Mine Safety and Health Inspector

This position is with Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), Vacaville District.

MSHA works to prevent death, illness and injury from mining; promote safe and healthful workplaces for U.S. miners. MSHA carries out the provisions of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act) as amended by the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act of 2006.

Applicants must meet the basic requirements to qualify. This includes specialized experience and/or education as defined below, with examples evident in the resume.

Specialized

Experience:

One year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower level, GS-07, of Federal service. This involves mining, mine engineering, or on‑site mine safety and health inspection experience performing a full range of tasks and operating a variety of equipment in underground or surface mines, or mineral processing plants. Applicants should have knowledge of transportation of materials and workers, ventilation in closed spaces, ground control, roof control (for underground positions), handling and storage of hazardous materials, worksite safety practices, environmental conditions affecting workers, and accident prevention.

Education: Two full academic years of graduate level education or a master’s or equivalent graduate degree in a field of study such as mining engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, industrial engineering, environmental engineering, industrial hygiene, occupational health and safety, geology, chemistry, or other related fields.

Combination of Experience and

Education:

Equivalent combinations of education and experience listed above; the total percentage must equal at least 100%.

Specialized

Experience:

One year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower level, GS-09, of Federal service:
Performing mine safety and health inspection, analysis and evaluation of health/safety aspects of mining operations and processes; or evaluation, analysis or development of agency programs.

Examples of creditable experience include direct on‑site inspection; special accident investigation; development of mine safety and health standards; data analysis and evaluation of operational mine safety and health programs; special assessments; and development of industry‑wide training or safety and health awareness programs.

There is no substitution of education for the required specialized experience at the GS‑11 grade level.

Applicants and employees must be physically able to perform arduous duties efficiently and without hazard to themselves or others. A medical examination is required for all applicants for positions that involve regular or intermittent performance of inspection, investigation, rescue duties, or duties involving on‑site visits.

Medical conditions that constitute a hazard to safe and efficient job performance are disqualifying. The presence of medical disorders that would be aggravated by environmental conditions of these positions and thereby hinder safe and efficient job performance are also disqualifying.

Remediable defects and/or curable diseases will not permanently disqualify an applicant for appointment, but may result in suspension pending submission of medical evidence or correction of the condition.

Uncorrected distant vision must test at least 20/50 Snellen in one eye and 20/70 in the other, correctable with eyeglasses (contact lenses are not acceptable) to at least 20/30 Snellen in one eye and 20/50 in the other. Near vision must be sufficient to read without strain printed material the size of typewritten characters. Normal depth perception and field of vision are required, as is the ability to distinguish basic colors.

Applicants, with or without a hearing aid, must have no hearing loss in either ear of more than 40 decibels in the 500, 1000, or 2000 Hz ranges.