Industrial Hygienist

Job Duties

GS-07:

• Develops contacts with higher-graded specialists, industrial hygienists, and safety engineers in the immediate office or assigned inspection/compliance review assignment as well as line supervisors, employees, and employee representatives met during assigned inspections or compliance reviews.
• Communicates the nature and type of hazards and unsafe working conditions encountered, and to coordinate the carrying out of measures to correct any adverse occurrence, unguarded machine operations, and fire hazards.
• Motivates and encourages personnel who are usually willing and cooperative to adopt safe working practices and to remedy hazardous conditions.
• Resolves assignments that consist of specific, often unrelated duties which provide an orientation to occupational work and the different types of safety hazards and unsafe working conditions and the techniques, measures, and procedures used to eliminate or control them.
• Makes recommendations concerning the appropriate course of action to be followed by determining the merits of the case and by evaluating testimony and the applicability of OSHA policies and court decisions.

GS-09:

• Deposes, makes affidavits and testifies in a court of law where an opposing attorney may challenge the competence of the IH including his/her work methods or findings.
• Identifies areas in need of immediate corrective action or conditions which are of imminent danger to life or limb.
• Assists in investigating mishaps resulting in fatalities or injuries and serious incidents.
• Assists in conducting sampling, arranging for shipment of samples to laboratory for analysis, reviewing laboratory analyses, and preparing reports which include findings and recommendations for control of identified hazards.
• Inspects worksites, machine, equipment operations, environmental conditions, work practices, protective devices, equipment, and safety procedures.
• Conducts research assignments using internet technology to prepare for onsite inspections or in response to requests for information.
• Selects and applies appropriate regulatory provisions to determine whether establishments are complying with prevailing safety and occupational health standards.
• Uses the automated system to calculate 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.

As the employee progresses, the assignments will become more difficult and complex with less supervision.