4J15
PAY RANGE: 13
GENERAL DEFINITION
This is technical field work at the training level inspecting air pollution sources or asbestos abatement project sites for a municipal air pollution control or municipal public property management program.
Employees in this class receive training in the laws, ordinances, regulations, practices and procedures relevant to a municipal air pollution control program in the Health Department assignment or relevant to a public property asbestos, lead and hazardous materials abatement program in the Department of Public Property assignment. Work includes conducting field inspections to evaluate asbestos air monitoring, abatement, removal and disposal activities and other sources of air and noise pollution such as mold and lead for compliance with prescribed permit conditions and applicable federal, state and municipal codes, regulations and standards.
Work is performed under the close supervision of a technical superior and involves some disagreeable working conditions.
ALLOCATING FACTORS: (The following conditions must be met for a position to be allocated to this class.)
1. Positions must perform the work in the Air Management Division of the Health Department or in the Department of Public Property.
2. Positions must perform training level field inspection activities involving the evaluation of air pollution sources or asbestos or lead abatement project sites to determine compliance with prescribed permit conditions and applicable codes, regulations, and standards.
TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF WORK (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)
ALL ASSIGNMENTS
Receives training and performs a variety of field activities of increasing difficulty related to a municipal air pollution control program or a public property asbestos, lead, and mold abatement program as follows:
Patrols assigned district or areas and facilities with plant or building managers, building maintenance personnel and contractors to find pollution sources; interviews complainants; tours industrial facilities with plant managers and operating personnel or tours City properties; identifies, tracks and records the location and condition of asbestos containing materials at sites of inspection; locates source and cause of air pollutants and noise and vibration nuisances or hazardous materials; recommends modifications to operating and maintenance procedures; recommends installation of pollution control equipment or contracted abatement, collection, storage or removal of hazardous materials.
Receives instruction in the interpretation and application of City, state and federal laws and regulations applicable to asbestos; explains provisions of applicable asbestos laws and regulations and advises plant managers, building managers, and building maintenance personnel on asbestos related operational and maintenance procedures.
Attends job conferences with contractors and consultants to discuss asbestos abatement project design and regulation requirements.
Observes asbestos abatement contractors, certified asbestos project inspectors, and asbestos workers on asbestos abatement projects to ensure that work is performed in accordance with pertinent city, state, and federal regulations and codes; reviews job records and logs to ensure that work is performed as reported in the project permit and/or notification; wears protective clothing and respirators to enter containment areas when required to verify compliance with regulations; may issue stop work orders after conferring with superiors, if necessary.
Enters asbestos contaminated areas that may or may not have been known to be contaminated prior to entry; inspects sites suspected of having asbestos contamination including dumpsters, vacant buildings, construction, and/or demolition sites; evaluates asbestos contamination conditions; orders evacuation of specific areas or buildings after conferring with superiors, if necessary.
Inspects intended shipments to ensure the proper disposal of asbestos material; performs follow-up inspections to ensure that appropriate manifest records are received.
Responds to complaints concerning improper asbestos removal and/or disposal; interviews complainants and inspects site; makes emergency containment of short dumped asbestos to prevent exposure to the general public.
Performs unannounced inspections of renovation sites where notifications or permits for asbestos removal have not been received; checks licenses and certifications of asbestos workers, supervisors, contractors, inspectors, laboratories, and investigators to ensure validity.
Reviews asbestos inspection reports submitted with L & I building and demolition permits and visits selected sites; obtains samples, e.g., air, dust, soil, soot, asbestos, from selected locations and delivers to laboratory for analysis.
Issues violation notices and recommends additional enforcement steps; interacts with other city, state and federal agencies involved in the prosecution of violators; testifies in court.
Prepares detailed reports and activity sheets; enters work activity data into computer; takes pictures as required for civil cases; ensures that personal protective equipment is in working condition.
Performs related work as required.
HEALTH ASSIGNMENT
Inspects and evaluates sources of air pollution by observing process operations and parameters, visually and by instrument, to determine compliance with prescribed permit conditions.
Responds to complaints of excessive noise and vibration; utilizes sound and vibrations measuring devices; interviews plant managers and operating personnel, or community residents and informs them about noise and vibration regulations; recommends measures to alleviate such problems; responds to complaints of dust impacting residents and businesses; attempts to identify sources of odor from commercial and industrial facilities; recommends measures to alleviate such problems.
Inspects chemical plants and new fuel burning installations and emergency generators; makes annual boiler and incinerator re-inspections; takes fuel samples and makes delivery to the laboratory for sulfur content analysis; accompanies engineering staff on scheduled major source inspections; inspects construction and demolition sites for fugitive dust and operational procedures to correct or to prevent air pollution violations; obtains air samples from dry cleaning facilities; inspects parking garages for compliance with regulations.
Conducts diesel emission surveys at bus depots and on the street; collects and analyzes gasoline and oil samples for sulfur content; inspects service stations and fuel distributors for proper use and maintenance of vapor recovery systems; inspects automotive refinishing facilities and other minor air pollution sources.
Coordinates with other departmental technical staff in monitoring emergency situations such as chemical spills and fires involving hazardous material; tests for potential hazards using standard issue air sampling equipment.
Attends an approved smoke reading training program on a semi-annual schedule; visually evaluates smoke opacity using approved departmental methods.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC PROPERTY ASSIGNMENT
Assists with the City’s asbestos, lead paint and hazardous materials operations and abatement activities in compliance with pertinent city, state, and federal regulations and codes; oversees consultants in the monitoring of abatement sites; assists with assessment of potentially contaminated site or area of needed disturbance and development of cleanup/abatement/remediation plan; documents and maintains records of abatement activities, storage, or collection of hazardous materials.
Inspects mold sites and directs mold remediation projects performed by contractors to ensure compliance with pertinent city, state, and federal regulations and codes; maintains records for public property storage tanks and tank repair or maintenance projects; facilitates sampling of materials related to public property asbestos, mold or other toxic pollutants; assures the safety of workers in areas adjoining abatement site through the appropriate oversight of contractor activities; ensures building workers, external contractors, and residents are notified of the location, type, quantity, and condition of hazardous materials identified at the site according to local, state and federal regulations.
Observes source tests and reviews the data to determine air pollutants or hazardous materials and determines compliance with air quality standards; verifies permit status; recommends installation of pollution control equipment or contracted abatement of hazardous materials;.
Identifies underground storage tanks and documents related registration, maintenance, and testing; identifies and documents repair, removal or replacement of underground storage tanks as necessary.
Ensures abatement records indicate the location of potentially hazardous materials; enters work activity data into the computer and maintains records; takes pictures as required for litigation; wears protective clothing and respirators to enter containment areas when required to verify compliance with pertinent city, state and federal regulations.
Attends EPA training pertaining to asbestos and mold removal.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
KNOWLEDGE OF:
• the basic principles and practices of chemistry, biology and/or engineering
• combustion theory, fuel characteristics and the operation of fuel burning devices
• the potential causes of air pollution arising from the operation of combustion equipment
· principles and practices of air quality investigation, inspection and enforcement
• the equipment used for the control of air pollutants
• the theory of building environmental control systems
• the properties and characteristics of hazardous air pollutants, particularly asbestos and combustible and asphyxiative gases
· local, state and federal regulations governing asbestos and public notification
requirements if required by assignment
ABILITY TO:
• ascertain facts through field inspections
• learn the current developments and trends in the asbestos abatement industry
• learn the principles, materials, methods, and practices used in asbestos abatement, demolition and renovation work
• learn the principles and practices used in analyzing asbestos bulk and air samples
• learn the construction and operation of HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems
• learn the laws, ordinances and regulations relative to air pollution control, noise abatement and asbestos removal
· learn the principles, materials, methods, and practices used in lead and mold inspection and remediation for the Department of Public Property assignment
· use computer applications to log and track investigations, inspections and abatement activities if required by assignment
• learn methods of detecting defects in equipment or operating and maintenance techniques that produce smoke, soot, fumes, or other air pollutants
• learn the operation of field instruments commonly used in on-site inspections
• deal tactfully, firmly and impartially with City employees, plant/building managers, operating personnel and the general public
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE (The following statement represents the minimum training and experience standards which will be used to admit or reject applicants for tests. Applications submitted by candidates for this class will be reviewed based on training and experience requirements as approved on 9/19.)
EDUCATION:
Completion of an Associate’s degree program or 60 credits at an accredited college, university or technical institute with major course work in environmental or biological science, chemistry, biology, or mechanical, chemical, environmental, civil, or electrical engineering or engineering technology.
Any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Office of Human Resources, which has included completion of the twelfth school grade as an educational minimum.
PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS
Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.
Ability to receive medical clearance to wear respiratory protection if required by assignment.
LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND/OR CERTIFICATES
Possession of a valid proper class motor vehicle operator's license as issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania prior to appointment and during tenure of employment as an Air Pollution Control Inspector 1.
Possession of valid license for asbestos inspections as issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania within six (6) months of appointment and maintenance of licensure during tenure of employment as an Air Pollution Control Inspector 1 for the Department of Public Property assignment only.
Certification of completion of Community Noise Enforcement Certification, EPA Method 9 Visual Opacity Certification, and Asbestos Worker Certification as issued by Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry within six months of appointment and maintained during tenure of employment as an Air Pollution Control Inspector 1 for the Department of Public Health only.
Class Established - 9/84
Spec. Revision:
CSC - 11/96
Ad. Board - 3/97
Spec. Revision:
CSC – 5/17
Ad. Board – 6/17
Spec. Revision:
CSC – 8/19
Ad. Board – 9/19
Latest Spec. Revision:
CSC – 06/20
Ad. Board – 07/20
AW