Tentative Classification Standards issued by the Division of Classification & Compensation are shared with the operating agencies of State government for their consideration and comment. Accordingly, this document that you are viewing is subject to change and will be issued in final form at the completion of the review period.

TENTATIVE                              

Occ. Code 7840300

 

SENIOR INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST, GRADE 20                                              7840300

ASSOCIATE INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST, GRADE 23                                       7840400

SUPERVISING INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST, GRADE 27                                    7840600

 

New York State Department of Civil Service

 

Classification Standard

 

 

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CLASS SERIES

 

Industrial Hygienists conduct occupational health inspections and consultations of office buildings or facilities operated by the State of New York, any of its political subdivisions, and private sector companies to determine, or advise on, compliance with applicable State and federal health standards. The inspections or consultations are conducted to identify and evaluate health standards violations and occupational health hazards of a complex nature, particularly those associated with exposure to toxic or explosive chemicals and substances in the form of dusts, fibers (including asbestos), fumes, mists, vapors, gases, metals, pathogenic organisms as well as other hazards such as noise and vibrations, extremes of temperature and humidity, light of various types, and other physical energies including electromagnetic emissions and non-ionizing and ionizing radiation.

 

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

 

SENIOR INDUSTRIAL HYGIENISTS: entry level; performs inspections and provides consultative services.

          ASSOCIATE INDUSTRIAL HYGIENISTS: first supervisory level; supervises and trains lower level industrial hygiene staff; handles complex health inspections and consultations, such as those involving biological hazards.

 

SUPERVISING INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST: one position class; second-supervisory level; assist in planning and coordinating Department of Labor industrial hygiene consultative services.

 

RELATED CLASS

 

          Safety and Health Inspectors conduct safety inspections or consultations of work sites to assure conformance with New York State or federal occupational safety and health standards to assure conformance with established occupational safety and health standards, to identify unsafe conditions and work practices, to provide training and to protect workers and the public. They are primarily concerned with assuring a safe physical environment for employees and the public at such sites as ski tows, amusement facilities, places of public assembly, state and municipal office buildings, mines and quarries and at sites utilizing window cleaning scaffolding and equipment.

 

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

 

SENIOR INDUSTRIAL HYGIENISTS: inspects publicly and privately owned and operated work sites to evaluate materials, work processes and by-products to determine the presence and degree of health hazards and violations; studies the nature of the work, materials, processes and equipment used that may effect the occupational health of employees at the facility; interprets standards for the employer; interviews employees to obtain information concerning the work environment; takes measurements to identify and quantify hazards that are potentially harmful to the health of workers; prepares and calibrates instruments and collects samples for laboratory testing; uses industrial hygiene principles in preparing recommendations to employers for the abatement of job health hazards noted during on-site consultations; meets with management and employee representatives upon completion of walk-through of the premises; recommends, after consultation with supervisor, abatement measures for control of health hazards for which no applicable standard is available; takes appropriate measures to protect employees in imminent danger situations; prepares narrative reports of inspections or consultations to include citations of applicable health standards violated, orders or corrective recommendations issued and dates by which compliance is expected; assists on special studies to evaluate requests for variances from employers; schedules follow-up visits to determine actions taken by employers to abate hazards and comply with orders and recommendations; and assists in preparing material for informal hearings, formal appeal proceedings and litigation and provide testimony.

 

ASSOCIATE INDUSTRIAL HYGIENISTS: conducts occupational health inspections and consultations; researches and interprets various laws, rules and regulations such as Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), and Public Employee Safety & Health Bureau (PESH); identifies violations of electrical, chemical, biological, radiological, laser safety and waste disposal policies; directs employers to correct deficiencies, provides assistance correcting violations, and prepares violation notices; prepares comprehensive reports on the findings of on-site visits; supervises chemical waste disposal; performs hazardous waste determinations pursuant to New York State environmental regulations; conducts review of written consultation survey reports submitted by industrial hygiene staff; confers with staff to assist with resolution of occupational health issues; conducts training for staff, and public or private sector employers and employees; provides expert technical assistance to employers, managers, and employees on OSHA programs, standards, regulations, policies, and procedures; analyzes collected data, evaluates results, and recommends cost-effective remedies for safety and health issues; conducts comprehensive health surveys for employers; and assists in preparing material for informal hearings, formal appeal proceedings and litigation and provide testimony.

 

SUPERVISING INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST: determines priorities for requests for on-site industrial hygiene consultative services; coordinates the services of industrial hygiene field staff to ensure the consistent use of uniform directives and policies; reviews reports by industrial hygiene staff; ensures that industrial hygienists are fully trained in the most current procedures and policies and knowledgeable in all areas in which they might be expected to operate; evaluates recommendations made for correction of health hazards by staff; conducts training for staff, and public or private sector employers and employees; assists the Safety and Health Program Manager to ensure that employers have effective health programs; makes recommendations regarding employer exemptions; may conduct on-site consultations in complex or sensitive situations to identify and quantify hazards; prepares reports for managers; assists in monitoring statewide expenditures; and attends meetings and conferences representing Safety and Health Program Managers.

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

 

SENIOR INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST

 

Open Competitive: bachelors degree in biological sciences, engineering science, engineering, environmental health, environmental sciences, industrial hygiene, occupational health, occupational safety, or physical sciences, including eight semester credit hours in chemistry and completion of a two-year traineeship.

 

ASSOCIATE INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST

 

Promotion: one year of service as a Senior Industrial Hygienist.

 

          SUPERVISING INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST

 

Promotion: one year of service as an Associate Industrial Hygienist.

 

Date:  6/17

 

NOTE:  Classification Standards illustrate the nature, extent and scope of duties and responsibilities of the classes they describe.  Standards cannot and do not include all of the work that might be appropriately performed by a class.  The minimum qualifications above are those which were required for appointment at the time the Classification Standard was written.  Please contact the Division of Staffing Services for current information on minimum qualification requirements for appointment or examination.