What are the responsibilities and job description for the Safety Manager position at Ferreira Construction Co., Inc.?
Safety Manager – Gas & Civil Construction
Location: Lincoln, Rhode Island
Position Summary
Ferreira Construction is seeking an experienced Safety Manager to support our Gas Distribution and Heavy Civil operations throughout Rhode Island and the surrounding New England region. This position is responsible for promoting and maintaining a proactive safety culture while ensuring compliance with OSHA, state, local, and client-specific safety requirements.
The Safety Manager will partner closely with Operations, Project Managers, Superintendents, and field personnel to reduce risk, prevent incidents, and ensure every employee returns home safely each day. This role requires a visible field presence, strong leadership, and the ability to build relationships while holding teams accountable to Ferreira Construction's commitment to safety excellence.
Essential Responsibilities
- Serve as the primary safety resource for Gas Distribution and Civil Construction projects throughout the region.
- Conduct regular field safety audits, inspections, and jobsite observations to ensure compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements.
- Provide coaching and mentoring to supervisors and craft employees on safe work practices and hazard recognition.
- Lead incident investigations, determine root causes, and develop corrective and preventive action plans.
- Review and approve Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs), Activity Hazard Analyses (AHAs), and project-specific safety plans.
- Ensure compliance with OSHA, DOT, EPA, state regulations, and customer-specific safety requirements.
- Monitor excavation safety, trenching and shoring operations, confined space entry, utility locating, heavy equipment operations, traffic control, lockout/tagout, fall protection, and hot work activities.
- Conduct new hire orientation, ongoing safety training, toolbox talks, and refresher training programs.
- Support emergency response planning and coordinate drills for project teams.
- Maintain OSHA logs, incident reports, corrective action documentation, and safety performance metrics.
- Monitor subcontractor safety performance and ensure compliance with project safety requirements.
- Partner with project teams during pre-construction planning to identify and mitigate project risks.
- Participate in client safety meetings, audits, and regulatory inspections.
- Track leading and lagging safety indicators and recommend continuous improvement initiatives.
- Promote employee engagement by recognizing safe behaviors and encouraging hazard reporting.
- Travel regularly between active project sites throughout Rhode Island and neighboring states.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety, Construction Management, Environmental Health & Safety, or a related field preferred.
- Minimum of 5 years of construction safety experience supporting gas utility, underground utility, heavy civil, or infrastructure projects.
- Strong working knowledge of OSHA Construction Standards (29 CFR 1926).
- Experience with trenching and excavation safety, utility installation, heavy equipment operations, confined space entry, and traffic control.
- Ability to conduct incident investigations and implement effective corrective actions.
- Excellent communication and leadership skills with the ability to influence all levels of the organization.
- Strong organizational and documentation skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and electronic safety management systems.
- Valid driver's license with the ability to travel to project sites.
Job Type: Full-time
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person