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Industrial Hygienist

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Washington, D.C
Closing date
Jul 24, 2019
Duties

Summary

This position has an individual occupational requirement. A copy of complete college TRANSCRIPTS confirming the applicable degree has been AWARDED or confirmation that listed professional certification is currently active is required when applying. Failure to submit a copy of all college transcripts or certification confirmation will result in your application being rated ineligible/incomplete.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

This position is located within the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Directorate of Enforcement Programs (DEP), Office of Health Enforcement (OHE) located in Washington, D.C.

The mission of the Directorate of Enforcement Programs (DEP) is to establish and maintain a comprehensive occupational safety and health enforcement guidance and assistance program; administer a national occupational safety enforcement program for general industry and agriculture; promote improvement in federal agency occupational safety and health programs; administer a comprehensive safety enforcement program focused on chemical safety; and administering a national program to develop Agency policy and guidance for maritime enforcement programs.

This position is inside the bargaining unit.

Selection(s) can be made at either advertised grade.

A writing sample may be required during the interview.

Additional vacancies may be filled using this announcement.

If selected for this position, you will serve as an Industrial Hygienist to develop, plan and evaluate the effectiveness of agency's occupational health activities. Functions as an Agency exert on occupational health enforcement. Reviews proposed violations, citations, and abatement recommendations made by field personnel to verify that the policy, procedure, and guidelines provided in the Field Operations Manual have been adhered to and correctly applied. Provides subject matter expertise in complex or unique cases.

Develops, maintains and reviews policies, procedures, instructions and directives for the agency's occupational health and industrial hygiene programs. Recommends new policy or policy revisions based on research and analysis. Develops and updates Standard Alleged Violation Elements, as needed. Develops interpretive guidance for the application of policy, directives, regulations and guidelines for regional and area office field personnel.

Conducts or directs task force efforts in studies of enforcement issues, including evaluation of enforcement directives.

Coordinates with other Directorates such as the development of memorandums of understanding, and with the Office of the Solicitor on the legal implications of new or revised health enforcement policy and make procedural recommendations.

Meets with directorates, other federal agencies, representatives of employees and their organizations, and representatives of employees and their groups and industry associations. Explains enforcement policies, programs, and activities; obtains views of client groups on specific issues and defends agency position on specific health policy and directives, and other matters.

Tracks and monitors new technology being developed and adopted by regnlated industries. Performs impact assessments considering each industry segment, operational function, and occupational safety and health OSH requirements, processes, and issues associated with the use of the new technology or the technology being replaced. Evaluates reports of activities from regional offices and other directorates, including variance requests, training course documents, and other reports and documents for accuracy and conformance with OSHA policy. Evaluates data and information provided by contractors, industry, and the public to determine the impact on workers' health.

Conducts training on new/ revised health enforcement policies and participates in the conduct of health training courses sponsored by the Directorate of Training and Education (DTE). Reviews proposed health enforcement courses for the OSHA Training Institute to assure that they are suitable for field personnel and that they conform to OSHA policy and' procedure.

Prepares reports and answers inquiries from Senators and Congressmen, industry associations, employee organizations, organized safety and health groups and other interested parties on OSHA's balanced program, including occupational health programs. Prepares written and oral replies, setting forth OSHA positions on interpretations of standards and other complex inquires.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - For training purposes.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13 - There is no obligation to provide future promotions. Future promotions are dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and supervisory approval.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Must be at least 16 years old and a U.S. Citizen.
  • Subject to pre-employment and random drug tests.
  • Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met.
  • Appointment to this position may require a background investigation.


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

PCS/Relocation costs will not be paid.

Qualifications

THIS POSITION HAS A INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT. ALL APPLICANTS MUST MEET THIS REQUIREMENT IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED.

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).

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.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

GS-12 - In addition to meeting the individual occupational requirement , Applicants must have at least 52 weeks experience at the next lower level in the normal career progression of the position being filled. When compared to Federal experience, this experience must be equivalent to at least the next lower grade level of GS-11.

This experience may have been gained either in the Federal or Private sectors demonstrating professional knowledge of industrial hygiene principles, practices and procedures, the legal and technical precedents applicable to health enforcement issues to provide technically sound guidance in the development of national policy and programs to enforcement agency. Examples of specialized experience includes:
  • Applying federal occupational health laws, regulations, theories, practices, and procedures to provide technical training, advice and assistance to employers, workers, employee organizations, and others regarding workplace safety and health requirements and problems;
  • Providing technical assistance and policy advice on occupational health matters;
  • Implementing industrial hygiene programs and instructions, including both scientific and administrative procedures;
  • Evaluating and analyzing scientific information regarding workplace health hazards.

GS-13 - In addition to meeting the individual occupational requirement, Applicants must have at least 52 weeks experience at the next lower level in the normal career progression of the position being filled. When compared to Federal experience, this experience must be equivalent to at least the next lower grade level of GS-12.

This experience may have been gained either in the Federal or Private sectors demonstrating expert knowledge of industrial hygiene principles, practices and procedures, the legal and technical precedents applicable to health enforcement issues to provide technically sound guidance in the development of national policy and programs to enforcement agency. Examples of specialized experience includes:
  • Applying federal occupational health laws, regulations, theories, practices, and procedures to provide technical training, advice and assistance to employers, workers, employee organizations, and others regarding workplace safety and health requirements and problems;
  • Providing technical assistance and policy advice on occupational health matters to develop national policy and programs;
  • Providing consultative services to management and technical personnel;
  • Evaluating the effectiveness of national enforcement policy and directives;
  • Inspecting workplaces, processes, products, and/or other systems to ascertain compliance with federal occupational health regulations, policies, and standards.

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.

Education

There is no educational substitution at the GS-12 or GS-13 grade levels.

This position has a individual occupational requirement. A copy of all college transcripts confirming the applicable degree has been AWARDED or confirmation that listed professional certification is active is required when applying. Failure to submit a copy of all college transcripts or certification confirmation will result in your application being rated ineligible/incomplete.

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.

Additional information

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 EMPLOYEES

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be evaluated against the evaluation factors below and will be placed into a category based on your vacancy question responses.

Categories

Category A - Meets the basic qualification requirements for the vacancy and has successful experience in the same or similar job that has demonstrated superior proficiency in applying critical competencies required by this position to work of increased levels of difficulty and complexity.

Category B - Meets the basic qualification requirements for the vacancy and demonstrates satisfactory proficiency in the critical competencies required by this position.

Category C - Meets the specialized experience described in the minimum qualifications requirements section of this announcement and demonstrates proficiency in the basic competencies.

Evaluation Factors (Competencies) - All qualified applicants will be evaluated on the following key competencies:

Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of military, weaponry, and intelligence operations; public safety and security operations; occupational health and safety; investigation and inspection techniques; or rules, regulations, precautions, and prevention techniques for the protection of people, data, and property.

Technical Competence - Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues.

Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.

Written Communication - Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.

Interpersonal Skills - Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences.

The information you provide may be verified by a review of your work experience and/or education, by checking references and through other means (ex. interview). The examining Human Resources Office (HRO) makes the final determination concerning applicant ratings. Your resume MUST provide sufficient information to substantiate your responses to the vacancy questions. If not, the HRO may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the level of competency indicated by the content of your resume. Your evaluation may also include a review by a Human Resources Specialist or panel and may include other assessments (ex. interview, panel review, written test, writing sample, etc.)

INFORMATION FOR ICTAP/CTAP ELIGIBLES ONLY: If you are eligible for special priority selection under ICTAP/CTAP, you must be well-qualified for the position to receive consideration. ICTAP/CTAP eligibles who are placed into Category A or higher will be considered "well-qualified".

Click Application of Veterans Preference for Category Rating Jobs for more information.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
Yes

Required Documents

The following documents must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the vacancy closing date. You are not required to submit a document if it does not apply to you. Warning: If you submit a document using the same document title, the 2nd submission will OVERWRITE the 1st submission. Also, do not upload password protected documents.

- Veterans Documents (if applicable): To be considered as a 5-point preference eligible, you must submit a copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, DD214. Your DD-214 must show the type of discharge and dates of active duty. To claim 10-point preference, you must submit a copy of your DD214; an Application for 10-point Veteran's Preference, SF15; and the proof of entitlement of this preference which is normally an official statement, dated 1991 or later, from the Department of Veterans Affairs certifying to the present existence of the service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of your disability. (For active duty service members expecting honorable or general discharge or release within 120 days, click Active Duty ). Without this documentation, you will not receive veteran's preference. For more information, go to: http://www.fedshirevets.gov/hire/hrp/vetguide/index.aspx

- Displaced Employee Placement Documents - Only required if requesting priority consideration under CTAP or ICTAP eligibility.

- Cover Letters are not mandatory and will not be used to verify experience, but may be submitted

Applicants selected for employment who are not current DOL employees will be required to provide proof of citizenship , and the E-Verify system will be used to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

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