Position Classification Standard for Industrial …

1 Industrial hygiene Series, GS-0690 TS-46 October 1980 Position Classification Standard for Industrial hygiene Series, GS-0690 Table of Contents SERIES OCCUPATIONAL EVALUATION OF GRADE CONVERSION FACTOR LEVEL FACTOR 1, KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED BY THE FACTOR 2, SUPERVISORY FACTOR 3, FACTOR 4, FACTOR 5, SCOPE and FACTOR 6, PERSONAL FACTOR 7, PURPOSE OF FACTOR 8, PHYSICAL FACTOR 9, WORK OPM BENCHMARK DESCRIPTIONS:..24 Industrial HYGIENIST GS-0690-05, BMK # Industrial HYGIENIST GS-0690-07, BMK # Industrial HYGIENIST GS-0690-07, BMK # Industrial HYGIENIST GS-0690-09, BMK # Industrial HYGIENIST GS-0690-09, BMK # Industrial HYGIENIST GS-0690-11, BMK # Industrial HYGIENIST GS-0690-11, BMK # Industrial HYGIENIST GS-0690-11, BMK # Industrial HYGIENIST GS-0690-12, BMK # Industrial HYGIENIST GS-0690-12, BMK # Industrial HYGIENIST GS-0690-12, BMK # Industrial HYGIENIST GS-0690-12, BMK # Industrial HYGIENIST GS-0690-12, BMK # Industrial HYGIENIST GS-0690-12, BMK # Industrial HYGIENIST GS-0690-12, BMK # Industrial HYGIENIST GS-0690-13, BMK # Industrial HYGIENIST GS-0690-13, BMK # Industrial HYGIENIST GS-0690-14.

2 BMK # Industrial hygiene AND SAFETY MANAGER GS-0690-15, BMK # Office of Personnel Management 1 Industrial hygiene Series, GS-0690 TS-46 October 1980 SERIES DEFINITION This series includes all classes of positions the duties of which are to advise on, administer, supervise, manage, or perform professional and scientific work in Industrial hygiene , including the identification and evaluation of conditions affecting the health and efficiency of employees, or the citizens of the adjacent community, the formulation and recommendation of measures to eliminate or control occupational health hazards, and the promotion of occupational health programs for instructing and motivating managers and employees in the prevention as well as correction of potential health hazards.

3 EXCLUSIONS Excluded from this series are the following classes of positions: Positions which primarily involve the elimination or control of physical (such as mechanical) conditions, operating practices or other factors which may result in traumatic injury to persons or damage to property and which require knowledge of the principles, standards , and techniques of safety are classified in the Safety Management Series, GS-0018. Industrial hygiene , on the other hands is concerned with potential health hazards associated primarily with chemical, biological, and physical agents, and requires a fundamental grounding in the basic sciences. Thus, safety management primarily focuses on the workplace and Industrial hygiene primarily focuses on the prevention of occupational illness or disease.

4 However, some overlap occurs between these occupations. For example, either might conduct evaluations of stresses involving ergonomic factors, or observe safety hazards and suggest corrective measures. Pharmacologists and toxicologists apply professional and scientific knowledge of the source, chemical and physical properties, action, absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and use of drugs or toxic substances and related chemicals. Such positions are classified to the Pharmacology Series, GS-0405. The Industrial hygienist, on the other hand, is concerned with those toxic substances found in the workplace, and with their methods of control. Positions primarily concerned with the elimination and prevention of biological health hazards for the promotion of a clean and healthful environment, and the prevention of the spread of communicable disease are classified in the Sanitarian Series, GS-0688.

5 Sanitarians typically perform work in environmental health relating to such matters as milk and dairy products, food sanitation, water supply, refuse and waste control, insect and rodent control. They may inspect recreation areas, housing and care facilities and institutions for cleanliness, ventilation, and other health conditions. Industrial hygienists, on the other hand, are primarily concerned with occupational health hazards arising in or from the workplace. Office of Personnel Management 2 Industrial hygiene Series, GS-0690 TS-46 October 1980 Positions concerned with the control or elimination of Industrial health hazards through the design and installation of engineering controls, which require full professional competence in a branch of engineering, are classified in the appropriate professional engineering series.

6 Industrial hygienists also recommend (or prescribe) engineering controls to eliminate Industrial health hazards; however, the work requires only limited knowledge of engineering, covering such areas as ventilation, air sampling, personal protective equipment, noise, and engineering control methods. Positions that involve professional engineering work to eliminate or control physical conditions, operating practices, and other factors which may result in traumatic injury to persons, or damage to property, and which require professional knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques of engineering are classified in the Safety Engineering Series, GS-0803. Professional engineering positions concerned with the design, construction, and operation of facilities for the protection and improvement of air, land, and water resources in order to provide a clean and healthful environment are classified in the Environmental Engineering Series, GS-0819.

7 In matters of air and water pollution control, and waste disposal, there is an overlap of interest, although in general the Industrial hygienist provides expert guidance on the types of facilities or controls required, while the environmental engineer is primarily concerned with the actual design and construction of such facilities. However, it should be noted that Industrial hygienists recommend action on unsanitary conditions observed in the course of Industrial hygiene surveys, and investigate the of disease and infection which may result from inadequate waste disposal systems, contamination of water supply or sterilization equipment, defective plumbing, or similar conditions. Additionally, Industrial hygienists may specialize in air pollution aspects of occupational health, which includes a knowledge of toxicology, chemistry, and engineering pertinent to air pollution.

8 The Mechanical Engineering Series, GS-0830, includes positions concerned with (a) heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems (temperature and humidity control of a confined environment); (b) mechanical aspects of water supply systems such as pumps, plumbing, and boiler water treatment systems; and (c) automotive and other powerplants affecting air pollution. (See the Classification Standard for the Mechanical Engineering Series, GS-0830.) The Industrial hygienist is concerned with those aspects of mechanical engineering, such as ventilation and air pollution, which pertain to use of engineering methods to control health hazards found in the workplace. Positions involving professional work in the design or layout of chemical processing plants, chemical processing equipment, chemical production processes, work methods, and procedures are classifiable to the Chemical Engineering Series, GS-0893, when the design or layout work is based predominantly upon a professional knowledge of the chemical reactions occurring in the materials being produced.

9 While chemistry and engineering are both significant to the practice of Industrial Office of Personnel Management 3 Industrial hygiene Series, GS-0690 TS-46 October 1980 hygiene , the Industrial hygienist concentrates on identifying and controlling chemical as well as other toxic agents in a variety of work environments which are potential hazards to health. Professional work concerned primarily with protection from unwanted exposure to ionizing radiation, and which has as its paramount requirement a professional knowledge of health physics is classified in the Health Physics Series, GS-1306. It should be noted that the identification, evaluation and control of radiological health hazards is one aspect of Industrial hygiene and typically the Industrial hygienist is trained to deal with radiological health problems common to most Industrial activities.

10 The need for health physics positions becomes pronounced as sources of radiation increase in variety and intensity. Positions involving work that requires full professional education and training in the field of chemistry are classified to the Chemistry Series, GS-1320. Technical support work in conducting inspections or surveys, calibrating and maintaining instruments, collecting samples and related duties requiring less than full professional competence in the field of Industrial hygiene is classified in the Environmental Health Technician Series, GS-0698, the Health Aid and Technician Series, GS-0640, the Physical Science Technician Series, GS-1311, or other appropriate technician for Federal Wage System series. TITLES " Industrial Hygienist" is the authorized title for nonsupervisory positions classifiable to this series.