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Industrial Hygienist

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Centerfield, NY, United States


Summary
The position is responsible for planning - coordinating - evaluating - implementing - and administering a comprehensive industrial hygiene program at all Finger Lakes Healthcare System (FLHCS) facilities engaged in medical - surgical - long-term - residential and outpatient care.

Qualifications
To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Individual Occupational Requirements

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 Board for Global EHS Credentialing (formerly American Board of Industrial Hygiene (external link) (ABIH))

SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR: A Selective Placement Factor (SPF) has been identified for this position

Selective Placement Factors (SPF) are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for the position

Applicants who do not meet the Selective Placement Factor (SPF) are ineligible for further consideration

The Selective Placement Factor (SPF) for this position is: Experience with asbestos sampling and the semi -annual inspections - fit testing - working with individuals who have indoor air complaints - and conducting indoor air sampling

NOTE: Courses in the history or teaching of chemistry are not acceptable

Link to OPM Individual Occupational Requirements / 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

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE (GS-11 GRADE LEVEL) - In addition to meeting one of the above requirements - applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience that equipped them with the knowledge - skill and ability to successfully perform the duties of this position - and that is typically in or related to the work of this position

To be creditable - this specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level in the Federal service

Specialized experience includes: knowledge of industrial hygiene principles - procedures - standards - equipment - techniques - and methods

managing an industrial hygiene program

performing analysis to determine nature and degree of toxic materials

knowledge of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards (such as hazardous waste - drinking water - medical waste - etc.)

conducting surveys/studies of work operations regarding hazardous conditions

and preparing comprehensive industrial hygiene reports

Such work must have involved experience in all of the following areas: 1) the acquisition of quantitative and qualitative data - and the measurement of exposures for a variety of chemical - physical - and biological stresses

2) the analysis of the data acquired and the prediction of probable effects of exposures on the health and well-being of workers

and 3) the selection and recommendation of appropriate controls - including management - medical - engineering - education or training - and personal protective equipment

OR - SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) - Applicants must possess successful completion of three (3) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. in industrial hygiene - occupational health sciences - occupational and environmental health - toxicology - safety sciences - or related science

The education is qualifying if it provided the knowledge - skills - and abilities necessary to do the work of the Industrial Hygienist position

This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university

OR - COMBINING EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)- Combination of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements

To calculate - first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting - you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned)

Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess

Add the two percentages

The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-11

For example - an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education

Physical Requirements: The work includes frequent inspections of various spaces such as laboratories - mechanical spaces - boiler plants etc

and necessitates a good deal of walking - standing - bending - and climbing

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/

Duties

Duties include - but are not limited to: Serves as Industrial Hygienist for two campus style Medical Centers - one large Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) - and several small rural CBOCs

Conducts surveys of working conditions to determine the nature and magnitude of hazardous exposures and the effectiveness of existing control measures

Works with management and labor representatives to ensure elimination or control of identified hazards and compliance with and occupational safety and health regulations and standards

Conduct inspections and surveys to identify potential health hazards and presence of hazardous conditions

Establishes adequate and reasonable abatement schedules and resolution of occupational safety and health hazards - such as those associated with airborne chemical contaminants - harmful noise levels - inadequate ventilation - temperature extremes or inadequate illumination that may impact the healthcare system or its processes

Leads the development of industrial hygiene goals - policy - and procedural documentation for the FL HCS - in accordance with occupational safety and health regulations and guidelines

Works closely with facility leadership to review how industrial hygiene considerations are integrated into the planning and operational activities of the facility for which the position is responsible

Coordinates industrial hygiene activities with regional representatives and supports the development of integrated planning for all facilities within the region

Participates with local - network - and national-level committees to ensure that consistent and appropriate industrial hygiene measures are followed

Prepares technical reports on any aspect concerning Industrial Hygiene Programs for distribution to VACO - VISN office - facility management and employees - and employee representatives

Conducts background reviews of areas surveyed and of the characteristics of the work processes (i.e chemicals inventories - handling - storage and disposal methods) to ensure compliance with applicable standards and requirements contained in VA Directives and applicable federal - state and local regulations

Assists in obtaining Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) for hazardous materials used within the healthcare system and shall review these SDSs to ensure compliance with proper use - storage - PPE - and disposal of hazardous chemicals and agents

Ensures that employees receive education and training employees on the proper utilization of this information

Investigates incidents resulting in physical injury or occupational exposure and advises supervisors on the adequacy and effectiveness of existing safety procedures and recommends any corrective action needed

Other duties as assigned

Work Schedule: M-F - 7:30am-4pm Telework: This position is NOT telework eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position

Position Description/PD#: Industrial hygienist/PD# 23783-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized

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