Industrial Hygienist

These positions are with the U. S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This position is located in either the Anchorage, Kent, San Diego, Boise, Las Vegas or Portland Area Offices.

• The full performance level of these positions are at the GS-12 grade level.
• Positions are in the bargaining unit.
• A writing sample may be included as a part of the interview process.
• Selectee will be expected to report to the office.

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

GS-09:

• 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.
• Deposes, makes affidavits and testifies in a court of law where an opposing attorney may challenge the competence of the IH including his/her work methods or findings.
• Conducts research assignments using internet technology to prepare for on-site inspections or in response to requests for information.
• Interprets the application of specific guidelines for particular phases of an inspection, exercising sound judgment in the application of industrial hygiene criteria to potential hazards or unsafe working conditions.

GS-11:

• Plans and conducts 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.
• Gains compliance with published standards by exchanging information, communicating findings and advice, and coordinating work efforts. Contacts often involve dealing with uncooperative persons and include serious technical disagreements and difficult labor-management relations.
• Conducts research assignments using internet technology to prepare for on-site inspections or in response to requests for information.
• Selects and applies appropriate regulatory provisions to determine whether establishments are complying with prevailing safety and occupational health standards.
• Conducts specific (targeted) outreach activities and provides information on OSHA legislation, regulations, and compliance activities to a variety of different audiences.
• Communicates orally and in writing, in order to communicate basic occupational safety and health information and guidance, participate in some outreach activities, and provide technically accurate information generated by requests for information.

As the employee progresses, the assignments will become more difficult and complex with less supervision.

THIS POSITION HAS A BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT. ALL APPLICANTS MUST MEET THIS REQUIREMENT IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED.

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 Board for Global EHS Credentialing (formerly American Board of Industrial Hygiene(external link) (ABIH)).

Courses in the history or teaching of chemistry are not acceptable.

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.

You must meet the "Individual Occupational Requirements" listed above and the "Specialized Experience" to qualify for Industrial Hygienist, as described below.

At the GS-09 level: In addition to meeting the individual occupational requirement, applicants must have at least 52 weeks specialized 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 the majority but is not limited to the following specialized experience listed below:

• Assisting in the planning of or conducting of occupational safety or occupational health inspections
• Conducting research and studies records or files regarding Occupational safety or occupational health mishaps/accidents
• Identifying occupational health and safety hazard
• Assisting in or knowledge of calculating penalties to be assessed based on the gravity of occupational safety and/or occupational health violations

At the GS-11 level: 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 the majority but is not limited to the following specialized experience listed below:

• Assisting in the planning and conducting of evaluations of workplace operations involving potentially hazardous environmental conditions
• Conducting formal interviews to identify unhealthful working conditions or causes of injuries/illnesses/fatalities
• Developing occupational safety or occupational health investigation or inspection reports
• Calculating penalties to be assessed based on the (a) gravity of occupational safety or occupational health violations and (b) the severity of possible injury or illness and the probability that such could occur

To qualify for this position solely on education, in addition to meeting the IOR, the following education may be used to substitute for specialized experience:

For GS-09: 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree.

For GS-11: 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

Combining Education and Experience

In addition to meeting the basic education requirement, an equivalent combination of successfully completed related graduate (GS-09) level education and specialized experience as described in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement, can be used to meet the total experience requirements for this position. For more information please click here (Application of Qualification Standard/Option 5).

If you wish to use your education as a basis for meeting the eligibility and/or minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must submit academic transcripts demonstrating that you meet the qualifying educational requirements. If specific course work is required to fulfill the eligibility and/or minimum qualification requirements, you must supply transcripts from each academic institution in which the required courses were taken in order to receive credit for that course work. See the 'Qualifications and Evaluations' section of this announcement for more details.

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 coursework requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information.

Must be a U.S. Citizen. | Must be at least 16 years old. | Candidate required to obtain the necessary security/investigation level. | Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met. | Subject to a drug test prior to appointment at GS-11 and GS-12 grade levels. | Requires medical exam and must maintain physical requirements. | This position requires the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). | You will be required to lift items weighing up to 25 lbs. | Requires a valid driver's license.