Safety Engineer

About the role

The Wesson Group, LLC is growing and seeking a motivated individual to join our close‑knit team. With over four decades of experience, we deliver heavy civil and renewable energy design‑build excellence, specializing in sustainable solutions for wind, solar, marine, infrastructure, heavy civil, and transportation. Headquartered in Johnstown, NY, our work spans Western, Central, and Northern NY. Our unwavering commitment to safety, excellence, transparency, and stakeholder collaboration places people at the heart of everything we do. At The Wesson Group you’re more than just a number – you’re part of a team that puts safety and family first. We take pride in our work and support each other with respect and professionalism. In the field you’ll work with colleagues who take pride in the project, in a respectful environment with top‑tier experienced professionals dedicated to superior quality. Whether you are a veteran, a mid‑career professional, or just starting out, the Wesson Group offers a place to grow and excel.

The Safety Engineer is responsible for supporting the implementation, administration, and continuous improvement of The Wesson Group’s safety programs across heavy civil, renewable energy, and infrastructure projects. This field‑focused safety professional spends approximately 80% of time in the field supporting project teams, monitoring work activities, conducting inspections, coordinating safety initiatives, and assisting with incident response. The role works closely with superintendents, forepersons, project managers, operations, human resources, ESQ&C leadership, subcontractors, and employees to promote safe work practices and ensure compliance with company, customer, and regulatory requirements. The position reports to the Safety Manager or Site Safety Manager.

Responsibilities

• Conduct employee safety orientations and onboarding sessions, including regularly scheduled orientation programs for new hires and project personnel.
• Monitor and coordinate pre‑employment, post‑accident, random, and reasonable‑suspicion drug testing activities and follow‑up requirements.
• Support safety oversight for self‑performed civil construction activities and actively participate in field safety monitoring.
• Spend approximately 80% of work time in the field supporting project teams, observing work activities, conducting inspections, and coaching employees on safe work practices.
• Identify, monitor, and evaluate congested, complex, or high‑hazard work activities and coordinate additional support resources when needed.
• Conduct routine jobsite inspections and safety audits to verify compliance with company policies, customer requirements, and applicable regulations.
• Assist field personnel in identifying hazards and implementing corrective actions before incidents occur.
• Prepare and maintain safety documentation, inspection records, training records, incident reports, safety observations, and corrective‑action tracking logs.
• Investigate incidents, near misses, property‑damage events, and injuries and assist in identifying root causes and corrective actions.
• Prepare incident reports and communicate findings and recommendations to leadership and project teams.
• Facilitate communication and follow‑up activities with occupational health providers and employee health programs, including coordination of required follow‑up actions.
• Support the reasonable accommodation process by coordinating information, documentation, and communication with Human Resources and operations leadership.
• Monitor and maintain PPE inventory, coordinate replenishment needs, and ensure projects have access to required safety equipment.
• Participate in safety meetings, toolbox talks, pre‑task planning sessions, and project coordination meetings.
• Coordinate with third‑party safety resources and participate in recurring safety review meetings to address technical issues, trends, and opportunities for improvement.
• Assist with implementation of company safety initiatives, policies, standards, and training programs.
• Develop positive working relationships with project teams while serving as a resource for safety‑related questions and concerns.
• Promote a proactive safety culture focused on hazard recognition, employee engagement, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Perform miscellaneous job‑related duties as required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety, Safety Engineering, Environmental Health & Safety, Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or related field preferred; equivalent operations, construction, or field experience may be considered.
• Entry‑level to 5 years of experience in construction safety, field operations, heavy civil construction, renewable energy construction, infrastructure, utilities, or related industries preferred.
• Working knowledge of OSHA standards and construction safety practices preferred.
• Ability to work effectively with field crews, project teams, subcontractors, and management personnel.
• Strong communication, organization, problem‑solving, and follow‑up skills.
• Ability to investigate incidents, gather information, complete reports, and communicate findings clearly.
• Comfortable working in active construction environments and observing field activities for extended periods.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding employee, medical, and incident‑related information.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel to project sites throughout New York State.
• GSP (Graduate Safety Practitioner), CHST (Construction Health & Safety Technician), OSHA 30, or related professional certifications preferred.

Pay

Salary Range: $70,000 – $85,000. Position eligible for Company Performance Bonuses.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Health, Rx, Vision, and Dental package
• Supplemental 401(k) with company match
• Company‑paid Supplemental Life Insurance, Short/Long‑Term Disability