Job Information
Occupational Safety and Health Administration Industrial Hygienist in Little Rock, Arkansas
Summary This position is with the U. S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Birmingham Region, Little Rock Area Office. The full performance level of these positions is at the GS-12 grade level. Position is in the Bargaining Unit. Selectee will be expected to report to the office listed above. Responsibilities Major duties of this position are: GS-9 Level duties Assists in assessing the quality and uniformity of inspection programs and interviews officials in order to identify real of potential problems. Assists in conducting, evaluating and analyzing select portions of OSHA programs, procedures, inspections, citations, and reports to determine compliance with approved occupational safety standards and programs. Evaluates inspection records, assists in conducting investigations, and prepares select reports. Participates in re-inspections of workplaces previously inspected by state compliance personnel. Assists in planning and conducting portions of or limited inspections or compliance reviews of private businesses and worksites whose operations are generally characterized by the presence of moderately stable, low-risk processes and some higher hazards and unsafe working conditions. Writes complete and legally sufficient case files documenting all inspection procedures, interviews, sampling, identified hazards, and corrective actions. Assists in conducting or may conduct opening and closing conferences with management officials, employees, and labor representatives regarding enforcement findings and applicable occupational safety and health policies and regulations. GS-11 Level duties Conducts inspections of private businesses and industrial firms to determine compliance with published standards and regulations, record hazards and overexposure, issue citations for violations, and propose fiscal penalties. Plans and directs re-inspections of workplaces previously inspected by various compliance personnel. Oversees follow-up activities to ensure that relevant issues have been addressed, and that factual information substantiates investigative findings. Prepares proposals for special monitoring of selected aspects of OSHA programs, including study methodology, data collection, and analysis techniques. Conducts, monitors and evaluates by analyzing plan changes, programs, procedures, inspections, citations, and reports to determine compliance with approved occupational safety standards and programs. Writes complete and legally sufficient case files documenting all inspection procedures, interviews, sampling, identified hazards, and corrective actions. Assists attorneys in preparation of contested cases for hearings. May be called to serve as an expert witness. Enforces Federal occupational safety and health standards. GS-12 Level duties Reviews scientific literature related to health hazards in the workplace, compiles data, performs quantitative analysis of health and exposure data, analyzes comments from affected groups and assists in preparing all necessary documents, including decision papers, work plans, analyses, standards package and related documents. Prepares draft sections of the preamble for proposed and final standards, draft and final guidance products, and other documents. Analyzes inspection records, conducts investigations and prepares reports, evaluates on-site inspections, and as requested, accompanies state investigators on compliance visits. Assesses the quality and uniformity an inspection program, identifies areas of state program operations which significantly deviate from federal requirements, and recommends corrective action. Interviews state officials with findings of potential problems. Assists in the preparation and review of directives and memoranda to provide field personnel information on health standards development and in providing technical information for the drafting of interpretations. Prepares seminars and speeches on OSHA rulemaking/guidance activities at meetings of groups and organizations affected by or interested in such activities. Skill in technical writing of governmental regulations and guidance. Collects, compiles, studies, and analyzes developments in industry, standards developed by other organizations, safety and health reports, scientific and technical periodicals, and other sources of background information to determine pertinent factors which make up work processes and health hazards created by such factors. With other occupational health specialists or industrial hygienists, visits industrial facilities to analyze work processes and health hazards evidenced. As the employee progresses, the assignments will become more difficult and complex with less supervision. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications 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 American Board of Industrial Hygiene (external link) (ABIH). 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. For GS-09: In addition to meeting the basic education requirement, Applicants must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience at the next lower level in the normal career progression of the position being filled. When comparing Private Sector to Federal Service experience, this specialized experience must be equivalent to at least the next lower grade level of GS-07. Resumes should reflect but is not limited to the following specialized experience listed below: Assisting in the planning of and/or conducting occupational safety and/or occupational health inspections. Conducting research and studies records or files regarding Occupational safety or occupational health mishaps/accidents. Identifying occupational health and safety hazards. Assisting in or knowledge of calculating penalties to be assessed based on the gravity of occupational safety and/or occupational health violations. OR: Two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree For GS-11: In addition to meeting the basic education requirement, Applicants must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience at the next lower level in the normal career progression of the position being filled. When comparing Private Sector to Federal Service experience, this specialized experience must be equivalent to at least the next lower grade level of GS-09. Resumes should reflect 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. OR: Three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. For GS-12: In addition to meeting the basic education requirement, Applicants must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience at the next lower level in the normal career progression of the position being filled. When comparing Private Sector to Federal Service experience, this specialized experience must be equivalent to at least the next lower grade level of GS-11. Resumes should reflect but is not limited to the following specialized experience listed below: Writing occupational safety or occupational health reports. Conducting file or record reviews, to include case files of previous occupational health investigations, inspections or complaints. Planning and conducting evaluations of workplace operations involving potentially hazardous environmental conditions. Testifying during or working with counsel in the development of litigation pursuant to occupational safety and/or occupational health cases. Education is not a substitution for experience at the GS-12 level. Education 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. Additional Information Applicants must meet all legal and regulatory requirements. Reference the Required Documents section for additional requirements. This position is inside the bargaining unit. If the duty location is within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the position will be included in the Local 12, AFGE bargaining unit. If the duty location is outside the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the position will be included in the NCFLL bargaining unit. Click here for Career Ladder Promotion Information The mission of the Department of Labor (DOL) is to protect the welfare of workers and job seekers, improve working conditions, expand high-quality employment opportunities, and assure work-related benefits and rights for all workers. As such, the Department is committed to fostering a workplace and workforce that promote equal employment opportunity, reflects the diversity of the people we seek to serve, and models a culture of respect, equity, inclusion, and accessibility where every employee feels heard, supported, and empowered. Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION, REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES As a condition of employment, all personnel must undergo a background investigation for access to DOL facilities, systems, information and/or classified materials before they can enter on duty: BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION Click here for Telework Position Information This is not a remote work position. The selectee will report to an assigned DOL office location on a regular basis and is eligible for participation in telework as determined by management in accordance with DOL policy. Based on agency needs, additional positions may be filled using this vacancy. The Department of Labor may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government to attract highly qualified candidates. Click here for Additional Information. The Fair Chance Act (FCA) prohibits Federal agencies from requesting an applicant's criminal history information before the agency makes a conditional offer of employment. If you believe a DOL employee has violated your rights under the FCA, you may file a complaint of the alleged violation following our agency's complaint process Guidelines for Reporting Violations of the Fair Chance Act. Note: The FCA does not apply to some positions specified under the Act, such as law enforcement or national security positions. All applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to screening for illegal drug use prior to the appointment. All Department of Labor employees are subject to the provisions of the Drug-Free Workplace Program under Executive Order 12564 and Public Law 100-71.