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Industrial Hygienist

U.S. Department of Labor
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Open 09/04/2026 to 09/09/2026

Location: Hartford, CT

Salary: $69,642 - $131,293 per year based on grade

This position is with the U. S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Boston Region, Hartford, CT Area Office.

  • The full performance level for this position is a GS-12.
  • Position is in the Bargaining Unit.
  • Selectee will be expected to report to the office listed above.

Major Duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

GS-09:

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Conducts research assignments using internet technology to prepare for on-site inspections or in response to requests for information.
  • 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.

GS-11:

  • Plans and conducts 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.
  • Gains compliance with published standards by exchanging information, communicating findings and advice, and coordinating work efforts. Contacts often involve dealing with uncooperative persons and include serious technical disagreements and difficult labor-management relations.
  • Conducts research assignments using internet technology to prepare for on-site 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.
  • Conducts specific (targeted) outreach activities and provides information on OSHA legislation, regulations, and compliance activities to a variety of different audiences.
  • Communicates orally and in writing, in order to communicate basic occupational safety and health information and guidance, participate in some outreach activities, and provide technically accurate information generated by requests for information.

GS-12:

  • Reviews scientific literature related to health hazards in the workplace, compiles data, performs quantitative analysis of health and exposure data, analyzes comments from affected groups and assists in preparing all necessary documents, including decision papers, work plans, analyses, standards package and related documents. Prepares draft sections of the preamble for proposed and final standards, draft and final guidance products, and other documents.
  • Analyzes inspection records, conducts investigations and prepares reports, evaluates on-site inspections, and as requested, accompanies state investigators on compliance visits.
  • Assesses the quality and uniformity an inspection program, identifies areas of state program operations which significantly deviate from federal requirements, and recommends corrective action. Interviews state officials with findings of potential problems.
  • Assists in the preparation and review of directives and memoranda to provide field personnel information on health standards development and in providing technical information for the drafting of interpretations. Prepares seminars and speeches on OSHA rulemaking/guidance activities at meetings of groups and organizations affected by or interested in such activities. Skill in technical writing of governmental regulations and guidance.
  • Collects, compiles, studies, and analyzes developments in industry, standards developed by other organizations, safety and health reports, scientific and technical periodicals, and other sources of background information to determine pertinent factors which make up work processes and health hazards created by such factors. With other occupational health specialists or industrial hygienists, visits industrial facilities to analyze work processes and health hazards evidenced.

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

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.
  • This position requires the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
  • You will be required to lift items weighing up to 25 lbs.
  • Requires a valid driver's license.

Qualifications

 

THIS POSITION HAS A BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT. ALL APPLICANTS MUST MEET THIS REQUIREMENT IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED.

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

  • A bachelor's or graduate/higher level degree in industrial hygiene, occupational health sciences, occupational and environmental health, toxicology, safety sciences, or related science; or
  • A bachelor's degree in a branch of engineering, physical science, or life science that included 12 semester hours in chemistry, including organic chemistry, and 18 additional semester hours of courses in any combination of chemistry, physics, engineering, health physics, environmental health, biostatistics, biology, physiology, toxicology, epidemiology, or industrial hygiene; or
  • Certification from the Board for Global EHS Credentialing (formerly American Board of Industrial Hygiene(external link) (ABIH)).

Courses in the history or teaching of chemistry are not acceptable.

Evaluation of Education: All science or engineering courses offered in fulfillment of the above requirements must be acceptable for credit toward the completion of a standard 4-year professional curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in science or engineering at an accredited college or university.

Evaluation of Experience: Qualifying experience involves the recognition, evaluation, corrective actions, and elimination of environmental conditions in the workplace that causes sickness, impaired health, or illness. This experience must demonstrate a professional knowledge of the theory and application of the principles of industrial hygiene and closely related sciences such as physics and engineering controls.

Such work must have involved experience in all of the following areas: the acquisition of quantitative and qualitative data, and the measurement of exposures for a variety of chemical, physical, and biological stresses; the analysis of the data acquired and the prediction of probable effects of exposures on the health and well-being of workers; and the selection and recommendation of appropriate controls, including management, medical, engineering, education or training, and personal protective equipment.

You must meet the "Individual Occupational Requirements" listed above and the "Specialized Experience" to qualify for INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST, 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:

  • Assisting in the planning of or conducting of occupational safety or occupational health inspections
  • Conducting research and studies records or files regarding Occupational safety or occupational health mishaps/accidents
  • Identifying occupational health and safety hazard
  • Assisting in or knowledge of calculating penalties to be assessed based on the gravity of occupational safety and/or occupational health violations

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 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:

  • Assisting in the planning and conducting of evaluations of workplace operations involving potentially hazardous environmental conditions
  • Conducting formal interviews to identify unhealthful working conditions or causes of injuries/illnesses/fatalities
  • Developing occupational safety or occupational health investigation or inspection reports
  • Calculating penalties to be assessed based on the (a) gravity of occupational safety or occupational health violations and (b) the severity of possible injury or illness and the probability that such could occur

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.

At the GS-12 level: In addition to meeting the basic education requirement, Applicants must have at least 52 weeks 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-11. This experience may have been gained either in the Federal or Private sectors. Resume should reflect but is not limited to the following specialized experience listed below:

  • Investigating occupational health complaints
  • Conducting file and/or record reviews, to include case files of previous occupational health investigations and inspections
  • Conducting occupational health investigations and/or occupational health inspections
  • Conducting workplace analyses and reviewing the occupational safety and health programs of employers and businesses
  • Writing occupational safety and/or occupational health reports
  • Testifying during and/or working with counsel in the development of litigation pursuant to occupational safety and/or occupational health cases.

Education is not a substitution for experience at the GS-12 level.