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Industrial Hygienist

Department of Labor
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Position is with U.S. Dept. of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), Region 3, Philadelpha, PA.  The position is inside the bargaining unit. Applicants need to pass physical examination for performance of job duties. Applicants must possess a valid driver's license. Relocation and/or PCS funds not available.  Additional selections may be made from this announcement if funding becomes available.  

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open date: 02/27/2020
Closed date: 03/11/2020
Location
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$57,508 - $90,451 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 09 - 11
Promotion potential
12 - 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.
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-Time
Travel Required
75% or less - Frequent travel including some extended overnight lodging, some evening and weekend work required to conduct official OSHA enforcement inspection and investigation activities within a specific geographic area, and training purposes.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Other
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Announcement number
DE-20-BOS-OSHA-119
Control number
559803500

Duties

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GS-09: 

  • Assigns abatement dates and follows up as necessary to ensure that required abatement measures are completed, which, in some cases, requires additional inspections.
  • Provides technical industrial hygiene advice and assistance to employers, employee organizations, and others concerning industrial health hazards and possible approaches to their control; potential hazards resulting from specific work operations, facilities, and equipment.
  • Promotes industrial practices that are consistent with the goals and principles of industrial hygiene, requiring a comprehensive knowledge of a wide variety of chemicals and other hazards, and work practices affecting employee health.
  • Reviews laboratory analyses, and prepares reports which include findings and recommendations for control of identified hazards.
  • Reviews and/or determines the nature of the problem and the number and type of environmental samples to be collected.
  • Examines the effectiveness of existing control measures & collaborates with engineers, safety & occ. health specialists, & other technical personnel to develop & establish effective control measures.
  • Obtains immediate corrective action of conditions which are of imminent danger to life or limb.
  • Assists in the litigation process, providing agency attorneys with information necessary to support the legal defense of actions.

GS-11: 

  • Conducts interviews as appropriate with witnesses, employees, employers, medical personnel, law enforcement personnel, and/or other persons in order to identify potential symptoms of occupational illness, conditions and potential causes, and to obtain and communicate other case-related information.
  • Documents case files with findings, completes forms, and attaches background notes and other material. Ensures case files are processed within the OSHA Information System in an accurate and timely manner and ensures proper annotation for reporting purposes and achievement of agency goals.
  • Diagrams workplace flow processes; documents descriptions of the work environment, operations, and equipment; and/or photographs operations as necessary, as well as documents measurements of conditions and worker exposure and potential injury from the hazard for complete case file documentation. Documents ongoing cases with relevant documentation to support a legally sufficient case.
  • Testifies in contested court cases as a witness under oath and is subject to examinations conducted by attorneys representing both the agency and the employer.
  • Explains requirements of safety and health standards; effective abatement of hazards; and/or other related matters.
  • Identifies and documents hazards, proposes citations for OSHA standards which have allegedly been violated, and secures immediate corrective action of conditions which are of imminent danger.
  • Conducts opening conferences with management officials, employees, and employee representatives concerning the nature and purpose of the inspection and the procedures which will be followed.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship.
  • Subject to drug test prior to appointment at the GS-11.
  • Requires a medical examination.
  • Requires a valid drivers license.
  • 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.

This vacancy is also being advertised  as a Safety and Occupational Health Specialist GS-0018-09/11/12 under vacancy Announcement DE-20-BOS-OSHA-117 and MS-20-BOS-OSHA-118.  It is anticipated that only one position will be filled either as a Industrial Hygienist or as a Safety and Occupational Health Specialist. Not one selection for each vacancy announcement.

Applicants may be required to provide a writing sample at the interview.

Qualifications

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

Basic Requirements:

The education must be accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. 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.

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.

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

For GS-9: 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-07. This experience may have been gained either in the Federal or Private sectors. Resumes should reflect but is not limited to the following specialized experience listed below:

  • Assisting in the planning of and/or conducting occupational safety and/or occupational health inspections of workplaces where the exposures and types of hazards are predictable in advance. Examples may include the following: ◦Health sampling;
    • Chemical exposures and/or overexposures;
    • Noise exposures and/or overexposures;
    • Equipment and/or machine operations;
    • Environmental conditions;
    • Work practices;
    • Protective devices and/or protective equipment;
    • Safety procedures.
  • Conducts research and studies records and/or files regarding any of the following: ◦Occupational safety and/or occupational health mishaps/accidents;
    • Occupational safety and/or occupational health injuries;
    • Equipment maintenance data.
  • Identifying occupational health and safety hazard
  • Assist in developing legally sufficient occupational safety and/or occupational health investigation or inspection reports;
  • Assist in and/or knowledge of calculating penalties to be assessed based on the (a) gravity of occupational safety and/or occupational health violations.

Substitution of Education for Experience: Two years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree.

For GS-11: 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-09. This experience may have been gained either in the Federal or Private sectors. Resumes should reflect but is not limited to the following specialized experience listed below:

  • Planning and conducting or assisting in the planning and conducting of evaluations of workplace operations involving potentially hazardous environmental conditions. Such conditions could include any of the following:
  • Chemical conditions and/or exposures;
  • Biological conditions and/or exposures to biological agents;
  • Environmental conditions.
  • Assist in conducting sampling for occupational health-related hazards and/or exposure levels and reviewing laboratory analyses of health-related sampling, prepare reports that include findings and recommendations for the control of identified hazards;
  • Conducting occupational health investigations and/or occupational health inspections;
  • Conducts interviews with employers and/or employees and/or employee representatives and/or emergency services personnel and/or law enforcement officials and/or other parties to identify unhealthful working conditions and/or causes of injuries/illnesses/fatalities AND to obtain information required to conduct a legally sufficient occupational health investigation;
  • Developing legally sufficient occupational safety and/or occupational health investigation or inspection reports;
  • Identifying occupational health and safety hazard and applying occupational safety and/or occupational health standards and criteria to unsafe working conditions.
  • Calculating penalties to be assessed based on the (a) gravity of occupational safety and/or occupational health violations and (b) the severity of possible injury or illness and the probability that such could occur.

Substitution of Education for Experience: Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

Education

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. 

College Transcript and Evaluation of Foreign Education - The Department of Labor does not recognize academic degrees from unauthorized secondary schools or post-secondary institutions that are not accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the Department of Education. 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:
Interpersonal Skills:  Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others.
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.
Self-Management - Sets well-defined and realistic personal goals; displays a high level of initiative, effort, and commitment towards completing assignments in a timely manner; works with minimal supervision.
Technology Application - Uses machines, tools, instruments, or equipment effectively; uses computers and computer applications to analyze and communicate information in the appropriate format.
Writing - Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in a succinct and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material, that is appropriate for the intended audience.
Information Management - Identifies a need for and knows where or how to gather information; organizes and maintains information or information management systems.

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 B 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.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Agency contact information

Dorothy Drakoulas
Phone
617-788-2801
TDD
800-877-8339
Email
drakoulas.dorothy@dol.gov
Address
Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Admin
OHR - Staffing Boston Servicing Center
Boston, Massachusetts 02203
United States

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