Site Safety And Health Officer

Location: Columbus

Job Description

A leading telecommunications infrastructure project is seeking a Site Safety & Health Specialist (SSHO) to support a large-scale Outside Plant (OSP) construction program in New Mexico. Project activities include:

+ Underground trenching and plowing

+ Fiber installation and testing

+ Pole-mounted equipment installation

+ Camera installation

+ Electrical equipment installation

+ Laydown yard operations

The SSHO will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of site safety, including OSHA compliance, EM 385-1-1 requirements, accident prevention planning, audits, site inspections, regulatory compliance, toolbox talks, and daily safety meetings. This individual must have experience working with subcontractors, authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs), and high-risk construction activities.

The project is expected to continue through late 2027 to early 2028, with the potential for extension or conversion to a full-time opportunity based on project needs.

Primary Responsibilities Safety Leadership

+ Serve as the designated Site Safety & Health Specialist (SSHO) with no production or construction management responsibilities.

+ Enforce the approved Site-Specific Safety Plan (SSSP) and Accident Prevention Plan (APP).

+ Ensure compliance with EM 385-1-1, OSHA 29 CFR 1910 and 1926, and applicable project safety requirements.

+ Promote a proactive safety culture across all project personnel.

Daily Site Operations

+ Conduct and document daily site safety inspections.

+ Prepare and review Activity Hazard Analyses (AHAs) and Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs).

+ Lead daily safety meetings, toolbox talks, and stretch-and-flex programs.

+ Coordinate safety compliance across subcontractors and vendors.

+ Enforce corrective actions and verify compliance before work resumes.

+ Exercise Stop-Work Authority when unsafe acts or conditions are identified.

High-Risk Activity Oversight

Monitor and oversee the following activities:

+ Crane and lifting operations, including critical lifts

+ Night work and low-visibility operations

+ Excavation and trenching

+ Fiber installation (direct-bury, jetting, splicing, and testing)

+ Electrical and equipment installation

+ Laydown yard operations

Incident Notification & Reporting

The Safety Specialist will:

+ Provide immediate notification of accidents, near misses, and unsafe conditions.

+ Submit written notification within 24 hours for:

+ Injuries requiring physician care

+ Property or utility damage exceeding, or potentially exceeding, $500

+ Incidents that could have resulted in serious injury, regardless of whether an injury occurred

+ Prepare and submit incident reports, corrective action documentation, and follow-up verifications.

+ Maintain all safety records required for audits, regulatory reviews, and project closeout.

Authority

+ Full Stop-Work Authority for any safety violation or unsafe condition.

+ Authority to require corrective actions before work continues.

+ Authority to remove personnel from the site for safety non-compliance.

+ Direct access to project and corporate safety leadership.

Required Qualifications

+ High School Diploma or GED.

+ 4-8 years of construction safety or related experience.

+ Minimum of 4 years of experience serving as a Safety Officer or SSHO on construction projects of similar scope and complexity.

+ Current OSHA 30-Hour Construction Certification (or ability to obtain during onboarding).

+ Current First Aid, CPR, and AED certification.

+ Strong working knowledge of EM 385-1-1 and OSHA regulations.

+

Experience with incident investigations, reporting, and corrective action tracking.

+ Experience enforcing subcontractor safety compliance requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

+ EM 385-1-1 SSHO Certification.

+ CSP (Certified Safety Professional), ASP (Associate Safety Professional), or CHST (Construction Health and Safety Technician).

+ Experience supporting CBP, DHS, USACE, or other federal construction projects.

+

Experience with crane safety and critical lift planning.

Top Skills

+ 4+ years of onsite construction safety experience, including site safety planning, accident prevention planning, SSHO responsibilities, OSHA compliance, and regulatory oversight.

+ Strong knowledge of…