Exam Bulletin - Health and Safety Officer

Department of Veterans Affairs

Multiple Testing Departments. Please see list of Departments.

Exam Code: EX-2558

Examination Plans Included:

  • HEALTH AND SAFETY OFFICER - Open

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

Bulletin Updates

  • Continuous filing dates have been added.

Classification Details

HEALTH AND SAFETY OFFICER: $6,333.00 - $7,870.00 per Month

View the HEALTH AND SAFETY OFFICER classification specification.

Application Instructions

Upcoming Filing Cutoff Dates:

  • 2/1/2025
  • 3/1/2025
  • 4/1/2025
  • 5/1/2025
  • 6/1/2025
  • 7/1/2025
  • 8/1/2025
  • 9/1/2025
  • 10/1/2025
  • 11/1/2025
  • 12/1/2025

Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) must be received or postmarked by the filing date indicated above. Applications postmarked, personally delivered or received via interoffice mail after the filing date will be processed in the next group.

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):

  • HEALTH AND SAFETY OFFICER - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

    2558

For HEALTH AND SAFETY OFFICER, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-02558

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.

You may apply by mail to:

  • Examinations Unit
    Department of Veterans Affairs
    Department of Veterans Affairs - Human Resources Division
    1227 O Street, Room 404
    Sacramento, CA 95814

Indicate the Examination Code and Classification(s) on your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678).

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

  • Department of Veterans Affairs
    Department of Veterans Affairs - Human Resources Division
    1227 O Street, Room 404
    Sacramento, CA 95814
    8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Indicate the Examination Code and Classification(s) on your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678). All applicants must provide proof of identification. Accepted forms of identification are: 1) a photo identification card or 2) two forms of signed identification.

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.

00103917 - HEALTH AND SAFETY OFFICER

Either I
In the California state service, one year of experience performing the duties equivalent to a Staff Services Analyst, Range C. (Persons applying experience toward this pattern must have had a full-time assignment in California state service performing health and safety activities.)

Or II
Experience: Two years of increasingly responsible technical program experience beyond the trainee level in environmental health or occupational safety improvement activities. (Experience in a capacity other than safety officer in a large Government agency or major private industry is considered qualifying if health or safety activities occupied a major portion of the time.) and

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.)

Position Description

00103917 - HEALTH AND SAFETY OFFICER

Program Administration/Coordination: Plans, organizes, and administers injury prevention programs to meet specific needs of various hospital/developmental center areas; works with administrative, supervisory and other personnel to identify and correct unsafe practices or conditions; recommends modification in hospital/developmental center facilities and practices to develop safer working conditions and improve work environment; works with assigned medical staff to eliminate or control health hazards; provides assistance to and serves on the hospital/developmental center safety committee; advises management concerning standards set forth in laws and regulations relating to health and safety; reviews and evaluates reports on accidents which may involve Workers' Compensation benefits; provides liaison between the hospital/developmental center and other agencies on health and safety matters.

Injury Prevention: Plans and conducts an environmental and occupational health and injury prevention safety program; evaluates specific needs in areas of health and safety; reviews and investigates all industrial injuries, monitors and recommends corrective actions for unsafe practices or conditions; takes immediate action to correct seriously unsafe conditions; interprets State, Federal, and local environmental health and safety regulations; interprets departmental operating policies and standards; and advises management on current methods and techniques in the health and safety field. Provides consultation to facility staff, committees, and other advisory groups; provides assistance to and/or serves on infection/disease control committee; works with assigned medical staff to eliminate or control health hazards.

Hazardous Material Management: Develops and implements a program of managing hazardous materials, including waste management, underground tank monitoring, PCB and asbestos management; ensures applicable licensing, certification, and accreditation requirements are met; develops procedures to identify, handle, use, and dispose of hazardous materials; trains and monitors staff that come in contact with hazardous material.

Injured Worker Program: Administers the Injured Worker Program; participates in Return-to-Work activities, and limited duty accommodations; provides liaison between facility, employees, State Compensation Insurance Fund adjusters, physicians, attorneys, vocational rehabilitation counselors, and other agencies; compiles, analyzes, and interprets accident, injury, and lost time statistics, and cost data.

Compliance Activities: Develops methods to maintain compliance with environmental health and safety standards as set forth in Titles 8, 17, 19, and 22 of the California Administrative Code, and accreditation organizations; develops and implements a health and safety inspection program; performs safety and sanitation inspections; evaluates deficiencies and recommends corrective action; maintains Emergency Services Manual; conducts disaster drills to comply with hospital accreditation requirements.

Training Activities: Plans, organizes, develops, and conducts health and safety training for managers, supervisors, and staff; coordinates the integration of health and safety into the facility- wide training program; obtains and determines appropriate use of posters and audio-visual materials in training programs and safety campaigns; develops material for health and safety training courses and programs; evaluates effectiveness of safety training efforts.

Evaluation and Follow-Up: Compiles and analyzes accident and injury statistics and cost data; prepares reports on hospital safety experience and uses these to recommend measures to increase effectiveness of the health and safety program; follows up to assure implementation of health and safety recommendations; 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 component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1Supplemental ReportWith Application100%

Components that are due with your application will be scored and will count toward your final examination result. Failure to submit these items may result in disqualification or elimination from the examination.

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

Complete and submit the following items with your application. These will be scored and count toward your final examination result. Failure to submit these items will result in disqualification from the examination.

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:
Principles and techniques of industrial health and safety; training methods and techniques; California laws, including Workers' Compensation, relating to safety; principles of supervision; statistical methods; department's Affirmative Action Program objectives; a supervisor's role in the Affirmative Action Program and the processes available to meet affirmative action objectives.

Ability to:
Organize health and safety programs; evaluate results of health and safety programs; conduct studies and surveys to determine problems and to make recommendations for solutions; develop and maintain cooperative working relationships; speak and write effectively; effectively contribute to activities necessary to achieve the department's goals, and to the department's affirmative action objectives.

Eligible List Information

A Servicewide Open eligible list for the HEALTH AND SAFETY OFFICER 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.

Testing Departments

  • Department of Veterans Affairs
  • State of California

Contact Information

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

Department of Veterans Affairs
Examinations Unit
Department of Veterans Affairs - Human Resources Division
1227 O Street, Room 404
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 653-2535

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.

Department of Veterans Affairs 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)
By Mail
In Person (see bulletin for details)
Alternate Application Process

While we recommend that you utilize your CalCareer Account to take advantage of all the tools available, you may choose to apply for this examination without using your account. In this case, print and complete the Exam Application Package Checklist and include it if you submit a hard copy application.

Exam Application Package Checklist

Blank Application Form (STD678)

Accommodation Request (STD679)