Solar Safety Specialist

Kokosing (www.kokosing.biz) is one of America's 50 largest General Contractors and services a broad spectrum of clients in both the private and public business sectors. Kokosing's services include heavy civil/industrial construction such as highways, bridges, underground utilities, water/wastewater facilities, and marine construction. For over 75 years, Kokosing has successfully attracted the most qualified technical personnel in the construction industry by offering visible challenges, superior quality, and attractive rewards. With over $2.8 billion in annual sales and a commitment to its workforce, Kokosing is the winning team.

Job Description:

Solar Safety Specialist

Travel & Vehicle Allowance

This position is ideal for safety professionals who enjoy working in the field and supporting projects across multiple locations. A vehicle allowance is available for this role. Candidates must be willing to travel throughout Ohio on a regular basis, with occasional out-of-state travel depending on project needs and the candidate's location.

Position Summary

The Safety Specialist provides field safety support and assists managers, supervisors, and team members with implementing Company and Client Safety & Health policies. This role ensures regulatory compliance, supports project teams, and drives continuous improvement in overall safety performance. The position includes responsibilities across general construction as well as utility-scale solar projects, requiring strong knowledge of OSHA standards, electrical safety, and renewable-energy work environments.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Safety Leadership & Compliance

• Assist in developing and implementing strategies to reduce injuries, illnesses, and incidents while supporting business unit safety objectives.
• Independently perform and document safety audits, inspections, evaluations, and behavioral observations across all operations.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, DOT, EPA, NFPA 70E, and other applicable state/federal regulations.
• Serve as a point of contact for regulatory agencies (e.g., OSHA) when the Safety Manager is unavailable.
• Develop and distribute safety communications, alerts, and updates regarding regulatory or company policy changes.

Training & Workforce Development

• Provide safety and health training to employees, supervisors, and subcontractors, including topics such as hazard communication, fall protection, confined space, LOTO, trenching/excavation, and electrical safety.
• Lead safety meetings, toolbox talks, and project-specific training sessions to reinforce company policies and safe work practices.
• Identify team members needing additional coaching or support to meet safety expectations.

Pre-Job Planning & Field Support

• Support pre-job safety planning meetings to identify potential hazards and develop project-specific emergency response plans.
• Develop work safety and health plans in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines.
• Coordinate project safety programs with subcontractors, vendors, and third-party personnel to ensure alignment with company standards.

Incident Response & Investigation

• Assist in investigating injuries, illnesses, near misses, property damage, and general liability incidents.
• Participate in root-cause analysis and help implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Maintain accurate documentation and reporting for incidents, inspections, and training.

Solar Construction & Renewable Energy Safety

• Oversee safety compliance for utility-scale solar construction, including racking installation, module placement, trenching, cable pulls, and inverter/transformer installation.
• Ensure safe work practices around DC electrical systems, energized components, and high-voltage equipment.
• Enforce NFPA 70E requirements, arc-flash boundaries, and electrical PPE standards.
• Verify proper grounding, bonding, and lockout/tagout procedures during solar equipment installation and commissioning.
• Monitor fall protection compliance during elevated work on trackers, modules, and inverter skids.
• Conduct inspections of racking systems, electrical terminations, and module installation areas to identify hazards.
• Address environmental and site-specific risks such as heat stress, glare, wildlife, remote-site emergency response, and uneven terrain.
• Support stormwater, erosion control, and environmental compliance on solar sites.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong knowledge of OSHA, DOT, EPA, NFPA 70E, and general construction safety standards.
• Understanding of solar construction hazards, electrical safety, and renewable-energy work environments.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence field personnel.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to independently prioritize tasks.
• Ability to work in a high-production environment (50+ hours/week, including nights and weekends).
• Ability to make independent decisions and recommend corrective actions.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Safety & Health or equivalent combination of training and experience.
• 3-6+ years of construction safety experience preferred; solar or renewable-energy experience strongly preferred.
• All experience levels will be considered with adjustments to title and responsibilities.

Licenses & Certifications

• Valid driver’s license with acceptable driving record required.
• CPR/First Aid/AED certification preferred.
• OSHA 30-Hour and/or OSHA 10-Hour Trainer certification preferred.
• Additional solar-related or electrical safety certifications are a plus.

Additional Travel & Vehicle Information

A vehicle allowance is provided for this position. This role requires regular travel throughout Ohio and Michigan to support active solar and construction projects, with occasional out-of-state travel based on project assignments and geographic location. Candidates should be comfortable working in a field-based environment and traveling to project sites as business needs require.

Benefits:
Kokosing offers a competitive compensation and benefits package including medical, life, and disability insurance, paid time off and a 401K plan.