Safety & Occupational Health Specialist

Summary

The Safety and Occupational Health Management provides the planning, coordinating, and evaluating for the safety program. The Safety and Occupational Health Specialist ensures that the Safety Service office functions efficiently and effectively by carrying out assigned duties. This professional position is located within the Safety and Emergency Management Service line at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, in Charleston, South Carolina.

Duties

Duties include, but are not limited to: Responsible for the implementation of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA (NFPA) Codes and especially Life Safety Code (LSCTM) Inspection of all VAMC and contract facilities, and recommending corrective actions to remediate deficiencies. Must have the knowledge, skills, and ability to function independently in the compliance evaluation of contract veteran care providers within the Central Savannah River Area Conduct inspections of VA contract nursing homes, adult day care centers, state veteran's homes, community residential care homes and homeless shelters for compliance with applicable safety and fire protection standards and VA regulations. Makes independent decision for contracting needs based on inspection and compliance with applicable standard often utilizing best professional judgment if variances are allowed Survey and inspect construction sites, operations, facilities, and personnel to determine conformance to safety rules, standards, and regulations; notes hazards and undesirable operating conditions and recommends corrective action. Responsible for planning, implementing and administering a safety program covering VA Medical facilities, outpatient clinics, and veteran care contract facilities. Advise top management, staff and operating officials on the identification, elimination and prevention of occupational and medical hazards and mishaps. Ensure that several geographically dispersed clinics in the Medical Center's area of responsibility comply with health and safety regulations, policies and procedures. Interpret safety standards as they relate to health care facilities. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 7:30am-4:00pm. Work schedule subject to change based on agency need. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Safety & Occupational Health Specialist/PD077670 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/06/2026.Safety and Occupational Health Management Series, 0018 Individual Occupation Requirement: Education Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- safety or occupational health fields (safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene), or degree in other related fields that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours of study from among the following (or closely related) disciplines: safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene, occupational medicine, toxicology, public health, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biological sciences, engineering, and industrial psychology.You may qualify on your experience and/ or education as described below: Specialized Experience: Experience GS-11: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience includes: inspection of Veteran Affairs Medical Centers (VAMC) and contract facilities; recommend correction actions to remediate deficiencies; conduct inspections of VA contract nursing homes, adult day care centers, state veterans homes, community residential care homes, and homeless shelters. OR, Education GS-11: (Applicants may substitute education for the required experience Copy of Transcript required). To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. Graduate Education: Major study -- safety or occupational health fields (safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene), or degree in other related fields that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours of study from among the following (or closely related) disciplines: safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene, occupational medicine, toxicology, public health, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biological sciences, engineering, and industrial psychology. OR, Certification as a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), or Certified Health Physicist (CHP), or similar certification that included successful completion of a written examination meets the requirements for GS-5. Applicants may also qualify for higher grade levels based on their education and/or experience. Physical Requirements: The work involves long periods of standing and walking. The incumbent must be able to stand, walk, bend, stoop, and over freely. Positioning and lifting patients requires considerable effort and working in awkward positions. Occasionally, the employee prevents the patient from performing destructive acts against self, others or property. Manual dexterity is mandatory; may be required to lift weights up to 60 pounds utilizing good body mechanics and appropriate equipment.For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

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.