Summary

Industrial Hygienist performs various duties to assess work practices and environmental conditions for hazards to the to the health and safety with employees and patients of the Lt. Col. Luke Weathers - Jr. VA Medical Center. Regularly inspects the medical center to identify potential occupational health hazards and the need for further investigative studies and surveys.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 09/30/2026. 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-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. 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. Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR): You must meet one of the following basic requirements below to be eligible for the GS-0690 - Industrial Hygiene job series. The education must be accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. Applicants must meet one of the following

Basic 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 (ABIH)
Note: You must submit a copy of your certification with your application
Certification cannot be credited without documentation
You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge - skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of an Industrial Hygienist - and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled
Examples of Specialized experience includes but is not limited to: Specifies goals and obstacles to achieving those goals - generates alternatives - considers risks - and evaluates and chooses the best alternative in order to make a determination - draw conclusions or solve a problem
Use 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
Effectively expresses information to multiple audiences through clear dissemination of information and ideas
actively listens to others and demonstrates understanding of their comments and/or questions
Knowledge of procedures for assessing - evaluating - and monitoring programs or projects for compliance with Federal laws - regulations - and guidance
Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of health risk analysis
establish an exposure assessment strategy
collect basic characterization information (workplace - work force - and agents)
assess exposure to the work force
prioritize health risks
implement monitoring and control strategies for unacceptable exposures
schedule and perform periodic reassessments
and document and communicate health risk exposure
~OR~ Possess 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or equivalent doctoral degree in a course of study directly related to this position
Note: Transcripts required
~OR~ Combination of specialized experience and successfully completed graduate level education beyond a Master's degree (36 semester hours) in a course of study directly related to this position
Please note: Courses in the history or teaching of chemistry are not acceptable
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
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/.

Duties

Incumbent must be resourceful in devising alternative methods to accomplish program objectives when technical guidelines are not always clear-cut - economic conflicts arise - etc
Work situations cover a wide variety of hazards - work activities and environments and involve numerous types and quantities of exposure to chemical - biological - physical and radiological hazards
Incumbent must exercise good judgement in selecting ways and means of adapting established methods of monitoring - analyzing and controlling to meet unique hazardous situations including interpretation of multiplicative hazardous factors in work operations
Duties include: Conducting studies of work operations and processes - examining work environments - analyzing findings - promulgating recommendations - and preparing various reports
Performs analysis to determine nature and degree of toxic materials present
Interprets results of studies for the work environment in terms of possible impairment to health - nature of health impairment - potential for medical center damages - etc
Determines the need for - and effectiveness of - control measures and changes in work procedures
Recommends procedures that will be suitable and effective for the environment
Receives and disposes of hazardous wastes and maintains appropriate records in accordance with existing EPA standards - state law and VA regulations
Prepares comprehensive and legally sufficient written reports of all monitoring activities performed which are subsequently incorporated into comprehensive reports prepared to assess the overall effectiveness of the industrial hygiene program
Ensures proper documentation of employee exposures in medical records
Conducts program for the education of workers in the prevention of occupational exposures and diseases at the medical center (hazard communication program)
Presents expert testimony before courts of law - hearing boards - workmen's compensation commissions - and other investigative bodies covering all matters pertaining to industrial hygiene
Performs on-site inspection of new construction to ensure compliance with all applicable codes and standards
Actively participates in and advises multidisciplinary committees on matters related to industrial hygiene
Work Schedule: Shifts Monday- Friday - 7:00am to 3:30pm - or 7:30am to 4:00pm - or 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: This position is not authorized for telework
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Position Description/PD#: Industrial Hygienist/PD502080 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Physical Requirements: The performance of duties requires long period of walking - standing - crawling - kneeling and bending
Moderate lifting and carrying of equipment - use of personal protective devices - and work in hazardous and confined spaces is required
Use of all appendages - good vision and hearing are necessary
Emotional and mental stability are required.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

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Industrial Hygienist