Sr. Safety Coordinator Transmission & Distribution (Storm Response)

About the role

The Senior Safety Coordinator – T&D (Storm Response) provides guidance and support to construction employees and field leadership on transmission and distribution (T&D) projects, with a strong emphasis on storm readiness, rapid deployment, and 24/7 restoration safety. This role promotes proactive prevention during normal operations and ensures disciplined execution in emergency response.

Responsibilities

• Field Safety Leadership – T&D (35%)
  • Leads and develops Safety Coordinators, providing proactive leadership by observing and assessing outside line crew operations for compliance with OSHA 1910.269 and 1926 Subpart V standards.
  • Ensures pre-job and toolbox briefings are thorough, MAD calculations are verified, and safe work practices—including cover-up, grounding, switching/clearance communications, PPE use, and substation entry controls—are consistently applied.
  • Coaches and supports Foreman and Safety Coordinators to strengthen adherence to safety requirements, reinforce accountability, and embed a culture of risk awareness and prevention across crews.
  • Holds Safety Coordinators and field leadership accountable for compliance.
  • Documents field observations, provides constructive feedback, and escalates concerns when necessary to maintain high standard of safety performance.
• Storm Readiness, Mobilization & Response (25%)
  • Supports and monitors organizational readiness for storm events in collaboration with Superintendents and General Foremen.
  • Ensures the storm safety playbook remains current and is implemented effectively.
  • Provides safety oversight during staging and logistics activities, verifying that Incident Command Post (ICP) role assignments and mobilization practices align with company guidelines and regulatory expectations.
  • Serves as the safety lead during deployments, integrating with host-utility and mutual assistance frameworks while maintaining strong communication with field leadership.
  • Monitors compliance with fatigue management, crew rest cycles, and handoff procedures, ensuring operational leadership applies them appropriately.
  • Confirms completion and documentation of ICS100/200/700 training and provides coaching on applying ICS principles to storm operations.
• Training & Competency (15%)
  • Delivers and documents training to ensure crews remain competent in OSHA 1910.269 topics, including job briefings, MAD, grounding, and energized work methods.
  • Provides instruction on arc flash hazard assessment, flame-resistant (FR) clothing requirements, and aerial/bucket rescue expectations.
  • Ensures First Aid/CPR training is current and verifies that rescue readiness is maintained across all crews.
• Incident Prevention, Reporting & Investigation (10%)
  • Conducts and supports field investigations of incidents and near misses, ensuring accurate fact-finding and documentation in alignment with safety department guidelines.
  • Coaches crews and leadership through the investigation process, develops SMART corrective actions, and aligns reports with corporate standards and closure protocols.
  • Provides first aid care when necessary and coordinates licensed medical care in accordance with corporate protocols.
• Regulatory & Client Compliance (10%)
  • Maintains compliance with OSHA, NESC, and MUTCD requirements across all transmission and distribution activities.
  • Ensures host-to-contractor information transfer—such as system conditions, reclosers, and remotely operated devices—is accurately communicated and consistently applied.
  • Verifies that site-specific utility rules are understood, implemented, and followed by all crews.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 5–7+ years in T&D safety, with a minimum of 3 years in outside line operations or utility construction required.
• Outside Lineman or Foreman background strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated storm deployment experience (utility or contractor).
• OSHA 30 (Construction) or equivalent preferred; documented OSHA 1910.269 training required.
• OSHA 500 and 510 certifications strongly preferred; Electrical Transmission & Distribution (ET&D) Trainer certification is a plus.
• FEMA ICS 100/200/700 certification required, or ability to complete within 90 days of hire.
• First Aid/CPR/Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Train-the-Trainer certification required, or ability to complete within 90 days of hire.
• Experience in utility/contractor host-rule environments, with knowledge of IBEW collective bargaining agreements across multiple states preferred.

Skills

• Ability to communicate clearly and calmly at all levels, from field crews to executives and utility clients.
• Ability to mentor and influence crews and safety staff to reinforce accountability and a culture of prevention.
• Ability to build and deliver effective pre-job briefings, verify MAD calculations, and manage control of energy sources, including switching, clearance, reclosers, and remote devices.
• Strong ability to operate within ICS during storm operations, including managing fatigue, staging/base camp safety, and coordination with leadership, utility representatives, and mutual assistance partners.
• Strong ability to investigate incidents and near misses, identify root causes, and recommend SMART corrective actions.
• Proficient in maintaining precise, timely, and compliant documentation, including job briefings, JSAs, switching/clearance notes, incident reports, and utility-specific forms.
• Proficient in applying OSHA 1910.269 and 1926 Subpart V, NESC (ANSI C2), and MUTCD Part 6 for temporary traffic control.
• Skilled in conducting arc flash hazard assessments and selecting appropriate FR and arc-rated clothing to ensure full-body protection.
• Competent in T&D rescue methods, including pole-top, bucket, and vault rescues, with readiness to perform or direct emergency response as required.
• Familiarity with mutual-assistance operations.

Work Environment

• Field-heavy role across energized and de-energized T&D sites, substations, overhead and underground environments, public Right-of-Way (ROW) areas, and storm-impacted regions.
• Requires flexibility for extended deployments, including nights, weekends, and holidays, as dictated by operational needs and emergency events.
• Frequent travel required; outdoor exposure to heat, cold, dust, wind, standing water, and uneven or unstable footing.
• Work occurs around traffic and heavy equipment, requiring MUTCD-compliant traffic control.

Physical Demands

• Prolonged periods of walking, standing, climbing, and traversing uneven terrain and ROWs; ability to ascend structures or access aerial devices using three-point contact.
• Must be able to wear FR/arc-rated PPE and other required protective equipment for extended periods and perform duties in inclement weather conditions.
• Must be able to lift up to 40 pounds at times.
• Must be able work in confined spaces.