Industrial Hygienist

Full Job Description

This position serves as an Industrial Hygienist and GEMS Coordinator assigned to the Safety and IH team at the TVHS Medical Center. The position reports to the Safety Manager.

VISN 9 Healthcare Systems and Medical Facilities provide extensive services such as ambulatory care, primary care, and secondary care in acute medicine and surgery, specialized tertiary care, transplant services, spinal cord injury, outpatient care, and a full range of extended care and mental health services to Veterans.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Individual Occupation Requirement: 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).

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.

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.

Transcripts and/or a legible copy of your certification must be submitted with your application in order to be considered.

Transcripts must reflect degree as conferred and/or coursework along with grades received.

In addition to the above basic requirements, applicants must also meet the below specialized experience requirements: GRADE LEVEL QUALIFICATION: GS-11 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Specialized experience includes: Use of industrial hygiene principles, procedures, standards, equipment, techniques, and methods; developing and implementing an industrial hygiene program; performing analysis to determine nature and degree of toxic materials; use 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 developing industrial hygiene policies, procedures, and 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 Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-11 level. 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D.

or equivalent doctoral degree OR Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-11 level.

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-XX.

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.

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.

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:

The VA has adopted Core Values and Characteristics that apply universally across the Department.

The five Core Values define "who we are," our culture, and how we care for Veterans, their families and other beneficiaries.

The Values are Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect and Excellence ("I CARE"). As a VA professional, your opportunities are endless.

With many openings in the multiple functions of VA, you will have a wide range of opportunities and leadership positions at your fingertips.

The primary purpose of the position is serves as the primary technical authority for this multi-site, multi-disciplinary HCS and research facility on industrial hygiene matters, providing expertise and advice to top level management, service chiefs and their staff, and to employee organizations.

Specifically, advice concerns occupation health, safety, and environmental hazards associated with a wide variety of industrial work situations, including laboratory and maintenance operations.

This includes domestic and industrial wastewater treatment and environmental media permitting; toxic substances; and regulatory oversight.

Ensures that Green Environmental Management System (GEMS) policies and programs are carried out in accordance with governing regulations.

Applies GEMS environmental science and technology to issues of human health, ecosystems, environmental media, and natural resources.

The duties for the Industrial Hygienist include but are not limited to: Represents, and acts on behalf of, the facility upon request at professional committees and boards and serves as a community resource on application of standards and occupations health matters.

Audits records of industrial accidents, related injuries, deaths, illnesses, and other indicators as required to assess the state of the occupation environment of the facility properly and completely.

Review's expansions, modifications, closures of existing facilities and infrastructure, and new construction to determine how this affects the environment.

Provides information that will minimize adverse impacts to human health and the environment and reduce the HCS vulnerability.

Measures the effectiveness of existing environmental programs and recommends additions to environmental programs as needed to meet changing environmental requirements.

Plans and manages industrial hygiene and environmental projects/programs that are related to achieving and maintaining environmental (GEMS) compliance, as well as developing and implementing environmental policy, guidance and procedures related to all environmental media.

Resolves difficult and complex technical, project management and organizational problems using innovative and original approaches.

Provides expert technical advice and guidance to senior management officials in the appropriate application of technology to VHA's mission as it relates to environmental issues including GEMS.

Serves as a technical expert on issues related to environmental statutes and OSHA requirements, as well as for new or enhanced information system software related to occupational safety and health and environmental programs.

Work Schedule: 7:00AM - 3:30PM Monday - Friday Position Description Title/PD#: Industrial Hygienist/PD70963A Physical Requirements: The performance of duties requires long period 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. Work Environment: The incumbent is exposed to a variety of potential health hazards and uncomfortable work situations which may be physically taxing.