Industrial Hygienist

Summary This Industrial Hygienist position is located at the Edward Hines Jr VA Hospital System in Hines, IL (578), a Level 1a Complexity VHA Facility, and is organizationally aligned in the Safety and Occupational Health service, under Office of the Director. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation. Responsibilities Primary purpose of the position is to investigate and analyze a variety of problems or conditions in the workplace which may adversely affect the health of workers and to provide or recommend ways of eliminating problems. Major duties of this position include, but are not limited to: Identifies techniques and devices for controlling or eliminating safety hazards. Ensures laboratories are appropriately decommissioned. Ensures adherence to procedures when closing laboratories, disposing of chemicals, redistributing VA equipment, and decommissioning radioactive equipment. Reviews vacated labs to assure compliance and provide an approval from Safety Section. Chairperson of Hazardous Waste and Material Management Subcommittee. Provides safety information to internal and external committees. Prepares quarterly and annual reports regarding Industrial Hygiene program. Annually reviews safety manual/chemical hygiene plan for Pathology, Laboratory, and Medicine Services (PLMS), to include review of Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for chemicals in service, service line, and product lines; applicable hospital policies; basic safety guides, etc. Maintains master inventory of on-hand chemicals and monitors chemical inventories of laboratories. Monitors chemical inventory, discards chemicals, and ensures chemicals are appropriately stored, i.e., labeled properly, sealed securely, etc. Manages industrial hygiene equipment, including performing annual inventory, advising on repairs, and arranging disposal. Reviews and determines need for replacement equipment and ensures adequate space and resources. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:00am to 3:30pm Telework: Not Suitable Position Description Title/PD#: Industrial Hygienist/PD04231A Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. To qualify for this occupation and grade level, you must meet one of the following Basic – Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR). Basic Requirements A bachelors or graduate/higher level degree in industrial hygiene, occupational health sciences, occupational and environmental health, toxicology, safety sciences, or related science; OR A bachelors 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 (ABIH). Note: A copy of your transcript(s) and/or certification must be included in your application package to receive credit for meeting this basic requirement. Courses in the history or teaching of chemistry are not acceptable. In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements you must meet one of the following specialized experience and/or education requirements: Specialized Experience: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level in the federal service, that equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the Industrial Hygienist position, and that is typically in or related to the duties of this position. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Demonstrated technical experience and knowledge of occupational safety, industrial hygiene and environmental standards, policies, and procedures; proven technical knowledge of the operation of clinical laboratories and duties of laboratory personnel; expertise and working knowledge of industrial hygiene programs and use of equipment to include confined space, indoor air quality monitoring, respirator program, hazardous materials and waste management, waste characterization, IH monitoring, medical surveillance, ethylene oxide, waste anesthetic gases, mold, hearing conservation, underground and above ground storage tanks, and compressed gases; professional knowledge and skill applicable to the performance of industrial hygiene duties related to a wide range of industrial settings.) OR Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or LL.M. obtained in an accredited college or university, with a major field of study directly related to the position being filled. This graduate education must have provided you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of an Industrial Hygienist. (Transcript required) OR Combination: Applicants may also possess a combination of specialized experience and successfully completed graduate education directly related to the work of the Industrial Hygienist position to qualify at this level. (Transcript required) Note: Only education in excess of 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education may be used to qualify at the grade 11 level. 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. 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 bachelors degree in science or engineering at an accredited college or university. For engineering degrees to be acceptable, the curriculum must be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) as a professional engineering curriculum. 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. Physical Requirements: The work includes frequent inspections or surveys of industrial workplaces, requiring the employee to carry a considerable amount of equipment, and involve a good deal of walking, standing, bending, and climbing. Work Environment: During inspections or surveys, there is regular exposure to all of the hazards and discomforts to which the workers are subjected, including a wide range of toxic chemicals, physical stresses, and safety hazards., The employee must use a variety of protective equipment and clothing, such as respirators, ear plugs, gloves, coveralls, hard hats, etc. Education 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. If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application. Additional Information Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicants criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. Participation in seasonal influenza program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.