HSE Advisor – Field Operations

Ponder Environmental Services, Inc.; Benicia (CA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hourly Rate Range: $38.00 - $46.00

Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance

401(k) with Company Match

Life, Short-Term & Long-Term Insurance

Vacation, Sick, and Holiday Pay

Job summary

Ponder Environmental Services, Inc. seeks an experienced HSE Advisor to support field operations across Northern and Central California. This hands-on role works beside crews to ensure safety and regulatory compliance in active industrial environments.

You will regularly visit project sites, coach employees, conduct audits, assist with training and incident investigations, and serve as a safety resource during emergency response operations.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of field safety experience.
• Current 40-hour HAZWOPER with annual refresher.
• Valid California driver's license and clean driving record.
• Working knowledge of Cal/OSHA, Federal OSHA, DOT and EPA requirements.
• Experience with confined space entry, air monitoring and PPE.
• Ability to coach field crews and address unsafe conditions.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a strong safety presence at active jobsites (refineries, terminals, pipelines).
• Partner with Project Managers and field crews to identify hazards and implement safe practices.
• Review JHAs/JSAs, permits, PPE requirements, and site safety plans.
• Conduct field safety audits, inspections and observations.
• Exercise Stop Work Authority when needed.
• Support emergency spill and hazmat response as field Safety Officer.
• Conduct atmospheric monitoring for LEL, O2, H2S, CO, VOCs, benzene.
• Audit confined space entry, LOTO, ventilation and rescue planning.
• Support safe tank cleaning, degassing and vacuum operations.
• Assist with DOT/fleet safety compliance and driver qualifications.
• Lead or assist incident investigations and corrective actions.
• Deliver safety training and new-hire orientation (HAZWOPER, PPE, fall protection).
• Maintain safety equipment and gas monitors; act as customer safety liaison.
• Support company safety programs and contractor pre-qualification.

Skills

HAZWOPER

Cal/OSHA

Air monitoring

Field safety

Coaching

Training

MS Office

Communication

Education

High School Diploma

Job description

Ponder Environmental Services offers a full range of standard and on-call emergency environmental services to oil and gas exploration and production, pipeline terminals, refineries, manufacturers, processors and public entities throughout Northern and Central California. Our services in the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento and Bakersfield include storage tank cleaning, vacuum truck services, roll-off services, robotic manway cannons, temporary storage tanks, spill response, hazmat cleaning and packing, degassing and vapor control, confined space rescue services and installation of temporary and permanent fencing.

About the Job

Ponder Environmental Services is seeking an experienced HSE Advisor to support our environmental and industrial field operations. This is a hands-on, field-based safety position for someone who is comfortable working alongside crews in active industrial environments and helping ensure work is performed safely and in compliance with company, customer, and regulatory requirements.

Our operations include emergency spill response, hazardous materials cleanup, confined space entry and rescue, storage tank cleaning and degassing, vacuum truck and hydroblasting services, hazardous waste transportation, and remediation.

The HSE Advisor will regularly visit project sites, coach employees and supervisors, conduct safety audits, support training and incident investigations, and serve as a safety resource during emergency response operations.

What You’ll Do

• Maintain a strong safety presence at active jobsites, including refineries, terminals, pipelines, and industrial facilities.
• Partner with Project Managers, Supervisors, and field crews to identify hazards and implement safe work practices.
• Review JHAs/JSAs, permits, PPE requirements, and site-specific safety plans.
• Conduct field safety audits, inspections, and behavior-based safety observations.
• Exercise Stop Work Authority when unsafe or immediately dangerous conditions are identified.
• Support emergency spill and hazardous materials response as a field Safety Officer.
• Conduct and document atmospheric monitoring for hazards such as LEL, oxygen, H2S, CO, VOCs, and benzene.
• Audit confined space entry and rescue operations, including permits, LOTO, ventilation, air monitoring, rescue planning, and equipment.
• Support safe tank cleaning, degassing, vapor control, vacuum truck, and hydroblasting operations.
• Assist with DOT and fleet safety compliance, including driver qualification, vehicle inspections, hazardous materials transportation, and drug and alcohol program requirements.
• Lead or assist with incident and near-miss investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective actions.
• Deliver safety training and new-hire orientation on topics such as HAZWOPER, PPE, respiratory protection, Hazard Communication, fall protection, heat illness prevention, and confined space.
• Maintain and inspect safety equipment, gas monitors, fall protection equipment, respiratory protection equipment, and PPE.
• Serve as a safety point of contact for customers and participate in customer safety meetings.
• Support company safety programs, documentation, record-keeping, and contractor pre-qualification requirements.

What We’re Looking For

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Minimum 2 years of field safety experience within refining, pipeline, chemical, environmental services, industrial cleaning, or a similar industrial environment.
• Current 40-hour HAZWOPER certification with annual 8-hour refresher.
• Valid California driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
• Working knowledge of Cal/OSHA, Federal OSHA, DOT, and EPA requirements applicable to industrial and environmental field operations.
• Experience with confined space entry, air monitoring, respiratory protection, hazardous materials, and PPE.
• Ability to confidently coach employees and address unsafe conditions in the field.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively with field crews, supervisors, customers, and management.
• Ability to conduct safety training and communicate technical information in a clear, practical way.
• Strong organizational and documentation skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to pass a respirator medical evaluation and fit test and participate in required HAZWOPER medical surveillance.

Preferred Qualifications

Additional experience or certifications in the following areas are a plus:

• CHST, STS, OHST, ASP/CSP track, or similar safety credential.
• 8-hour HAZWOPER Supervisor certification.
• Hazardous Materials Technician training.
• Confined Space Rescue Technician training (NFPA 1006/2500).
• HAZWOPER, CPR/First Aid/AED, or confined space trainer credentials.
• Root cause analysis experience, including TapRooT® or similar methods.
• Experience with ISNetworld, Avetta, or Veriforce.
• Experience supporting refinery, terminal, pipeline, environmental response, tank cleaning, or industrial services operations.

Schedule & Travel

This position supports active field operations and is not a traditional desk-based safety role. Candidates should be comfortable working in industrial environments and responding to changing operational needs.

• Participation in a 24/7 emergency response on-call rotation is required.
• Nights, weekends, and holidays may be required during emergency response activities.
• Travel to project and customer locations is required.
• Overnight and out-of-town travel may be required depending on active projects and operational needs.

What Ponder Offers

Compensation & Benefits:
We value our employees and offer a competitive benefits package, including:

• Hourly Rate Range:$38.00 - $46.00
• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Life, Short-Term & Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Vacation, Sick, and Holiday Pay

Equal Opportunity Employer

Ponder Environmental Services is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and affirmative action employer. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and make employment decisions based on qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, disability, or veteran status.