Duties

Performs fire prevention inspections of the medical center including buildings, structures, storage areas, equipment, and other facilities to eliminate fire hazards and to institute fire prevention measures. inspects for proper storage of supplies and equipment as well as adequacy and condition of fire protection equipment, sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers, fire escape and exits, and other fire control mechanisms. Assures the proper handling and storage of such items as gasoline, solvents, acids, paints, oil, lubricants, chemicals, etc. Renders technical advice and guidance to all elements of the fire and safety program and initiates on-the­ spot corrective action to eliminate existing or potential fire hazards and conditions.

Performs required scheduled testing of all fire prevention and alarm equipment and sprinkler system equipment in accordance with NFPA code and frequency of testing.

Conducts continuing fire and safety surveys and investigations. Analyzes contractor's safety plans to ensure that adequate provisions are made for all safety requirements. Recommends changes and/or additions to ensure compliance with fire protection and prevention requirements. Evaluates the technical safety aspects of construction operations and ensures compliance with the life safety codes, procedures, regulations, and approved safety plans. Projects range from construction of non­complex structures to projects of unusual difficulty and complexity such as multi-story buildings, hospitals, and related structures.

Works with other staff in setting up proper controls to eliminate or minimize accidents or potential unhealthy conditions. Develops and recommends changes ill, or inclusion of, certain safely measures and processes, adaptation of various safety provisions, and alternate work methods, techniques, and equipment necessary to correct, control, or minimize hazards.

Provides technical information, training, and materials; develops and disseminates safety promotion material, literature, and films; and provides assistance in implementing, safety rules and regulations of local and higher authority.

Prepares technical reports on fire and safety surveys and makes follow-up investigations as necessary to determine if corrective action has been taken. Makes field inspections of offices and operation at facilities, insuring compliance with all safety regulations. Monitors all safety checklists and reports for compliance and ensures compliance during field visits.

Acts as liaison for statistical information requested by various offices. Reviews contractor and government employee mishap reports covering disabling injuries, fatalities, motor vehicle accidents, and property damages; and identifies causes and possible safety violations.

Performs other directly related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Sunday - Wednesday and Saturday 7:30am-4pm. Must have the flexibility to work outside the normal tour of duty which may include weekends and holidays.
Position Description/PD#: Safety Technician/PD024160
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Personnel

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/07/2021.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-5 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-4 . The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

Must have at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade (GS-4) or the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of subjects such as safety, fire prevention, industrial hygiene, or other directly related subjects.

Specialized Experience. Experience that involved: (l) identifying, preventing, or eliminating safety hazards in work methods or environmental conditions; or (2) safety training or promotion. Such experience must have provided a practical knowledge of occupational and environmental safety hazards, survey techniques, and control and preventive methods. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: biological technician, medical technician, engineering technician, fire prevention inspector, and environmental health worker.

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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

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/ .

Physical Demands. The work requires some physical exertion, such as long periods of standing, walking, bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, lifting, or similar activities while performing inspections or demonstrations during training sessions.

Work Environment. The work is performed in a Medical Center and its satellite clinics which include the hospital and office buildings, warehouses, and construction sites. In some areas, the incumbent may be required to wear protective clothing, such as masks, goggles, gloves, or shields. The work may involve moderate risks requiring the exercise of safety precautions when working around construction sites or hospital sites.

Education

For GS-5: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of subjects such as safety, fire prevention, industrial hygiene, or other directly related subjects.

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/ . If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html .

Additional information

VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified : applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ .

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .