Job Description
Job Description
Position Summary :
The Safety Manager is responsible for the development, implementation, and management of the project's overall safety and health program. This hands-on role requires a proactive leader who will ensure a culture of safety excellence through continuous oversight, training, and collaboration. A key function of this position is the systematic creation, documentation, and reporting of Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs) to identify and mitigate risks before work begins. The ideal candidate will have specific experience in rail and transit construction, with a deep understanding of FTA / FRA regulations and the unique hazards associated with heavy civil and rail construction.
Key Responsibilities :
- Safety Program Development :
Develop, implement, and maintain the project-specific Safety and Health Plan.
Author and integrate the System Safety Program Plan (SSPP) in accordance with FTA / FRA requirements and client standards.Hazard Identification & Risk Management :Systematically create, document, and maintain Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs) for all project phases, critical tasks, and high-risk activities.
Proactively identify potential safety hazards through formal risk assessments, JHAs, and daily site walks.Implement and manage a risk register based on JHA findings, ensuring control measures are in place and effective.Lead and document pre-task planning and safety briefings derived from JHA outcomes.Construction & Testing Site Safety Oversight :Provide daily safety oversight of all construction activities, verifying that field work aligns with approved JHAs and safe work procedures.
Conduct frequent site inspections and audits to ensure compliance with company and regulatory standards.Monitor work in active rail corridors, near energized systems, and within existing transit infrastructure.Rail-Specific and Transit System Safety :Enforce strict protocols for working on or adjacent to live tracks, including Right-of-Way access and on-track safety procedures.
Develop and document rail-specific JHAs for activities such as tie-ins to live systems, testing, and commissioning.Understand and mitigate risks associated with rail-borne equipment and testing activities.Training & Competency :Develop and deliver comprehensive safety training to employees, supervisors, and subcontractors, with a focus on the hazards and controls identified in project JHAs.
Topics include site-specific orientations, rail safety, fall protection, confined space, electrical safety, and incident reporting.Verify and document employee competency for high-risk activities.Incident & Emergency Management :Serve as the primary coordinator for all incident response, including investigation, root cause analysis, and reporting.
Develop and maintain the project Emergency Action Plan and coordinate drills with local emergency services.Manage any OSHA or FTA / FRA inspections and subsequent actions.Safety Performance & Reporting :Track, analyze, and report on leading and lagging safety indicators (e.g., JHA completion and adherence, observations, audits, incidents).
Prepare detailed weekly and monthly safety performance reports for project leadership and the client, highlighting JHA effectiveness and risk trends.Present safety data, JHA compliance metrics, and improvement initiatives at project meetings.Coordination & Communication :Serve as the primary safety liaison between the project team, client representatives (e.g., MBTA), subcontractors, and regulatory agencies.
Lead regular safety meetings to review JHAs, discuss hazard trends, and reinforce safe work practices.Foster a collaborative safety culture where all employees feel empowered to contribute to the JHA process.Regulatory Compliance & Documentation :Ensure 100% compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal regulations (OSHA, FTA, FRA, MassDOS, etc.).
Maintain meticulous safety documentation , including JHAs, training records, inspection reports, permits, and incident files.Manage the project's safety data sheet (SDS) system.Continuous Improvement :Champion continuous improvement initiatives by using JHA data and incident reports to refine safety plans and procedures.
Research and implement industry best practices and innovative safety technologies.Promote and recognize safe work behaviors to reinforce a positive safety culture.Qualifications & Experience :
Education : Bachelor’s degree in Safety Engineering, Occupational Health and Safety, Construction Management, or a related field. Equivalent extensive experience will be considered.Certifications (Required) :Certified Safety Professional (CSP) or Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST)
OSHA 30-hour Construction CertificationExperience :Minimum of 5+ years of direct safety management experience on heavy civil, rail, or large-scale infrastructure projects.
Demonstrated expertise in the creation, documentation, and implementation of Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) programs.Demonstrated familiarity with FTA / FRA safety standards and direct experience developing and managing a System Safety Program Plan (SSPP).Proven experience working on construction projects in an active urban environment, preferably within the Boston area or similar.Strong knowledge of construction means and methods, including excavation, shoring, crane operations, and electrical safety.