Safety Manager

Established in 2012, Benchmark, a division of National Underground Group, provides damage prevention solutions to utility companies and municipalities. Benchmark also provides private utility-locating services to homeowners and contractors, with 24/7 service to its clients.  

Benchmark is responsible for eliminating or reducing damages to underground utilities during any kind of excavation. Through the 811-call center, Benchmark locates underground facilities through established on-call contracts, and is responsible for marking gas, water, sewer, electric and fiber lines.  

The company works diligently to build lasting relationships within the industry. Benchmark’s contracts typically span several years, so providing the highest-quality work and outstanding customer service is the top priority, after ensuring that all safety measures are taken before, during and after each project. On its largest contract, the firm boasts a 99.99% accuracy ratio. Benchmark provides service to Virginia, D.C., Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Delaware.  

We have an immediate opening for a Safety Manager to support our East Coast and Gulf Coast utility locating business. The position will be an on-site position in the Richmond or Ashland area with 30% travel required.   

The Safety Manager is responsible for continuously monitoring and adapting safety procedures and operations to ensure a safe and fully compliant work environment for all employees.

Key Roles & Responsibilities

• Conducts safety meetings, audits, and inspections to ensure compliance, evaluate performance, identify corrective action, and implement follow-up assessments.
• Plans, implements and conducts preventative care, safety, and compliance training programs.
• Plans, implements, manages, and maintains comprehensive environmental safety & health programs on-premises or at project site locations.
• Provides project management team with guidance on health and safety and confirms project site fulfills industry, local, state, and federal guidelines and regulations.
• Collaborates with management to develop an Emergency Action Plan and serve as primary contact for project site injury and incident notification, investigation, and case management. Maintains a written log of safety inspection activities, reports, and correspondence.
• Guarantees that all work is performed in accordance with approved manuals, internal policies and procedures, contract documents, and good engineering practices.
• Provides technical support to project managers.
• Develops and maintains project cost/change controls, budget, and accounting records.
• Coordinates and monitors schedule updates, invoices, and submittals.
• Manages third-party compliance platforms; ISN, AVETTA, ERC WORTH-ROSS, NCMS.
• Participates in team meetings and provides regular on-site project presence.

Physical Demands:

Frequent (constantly occurs for at least 15-minute increments)

• Walking. Standing. Pushing. Pulling. Lifting to 50 pounds. Climbing into and out of the back of straight trucks involves lifting your leg at least 18” and pulling your body up into the trucks. Balance control to stand at the tail end of a straight truck, approximately 4’ off the ground, and pull an object over your head.
• Subject to outside environmental conditions with no effective protection from the weather.
• Subject to hazards. Includes a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, moving vehicles, electrical current, working on scaffolding and high places, and exposure to high heat or exposure to chemicals.
• Subject to noise. There is enough noise to cause the worker to shout in order to be heard above the ambient noise level.
• Subject to atmospheric conditions. One or more of the following conditions affect the respiratory system or the skin: fumes, odors, dust, mists, gases, or poor ventilation.
• Subject to multiple priorities and stimuli.
• Work involves frequent change and/or interruptions.
• Frequent deadlines must be met.

Occasional

• Sitting. Bending neck up & down and/or twisting sideways. Stooping. Balancing. Crouching. Climbing. Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Kneeling. Crawling. Lifting between 50 and 75 pounds.
• Subject to extreme cold. Temperatures typically below 32° for periods of more than one hour. The effect of other environmental conditions, such as wind and humidity, should be considered.
• Subject to extreme heat. Temperatures above 100° for periods of more than one hour. The effect of other environmental conditions, such as wind and humidity, should be considered.

Requirements/Qualifications

• Must have Fleet Experience
• Experience and knowledge of DOT/FMCSA regulations and compliance
• Knowledge of laws, legal codes, and government regulations that may be relevant to the safety of employees and the public.
• Must possess the skill of identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop, evaluate options, and implement solutions.
• Skill in monitoring/assessing the performance of yourself and other individuals to ensure the safest working environment possible.
• Ability to travel 30% of the time (East Coast and Gulf regions)
• Must have Utility Locating/Test Hole digging experience.
• Needs First Aid Train the Trainer
• Ability to select and conduct training/instruction appropriate for the situation.
• Ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong and an ability to correct and provide potential solutions to the problem.
• Ability to effectively provide professional information to supervisors and co-workers through various modalities.
• Ability to develop constructive and cooperative working relationships with others both in management and with the field personnel and to maintain those relationships over time.
• High school diploma or equivalent
• B.S. in Occupational Health, Safety, or Engineering is preferred.
• Minimum 4 years of management-level safety professional experience.
• Current certifications in First Aid, CPR, OSHA-500, 30-hour Construction Safety and Industry Standards, Confined Space-Train the Trainer, HAZWOPER-40 Train the Trainer