Construction Safety Specialist

Yale New Haven Health; New Haven (CT); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Yale New Haven Health is seeking a Construction Safety Specialist to develop, implement, and oversee comprehensive safety programs across all construction projects. You will lead audits, training, and incident investigations to ensure OSHA, NFPA, and health-care standards are met, protecting life safety and project continuity.

The role reports to the Director of Construction and emphasizes proactive safety culture, documentation, and continuous improvement across sites and teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in construction or healthcare construction requirements.
• OSHA 30 required; CHST/CSP preferred.
• Knowledge of NFPA and life-safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Establish and enforce safety policies for all construction sites.
• Conduct safety audits, incidents investigations, and document corrective actions.
• Deliver safety training for contractors and internal staff on protocols and regulations.
• Monitor compliance with OSHA, NFPA, and healthcare standards.
• Promote proactive safety culture through engagement and recognition.
• Perform job hazard analyses and review permits to work for risk mitigation.
• Manage contractor safety prequalification and onboarding before site access.
• Develop safety metrics and dashboards for leadership review.
• Lead root-cause analyses for incidents and share lessons learned.
• Coordinate emergency drills and life-safety compliance.

Skills

Auditing

Training

Incident investigation

Communication

OSHA 30

Education

Bachelor's degree in construction

Tools

NFPA standards

Life safety standards

Job description

Overview To be part of our organization, every employee should understand and share in the YNHHS Vision, support our Mission, and live our Values. These values - integrity, patient-centered, respect, accountability, and compassion - must guide what we do, as individuals and professionals, every day.

Overview To be part of our organization, every employee should understand and share in the YNHHS Vision, support our Mission, and live our Values. These values - integrity, patient-centered, respect, accountability, and compassion - must guide what we do, as individuals and professionals, every day. The Construction Safety Specialist is responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing comprehensive safety programs across all construction projects within the organization. This role ensures strict adherence to regulatory requirements, proactively identifies and mitigates risks, and fosters a culture of safety among contractors, staff, and stakeholders. By conducting audits, training personnel, and monitoring compliance with OSHA, NFPA, and healthcare-specific standards, the Construction Safety Specialist plays a critical role in protecting life safety and maintaining operational continuity. Through leadership, education, and continuous improvement initiatives, this position drives safe work practices and supports the successful delivery of construction projects in a healthcare environment. The Construction Safety Specialist reports to the Director of Construction.

EEO/AA/Disability/Veteran

Responsibilities

• Establish and enforce safety policies and procedures for all construction sites, including developing and maintaining site-specific safety plans tailored to project scope and risk profile.
• Conduct regular safety audits, inspections, and incident investigations, ensuring timely documentation and tracking of corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• Deliver training programs for contractors and internal staff on safety protocols, emergency procedures, and healthcare-specific requirements such as Interim Life Safety Measures (ILSM) and Infection Control Risk Assessments (ICRA).
• Monitor compliance with OSHA, NFPA, and other applicable regulations, ensuring all activities meet federal, state, and institutional standards.
• Promote a proactive safety culture through engagement initiatives, clear communication, and recognition programs that reinforce safe behaviors.
• Perform job hazard analyses (JHAs) and pre-task planning, reviewing method statements and permits to work to identify and mitigate risks before execution.
• Manage contractor safety prequalification and onboarding, verifying certifications, training records, and compliance documentation prior to site access.
• Develop and maintain safety metrics and dashboards, analyzing trends and providing actionable recommendations to leadership for continuous improvement.
• Lead root-cause analysis for incidents and near-misses, implementing preventive measures and sharing lessons learned across teams.
• Coordinate emergency drills, evacuation plans, and site-specific life safety compliance, ensuring readiness for potential emergencies and regulatory inspections.

Qualifications

EDUCATION

• Bachelor's degree in construction or 10+ years of experience in healthcare construction required.

Experience

• With Bachelor's degree, minimum 5-7 years in construction safety; healthcare environment preferred. OSHA 30 required; CHST/CSP preferred.

Special Skills

• OSHA 30 required; CHST/CSP preferred
• Knowledge of NFPA, Joint Commission life safety standards
• Strong auditing, training, and incident investigation skills
• Effective communication across contractors and internal teams

PHYSICAL DEMAND

• Moderate physical effort: intermittent standing, walking, and reaching is required without assistance.
• Close computer work with intense concentration more than half of the day.
• Ability to discern color, ability to hear conversations and telephone communications clearly.
• The physical working environment will be a well-lit and ventilated office space with a work area and access to plotters, scanners, and printers.
• Part time working environment will require visits to construction and renovation sites.
• Applicant must be able to navigate sites under construction including stairs and ladders unassisted.

YNHHS Requisition ID

181387