Safety & Occupational Health Specialist, GS-0018-12/13 (28591)

Announcement Type

TARP - Internal Opportunity (Non-Comp/VIOP)

Position Type

Temporary

Overseas

Deployment

Position Not To Exceed (NTE) Time

12 months

USACE Organization

Transatlantic Division (TAD) - Expeditionary District

Locations (City, State)

Kuwait, Kuwait

Position Overview/Duties

Serves as Chief, Safety and Occupational Health Office for a Contingency Operations District, developing and exercising staff supervision over a comprehensive safety program for the District, including accident prevention planning and control; risk management; safety education and promotion; accident analysis; fire prevention; and, occupational health. This pertains to high risk Government and contractor operations relating to major construction projects, both civil and military, regarding the reconstruction efforts in the AOR. Work encompasses various kinds of hazardous functions, work processes, and environments. Construction work is dispersed over a wide area, with exposure to varying local conditions and projects which include military facilities; multi-story structures; industrial and infrastructure facilities; and renovating ammunition plants and explosive storage areas. Responsible for application of the General Safety Requirements Manual, and other District safety requirements.

MAJOR DUTIES

1. Provides safety advice and guidance for implementing the brigade safety program, which requires planning for, directing, coordinating, and evaluating widely diversified operations related to employee occupational safety and health. Manages and administers a safety and occupational health program, which includes work site inspections, construction plan reviews, transportation and vehicle operations, rail and air operations, range operations, ammunition and explosives program management, industrial operations, accident investigations and reports, radiation and hazardous material management and waste disposal; public and family safety. Provides safety policy direction and expertise as part of the workers' compensation program. Serves as the key staff specialist, responsible for providing policy analysis on a wide variety of occupational health and safety programs, issues, and initiatives. Develops sources of information, identifies and performs in-depth analyses of issues, analyzes the consequences of adopting various proposals and policies, forecasts developments potentially affecting programs, develops options and alternatives, coordinates findings and recommendations with other interested/affected parties. Prepares and delivers written and oral presentations, and serves as an expert and authoritative representative of the safety program. Maintains risk-based surveillance of significant mission projects, prepares analyses of the implications of these developments, and recommends program modifications. Advises the Commander, subordinate commanders, managers, and other key staff in the development of appropriate guidelines, policies, procedures, and alternative course of actions. Prepares and issues safety guidelines for readiness training.

2. Provides safety advice and guidance on the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards and consensus standards. Establishes a schedule and conducts compliance inspections on work sites, industrial operations, repair and maintenance facilities, ammunition and chemical storage facilities, dining facilities, laundry points, rail operations, watercraft operations, administrative facilities, tactical operations, and diverse equipment operations. Conducts hazard risk analysis, assigns risk assessment codes, and recommends risk mitigation measures. Conducts job hazard surveys and develops safe working procedures. Recommends abatement options to leaders. Acts as the safety liaison to environmental and logistics organizations where health, safety and environmental laws and regulations interface. Develops, coordinates, and prepares supplements command guidelines and regulations in the form of directives and hazard notification messages. Develops policy for hazardous material handling. Develops plans and programs to achieve and maintain compliance with federal laws and regulations, to include Department of Defense (DOD), Department of the Army (DA), OSHA, and command regulatory guidance. Provides verbal and written directions to subordinate units on all occupational safety and health issues

3. Acts as expert advisor to the District Engineer and others on matters relating to safety and occupational health. Determines and advises functional managers of the need for initiating new approaches, or redirecting management efforts to deal with existing safety problems. Establishes and maintains liaison with other governmental jurisdictions and private parties in a cooperative effort on safety matters of mutual concern. Specifies and evaluates, as appropriate, various types of protective equipment such as body harnesses, eye protection, life vests, safety ropes, and safety nets to ensure compliance with applicable safety criteria.

4. Establishes and maintains a systematic compilation and analysis of mishap data and hazards to property. Interprets and evaluates accumulated information and initiates appropriate corrective action where reports or surveys indicate serious concerns in accident experience, such as unsatisfactory action or occurrences, or where hazardous conditions or inadequate safety preparation is shown to exist. Prepares a variety of reports on safety activities and progress.

5. Develops and conducts safety education courses through formal training sessions, guest lectures, and supervisor-employee discussions. Publicizes safety articles and disseminates safety educational materials to a diverse workforce. Preparation may consist of ensuring an interpreter is available to ensure the audience receives safety education and awareness. Provides for special and other safety training for District personnel and provides assistance in personnel training and development programs. Makes significant contributions and often participates in the preparation of

of local manuals, standards, or guidelines relative to safety matters.

6. Provides for the review of engineering plans and specifications for proposed projects within the District relative to conformance with safety standards and procedures. This includes evaluating the application of safety policy and criteria in the plans, designs, specifications, operating and maintenance procedures, and training programs, as well as the review of accident prevention plans and specific site safety and health plans of contractors for proposed work in the District.

Other Conditions and Requirements

Must be a current US Citizen to apply.

Must be able to obtain and maintain an official government passport. 

Must be able to meet CENTCOM medical standards listing medical disqualifiers: https://www.centcom.mil/Portals/6/MEDICAL/MOD17_Tab_A.pdf

Duty station Kuwait: No Danger Pay, 15% Post Differential, 48 hours of paid Overtime/pay period, Sunday Premium Pay, $123/day Per Diem in Govt-provided lodging.  Personal Leave authorized for 1-year tour.

HIS POSITION REQUIRES A SECRET CLEARANCE WORK MAY ENTAIL EXTENDED WORK SHIFT OF 12-16 HOURS A DAY. GENERALLY, INDOOR WORK LOCATION HAS POWER, WATER, HEATING, AND AIR CONDITIONING, ALTHOUGH OUTAGES SHOULD BE EXPECTED. LACK OF SLEEP MAY OCCUR DUE TO LONG WORK HOURS AND UNCOMFORTABLE LIVING CONDITIONS. EMPLOYEE WILL REPORT SYMPTOMS OF STRESS AND FATIGUE TO THE ON-SITE SUPERVISOR. LIVING CONDITIONS RANGE FROM HAVING ONE OR MORE OF THESE AMENITIES. EMPLOYEES WHO NEED TO STORE REFRIGERATED MEDICATION SHALL PRIOR TO DEPARTURE FROM THE PRIMARY DUTY STATION, INFORM THE LOCAL EOC SO AVAILABILITY OF REFRIGERATION AT THE WORK SITE CAN BE DETERMINED. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AT WORK LOCATIONS MAY RANGE FROM EXCESSIVE HEAT AND HUMIDITY TO EXTREME COLD AND RAINY. SOME LOCATIONS REQUIRE THAT THE EMPLOYEE BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN STABLE MOBILITY IN SANDY AND UNSTABLE TERRAIN. ALTHOUGH SOME WORK IS SEDENTARY, WORK CONDITIONS SUCH AS ERGONOMIC ISSUES RELATED TO LIFTING AND CARRYING, SEATING, OR VIDEO DISPLAY TERMINALS; REPETITIVE MOTION INJURY FROM USING COMPUTERS, AND THE LIKE MAY BE EXPECTED.

This position is designated as emergency-essential (E-E). The position cannot be converted to a military position because it requires uninterrupted performance to provide immediate and continuing support operations and/or support maintenance and repair of combat essential systems. This position may not be filled by a military reservist. In the event of an emergency situation, the incumbent must continue to perform the E-E duties until relieved by proper authority. Failure to remain in your position may result in separation for the efficiency of the Federal service. Incumbent must complete and sign DD Form 2365 (DoD Civilian Employee Overseas Emergency Essential Position Agreement). Due to the strenuous nature of some deployed assignments, the incumbent may be required to meet certain medical requirements (be free of any health or medical condition that would prevent the employee from performing duties under austere conditions). Incumbent may be subject to medical examination, immunizations (this may include the series of anthrax vaccine immunizations to include annual boosters and other immunizations that may in the future be required), DNA sampling, HIV testing, etc. Adequate medical facilities may not be available within the area of deployment to support certain medical conditions or medications that require special handling.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor

To learn more, please visit the Office of Equal Opportunity (https://www.eeoc.gov/federal-sector/federal-employees-job-applicants).

Qualifications

Candidates will be evaluated IAW OPM Requirements: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/

Reasonable Accommodation

Reasonable accommodation is available to qualified employees with disabilities. You can request a reasonable accommodation at any time during the application process, hiring process or while on the job. Requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.