Pate Garver

Safety Manager – Underground Construction

Location: Houston TX

Employment Type: Full-Time

Travel: Regular travel to project sites is required

Reports To: Safety / HR Director

Position Summary

Pate Garver LP is seeking an experienced Safety Manager to lead safety operations for underground construction and tunneling projects. This role is responsible for developing, implementing, and enforcing site-specific safety programs while ensuring compliance with OSHA regulations, company policies, and client requirements.

The ideal candidate has extensive experience with underground construction, trenching and excavation, confined-space entry, and tunneling operations. This position requires a hands-on safety professional who can identify hazards, implement effective controls, train employees, and promote a strong safety culture across all levels of the project team. Regular travel to company and project locations is required, including occasional overnight stays.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and manage project-specific safety plans and procedures.
• Conduct daily jobsite inspections, safety audits, and hazard assessments.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA regulations and all applicable federal, state, local, client, and company safety requirements.
• Oversee safety procedures for trenching, excavation, shoring, shielding, sloping, and underground construction activities.
• Monitor confined-space entry operations, including permitting, atmospheric testing, ventilation, rescue planning, and attendant requirements.
• Evaluate tunneling hazards, including underground utilities, ground conditions, ventilation, mobile equipment, access and egress, and emergency response.
• Conduct job hazard analyses, pre-task planning meetings, toolbox talks, and safety orientations.
• Provide OSHA-related training and other required safety instruction to employees and subcontractors.
• Verify that competent persons and qualified personnel are assigned as required.
• Investigate incidents, injuries, property damage, and near misses; identify root causes and recommend corrective actions.
• Maintain accurate safety records, inspection reports, training documentation, permits, and incident logs.
• Coordinate with project management, field supervision, subcontractors, clients, and regulatory agencies.
• Monitor the proper selection and use of personal protective equipment.
• Exercise stop-work authority when unsafe conditions or behaviors are observed.
• Support emergency-response planning, drills, and rescue coordination.
• Track safety performance and communicate trends, risks, and corrective actions to management.
• Travel regularly between company facilities, active jobsites, and future project locations as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of safety experience in underground construction; 10 years preferred.
• Demonstrated experience supporting tunneling and underground construction operations.
• Extensive knowledge of trenching and excavation safety requirements.
• Experience managing confined-space entry programs and operations.
• Current OSHA 30-Hour Construction certification at minimum.
• Current OSHA 500 – Trainer Course in OSHA Standards for the Construction Industry certification.
• Strong working knowledge of OSHA construction standards, including 29 CFR 1926.
• Experience conducting incident investigations, job hazard analyses, safety audits, and employee training.
• Ability to recognize hazards and implement practical corrective measures in active construction environments.
• Strong written, verbal, organizational, and leadership skills.
• Proficiency in preparing safety reports and maintaining compliance documentation.
• Ability to work in underground, confined, and active heavy-construction environments.
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly, including occasional overnight stays, based on project needs.
• Ability to work varying shifts based on project requirements.
• Valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST), or equivalent certification.
• OSHA competent-person training for trenching and excavation.
• Confined-space competent-person, entry supervisor, or rescue training.
• First Aid, CPR, and AED certification.
• Experience with heavy civil construction, underground utilities, shafts, microtunneling, or tunnel-boring operations.
• Familiarity with DOT, MSHA, ANSI, NFPA, and other applicable safety standards.
• Bilingual English/Spanish communication skills.

Physical and Work Requirements

• Regularly inspect active construction sites, tunnels, excavations, shafts, and confined spaces.
• Walk and stand for extended periods on uneven or challenging terrain.
• Climb ladders and stairs and access elevated or below-grade work areas.
• Wear required personal protective equipment.
• Work outdoors and underground in varying weather, temperature, noise, dust, and lighting conditions.
• Travel by vehicle or air to assigned project locations, with occasional overnight stays.
• Respond to project incidents or emergencies outside normal working hours when required.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary based on experience and qualifications.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Retirement plan.
• Paid time off and company holidays.
• Professional development and certification support.
• Opportunity to contribute to complex underground construction projects.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Pate Garver LP is an equal-opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.