Industrial Hygienist

Summary

This position is located at the Edward Hines Jr VA Hospital System in Hines, IL a Level 1a Complexity VHA Facility, and is organizationally aligned under the Office of the Director.

Primary purpose of this position is to investigate and analyze a variety of problems or conditions in the workplace which may adversely affect the health of workers and to provide or recommend ways of eliminating problems.

Duties

Major duties of this position include, but are not limited to:

• Confers with safety and occupational health specialists to identify techniques and devices for controlling or eliminating safety hazards.
• Ensures laboratories are appropriately decommissioned.
• Works in conjunction with Research Safety Officer to ensure adherence to procedures when closing laboratories, disposing of chemicals, redistributing VA equipment, and decommissioning radioactive equipment.
• Reviews vacated labs to assure compliance and provide an approval from Safety Section.
• Chairperson of Hazardous Waste and Material Management Subcommittee, to include preparing agenda, conduct meeting, distribute meeting minutes, orient new members and advise committee on regulations regarding laboratory safety and conduct.
• Provides safety information to various internal and external committees.
• Prepares quarterly and annual reports regarding Industrial Hygiene program.
• Annually reviews safety manual/chemical hygiene plan for Pathology, Laboratory, and Medicine Services (PLMS), to include review of Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for chemicals in service, service line, and product lines; applicable hospital policies; basic safety guides, etc.
• Maintains master inventory of on-hand chemicals and monitors chemical inventories of various laboratories.
• Monitors chemical inventory, discards chemicals, and ensures chemicals are appropriately stored, i.e., labeled properly, sealed securely, etc.
• Manages industrial hygiene equipment within Safety Section to include performing annual inventory, advising on repair, and arranging disposal.
• Reviews and determines need for replacement equipment and ensures availability of adequate space and resources.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:00am to 3:30pm

Position Description Title/PD#: Industrial Hygienist/PD04231A

Physical Requirements: The work includes frequent inspections or surveys of industrial workplaces, requiring the employee to carry a considerable amount of equipment, and involve a good deal of walking, standing, bending, and climbing.

Work Environment: During inspections or surveys, there is regular exposure to all of the hazards and discomforts to which the workers are subjected, including a wide range of toxic chemicals, physical stresses, and safety hazards., The employe must use a variety of protective equipment and clothing, such as respirators, ear plugs, gloves, coveralls, hard hats, etc.

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