Background
The organization is implementing school construction, rehabilitation, and WASH infrastructure activities to improve safe and inclusive learning environments for children. Construction activities may include classroom construction and rehabilitation, latrines, water supply systems, drainage, boundary walls, roofing, electrical works, excavation, concrete works, and other civil and infrastructure activities. The HES Engineer will be responsible for ensuring that all project activities are implemented in accordance with applicable Health, Safety and Environmental requirements, organizational policies, donor requirements, national regulations, and good international construction practices.
Job Summary
Under the supervision and direction of the Project Manager, the HES Engineer will establish, implement, monitor, and continuously improve the project's HES management system. The position will ensure that:
· Construction activities are conducted safely.
· Workers use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
· Construction sites are properly secured and controlled.
· Risks to students and communities are minimized.
· Environmental impacts are appropriately managed.
· Contractors comply with HES requirements.
· Accidents, incidents, and near misses are properly reported and investigated.
· Corrective and preventive actions are implemented promptly.
Duties & Responsibilities
HES Management System
- Develop and implement the project HES Plan.
- Establish HES procedures, checklists, inspection formats, and reporting systems.
- Ensure project HES requirements are communicated to all project personnel and contractors.
- Review contractors' HES plans, procedures, and method statements.
- Ensure HES requirements are incorporated into construction planning.
- Monitor compliance with organizational, donor, contractual, and applicable national HES requirements.
- Maintain an updated HES risk register.
Site Safety Inspections
- Conduct regular HES inspections at all assigned construction sites.
- Identify unsafe conditions, unsafe acts, and potential hazards.
- Prepare site inspection reports.
- Provide corrective instructions and recommendations.
- Follow up to ensure identified safety issues are rectified.
- Conduct unannounced safety inspections where necessary.
- Monitor housekeeping and general site safety conditions.
- Ensure emergency access and safe movement around construction areas.
Construction Site Safety
The HES Engineer shall closely monitor safety associated with:
- Excavation and trenching.
- Foundation works.
- Concrete and reinforcement works.
- Masonry and blockwork.
- Roofing and work at height.
- Scaffolding and ladders.
- Electrical installation.
- Welding and cutting.
- Lifting and material handling.
- Use of construction machinery and equipment.
- Manual handling.
- Demolition and rehabilitation works.
- Storage of construction materials.
- Temporary works and site facilities.
The HES Engineer shall ensure appropriate controls are implemented for identified risks.
School and Child Safety
Because the project involves school construction and rehabilitation, the HES Engineer shall give particular attention to the safety of children and school communities.
Responsibilities include:
- Ensure construction areas are physically separated from students and school staff.
- Ensure appropriate barricades, fencing, warning signs, and access controls are installed.
- Prevent unauthorized access to construction areas.
- Ensure construction materials and equipment are not accessible to children.
- Ensure excavations, pits, open trenches, and hazardous areas are properly protected.
- Ensure safe routes are provided for students and teachers.
- Coordinate construction activities with school management to minimize disruption.
- Schedule high-risk activities appropriately where schools remain operational.
- Ensure safe temporary access and emergency routes.
- Immediately report serious risks to students or school communities to the Project Manager.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Develop and enforce PPE requirements based on site risks.
- Ensure workers are provided with appropriate PPE.
- Monitor proper use of helmets, safety shoes, gloves, reflective vests, eye protection, hearing protection, harnesses, masks/respirators, and other required PPE.
- Conduct regular PPE inspections.
- Ensure damaged or inadequate PPE is replaced.
- Take corrective action where workers repeatedly fail to use required PPE.
Risk Assessment and Method Statements
- Review project activities and identify potential HES hazards.
- Conduct Job Safety Analysis (JSA) / Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) for high-risk activities.
- Review contractors' Risk Assessments and Method Statements.
- Ensure adequate control measures are established before high-risk activities begin.
- Review and update risk assessments when site conditions change.
- Ensure workers understand the hazards and control measures before commencing work.
High-risk activities requiring particular attention include:
- Work at height.
- Excavation.
- Electrical works.
- Lifting operations.
- Demolition.
- Welding and hot works.
- Work near operating schools.
- Confined-space activities.
- Heavy machinery operations.
Toolbox Talks and HES Training
- Conduct or coordinate regular toolbox talks.
- Provide HES induction training for new workers.
- Ensure workers understand site-specific hazards.
- Provide training on PPE, emergency procedures, fire prevention, working at height, excavation safety, electrical safety, and other relevant topics.
- Maintain records of all training and toolbox talks.
- Conduct refresher training where repeated safety violations are observed.
The HES Engineer shall ensure that:
- First-aid kits are available and adequately stocked.
- Fire extinguishers are available where required.
- Emergency contact information is displayed at sites.
- Workers know emergency procedures.
- Emergency drills are conducted where appropriate.
Accident, Incident and Near-Miss Management
- Immediately respond to accidents and serious incidents.
- Ensure incidents are reported through the appropriate organizational channels.
- Conduct investigations to identify root causes.
- Prepare incident/accident reports.
- Record near misses and unsafe occurrences.
- Recommend corrective and preventive actions.
- Monitor implementation of corrective measures.
- Maintain an incident and accident register.
- Analyze incident trends and recommend preventive measures.
Serious incidents involving workers, students, school staff, or community members must be immediately escalated to the Project Manager and senior management according to organizational procedures.
Environmental Management
The HES Engineer will monitor environmental aspects associated with construction activities, including:
- Construction waste management.
- Disposal of demolition waste.
- Dust control.
- Noise management.
- Water and soil protection.
- Wastewater management.
- Proper storage of materials.
- Prevention of fuel/oil spills.
- Protection of existing school facilities and surrounding areas.
- Site cleanliness and housekeeping.
The Engineer shall ensure contractors implement appropriate environmental mitigation measures.
Construction Waste Management
- Ensure construction waste is collected and safely stored.
- Ensure waste is disposed of at approved locations.
- Prevent uncontrolled dumping.
- Separate hazardous and non-hazardous waste where applicable.
- Monitor disposal of demolished materials.
- Ensure school premises remain clean and safe.
- Ensure waste does not block drainage systems, access routes, or emergency exits.
HES Reporting
The HES Engineer shall prepare and submit:
Daily/Weekly/ Monthly
- Site HES inspection reports/ Safety observations.
- Corrective action updates/ Incident/near-miss updates.
- PPE compliance status/ Monthly HES performance report.
- Incident statistics/ Training and toolbox talk statistics.
- Safety inspection statistics/ Corrective action status.
- Environmental compliance status/ Contractor HES performance.
- Key risks and recommendations.
