Safety and occupational health specialists are responsible for supporting the Safety and Occupational Health program through development, administration, organization, evaluation, analysis of data and implementation of a comprehensive program of fire prevention, life safety and hazard surveillance. The position composes a developmental GS-0018-11 position within a career ladder structure to the full performance level of Safety and Occupation Health Specialist, GS-0018-12.
Major Duties and Responsibilities The occupational safety and health specialist is responsible for advising the safety officer of program planning and implementation. He/she completes regulatory program documentation and leads facility self-assessments, inspections, and other safety-related investigations.
Advises senior level management officials within the assigned area on the status of the safety and occupational health programs and recommends changes in the design of work programs to meet new safety and occupational health standards.
Periodically, confers with safety officer and or safety occupational health specialists external to the facility to identify hazards related to new laboratory equipment or other areas and to become familiar with evolving techniques and protective devices for controlling or eliminating potential safety hazards.
Independently schedules surveys of VA buildings and offices to identify and evaluate risks involving a wide variety of work environments; determines the extent to which mechanical and physical conditions comply, and makes decisions regarding adherence to established safety policies and procedures. Consults with specialists from related occupations concerning work process modifications and recommends corrective or remedial safety measures.
Planning, conducting and assessing the Fire Prevention and Life Safety duties according to the most current NFPA and VHA requirements, Developing evaluations for the medical center hazard program vulnerability analysis Act as the Construction safety representative for the safety department; Develop fire prevention and hazard surveillance activity reported to the EOC committee Participate in Accident Review boards Develop and conduct safety and occupational health training to foster employee awareness and the use of protective equipment Collect and analyze data of statistical safety trends, recognizing hazardous conditions and developing measures of control and resolution in order to develop specific methods for prevention.
Independently researching, selecting and interpreting applicable technical criteria related to standards and regulations using VHA, NFPA, OSHA, EPA, TJC and CFR guidelines. Performs other related duties as assigned. Promotion Potential: 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. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 0800 am- 4:30 pm Telework: Not Authorized. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Safety & Occupational Health Specialist/PD03234-0 and PD03233-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.
A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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/.
christine.brockman@va.gov · 650-852-3209
This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.
The posted pay range is $93358 – $145468/yr.
Applications close on 2026-09-14.
This position is open under the 'Fed Internal Search' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government
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