HSE Specialist

Hire Virtue; Augusta (GA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Hire Virtue is seeking an experienced Health, Safety & Environmental (HSE) Professional to identify, evaluate, and mitigate workplace hazards in utility construction and field operations.

You will lead hazard assessments, coach field crews, conduct incident investigations, and ensure compliance with OSHA, DOT, EPA guidelines and utility-damage-prevention rules, while traveling to sites across urban and rural settings.

Qualifications

• Requires degree in Occupational Safety, Safety Management, Environmental Health & Safety or related field.
• Utility journeyman qualification or 5+ years utility industry experience.
• Strong knowledge of OSHA requirements and EPA guidelines for construction and field operations.

Responsibilities

• Provide HSE oversight for natural gas, water, sewer, and utility distribution construction and maintenance activities.
• Conduct field observations and job-site safety inspections.
• Observe, coach, and train employees on safe work practices and regulatory requirements.
• Conduct hazard analyses, risk assessments, and electrical safety assessments as applicable.
• Participate in pre-job briefings and safety discussions.
• Maintain safety documentation and records; assist with incident investigations.

Skills

Hazard recognition

Risk assessment

Field coaching

Safety leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Communication

Documentation

Travel readiness

Field observations

Investigation skills

Education

Degree in Occupational Safety or related discipline

Utility journeyman qualification

5+ years in utility industry experience

Job description

NOTE: Company Truck Is Provided

The Health, Safety & Environmental (HSE) Professional is responsible for identifying, evaluating, and helping mitigate workplace hazards associated with utility construction, maintenance, and field operations. Using field experience, historical data, regulatory requirements, and other relevant information, this position proactively identifies hazards involving equipment, facilities, work sites, construction activities, and operational procedures.

The HSE Professional evaluates the probability and potential severity of incidents resulting from actual or potential hazards, conducts hazard and risk assessments, and recommends appropriate corrective and preventive measures.

This position also serves as a trusted safety resource to field leadership and employees, providing guidance regarding compliance with applicable health, safety, environmental, DOT, OSHA, and utility construction requirements.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on safety professional with natural gas distribution or pipeline construction experience who is comfortable spending significant time in the field, coaching employees, evaluating job-site conditions, and partnering with operations to promote safe work practices.

Essential Functions

• Provide HSE oversight for natural gas, water, sewer, and utility distribution construction and maintenance activities.
• Conduct regular field observations and job-site safety inspections.
• Observe, coach, and train employees regarding safe work practices, procedures, hazard recognition, and regulatory requirements.
• Conduct job hazard analyses, risk assessments, and electrical safety assessments as applicable.
• Participate in pre-job briefings, tailboard meetings, and other safety discussions.
• Evaluate employee work practices to identify opportunities for additional training, coaching, or skills development.
• Inspect excavations, trenches, confined spaces, work zones, traffic-control setups, overhead and underground utility operations, and other construction-related hazards.
• Evaluate compliance with excavation, trenching, utility locating, and damage-prevention requirements.
• Monitor field operations for compliance with established safety procedures and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Provide guidance to employees and supervisors regarding hazard mitigation and corrective actions.
• Conduct incident, injury, property damage, and near-miss investigations.
• Perform root cause analyses and assist with developing corrective and preventive actions.
• Assist with claims investigations and documentation when required.
• Work collaboratively with occupational medical professionals, employees, and management regarding appropriate return-to-work activities.
• Maintain accurate safety documentation, inspection records, investigation reports, and corrective-action records.
• Support emergency response activities and remain calm and effective during urgent or high-pressure situations.
• Promote a proactive safety culture through consistent field presence, coaching, communication, and accountability.
• Travel to urban, rural, and industrial work sites as required.

Minimum Qualifications

• 1–3+ years of natural gas pipeline or natural gas distribution construction experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of natural gas distribution operations, construction practices, and procedures.
• Working knowledge of OSHA requirements and EPA guidelines applicable to construction and field operations.
• Understanding of DOT requirements, FMCSA regulations, and utility damage-prevention requirements.
• Working knowledge of 811 utility locating requirements and applicable excavation laws and practices.
• Experience with utility-related construction, operations, maintenance, or safety activities.
• Ability to recognize and evaluate hazards associated with excavation, underground utilities, heavy equipment, traffic control, confined spaces, and field construction.
• Ability to work independently and travel to various urban, rural, and industrial work locations.
• Ability to perform field responsibilities in varying terrain and weather conditions.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to clearly explain safety requirements and procedures to field employees.
• Strong attention to detail and documentation skills.
• Ability to effectively coach, influence, and motivate employees regarding safe work practices.
• Demonstrated leadership, sound judgment, and practical problem-solving skills.
• Ability to respond quickly and effectively during emergency situations.
• Valid driver's license.
• Valid authorization to legally work in the United States.

Education & Technical Experience

• Degree in Occupational Safety, Safety Management, Environmental Health & Safety, or a related discipline; or
• Utility journeyman qualification; or
• 5+ years of relevant utility industry experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate degree or higher in Safety, Occupational Health, Engineering, Construction, or a technical discipline.
• 3–5 years of safety-related or specialized technical experience preferred.
• Utility construction safety experience strongly preferred.
• Experience conducting incident and claims investigations.
• Experience supporting natural gas distribution construction crews.
• Bilingual communication skills are a plus.

Professional certification in, or active pursuit of, one or more of the following is preferred but not required:

• Construction Health & Safety Technician (CHST)
• Occupational Hygiene and Safety Technician (OHST)
• Certified Utility Safety Professional (CUSP)
• Associate Safety Professional (ASP)
• Certified Safety Professional (CSP)

Knowledge, Skills & Competencies

• Strong knowledge of construction and utility safety practices.
• Practical understanding of natural gas pipeline and distribution construction.
• Strong hazard-recognition and risk-assessment capabilities.
• Knowledge of excavation, trenching, utility locating, and damage-prevention practices.
• Ability to conduct thorough incident investigations and root cause analyses.
• Strong field presence with the ability to build credibility with craft employees, supervisors, and operational leadership.
• Ability to coach employees while maintaining accountability for established safety requirements.
• Strong organizational and documentation skills.
• Ability to balance regulatory compliance with practical field operations.
• Sound judgment and the ability to make timely decisions in changing field conditions.
• Professionalism, integrity, teamwork, and a commitment to continuous safety improvement.

Work Environment

This is a field-oriented HSE position supporting active utility construction and maintenance operations. The position requires regular travel to job sites and the ability to work around construction equipment, excavation activities, underground utilities, traffic-control zones, and changing environmental conditions.

The HSE Professional must be comfortable working outdoors and visiting job sites in varying weather, terrain, and operational conditions.