Safety and Occupational Health Specialist

Duties

Be a part of Department of Labor (DOL)!

This position is within U.S. Dept. of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), Region 3.

• Selectee will be expected to report to one of the offices listed above.
• Position is inside the bargaining unit and requires pre-employment physical and a valid drivers license.
• Additional selections may be made from this announcement if funding becomes available.
• A recruitment bonus may be available.

The salaries listed in the announcement are the Rest of the United States rates of pay. If you would like to see the pay tables for each location, please copy or click this link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2022/general-schedule/

As the employee progresses, the assignments will become more difficult and complex with less supervision.

Major Duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

GS-07:

• Participate as a member of an inspection team led by a higher-graded specialist and assist in the planning of and/or conduct a limited segment of a major investigation or a small investigation where the exposure and type of hazard and unsafe working conditions is predictable in advance.
• Researches and studies records and files covering mishaps, injuries, and equipment maintenance data.
• Audits employer occupational safety and health injury records, safety plans, and program documentation.
• Assists in the documentation of conducted portions of investigations to help support a legally sufficient case. Takes photographs and videos of apparent violations of occupational safety and health standards.
• Assists in preparing for opening and closing conferences and outreach activities. Responds to requests for information on OSHA policies, regulations, and programs.

GS-09:

• Assists in conducting and/or participates in opening and closing conferences with management officials, employees, and employee representatives reviewing hazards or unsafe working conditions
• Conducts specific (targeted) outreach activities and provides information on OSHA legislation, regulations, and compliance activities to a variety of different audiences.
• Assists in planning and conducting portions or limited inspections or compliance reviews in establishments and worksites.
• Assists in conducting monitoring and evaluation by analyzing select portions of plan changes, programs, procedures, inspections, citations, and reports to determine compliance with approved occupational safety standards and programs.

For GS-11:

• Conducts occupational safety and health inspections within a variety of agricultural, construction, general industry, and maritime business establishments to ensure employer compliance with federal OSHA standards.
• Conducts investigations involving one or more fatalities, injuries, serious accidents, or other unsafe conditions.
• Prepares for inspections to become familiar with work processes, operations, and standards applicable to the workplace to be inspected.
• Conducts opening conferences with management officials and employee representatives concerning the nature and purpose of the inspection, the procedures which will be followed, and employee discrimination rights.
• Participates in Agency efforts to obtain warrants and to subpoena witnesses and documents, if necessary.
• Analyses injury and illness data and reviews establishments' occupational safety and health programs.

For GS-12:

• Conducts closing conferences with management officials and employee representatives. Discusses proposed citations for OSHA standards that have been allegedly violated, abatement dates, and employer and employee rights and responsibilities
• Processes inspections utilizing the OSHA Information System.
• Proposes fiscal penalties.
• Assists agency attorneys in the preparation of contested cases for hearing before administrative law judges; testifies under examinations conducted by attorneys representing the agency and the employer.
• Provides technical assistance to employers, employees, labor organizations and business associations to achieve safe and healthy working environments.
• Provides training to new employees and peers.
• Conducts interviews, reviews documents, and researches various sources of information such as equipment manuals, consensus standards, interpretations of standards, court decisions.
• Identifies violations and hazards, and recommends abatement methods common to the work processes and operations.
• Documents inspections to support a legally sufficient case.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Requires a valid drivers license and ability to operate a motor vehicle.
• Subject to drug test prior to appointment at GS-11 and GS-12 grade levels.
• Requires medical exam and must maintain physical requirements
• Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.
• U.S. Citizenship.
• Appointment to this position will require a background investigation.
• This position requires the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
• You will be required to lift items weighing up to 25 pounds.

Applicants must meet all legal and regulatory requirements. Reference the "Required Documents" section for additional requirements.

Notification Concerning COVID-19 Vaccinations. As required by Executive Order 14043 , Federal executive branch employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee's duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected, you will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and to submit documentation of proof of vaccination or to be in the process of requesting an exception to the vaccination requirement before appointment or onboarding with the agency. The agency will provide additional information regarding which forms of documentation can be accepted and how you can request to be considered for a legally required exception from this requirement.

This position requires an initial medical examination and reoccurring medical examinations throughout employment in this position, as a condition of employment. If you refuse the medical examination, do not submit required medical documentation, or do not meet the medical requirements of the position, the tentative job offer will be rescinded and you will not be extended a final job offer or may be removed from Federal service. The legal authority to conduct medical examinations is found under 5 CFR § 339.301 - Authority to require an examination.

Qualifications

This Direct Hire announcement allows acceptance of applications through the closing date. The intent of this announcement is to establish a standing register of qualified candidates and refer for consideration when vacancies occur. Applications will be reviewed and referred for selection as vacancies occur within the organization. ONCE THE SELECTION IS MADE, THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE CLOSED WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE. AMENDED 08/04/22- HARRISBURG, PA ADDED TO THE LOCATION FOR WHICH WE ARE RECRUITING.

The Safety and Occupational Health Series has an Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR):

In order to qualify for this position, applicants must also meet the specialized experience requirements: Applicants must meet either the specialized experience OR substitution of education for specialized experience described below:

For the GS-07:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the positions. Examples of specialized experience include:

• Applying safety and occupational health laws, regulations, principles, theories, practices, and procedures to advise on or resolve technical matters dealing with occupational safety and health requirements.
• Inspecting or surveying workplaces, processes, products, or other systems for compliance with established safety and occupational health policies or standards and to identify potential new hazards.
• Analyzing or evaluating new and existing jobs, processes, products, or other systems to determine the existence, severity, probability, and outcome of hazards.

OR


Substitution of Experience GS-07: One year (1) of graduate-level education or Superior Academic Achievement. Information regarding S.A.A. can be found in OPM's General Schedule Qualification Policies

For the GS-09:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the positions. Examples of specialized experience include:

• General knowledge of OSHA or related safety and occupational health standards or codes.
• Applying safety and occupational health laws, regulations, principles, theories, practices, and procedures to advise on or resolve technical matters dealing with occupational safety and health requirements.
• Analyzing or evaluating new and existing jobs, processes, products, or other systems to determine the existence, severity, probability, and outcome of hazards.
• Inspecting or surveying workplaces, processes, products, or other systems for compliance with established safety and occupational health policies or standards and to identify potential new hazards.

OR

Substitution of Experience GS-09: Two years of graduate education or a Master's degree in safety or occupational health or related fields that included at least 24 semester hours in the following disciplines: safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene, occupational medicine, toxicology, public health, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biological sciences, engineering, and industrial psychology.

For the GS-11: In addition to meeting the individual occupational requirement, applicants must demonstrate 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level, experience may be in Federal or Private Sector. (see description below). Specialized Experience is described as experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Examples of specialized experience are as follows:

As well as examples of specialized experience listed above, applicants must also have one year of specialized experience in the following:

• Applying safety and occupational health laws, regulations, principles, theories, practices, and procedures to advise on or resolve technical matters dealing with occupational safety and health requirements.
• Inspecting or surveying workplaces, processes, products, or other systems for compliance with established safety and occupational health policies or standards and to identify potential new hazards.
• Analyzing or evaluating new and existing jobs, processes, products, or other systems to determine the existence, severity, probability, and outcome of hazards.
• Designing or modifying workplaces, processes, products, or other systems to control or eliminate hazards.
• Training of workers, supervisors, managers, or other safety and occupational health personnel in safety or occupational health subjects.

OR

Substitution of experience GS-11: 3 years of progressively higher level related graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

For the GS-12: In addition to meeting the individual occupational requirement, applicants must demonstrate 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level, experience may be in Federal or Private Sector. (see description below). Specialized Experience is described as experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Examples of specialized experience are as follows:

As well as examples of specialized experience listed above, applicants must also have one year of specialized experience in the following:

• Prepares for inspections by conducting reviews of available and pertinent records, including case files of previous inspections to become familiar with work processes, operations, and documents accident scenes, identifies conditions related to cause and result and assures that appropriate intermediate or permanent action is taken to remove any danger of recurrence.
• Conducts workplace analyses and reviews establishments' occupational safety and health programs to determine the hazardous conditions that may have contributed to the injury or illness.
• Assures that appropriate technical and personal protective equipment is available and is in proper operating condition.

No substitution of education for experience at the GS-12 level.

This position is being filled through Direct Hire Authority. Traditional rating and ranking of applications does NOT apply. Veteran's preference does not apply.

Education

The Safety and Occupational Health Series has and Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR):

Education

Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- safety or occupational health fields (safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene), or degree in other related fields that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours of study from among the following (or closely related) disciplines: safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene, occupational medicine, toxicology, public health, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biological sciences, engineering, and industrial psychology.

OR

Experience

General Experience: Experience in scientific or technical work that provided an understanding of the basic principles and concepts of the safety and occupational health field. Creditable general experience must have demonstrated the achievement of knowledge equivalent to the education described above.

Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5): Experience in or related to safety and occupational health that provided the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include:

• Managing safety or occupational health program elements.
• Developing and recommending safety and occupational health policy to higher levels of management.
• Applying safety and occupational health laws, regulations, principles, theories, practices, and procedures to advise on or resolve technical matters dealing with occupational safety and health requirements.
• Developing safety and occupational health standards, regulations, practices, and procedures to eliminate or control potential hazards.
• Developing or implementing programs to reduce the frequency, severity, and cost of accidents and occupational illnesses.
• Analyzing or evaluating new and existing jobs, processes, products, or other systems to determine the existence, severity, probability, and outcome of hazards.
• Designing or modifying workplaces, processes, products, or other systems to control or eliminate hazards.
• Inspecting or surveying workplaces, processes, products, or other systems for compliance with established safety and occupational health policies or standards and to identify potential new hazards.
• Training of workers, supervisors, managers, or other safety and occupational health personnel in safety or occupational health subjects.
• Work in occupational fields such as industrial hygienist, safety engineer, fire prevention engineer, health physicist, and occupational health nurse.

OR

Certificates

Certification as a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), or Certified Health Physicist (CHP), or similar certification that included successful completion of a written examination meets the requirements for GS-5. Applicants may also qualify for higher grade levels based on their education and/or experience.

Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service.

If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum course work requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information.

Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service. If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum course work requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information.

In addition, if you wish to use your education as a basis for meeting the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must submit academic transcripts demonstrating that you meet the qualifying educational requirements. If specific course work is required to fulfill the minimum qualification requirements, you must supply transcripts from each academic institution in which the required courses were taken in order to receive credit for that course work. See the "Qualifications and Evaluations" section of this announcement for more details.

If you do not submit sufficient academic documentation necessary to demonstrate that you meet the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements described in this announcement, your application will be deemed incomplete and you will be ineligible for further consideration for this vacancy.

Additional information

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT SERVES AS PUBLIC NOTICE FOR THE USE OF OPM'S DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY DOL-002. ALL APPLICANTS WHO MEET THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE SELECTING OFFICIAL FOR CONSIDERATION. CATEGORY RATING, VETERAN'S PREFERENCE, AND TRADITIONAL RATING AND RANKING OF APPLICANTS DO NOT APPLY TO THIS POSITION.

Appointments made under this authority will be processed as new appointments to the Civil Service. Current Civil Service employees would, therefore, be given new appointments to the Civil Service. Current Federal employees may be required to serve a new probationary period (5 CFR 315.802(b).

DOL seeks to attract and retain a high performing and diverse workforce in which employees' differences are respected and valued to better meet the varying needs of the diverse customers we serve. DOL fosters a diverse and inclusive work environment that promotes collaboration, flexibility and fairness so that all individuals are able to participate and contribute to their full potential.

Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION , ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION , FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEE