Safety and Occupational Health Specialist

Safety and Occupational Health Specialists collaborate with supervisors, union officials, and safety committees to eliminate or control hazardous operations or conditions at the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks. This role involves nonsupervisory work in inspecting, investigating, recording, analyzing, and reporting on safety and occupational health matters. Key responsibilities include conducting safety and health inspections to identify potential hazards, interpreting and applying OSHA and NFPA codes and regulations, and performing accident investigations. Specialists also analyze or evaluate jobs, processes, products, or systems to determine the existence, severity, probability, and outcome of hazards. They develop and recommend safety and occupational health policies to higher management, and implement programs to reduce the frequency, severity, and cost of accidents and occupational illnesses. Additionally, they train workers, supervisors, managers, and other safety personnel in safety or occupational health subjects. The role requires applying safety and occupational health laws, regulations, principles, theories, practices, and procedures to advise on or resolve technical matters. Specialists may also manage safety or occupational health program elements and inspect or survey workplaces, processes, or products for compliance with established standards.

To qualify, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of 05/18/2026. Time-in-grade requirements apply: for GS-07, 52 weeks at GS-05; for GS-09, 52 weeks at GS-07; for GS-11, 52 weeks at GS-09. Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR): A major in safety or occupational health fields (e.g., safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene) or a related field with at least 24 semester hours in disciplines such as safety, occupational health, industrial hygiene, occupational medicine, toxicology, public health, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biological sciences, engineering, or industrial psychology. Alternatively, specialized experience in safety and occupational health, such as managing program elements, developing policy, applying laws and regulations, analyzing hazards, inspecting workplaces, or training personnel. Certification as a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), or Certified Health Physicist (CHP) may also qualify. For GS-07: one year of specialized experience at GS-05 (e.g., conducting safety inspections, interpreting OSHA/NFPA codes, conducting accident investigations under guidance) OR one full year of graduate-level education or superior academic achievement. For GS-09: one year of specialized experience at GS-07 (e.g., conducting safety inspections, interpreting OSHA/NFPA codes, conducting accident investigations, using electronic databases for documentation) OR a master's or equivalent graduate degree or two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education. Education and experience may be combined.

The Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks provides healthcare services to veterans in the Ozarks region, including clinical and support services.