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Industrial Hygiene Specialist, State Compensation Insurance Fund Series

​Industrial Hygiene Specialist, State Compensation Insurance Fund Series

California State Personnel Board Specification

Series established September 1, 1976

Scope

This series specification describes five levels of professional classes used in the State Compensation Insurance Fund which specialize in industrial hygiene and occupational health activities. Positions in these classes provide consultation and direction to field offices of the State Compensation Insurance Fund on industrial hygiene and occupational health problems, integrate occupational health programs and concepts into standard safety programs for the State Fund's clients, and perform industrial hygiene investigations.

 

Industrial Hygiene Specialist, State Compensation Insurance Fund Series Specification - Class Titles and Codes
Schem CodeClass CodeClass
WH576230Junior Industrial Hygiene Specialist, State Compensation Insurance Fund
WH569322Assistant Industrial Hygiene Specialist, State Compensation Insurance Fund
WH559321Associate Industrial Hygiene Specialist, State Compensation Insurance Fund (Abolished 01/15/2019 per Pay Letter 19-04)
WH549320Senior Industrial Hygiene Specialist, State Compensation Insurance Fund
WH536231Supervising Industrial Hygiene Specialist, State Compensation Insurance Fund

Definition of Series

Classes in this series are involved in organizing and conducting industrial hygiene studies of the State Fund insureds' operations, and in evaluating the results of those studies. Incumbents develop internal occupational health standards, procedures and policies; review existing policies and recommend revisions where appropriate; and provide training and assistance to the safety personnel of the State Fund.

 

This series differs from the Industrial Hygienists class series in which positions are primarily involved with the enforcement of standards and have the authority to force a work location to cease operations if it continues, after warning, to operate outside of standards established by the OSHA. The specialists for the State Fund are involved in advising and assisting policy holders rather than acting as enforcement officers of specific safety measures. The specialists provide a competitive consulting service to key State Fund insureds and assist State Fund's claims adjusters with evaluation of occupational disease claims under workers' compensation.

 

Individuals in this series are occupational health professionals who have expertise and strong specialization in one or more phases of biological, chemical or toxicological factors, effects, and control measures or in the areas of engineering and technical control operations and industrial processes encountered in State Fund insured work places.

Factors Affecting Position Allocation

The scope and level of responsibilities assigned, complexity of work, independence and consequence of action, impact of decision making on the State Fund's program, and the degree of supervision exercised and received serve as differentiating factors between levels.

Entry Levels

Typical entry into this series is through the Junior level. Entry from outside State service, or from other series in State service, may be at any level.

Definition of Levels

Junior Industrial Hygiene Specialist, State Compensation Insurance Fund

This is the trainee level. Under close supervision of other professional staff, performs the less complex industrial hygiene field work; assists higher level professional staff in conducting preliminary surveys of insured's occupational environments, and in studies of potential health hazards of specific substances or in specific industries or processes; prepares reports of findings and makes recommendations for the control of hazardous conditions for review by other industrial hygiene personnel; assists in the construction and use of special field apparatus for monitoring or collecting samples; researches and collects statistics and data from industrial hygiene studies; assists with calibration of industrial hygiene instrumentation; prepares correspondence; and does other related work.

Assistant Industrial Hygiene Specialist, State Compensation Insurance Fund

This is the first working professional level. Under direction, performs industrial hygiene work of average difficulty; conducts preliminary industrial hygiene studies of insured's specific operations, evaluates and interprets results and makes recommendations; contributes to the development of internal occupational health standards and procedures; consults with field personnel on typical occupational health questions; assists in the development of industrial hygiene training programs for field personnel; assists in the design, construction and use of special field apparatus; collects statistics and information from industrial hygiene studies; prepares reports, dictates correspondence; and does other related work.

Associate Industrial Hygiene Specialist, State Compensation Insurance Fund

This is the full journeyperson professional level. Under general direction performs difficult industrial hygiene studies of insured's operations and evaluates the results; assists in the development of internal occupational health standards, procedures and policies; reviews existing policies and recommends revisions where appropriate; consults with field safety personnel on difficult occupational health questions; identifies the training and education needs of key safety personnel; develops special educational programs and coordinates and administers instruction; applies basic chemical and physical principles to solve problems of measurement and evaluation; utilizes chemical and mechanical procedures to suggest control measure alternatives for situations presenting hazards to health in industry; analyzes heat, illumination, radiation, noise, vibration, vapors, gases, and other physical factors in industrial situations; designs and executes field studies to evaluate the total working environment in a given industry; may act as lead analyst for one or more Assistant Industrial Hygiene Specialist in connection with studies or special projects; prepares reports and dictates correspondence; and does other related work.

Senior Industrial Hygiene Specialist, State Compensation Insurance Fund

This is the first supervisory level of the series. Under general direction, is responsible for an industrial hygiene program in an assigned subject-matter function, or for the industrial hygiene consultation services work for insured employers in an assigned geographic area; performs the more complex industrial hygiene work; plans, assigns and supervises the work of one or more industrial hygiene staff members in an assigned geographic area, or works independently in a staff capacity on complex industrial hygiene problems, or in coordinating or conducting major on-site surveys and consultations; consults with management and professional staff and makes recommendations for the prevention, elimination or control of identified occupational health problems; develops, reviews and recommends internal occupational health/industrial hygiene standards, procedures and policies; coordinates with other State Fund departments to assure total, planned portfolio profitability and competitive services packages; identifies, develops and coordinates administration of technical industrial hygiene training and education for field safety personnel; maintains liaison with various governmental agencies and professional organizations to provide accurate and timely information to internal management personnel, field safety personnel and insureds; assigns and evaluates the work of subordinates; prepares and reviews correspondence and reports; and does other related work.

Supervising Industrial Hygiene Specialist, State Compensation Insurance Fund

This is the second supervisory level. Under general direction, is responsible for work of the highest level of technical and professional expertise; plans, organizes and directs the State Fund industrial hygiene consultation work; develops and evaluates health policies; conducts and participates in meetings with department staff and others concerning occupational health safety matters; through subordinate supervisors, determines priorities, assigns work, evaluates staff performance; prepares and reviews correspondence and reports; establishes and monitors annual operating plans and budgets for offices statewide; maintains liaison and represents the State Fund with other governmental agencies, labor, management, and State Fund insureds statewide, and the public, and as assigned, represents the State Fund occupational health and safety program on departmental, agency, or interagency committees or task forces; and does other related work.

Minimum Qualifications

Junior Industrial Hygiene Specialist, State Compensation Insurance Fund

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with major work in industrial hygiene, environmental health, engineering, chemistry, biology, physics, medicine, public health, toxicology or in a field directly related to occupational health.

Assistant Industrial Hygiene Specialist, State Compensation Insurance Fund

Experience: Either

 

1. One year of experience performing duties of a Junior Industrial Hygiene Specialist, State Compensation Insurance Fund, or one year experience in the California state service performing the duties of a Junior Industrial Hygienist. or

 

2. Two years of increasingly responsible professional or technical industrial hygiene experience in identifying, evaluating and controlling health hazards in work places, and developing, evaluating and implementing occupational health programs. This experience shall include at least one year in a position comparable in level, responsibility and duties to that of a Junior Industrial Hygiene Specialist in California state service. (A Master's Degree in Industrial Hygiene, Chemistry, Environmental Health, Public Health, Engineering, Toxicology or a closely related curriculum may be substituted for up to two years of the required experience on a year-for-year basis.) and Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with major work in industrial hygiene chemistry, biology, engineering, physics, public health, medicine, environmental health, toxicology or a field directly related to occupational health.

Associate Industrial Hygiene Specialist, State Compensation Insurance Fund

Experience: Either

 

1. One year of experience performing duties of an Assistant Industrial Hygiene Specialist, State Compensation Insurance Fund, or one year experience in California state service performing the duties of Assistant Industrial Hygienist. or

 

2. Three years of increasingly responsible professional or technical industrial hygiene experience in identifying, evaluating and controlling health hazards in work places, and developing, evaluating and implementing occupational health programs. This experience shall include at least two years in a position comparable in level, responsibility and duties to that of Assistant Industrial Hygiene Specialist in California state service. (A Master's Degree in Industrial Hygiene, Chemistry, Environmental Health, Public Health, Engineering, Toxicology or a closely related curriculum may be substituted for up two years of the required experience on a year-for-year basis.) and Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with major work in industrial hygiene, chemistry, biology, engineering, physics, public health, medicine, environmental health, toxicology or a field directly related to occupational health.

Senior Industrial Hygiene Specialist, State Compensation Insurance Fund

Possession of a Certificate in the comprehensive Practice of Industrial Hygiene issued by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene. (Applicants who do not have this certificate will be admitted to the examination if they can demonstrate that they have been accepted by the appropriate board for candidacy for the certification, but they must secure the certificate before they will be considered eligible for appointment.) and Experience: Either

 

1. One year of experience performing duties of an Associate Industrial Hygiene Specialist, State Compensation Insurance Fund, or one-year experience in the California state service performing the duties of an Associate Industrial Hygienist. or

 

2. Five years of increasingly responsible professional or technical industrial hygiene experience in identifying, evaluating and controlling health hazards in work places, and developing, evaluating and implementing occupational health programs. The experience shall include at least two years of which shall have been in the field of industrial hygiene in a position comparable in level to that of an Associate Industrial Hygiene Specialist in California state service. (A Master's Degree in Industrial Hygiene, Chemistry, Environmental Health, Public Health, Engineering, Toxicology or a closely related curriculum may be substituted for up to two years of the required experience on a year-for-year basis.) and Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with major work in industrial hygiene, chemistry, biology, engineering, physics, public health, medicine, environmental health, toxicology or a field directly related to occupational health.

Supervising Industrial Hygiene Specialist, State Compensation Insurance Fund

Possession of a Certificate in the Comprehensive Practice of Industrial Hygiene issued by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene. (Applicants who do not have the certificate will be admitted to the examination if they can demonstrate that they have been accepted by the appropriate board for candidacy for the certification, but they must secure the certificate before they will be considered eligible for appointment.) and Experience: Either

 

1. One year of experience performing duties of a Senior Industrial Hygiene Specialist, State Compensation Insurance Fund, or one year experience in the California state service performing the duties of a Senior Industrial Hygienist. or

 

2. Five years of broad and extensive professional or technical industrial hygiene experience in identifying, evaluating and controlling health hazards in work places, and developing, evaluating and implementing occupational health programs. This experience shall include at least two years in an industrial hygiene position comparable in level, responsibility, and duties to that of a Senior Industrial Hygiene Specialist in California state service. (A Master's Degree in Industrial Hygiene, Chemistry, Environmental Health, Public Health, Engineering, Toxicology or a closely related curriculum may be substituted for up to two years of the required general experience on a year-for-year basis.) and Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with major work in industrial hygiene, chemistry, biology, engineering, physics, public health, medicine, environmental health, toxicology or in a field directly related to occupational health.

Knowledge and Abilities

Junior Industrial Hygiene Specialist, State Compensation Insurance Fund

Knowledge of: Basic principles of industrial hygiene environmental health, and State and Federal laws, rules, and regulations on the health of industrial workers; basic concepts of apparatus used to monitor and/or collect samples of substances for analysis.

 

Ability to: Analyze situations accurately, derive recommendations, and take effective action; establish and maintain cooperative relations with those contacted in the course of the work; communicate effectively; prepare clear and concise reports.

Assistant Industrial Hygiene Specialist, State Compensation Insurance Fund

Knowledge of: All of the above, and public health and industrial hygiene practices, industrial processes, stresses, toxicology, and control measures; Worker's Compensation Laws, practices, and principles; State and Federal laws, rules, and regulations relating to the health of industrial workers.

 

Ability to: All of the above, and conduct field studies and investigations; evaluate findings and prepare written recommendations; tactfully and skillfully present necessary information and maintain good client relations in sensitive areas; conduct research in specific industrial hygiene areas; speak and write effectively.

Associate Industrial Hygiene Specialist, State Compensation Insurance Fund

Knowledge of: All of the above, and methods and practices used in the determination and elimination of industrial hazards; basic principles of supervision and training.

 

Ability to: All of the above, and independently conduct the most difficult field studies and investigations; identify organizational needs in occupational health service programs; develop, conduct and coordinate educational programs on occupational health and industrial environmental health and safety problems; train, lead and review the work of other technical personnel.

Senior Industrial Hygiene Specialist, State Compensation Insurance Fund

Knowledge of: All of the above, and principles and practices of effective supervision and management of a technical staff.

 

Ability to: All of the above, and evaluate internal occupational health and industrial hygiene standards and policies and make recommendations for their modification; plan, organize and direct the work of a professional staff; establish and maintain liaison with insured clients of the State Fund and with Federal, State and local agencies.

Supervising Industrial Hygiene Specialist, State Compensation Insurance Fund

Knowledge of: All of the above, and principles and practices of personnel management and training; the State Fund's Affirmative Action Program objectives; a manager's role in the Affirmative Action Program and the processes available to meet affirmative action objectives.

 

Ability to: All of the above, and assign, direct, and evaluate comprehensive industrial hygiene studies of insured's operations on a statewide basis; propose and evaluate occupational health programs and State Fund-wide policies; effectively represent the occupational health program on departmental, agency, or interagency committee work; effectively contribute to the Department's affirmative action objectives.

Special Personal Characteristics

Supervising Industrial Hygiene Specialist, State Compensation Insurance Fund

Demonstrated capacity for assuming increasing administrative responsibilities; willingness to travel throughout the State.

Class History

Industrial Hygiene Specialist, State Compensation Insurance Fund Series History - Dates Established, Revised, and Title Changed
ClassDate EstablishedDate RevisedTitle Changed
Junior Industrial Hygiene Specialist, State Compensation Insurance Fund01/22/1991----
Assistant Industrial Hygiene Specialist, State Compensation Insurance Fund11/21/197401/22/199109/01/1976
Associate Industrial Hygiene Specialist, State Compensation Insurance Fund11/16/197201/22/199109/01/1976
Senior Industrial Hygiene Specialist, State Compensation Insurance Fund09/01/197601/22/1991--
Supervising Industrial Hygiene Specialist, State Compensation Insurance Fund01/22/1991----
  Updated: 2/1/2019
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