Occupational Safety and Health Specialist

Full Job Description

The Office of Congressional Workplace Rights is seeking an OSH Specialist to provide professional safety and health services for routine and requested inspections and evaluations of Legislative Branch workplaces.

These spaces include the U.S. Capitol, House and Senate office buildings, the Library of Congress buildings, the Capitol Power Plant, the U.S. Botanic Garden, and other facilities.

Demonstrated experience in enforcing OSHA standards, ANSI standards, NFPA regulations, related codes, regulations, and other consensus standards relating to workplace safety and health.

Knowledge of OSH principles, methods, and techniques. Knowledge of life safety and NFPA codes and standards.

Demonstrated experience in conducting thorough OSH investigations and inspections, identifying hazards quickly, and recognizing obvious and subtle compliance issues.

Ability to use a computer to enter data, conduct research, and compose reports. Skill in organizing and drafting reports of a technical and/or enforcement nature in the OSH area.

Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Competence with inspection tools, measuring equipment, and safety management software.

Experience in the area of industrial hygiene is preferred but not required.

Such experience could include development, maintenance, and review of hygiene programs; investigating the adequacy of conditions that could affect employee health, comfort, and performance, such as ventilation, lighting, ergonomics, etc.; or experience collecting samples of potentially toxic materials for analysis.

The physical requirements described below are representative of those necessary to perform the essential functions of this position.

Ability to walk for extended periods of time during OSH and ADA inspections of worksites and facilities.

Ability to stand for prolonged periods while observing work practices, conducting walkthrough inspections, and documenting findings.

Ability to climb stairs, ladders, platforms, and access elevated work areas or pits accordance with OSHA safety procedures and training.

Ability to bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, squat, and crawl to inspect machinery, equipment guarding, confined areas, and work surfaces.

Ability to reach overhead and below waist level to evaluate safety controls, signage, and equipment conditions.

Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull inspection tools and equipment, generally up to 25 pounds (e.g., sampling devices, monitors, PPE).

Physical capability to participate in OSH Request for Inspection activities within assigned duties and training.

Ability to maintain balance and coordination while traversing uneven terrain, catwalks, ramps, and active work areas.

Ability to safely move within industrial and construction environments while wearing required PPE. Major Duties:

Conduct in-person inspections of approximately 78 facilities and complex work operations over an area of 18 million square feet, and make assessments to identify OSH hazards.

Identify violations of OSH standards and violations of the General Duty clause of the OSH Act of 1970.

Conduct scheduled and special-focus safety inspections of facilities, worksites, equipment, and machinery.

Investigate unsafe working conditions that could lead to injuries or illnesses and recommend findings.

Create formal inspection reports detailing findings, hazards, deficiencies, and mitigation actions.

Make recommendations to employing organizations for developing plans and programs for implementing corrective actions when applicable.

Recommend measures for controlling, abating, and reducing risk for identified hazards when applicable.

Report inspection findings using the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights database and identify corrective actions for abating hazards.

Interview employees and collect measurements necessary to quantify employee exposures. Document and track abatement of hazards by employing offices.

Assist in the provision of technical assistance by analyzing work environments and recommending program designs to control, eliminate, and prevent illness or injury caused by chemical, physical, radiological, and biological agents, or ergonomic factors.

Assist with conducting investigations for requested inspections and preparing reports of the findings and risk factors.

Assist in collecting data used in the preparation of biennial reports to Congress on the status of the OSH program.

Assist with other tasks as assigned to support the occupational safety and health program effort; conduct ADA inspections, identify barriers to access for people with disabilities, and enter barriers into the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights database.

Selectee could be exposed to normal weather conditions, noise, and operational hazards associated with conducting OSH inspections.