Chemical Hygienist Compliance Specialist

Innovative Consulting & Management Services (ICMS) is a Professional & Technical Management Consulting firm with over 20 years of consulting experience. We offer technical professional services to Federal and State Governments, and Commercial clients.

ICMS is a Small Business and Certified HUBZone employer. We deliver value to our clients by combining deep industry knowledge with strong functional capabilities. Our focus is to manage cost-effective programs while at the same time mitigating risk and improving results. Our success is about teamwork, a coordinated effort from all disciplines, from clients to consultants and most important, it’s about delivering on our commitments. 

The purpose of this position is to provide chemical hygienist compliance support at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Services’ Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) in Beltsville, MD. The BARC conducts cutting-edge research to solve agricultural problems, improve the quality and safety of food, feed, and fiber, and ensure efficient, sustainable production systems that benefit both producers and consumers. Its work includes a broad range of disciplines, from animal and human nutrition to crop protection, natural resource management, and the development of advanced technologies for the agricultural sector.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The primary responsibilities of the position will include but not limited to:

• Serve  as the Chemical hygienist for BARC campus. Position should collect and analyze samples to identify levels of pollution at the workplace. They can relay safe work practices and operational procedures to employees. They are well versed in proffering cost-effective solutions for safe and healthy work operation. 
• Position should possess knowledge of a wide variety of safety and health principles, concepts, laws, and regulations relating to chemicals, physical, biological agents, radioactive materials, and hazardous waste to: 
  • Apply National Safety Codes and Standards to scientific research operations; review, evaluate and advise on a range of safety and occupational health activities impacting an agricultural center with a highly diverse research environment; evaluate safety, health and environmental practices within Beltsville ARS, USNA, and DC and ensure compliance with all applicable laws and standards. 
  • Devise specialized methods and techniques to minimize unsafe operations; determine hazard levels, conduct inspections, review reports, plans and drawings, and prepare written documentation; and establish guidelines in accordance with agency policy. 
• Serve as principal chemical hygiene advisor and technical consultant to the SHEM Compliance Manager, Agency, directors, and managers, supervisors, and employees. 
• Formulate chemical hygiene policy program objectives and guidelines for approval by the Agency SHEM Manager and site Director. 
• Provide  policies, plans, and procedures necessary to be included in the Agency’s SHEM program as they relate to the chemical safety and health of  government employees. 
• Provide  Health oversight and program administration over operations involving research and development. Must deal daily with the following types of hazards: 
  • acute/chronic health hazards; 
  • respiratory hazards air borne particulates, toxic fumes and vapors; 
  • confined space hazards; 
  • animals and biological wastes; 
  • hazardous chemical substances and; 
  • performs  all necessary updates to the occupational medical surveillance program. 
• Deliver expert technical chemical hygiene consultation regarding a variety of      issues including but not limited to: 
  • Program Management (SMS), 
  • Permit-Required Confined Spaces, 
  • Respiratory Protection, 
  • Medical Surveillance, 
  • Ventilation,       
  • Hazard  Communication, 
  • Job  Hazard Analysis, 
  • Indoor Air Quality, 
  • Accident  investigations, 
  • Workplace  inspections, and 
  • Personal Protective Equipment. 
• Must possess practical knowledge of construction standards practices, materials, equipment, and utility systems such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to: 
  • Review  the design and construction/renovation of research facilities such as laboratories, containment facilities, radiological facilities, crop or animal facilities, physical plants, offices, growth chambers, confined workspaces, etc., in order to ensure appropriate safety, health, and environmental safeguards; 
  • Identify possible hazardous conditions at facility sites; 
  • Develop new methods and procedures to identify or control hazardous construction processes and equipment usage; techniques and engineering design; and the psychological, physiological and ergonomic factors used to evaluate facilities operations and provide advice and guidance to Beltsville ARS, USNA, and DC Directors, research leaders, and Agency officers. 
• Advanced knowledge of the toxicological hazards and effects of hazardous substances sufficient to apply safety standards for their proper use, storage, and disposal. 
• Possess knowledge of the concepts, principles, and practices of databases and directives, policies, procedures, etc., which outline the basic requirements of the Agency’s information management system and knowledge of the tracking systems utilized for the management of safety programs in order make recommendations to improve operations, eliminate problems, develop solutions, and implement system changes. Experience in ARS systems is beneficial. 
• Knowledgeable of the principles and techniques of written and oral communication to speak and write with clarity and tact and interpersonal skills to write      incident and other reports and memoranda, give instruction; provide written advice and recommendations; prepare compliance review reports; represent the safety and health manager on local community and location committees; and accomplish tasks though cooperative efforts with others. 
• Serve as the technical advisor to Medical Surveillance Program Manager. Manages all chemical hygiene functions within the occupational medical clinic. Works closely with other SOH personnel in developing and validating requirements, data collection forms, and electronic dissemination and retrieval of employee data. Responsible for conducting follow-up validations of employee data when necessary. 
• The  contractor must be willing to become familiar with and utilize Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and USDA and ARS policies, procedures,  techniques, and methods in order to serve as COR on contracts in the area of responsibility (e.g., Hazardous waste, chemical hazards, fire protection monitoring, maintenance and repair and biosafety cabinet      certification). Federal Acquisition Certification (FAC) COR Level 1 is required or must be obtained within the first six months. 
• Must possess a valid driver’s license, which is required to operate vehicles for site visit inspections or to attend training. 
• Be   eligible to obtain USDA accreditation in the state of Maryland within 180 days after the start of the contract and maintain accreditation. 
• Emergencies, call back response time must be within 30 minutes after initial call from the designated authorized government point of contact or alternate. On-site response for emergency calls must be within 90 minutes. For routine (non-emergency) calls that require chemical hygiene assessment or response, the contractor must respond via telephone call within one (1)      business day. 
• Accompany  Government regulatory inspectors during unannounced site inspections of BARC facilities. The contractor will be responsible for drafting and submitting complete records of inspection findings, testing results, prognostic assessments, and recommended abatements to the designated authorized government point of contact or alternate. 
• The      contractor personnel providing these services must have demonstrated expertise with chemical hygiene practices and prior experience performing requested procedures. 
• Review  and interpret proposed/existing laws, regulations statutes, and Executive Orders; suggest program impact; draft new or revised Agency Policy and Procedures, Directives, Notices, and guidance documents; and assist with Agency program implementation. 
• Recommend policies, program requirements, guidance, specifications, environmental sampling, protocol guidelines, evaluation criteria, and standard operating procedures to implement the SHEM program. 
• Coordinate chemical, biological, and radiological safety concerns/issues with appropriate personnel. 
• Recommend  Area/Location goals, objectives, and resource requirements for reducing or eliminating accidents, injuries, illnesses, and damage to the environment.      
• Monitor  and/or assist in the abatement of unsafe/unhealthful working conditions. 
• Assist  in addressing all SHEM program concerns relating to the acquisition and  disposal of real and personal property. 
• Develop  and maintain databases for tracking inspections, injury and illness  analysis, hazard reporting forms, etc. 
• Monitor  construction and environmental operations and provide recommendations  regarding the assurance that projects are carried out as required and in compliance with applicable regulations, policy, standards, guidelines,  specs, etc. 
• Review  and provide recommendations for approval of project designs to ensure they comply with applicable regulations, policy, standards, guidelines, etc. 
• Conduct  and/or review National Environmental Policy Act studies. Develop and submit appropriate documentation for signature. 
• Conduct and/or initiate SHEM studies and develop recommendations for corrective  actions and program improvement. 
• Conduct and/or participate in meetings/teleconferences as necessary to implement the program. 
• Draft SHEM Statements of work 
• Design systems and instruments to facilitate implementation of SHEM programs. 
• Report  internally and/or externally on major accidents/incidents/releases, etc.  as required by policy. 
• Prepare and/or assist in the preparation of assigned SHEM reports as required by the Agency. 
• Assist  in responding to SHEM regulatory inquires, inspection reports, notices of violation, etc. 
• Clearly document all aspects of the SHEM program as required by the Agency. 
• Monitor  and review Agency activities and controls, documents problems, and recommends improvement projects for identified problem areas. 
• Provide technical information to employees, cooperators and visitors regarding matters related to the SHEM program. 
• Conduct inspections and technical reviews including special topic evaluations (as necessary) of all workplaces including follow-up to ensure abatement is conducted. 
• Conduct gap analysis and needs assessments as required by the Agency. 
• Develop improvement projects where SHE deficiencies and/or discrepancies are identified.

• A bachelor’s degree in a scientific or technical field
• Minimum of 7 years of work experience in the industry
• Proficient in Microsoft Office 365 Suite, SharePoint as well as Adobe Acrobat. 
• Proficient in organizing and utilizing MS Teams for communications and project management.
• Effective communicator in both written and oral presentations.

Full-time Day Shift: Monday-Friday, Flexible Start Times

Pay Rate: $90,000 - $125,000/annual

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance 100% covered for employee
• Life and Accidental AD&D Insurance
• 401K retirement plan with 3% automatic contribution
• Generous sick and vacation leave 
• Other generous fringe benefits

ICMS is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability or veteran status, genetics, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. 

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