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Safety and Occupational Health Specialist

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

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Region 3 Area Office in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

  • Selectee will be expected to report to the Philadelphia Area Office.
  • This position is inside the bargaining unit.
  • More than one selection may be made based on the agency's needs.
  • Applicants may be required to provide a writing sample at the time of interview.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
08/20/2021 to 09/02/2021
Salary
$58,083 to - $91,363 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 09 - 11
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Philadelphia, PA
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
75% or less - To conduct inspections and/or training.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12 - There is no obligation to provide future promotions if you are selected. Promotions are dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, meet all the performance requirements, and supervisor’s recommendation to the next grade.
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
MS-21-BOS-OSHA-346
Control number
611555200

Duties

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

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 cited or observed, advising employers of their legal responsibilities to providing an occupationally safe worksite, and of their legal right to appeal inspection findings.
  • Assists in investigating mishaps resulting in fatalities or injuries and serious incidents.
  • Compiles and prepares a variety of recurring reports as directed by the specialist's supervisor.
  • Assists in planning and conducting portions or limited inspections or compliance reviews (or independently conducts inspections of business establishments and worksites whose operations are generally characterized by the presence of moderately stable, low-risk processes or some higher hazards or unsafe working conditions or technically difficult operations which are covered by specific written guidelines) in establishments and worksites.
  • Identifies areas in need of immediate corrective action or conditions which are of imminent danger lo life or limb.
  • Inspects worksites, machine and equipment operations, environmental conditions, work practices, protective devices and equipment, and safety procedures.

For GS-11: 

  • Plans, schedules, and conducts the full range of occupational safety and health inspections of private businesses /worksites where there is a strong probability of encountering unsafe/unhealthful working conditions from minor to serious in severity.
  • Inspections may include fatalities, large numbers of serious injuries, very serious accidents or catastrophes.
  • Studies records and reports of occupational safety and health mishaps, injuries, and illnesses.
  • Conducts research of employers and their previous OSHA enforcement activity in advance of new inspections or investigations and to respond to requests for information.
  • Conducts workplace analyses to determine hazardous processes that contribute to employee injury and illness.
  • Develops strategies to mitigate or abate workplace hazards. Utilizes the automated enforcement system to calculate penalties assessed to employers based on the gravity, severity, and probability of occupational safety and health violations.
  • Writes complete and legally sufficient case files documenting all inspection procedures, interviews, sampling, identified hazards, and corrective actions.
  • Assists Department of Labor attorneys in the preparation of evidence for contested cases.
  • Serves as a witness and testifies on behalf of the Department.
  • Conducts opening and closing conferences with management officials, employees, and labor representatives.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

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

Applicants must meet time-in-grade, time-after-competitive-appointment and qualifications requirements within 30 calendar days after the closing date of the vacancy to be eligible for consideration for selection.

Federal Employees Please Note: Your SF-50 must include enough information to be able to determine that time-in-grade requirements have been met and reflects your position title, pay plan/series/grade, tenure and the type of appointment (i.e. competitive/excepted). In some cases you may need to submit more than one SF-50.

Reference the "Required Documents" section for additional requirements.

Qualifications

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

You must meet one of the following requirements to be considered for this vacancy:

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
Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5) 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-

Certificate
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.

**AND**

FOR THE GS-9: In addition to meeting the individual occupational requirement, applicants must also have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-7, in Federal or Private Sector. Specialized experience is defined as:

  • 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.

FOR THE GS-11: In addition to meeting the individual occupational requirement, applicants must also have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-9, in Federal or Private Sector. Specialized experience is defined as:

  • 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.

Education

GS-09 Substitution of Education for Specialized Experience: Two years of graduate education or a Master's degree in 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.

GS-11 Substitution of Education for Specialized Experience: A Ph.D degree or three years of graduate education leading to such a degree in the 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.

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

Position Telework eligibility is determined by management based on position duties during the recruitment process. Employee participation in telework on a routine or situational basis is determined by management primarily based on business needs.  Employees participating in telework are subject to the terms and conditions of the Department of Labor’s Telework Program.

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.

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

Interpersonal Skills/Customer Svc: 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. Customer Service: Works with clients and customers to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services.

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

Communication: Oral: Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately. Written: 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.

Technical Competency: 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.

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). Your evaluation may also include a review by an HR Specialist or panel and may include other assessment tools (ex. interview, structured interview, written test, work sample, etc.). The examining Office of Human Resources (OHR) makes the final determination concerning applicant ratings. Your resume MUST provide sufficient information to substantiate your vacancy question responses. If not, the OHR may amend your responses to more accurately reflect the level of competency indicated by the content of your resume.

Click here for Evaluation details.

INFORMATION FOR CTAP/ICTAP ELIGIBLE(S) ONLY: If you are eligible for special priority selection under CTAP or ICTAP, you must be well-qualified for the position to receive consideration. ICTAP/CTAP eligible(s) will be considered "well-qualified" if they attain at least a rating score of 85 in a numerical rating scheme. Be sure to review DOL Account Eligibility Questions #24 to reflect that you are applying as an ICTAP or CTAP eligible and submit supporting documentation. 

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.


To preview questions please click here.

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