Site Safety & Health Officer

Job Description

A leading telecommunications infrastructure project is seeking a Site Safety Health Officer (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 Officer (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 Officer 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

1. 4+ years of onsite construction safety experience, including site safety planning, accident prevention planning, SSHO responsibilities, OSHA compliance, and regulatory oversight.
2. Strong knowledge of OSHA and EM 385-1-1 requirements, including reporting, incident investigations, corrective actions, audits, regulatory reviews, toolbox talks, and project closeout activities.
3. Professionali