Job Summary:

The Safety Officer will support and oversee Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) compliance for subcontractors engaged in Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) and open trench excavation activities associated with high-voltage cable installations. The role involves ensuring safe systems of work, identifying and mitigating hazards-especially those inherent to excavation and high-voltage work-enforcing adherence to relevant legislation, Saudi Electrical Company (SEC) HSE Standards, and industry best practices, and maintaining a safe working environment for all personnel. The Safety Officer will conduct routine inspections, provide HSE guidance, and work closely with subcontractors to ensure compliance with project-specific HSE requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

• HSE Compliance & Oversight: Monitor on-site HDD drilling and open trench excavation activities to ensure compliance with the company's HSE policies, local regulations, SEC HSE Standards, and client requirements.
• Safe Systems of Work: Verify that work is conducted in accordance with approved safe systems of work, including method statements, risk assessments, and permits to work for HDD, cable pulling, and open trenching operations.
• Hazard Identification & Control: Identify hazards associated with HDD operations (e.g., underground utilities, pressurized drilling fluids, rotating equipment) and open trench activities (e.g., trench collapse, unstable soil conditions, contact with high-voltage cables), ensuring the implementation of appropriate control measures.
• Subcontractor Management: Oversee subcontractors' HSE performance, conducting regular audits, inspections, and toolbox talks to maintain compliance with project and SEC HSE Standards, mitigating safety risks associated with excavation.
• Incident Reporting & Investigation: Report any incidents, near misses, or unsafe conditions to the HSE Manager and assist in basic incident investigations, contributing to root cause analysis and corrective action implementation.
• Training & Inductions: Deliver site-specific safety inductions to all personnel, ensuring understanding of hazards, control measures, and emergency procedures related to HDD and trench excavation, and relevant SEC requirements.
• Monitoring & Record-Keeping: Maintain accurate records of safety inspections, audits, training sessions, and corrective actions taken, providing regular updates to the HSE team and project management.
• Emergency Response: Assist in emergency preparedness activities, including coordinating spill response, first aid measures, evacuation drills, and clearly communicating roles and responsibilities to site personnel.

Education and Qualifications:

Diploma or Equivalent: Occupational Health & Safety or related field preferred.

Certifications:

• NEBOSH General Certificate or equivalent.
• Valid First Aid and CPR certification.
• Confined Space Entry training preferred.
• Working at Height and Excavation Safety certification is advantageous.
• Additional Training: Familiarity with HDD operations, open trenching standards, and high-voltage cable installation guidelines is desirable.
• Preferred Experience: Knowledge and previous experience with Saudi Electrical Company (SEC) HSE Standards and requirements.

Skills and Competencies:

• Industry Experience: 3-5 years of HSE experience in construction, oil & gas, or civil engineering, ideally with 2 years overseeing drilling and/or trench excavation activities or similar.
• Legislative & Regulatory Knowledge: Understanding of local and international HSE regulations, particularly those related to excavation safety, underground utilities, electrical hazards, and compliance with SEC HSE requirements.
• Risk Assessment & Hazard Control: Proficiency in conducting basic risk assessments, identifying excavation-related hazards (e.g., trench collapse, buried services, highvoltage cables) and recommending effective control measures.
• Communication & Leadership: Strong communication skills to deliver clear safety instructions, conduct toolbox talks, and engage with subcontractors and site personnel effectively.
• Observation & Attention to Detail: Ability to monitor site activities, identify unsafe behaviors or conditions, and intervene promptly to prevent incidents.
• Teamwork & Collaboration: Work closely with the HSE team, project management, and subcontractors to maintain a positive safety culture and drive continuous improvement in HSE performance.