Assistant Defensible Space Inspector Jobs in Des Plaines, IL

The Health, Safety & Environmental (HSE) Technician is responsible for supporting the implementation and administration of the site's Health, Safety, and Environmental programs to ensure compliance with company policies, OSHA regulations, client requirements, and applicable federal, state, and local regulations. The HSE Technician promotes a proactive safety culture by conducting field observations, audits, inspections, incident investigations, and employee training while working closely with operations, maintenance, contractors, and site leadership in an industrial environment.

• Conduct daily field safety observations, inspections, and audits to ensure compliance with company and client HSE policies.
• Monitor work activities to verify compliance with OSHA standards, safe work practices, and site-specific safety procedures.
• Assist with administering permit-to-work programs, including:
  • Hot Work Permits
  • Confined Space Entry
  • Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)
  • Line Breaking
  • Excavation Permits
  • Elevated Work Permits
• Perform Job Safety Analysis (JSA) and Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) reviews with supervisors and craft personnel.
• Participate in pre-job planning meetings, toolbox talks, and daily safety briefings.
• Investigate incidents, injuries, near misses, property damage, and environmental events to determine root causes and recommend corrective actions.
• Prepare incident reports and maintain accurate HSE documentation.
• Conduct industrial hygiene monitoring as required, including noise, respiratory protection, heat stress, and air quality assessments.
• Perform routine inspections of fire extinguishers, emergency equipment, eyewash stations, first aid kits, and emergency response equipment.
• Monitor contractor safety performance and compliance with client requirements.
• Maintain safety records, training documentation, OSHA logs, and regulatory reports.
• Coordinate new hire safety orientation and ongoing employee safety training.
• Assist with emergency response planning and drills.
• Support environmental compliance programs including spill prevention, waste management, stormwater inspections, and hazardous material handling.
• Participate in behavior-based safety (BBS) programs and safety recognition initiatives.
• Assist management with continuous improvement of HSE performance and safety culture.
• Promote a "Stop Work Authority" culture where employees are empowered to stop unsafe work.

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Associate degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Science, Industrial Technology, or related field preferred.
• Minimum 3 years of industrial safety experience in one or more of the following:
  • Petrochemical
  • Chemical Manufacturing
  • Oil & Gas
  • Refining
  • LNG
  • Power Generation
  • Heavy Industrial Construction
  • Manufacturing

• Strong knowledge of OSHA regulations (29 CFR 1910 and 1926)
• Knowledge of:
  • Process Safety Management (PSM)
  • Hazard Communication (HAZCOM)
  • Respiratory Protection
  • Fall Protection
  • Lockout/Tagout
  • Confined Space Entry
  • Incident Investigation
  • Emergency Response
• Experience conducting safety audits and field observations.
• Ability to interpret OSHA regulations and client safety requirements.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and documentation skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).
• Experience using incident reporting and safety management software preferred.

• OSHA 30-Hour General Industry or Construction
• OSHA 510 or OSHA 500 (preferred)
• Board of Certified Safety Professionals (ASP or CSP) preferred
• Certified Safety Professional (CSP) (preferred)
• Certified Occupational Hearing Conservationist (COHC) (preferred)
• First Aid/CPR/AED Certification
• HAZWOPER 40-Hour Certification (preferred)
• Incident Command System (ICS 100/200) preferred

• Ability to work indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Ability to walk long distances throughout industrial facilities.
• Ability to climb ladders, stairs, scaffolding, and elevated structures.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE), including:
  • Hard Hat
  • Safety Glasses
  • FR Clothing
  • Steel-Toe Boots
  • Hearing Protection
  • Respiratory Protection (as required)

The HSE Technician works in both office and field environments at operating industrial facilities, maintenance sites, construction projects, and turnaround/outage locations. This position requires frequent interaction with craft personnel, supervisors, contractors, operations, engineering, and client representatives while supporting a strong safety culture.

• Petrochemical
• Chemical Manufacturing
• Refining
• Oil & Gas
• LNG
• Power Generation
• Pulp & Paper
• Steel Mills
• Heavy Industrial Construction
• Manufacturing

• Safety Leadership
• Regulatory Compliance
• Hazard Recognition
• Incident Investigation
• Risk Assessment
• Communication
• Problem Solving
• Attention to Detail
• Teamwork
• Time Management
• Continuous Improvement
• Customer Service
• Integrity and Accountability