Industrial Hygienist Technical Career Field Trainee

Any interested applicants MUST apply through USAJOBS to be considered for this position. https://www.usajobs.gov/job/837990900 

The incumbent serves as an Industrial Hygienist in the Occupational Medicine office and performs various duties to access work practices and environmental conditions for hazards to the health and safety of workers.

The Technical Career Field (TCF) is a national workforce development program within the VHA that was designed to replenish technical staff in critically identified positions.

Duties

Technical Careers Fields (TCF) is a national workforce development program within VHA that was designed to replenish technical staff in critically identified positions. The TCF career fields represent those technical fields where VA-specific knowledge and experience is desirable for success in the field. Individuals selected follow a formal training plan for two years during which they are trained, coached, and supervised by a preceptor. Preceptors are selected annually, through an extensive application process, for their technical expertise, their commitment to training and the suitability of their facility as a training location. *Selectees will be required to sign Mobility, Training, and Continued Service Agreements.

This position will begin as GS-7, leading to the potential max of GS-11. This is a developmental position performing assignments intended to broaden skills and provide practical experience leading to progressively more complex assignments performed under progressively less supervision. The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Major duties include but are not limited to:

• Performs various duties to access work practices and environmental conditions for hazards to the health and safety of workers.
• Conducting studies, analyzing findings, and preparing various reports.
• Conducts surveys to identify and evaluate health hazards and potential health hazards. Surveys involve determining compliance with established occupational exposure levels, evaluating exposures, and advising on control measures and changes in work procedures or schedules to comply with the established health requirements and to provide information for evaluation purposes.
• Performs analysis using standard methods to determine nature and degree of toxic material present in a variety of materials, such as environmental samples, body fluids, and industrial products.
• Determines measurements to be made and methods to be used, calibrates and adapts various kinds of equipment, such as standard spectrophotometers, pH meters, and gas chromatographic apparatus.
• Consults with and advises occupational health personnel on matters of epidemiology relative to health hazards in the work area.
• Regularly inspects the medical center to identify potential occupational health hazards and the need for further investigative studies and surveys. Studies and surveys performed involve determining compliance with various established criteria, evaluating exposures, and advising on control measures and changes in work procedures or schedules to comply with established health requirements, and providing information for evaluation purposes.
• 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., and presents specific conclusions and recommendations to appropriate management and health officials.
• 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.

Work Schedule: Full time
Telework: This position is not authorized for telework.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Industrial Hygienist - Technical Career Field (TCF)/PD00985A and PD00986A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized