These positions serve as Safety & Occupational Health Specialists in the Safety and Emergency Management Service of the VA Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS), Palo Alto, CA.. The employees are responsible for an assigned area of the medical center involving a wide variety of high-risk operations, facilities, and environmental conditions, including building inspections and accident investigations.
***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** These positions involve a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-12. At the GS-9 and GS-11 grade levels, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence.
You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-12. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher-level work, and availability of funds.
Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following: Conducts safety and fire protection surveys, community care homes, nursing homes, and satellite clinics; Anticipates, identifies and evaluates hazardous conditions and practices of federally contracted facility maintenance and vertical/horizontal construction projects, utilizing experience, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), and other information sources for all constructions projects; Accountable and responsible of the safety and fire protection for all phases of a project from inception to closure; Inspects construction projects to determine compliance with applicable occupational safety standards; Develops hazard control designs, methods, procedures and programs in support of established facilities and future construction and by evaluating and assessing the probability and severity of loss events and accidents; Performs periodic on-site surveys for assigned organizations; Prepares reports and ensures appropriate action/follow-up is taken; Measures, audits and evaluates the effectiveness of hazard controls and hazard control programs using written and graphic materials, presentations, and other communication media; Reviews all accident reports to determine root cause; Analyses for trends in accidents and areas where improvements can be made in safety; Reviews all safety plans to ensure compliance with JCAHO requirements and hospital policy; Investigates fires, motor vehicle collisions and other accidents involving damage or loss to government owned property, personal injury, or death to employees and/or visitors; Develops and provides technical safety training to supervisors and employees using a wide variety of materials, publications, exhibits, protective devices, and visual aids; Performs other related duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. There is no educational substitution at the GS-12 grade level. NOTE: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.
If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Physical Demands: The work involves the frequent performances of surveys and on-site visits to laboratories and maintenance shops necessitating prolonged periods of walking, standing, climbing, and lifting. The specialist is frequently exposed to mechanical hazards ranging from power tools to operating machinery, and chemical and biological hazards while performing laboratory and maintenance shop surveys, emergency response and patient decontamination duties.
The employee may be required to do frequent driving. Will regularly lift heavy material and equipment, squat, bend and stand for hours at a time.
VHANationalRecruitmentCenter@va.gov · (844)456-5208
This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.
The posted pay range is $77161 – $145468/yr.
This position requires a Other security clearance.
Applications close on 2026-09-23.
There are 2 openings for this position.
This position is open under the 'Public' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government
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