Exam Bulletin - Associate Industrial Hygienist

State of California

Exam Code: EX-1231

Examination Plans Included:

  • ASSOCIATE INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST - Open

Final Filing Date: Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Classification Details

ASSOCIATE INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST: $6,684.00 - $9,128.00 per Month

View the ASSOCIATE INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST classification specification.

Application Instructions

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Who Should Apply:

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

  • ASSOCIATE INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 9 months:

Exam Code(s):

    1231

For ASSOCIATE INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 9 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-01231

How To Apply:

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

Special Testing Arrangements:

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

Minimum Qualifications

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

Unless otherwise stated in the Minimum Qualifications, qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one pattern and are distinguished as "Either" 1, "or" 2, "or" 3, etc. For example, applicants possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 1 and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 2 may be accepted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirement.

00103856 - ASSOCIATE INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST

Either 1 

Experience: One year of experience in the California state service performing the duties of an Assistant Industrial Hygienist.

Or 2 

Experience: Three years of increasingly responsible professional or technical experience in identifying, evaluating, and controlling health hazards in work places, and developing, evaluating, and implementing occupational health standards. This experience shall include at least two years in a position comparable in level, responsibility, and duties to that of an Assistant Industrial Hygienist in the California state service. (A Master's Degree in Chemistry, Engineering, Environmental Health, Industrial Hygiene, Public Health, or a closely related curriculum may be substituted for one year of the required general experience.) and 

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with major work in industrial hygiene, environmental health, engineering, chemistry, biology, physics, medicine, public health, or in a field directly related to occupational health and safety. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.) A Master's Degree in Industrial Hygiene or Occupational Health, acquired in a two-year master's degree program including planned work experiences, may be substituted for the two years of required general experience.

Position Description

00103856 - ASSOCIATE INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST

This is the full professional journey level. Under general direction, performs difficult industrial hygiene work in connection with health hazards in places of employment; does research on problems of occupational hazards; develops special sampling and measuring apparatus and techniques; investigates complaints of unhealthful working conditions and recommends corrective action; represents the department at meetings of professional and community groups; works with and advises local health departments, industry and employee groups, and State and other governmental agencies in the field of industrial hygiene; assists in collecting and interpreting statistical data; prepares articles for publication; assists in training, directing, and reviewing the work of other personnel; prepares reports and correspondence; may act as leaderperson over subordinate staff members in connection with studies or special projects; and does other related work.

For information regarding position location(s), please refer to the Eligible List Information section.

Examination Information

This examination consists of the following components:

  • Online Exam : A passing score must be achieved and is weighted 100% of the final score.

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

Knowledge of:
  1. Basic principles of industrial hygiene, environmental health, and State and Federal laws, rules, and regulations on the health of industrial workers
  2. Basic concepts of apparatus used to monitor and/or collect samples of substances for analysis
  3. Public health and industrial hygiene principles and practices
  4. One or more phases of biological, chemical, engineering, or toxicological factors, effects, and control measures
  5. Apparatus used to monitor and/or collect samples for analysis
  6. Methods, techniques, and practices used in determining and eliminating health hazards in industry
  7. Control of industrial health hazards
  8. Special sampling techniques and related apparatus
  9. Basic principles of supervision and training

Ability to:
  1. Analyze situations accurately, derive recommendations, and take effective action; establish and maintain cooperative relations with those contacted in the course of the work
  2. Communicate effectively; prepare clear and concise reports
  3. Collect and evaluate plant findings and make recommendations for the elimination or control of hazardous conditions
  4. Function as a specialist in one or more phases of biological, chemical, engineering, or toxicological factor, and effects and control measures
  5. Interpret and apply industrial hygiene standards
  6. Independently conduct the most difficult field studies and investigations
  7. Represent the department in meetings with other governmental jurisdictions, industry, and community groups
  8. Train, lead, and review the work of other technical personnel

Eligible List Information

A Servicewide Open eligible list for the ASSOCIATE INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST Classification will be established for:

  • State of California

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 12 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Resulting Eligibility List(s) will be used to fill vacancies throughout the State of California.

Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

  • A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
  • A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

Associate Industrial Hygienist Training and Experience Evaluation Preview

Section 1: Tasks

Instructions: 

Rate your experience performing specific job-related tasks.

Respond to each of the following statements by indicating how the statement applies to you. You are required to respond to every question and provide relevant examples.  Also, indicate the references who can verify the information provided.

In responding to each statement, you may refer to your WORK EXPERIENCE, whether paid or volunteer, your EDUCATION, and/or FORMAL TRAINING COURSES you have completed.


PLEASE NOTE:  This examination is designed to gain an overall assessment of your education, training, and experience as it directly relates to the duties and the knowledge, skills and abilities required for this position.  Possession of specific education is not required to be successful in this examination; however, such achievements may substitute for desirable levels of experience.  All components of this examination have been carefully validated by tying them directly to job requirements and documenting their relevance to the position.

Tasks:

  1. Conducting industrial hygiene research using available resources (e.g., internet, literature, scientific/trade literature, inspection data, news reports) to collect information required to complete assigned job tasks.
  2. Analyze the data obtained from laboratory or instruments to determine whether employee exposure exceeds a health and/or safety standard.
  3. Conducting research on processes, equipment, chemicals and/or other hazards associated with various industries or workplaces for purposes of evaluating potential hazards.
  4. Reviewing technical and/or operating manuals to ensure employers follow applicable regulatory requirements and/or manufacturers’ recommended maintenance, safety and operations procedures (e.g., respirators, ventilation systems, exposure monitoring equipment, lockout/tagout procedures).
  5. Conducting inspections of employers’ worksites to determine compliance with applicable safety and health regulations.
  6. Interviewing employers, employees, and/or others in order to gather information and evidence on working conditions, accidents, and/or other health and safety issues.
  7. Gathering and documenting evidence and/or conditions during an inspection, investigation, or on-site consultation to determine compliance with applicable safety and health regulations.
  8. Calibrating, maintaining, and using industrial hygiene direct reading and/or sampling equipment to ensure functionality, precision and accuracy in sampling data.
  9. Maintaining the confidentiality of information and documentation as required by law (e.g., complainants, trade secrets, medical information, personnel information).
  10. Performing calculations and analyses of raw data obtained through industrial hygiene monitoring for purposes of determining employee exposure to hazardous substances.
  11. Writing technical reports (e.g., inspections, industrial hygiene sampling, consultations) to document inspection activities and/or findings.
  12. Providing information and guidance to employers, employees, and/or others as appropriate regarding various health and safety issues (e.g., accident prevention, the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of health and safety hazards, California Code of Regulations Title 8 requirements).
  13. Performing industrial hygiene monitoring and sampling to determine employee exposure to hazardous substances.
  14. Providing technical and/or regulatory expertise in emergency response activities in regards to occupational safety and health matters.

Testing Departments

  • State of California

Contact Information

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

State of California
CalCareer Service Center
1810 16th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone: (866) 844-8671
CalCareer@calhr.ca.gov

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Drug Free Statement

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free State work place. Any applicant for State employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective, because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing civil service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

General Information

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

State of California reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Your CalCareer Account)