Exam Bulletin - Senior Industrial Hygienist

State of California

Exam Code: EX-1782

Examination Plans Included:

  • SENIOR INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST - Open

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

Classification Details

SENIOR INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST: $10,118.00 - $13,519.00 per Month

View the SENIOR INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST classification specification.

Application Instructions

This is not a timed exam. If you request a Reasonable Accommodation your account will be locked and you will not be able to proceed with the exam until the request is processed.

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):

  • SENIOR 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):

    1782

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

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-01782

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.

00103852 - SENIOR INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST

Possession of a Certificate in the Comprehensive Practice of Industrial Hygiene issued by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene, or a Certificate of Registration as a Professional Engineer issued by the California State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers. (Applicants who do not have either 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

Either 1
Experience: One year of experience in the California state service performing the duties of an Associate Industrial Hygienist.

Or 2
Experience: Five 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 an industrial hygiene position comparable in level, responsibility, and duties to that of an Associate 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

00103852 - SENIOR INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST

This is the first supervisory level. Under general direction, is responsible for an industrial hygiene program in an assigned geographic area or subject-matter function; performs the more complex industrial hygiene works; 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 studies and investigations; conducts site inspections; consults with management, professional, and technical personnel, and makes and secures recommendations for the prevention, elimination, or control of hazards; identifies training needs and assists in the development of training plans; reviews proposed health standards, evaluates them, and makes recommendations for their acceptance or modification; represents the department in contacts with the community, industries, and other agencies; participates in and conducts meetings with department staff and others concerning occupational health and safety matters; collects, records, and analyzes statistical data; determines priorities, assigns work, and evaluates performance of staff; prepares and reviews correspondence and reports; and does other related work.

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

Examination Information

We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, or Edge for optimal performance when accessing the examination.

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1CalHR Online ExamN/A100%

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
  10. Principles and practices of effective supervision and management of a technical staff 
  11. A supervisor's responsibility for promoting equal opportunity in hiring and employee development and promotion, and for maintaining a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment

Ability to:
  1. Analyze situations accurately, derive recommendations, and take effective action 
  2. Establish and maintain cooperative relations with those contacted in the course of the work 
  3. Communicate effectively 
  4. Prepare clear and concise reports
  5. Collect and evaluate plant findings and make recommendations for the elimination or control of hazardous conditions 
  6. Function as a specialist in one or more phases of biological, chemical, engineering, or toxicological factor, and effects and control measures 
  7. Interpret and apply industrial hygiene standards
  8. Independently conduct the most difficult field studies and investigations 
  9. Represent the department in meetings with other governmental jurisdictions, industry, and community groups 
  10. Train, lead, and review the work of other technical personnel
  11. Evaluate proposed health standards and make recommendations for their modification or acceptance 
  12. Plan, organize, and direct the work of a professional staff 
  13. Establish and maintain liaison with Federal, State, and local agencies, and with labor, management, and public interest groups 
  14. Effectively promote equal opportunity in employment and maintain a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment

Eligible List Information

A Servicewide Open eligible list for the SENIOR 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.

Senior Industrial Hygienist Training and Experience Exam 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, and/or FORMAL TRAINING COURSES you have completed.

PLEASE NOTE: This examination is designed to gain an overall assessment of your training and experience as it directly relates to the duties and the knowledge, skills and abilities required for this position. Possession of specific training 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.

Describe your work experience relevant to performing this task, both paid and volunteer.

  1. Conducting industrial hygiene research using available resources (e.g., internet, literature) to review, evaluate, and apply information to complete assigned job tasks.
  2. Analyzing the data obtained from laboratory or instruments to evaluate employee exposure in relation to health and/or safety standards (e.g., Title 8, other appropriate regulations, consensus standards).
  3. Conducting exposure monitoring and sampling to evaluate potential employee exposures to workplace hazards.
  4. Evaluating identified workplace health and/or safety hazards/risks to determine possible hazard mitigation or abatement.
  5. 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, other applicable regulations).
  6. Responding to complex questions and concerns from the public, employers, state and local government, and/or staff that may involve potential exposure to hazards.
  7. Reviewing and evaluating programs and documents (e.g., Injury and Illness Prevention Programs, Hazard Communication Programs, industrial hygiene monitoring records, engineering plans, process flow diagrams, plans and specifications, site specific health and safety plans, community air monitoring plans) relating to workplace operations to determine compliance.
  8. Writing concise technical reports (e.g., inspections, industrial hygiene sampling, consultations) to document inspection activities and findings.
  9. Developing industrial hygiene monitoring and sampling strategies through interviews, research, and process evaluations to determine employee exposure to workplace hazards.
  10. Researching current engineering, industrial hygiene, and/or consensus standards as applied to inspections, investigations, and on-site consultations to promote and improve workplace health and safety practices and/or correct recognized hazards.
  11. Providing technical expertise to staff engaged in industrial health and safety activities to assist with onboarding.
  12. Review the work of staff/employees engaged in industrial health and safety activities to ensure it meets applicable standards.
  13. Providing on the job training to lower level staff on performance of industrial hygiene and safety tasks.
  14. Developing and presenting training and educational presentations to internal and/or external groups (e.g., staff, employers, health and safety professionals, unions) to convey health and safety information.
  15. Maintaining the confidentiality of information and documentation as required by law (e.g., complainants, trade secrets, medical information, personnel information).

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)