Supervisory Safety & Occupational Health Specialist

This position is located in the Safety Section of the Facilities Maintenance Service at the VA Medical Center in Hampton, VA.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements: One year of specialized experience in or related to safety and occupational health that provided the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS‑11 grade level in Federal service.

• Working in occupational fields such as industrial hygienist, safety engineer, fire prevention engineer, health physicist, or occupational health nurse that required managing safety or occupational health program elements.
• Developing safety and occupational health policies, standards, regulations, practices, and procedures to eliminate or control potential hazards and recommending procedures/solutions to higher levels of management.
• 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 identifying potential new hazards.
• Training workers, supervisors, managers, or other safety and occupational health personnel in safety or occupational health subjects.

Selective Placement Factor: Working knowledge of the codes and standards established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). This experience must be detailed in your résumé to receive credit.

Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate, analyze, supervise, organize, administer, monitor, and evaluate comprehensive safety programs in accordance with applicable regulations and guidelines concerning the safety of patients, employees, and visitors.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene, Green Environmental Management System (GEMS), and fire protection programs.
• Provide program consultation and training for the medical center.
• Serve as an advisor, offering guidance, technical assistance, and advice to all levels of medical‑center management for effective application of related programs.
• Facilitate a variety of committees related to safety and health.
• Plan, organize, coordinate, analyze, and administer comprehensive inspections of medical‑center facilities.
• Prepare management reports on compliance and violations of safety, industrial hygiene, environmental, and fire‑protection mandates.
• Issue notices of unsafe working conditions as needed and recommend methods for hazard abatement and correction of unsafe conditions or practices.
• Manage the Automated Safety Incident Surveillance Tracking System (ASISTS).
• Identify, evaluate, analyze, and recommend means for controlling a wide variety of safety issues—including chemical, physical, radiological, environmental, biological, or ergonomic hazards associated with occupational or patient‑care activities.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations concerning the management of hazardous materials and waste (including universal waste) from entry into the facility to final disposal.
• Conduct and monitor all safety and occupational health‑related training for medical‑center staff.
• Perform supervisory duties to support the effective and efficient operation of the Safety Section, including assigning, directing, and reviewing the work of subordinate staff.
• Recommend selections, promotions, status changes, awards, disciplinary actions, and separations.
• Plan, schedule, and coordinate work operations; determine material, equipment, and facilities needed.
• Perform related duties as required.

Schedule

Monday through Friday – 7:30 am to 4:00 pm.

Telework

Ad‑hoc telework may be approved in accordance with agency policy.