Review Board and/or Environmental Care Committee. The employee requires professional knowledge and skills applicable to the performance of industrial hygiene duties to a wide range of industrial settings (or an extensive knowledge of a specialty area of industrial hygiene). The employee must possess professional knowledge required to identify and control a wide variety of occupational health hazards associated with industrial work operations. Skill in modifying approaches or applications within a specialty area is necessary to solve difficult problems. Knowledge of the full range of sampling techniques and control measures, as well as knowledge of administrative and managerial principles and procedures is required to plan and implement an industrial hygiene program covering all occupational health hazards. The employees plans and conducts evaluations of work operations involving potentially hazardous environmental conditions, analyzes findings, and recommends corrective measures and controls. The employee formulates specific recommendations for control of health hazards found. The employee participates in the review for new or modified facilities, processes, and materials for evaluation of the adequacy of health hazard controls. The employee and supervisor develop the deadlines, projects, and work to be done. The employee is responsible for planning and carrying out the assignments, resolving conflicts that arise, coordinating the work with others as necessary, and interpreting policy. Evaluation of occupational health hazards involves the use of experienced judgment and quantitative measurement techniques to assess the magnitude of environmental stresses in relation to their potential to impair workers' health and well-being. Employing a wide variety of sampling instrumentation and techniques, and having an appreciation of the types and limitations of analytical methods used in interpreting sample results, the industrial hygienist determines the degree of hazard to which workers are exposed after ascertaining the intensity and duration of exposure. The purpose of the work is to investigate, evaluate, analyze, and control a variety of occupational health problems or conditions in the workplace which may adversely affect the health of workers and to provide or recommend ways of eliminating problems. The work affects the design and operation of equipment, and work processes, as well as the adequacy of inspections or surveys and the health and well-being of the workers. Assignments cover the full spectrum of occupational health hazards found in all but the most complex industrial environments. Thus, the assigned work activities involve a substantial amount and variety of exposure to hazards. The employee must recognize hazards which are uncommon, evaluate a variety of data, and institute or recommend effective control measures to protect the workers. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not available Position Description Title/PD#: Industrial Hygienist/PD11736-A Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized