Safety Engineer

Summary These positions are with the U. S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Dallas Region. They are in the Austin Area Office, Corpus Christi Area Office, El Paso Area Office, Lubbock Area Office, and Dallas Area Office. The full performance level of these positions are at the GS-12 grade level. Positions are in the bargaining unit. A writing sample may be included as a part of the interview process. Selectee will be expected to report to the office. Learn more about this agency Duties GS-07: Assists in planning and conducting portions or limited inspections or compliance reviews (or independently conducts inspections of business establishments and worksites whose operations are generally characterized by the presence of moderately stable, low-risk processes or some higher hazards or unsafe working conditions or technically difficult operations which are covered by specific written guidelines) in establishments and worksites. Prepares final report or assigned portion of report, showing apparent violations, and recommends penalties and abatement dates. Recommends strategies and techniques for resolving unsafe or hazardous conditions. Conducts research assignments using internet technology to prepare for onsite inspections or in response to requests for information. Assists in conducting interviews with supervisors and employees. GS-09: Inspects worksites, machine and equipment operations, environmental conditions, work practices, protective devices and equipment, and safety procedures. Records and photographs apparent violations of standards for use as evidence of existing hazards and unsafe working conditions. Assists agency attorneys in the preparation of evidence supporting the agency's findings of safety and occupational health violations where the employer contests the inspection results. Studies records and files covering mishaps, injuries, and equipment maintenance data. Reviews safety activities for evidence of compliance with prescribed safety requirements. Interviews supervisors and employees for information on specific working conditions to evaluate the total worksite environment. Documents ongoing case files with relevant documentation to support a legally sufficient case. Communicates with various parties at inspected worksites. Assists in investigating mishaps resulting in fatalities or injuries and serious incidents. GS-11: Inspects worksites, machine and equipment operations, environmental conditions, work practices, protective devices and equipment, and safety procedures. Records and photographs apparent violations of standards for use as evidence of existing hazards and unsafe working conditions. Conducts interviews as appropriate with witnesses, employees, employers, medical personnel, law enforcement personnel, and/or other persons in order to identify potential symptoms of occupational illness, conditions and potential causes, and to obtain and communicate other case-related information. Uses the automated system to calculate and adjust penalties assessed based on the gravity of the violations and consideration of the severity of possible injury or illness and the probability that such should occur. Identifies violations and documents hazards, proposes citations for OSHA standards which have allegedly been violated, and requests employers to voluntarily abate serious or imminently dangerous conditions to employees, and provides assistance to resolve unsafe or hazardous conditions. Interprets the application of specific guidelines for particular phases of an inspection, exercising sound judgment in the application of industrial hygiene criteria to potential hazards or unsafe working conditions. Conducts specific (targeted) outreach activities and provides information on OSHA legislation, regulations, and compliance activities to a variety of different audiences As the employee progresses, the assignments will become more difficult and complex with less supervision. Requirements Conditions of employment Must be a U.S. Citizen. Must be at least 16 years old. Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met. Candidate required to obtain the necessary security/investigation level. Subject to a drug test prior to appointment at GS-11 and GS-12 grade levels. Requires medical exam and must maintain physical requirements. Requires a valid driver's license. This position requires the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). You will be required to lift items weighing up to 25 lbs. Qualifications THIS POSITION HAS A BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT. ALL APPLICANTS MUST MEET THIS REQUIREMENT IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED. Basic Requirements: A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics OR B. Combination of education and experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1 , or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions. Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A. Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all inclusive.) You must meet the "Individual Occupational Requirements" listed above and the "Specialized Experience" to qualify for Safety Engineer, as described below. At the GS-07 level: In addition to meeting the individual occupational requirement, applicants must have at least 52 weeks specialized experience at the next lower level in the normal career progression of the position being filled. When compared to Federal experience, this experience must be equivalent to at least the next lower grade level of GS-05. This experience may have been gained either in the Federal or private sectors. Resumes should reflect the majority but is not limited to the following specialized experience listed below: Review prior inspection records to gain a practical understanding of hazardous or unsafe conditions. Assist in analyzing work processes to verify conditions meet OSHA rules and regulations. Assist in identifying occupational health hazards in various work settings to eliminate safety risks. OR Education: One full year of progressively higher-level graduate education or Superior Academic Achievement in a bachelor's degree program. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) OR Combination of Education and Experience: A qualifying combination of education and competencies as described below. At the GS-09 level: In addition to meeting the individual occupational requirement, applicants must have at least 52 weeks specialized experience at the next lower level in the normal career progression of the position being filled. When compared to Federal experience, this experience must be equivalent to at least the next lower grade level of GS-07. This experience may have been gained either in the Federal or Private sectors. Resumes should reflect the majority but is not limited to the following specialized experience listed below: Assist in conducting a portion of an investigation to identify unsafe working conditions. Audit accident and injury records or safety plans to verify documentation meets OSHA rules and regulations. Prepare reports, or portions of reports, to show OSHA violations discovered during inspections. OR Education: completed a Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work of the position, such as experience with assisting in identifying and evaluating health hazards; surveys, assessing, understanding, and investigating health problems, determining the probable cause, and recommending solutions. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience as described below. At the GS-11 level: In addition to meeting the individual occupational requirement, applicants must have at least 52 weeks specialized experience at the next lower level in the normal career progression of the position being filled. When compared to Federal experience, this experience must be equivalent to at least the next lower grade level of GS-09. This experience may have been gained either in the Federal or Private sectors. Resumes should reflect the majority but is not limited to the following specialized experience listed below: Assist in planning and conducting inspections to ensure compliance with OSHA rules and regulations. Respond to technical questions related to safety and health conditions. Inspect a variety of worksites to ensure safety procedures are followed. Prepare reports to show violations and recommendations for resolving unsafe or hazardous conditions. OR Education: Completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work of the position. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages. 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. 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. Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION, REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS, 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 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. For more information click Career Ladder Promotion Information For more information, click 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 for more information on Pay, Leave, and Workforce Flexibilities. 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 Department of Labor employees are subject to the provisions of the Drug-Free Workplace Program under Executive Order 12564 and Public Law 100-71. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the : Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. Expand Hide  additional information Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.