Field Safety Specialist

Quanta Services•Red Bluff, CA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Quanta Aviation Services (QAS) is seeking an experienced Field Safety Specialist to support utility powerline construction and external load helicopter operations. This is a contractor position with significant field deployment to active project sites across San Diego County. The Field Safety Specialist will serve as the on-site aviation subject matter expert, leading safety tailboards, coordinating landing zones, managing traffic control, conducting hazard analyses, and maintaining communication between QAS flight crews, ground personnel, and customer representatives. The role also involves tracking and reporting helicopter operational data and safety events. QAS values individuals who are organized, decisive, and prioritize safety.

Requirements

Minimum 3–5 years of experience in helicopter operations, utility construction safety, or a closely related field with direct exposure to helicopter external load or powerline construction environments.
Demonstrated experience with helicopter landing zone (LZ) setup, FOD control, and ingress/egress procedures.
Knowledge of FAA regulations applicable to helicopter external load operations (14 CFR Part 133) and on-demand air carrier operations (14 CFR Part 135).
Experience conducting job hazard analyses (JHA/JSA) and pre-job safety briefings (tailboards) for large field crews.
Familiarity with traffic control planning and public buffer/exclusion zone management for aerial operations.
Proven ability to coordinate between flight crews, ground crews, project managers, and customer representatives in a fast-paced construction environment.
Experience with incident investigation, root cause analysis, and safety event reporting (Good Catches, Near Misses).
Strong organizational skills with the ability to maintain accurate tracking spreadsheets and operational records.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; comfortable presenting safety information to large groups.
Willingness and ability to travel and deploy to field project sites regularly (up to 75% travel).
Valid driver’s license and clean driving record.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience as a helicopter crew member, longline ground crew, or helicopter coordinator in a utility powerline construction environment.
USFS Helicopter Crew Member (HECM) experience.
Candidates with a background in aerial firefighting ground support and USFS aviation protocols.
Familiarity with utility customer safety programs and reporting systems (e.g., SDG&E, PG&E, or similar IOUs).
Experience working within construction management structures alongside project managers and construction managers.
OSHA 30-Hour General Industry or Construction certification.
Associate Safety Professional (ASP), Certified Safety Professional (CSP), or equivalent safety credential.
Experience with SMS frameworks and safety data tracking tools.
Prior military aviation ground support experience.
Firefighting helicopter support experience.

Responsibilities

Lead helicopter-related discussions and safety topics in project mass tailboards.
Provide hazard analysis of onsite conditions prior to all helicopter operations.
Develop, present, and own work plans for critical onsite activities related to proximity of energized powerlines and other potential hazards.
Lead helicopter-related incident investigations; identify root causes, develop corrective actions, and drive findings to closure.
Assist in the coordination and development of helicopter landing zones (LZs) in project yards.
Ensure that project yards and LZs are free from foreign object debris (FOD) and properly watered prior to helicopter operations.
Ensure and assist in the coordination of applicable traffic control.
Ensure and assist in coordination that members of the public are outside required buffer zones for helicopter external load operations.
Assist the project manager and construction managers in project scheduling of helicopters.
Assist in coordination of daily and weekly critical path activities as they relate to helicopter operations.
Maintain and assist communications between helicopter and ground crews prior to and during all helicopter operations.
Attend all required project-related meetings and represent helicopter operations interests.
Serve as the primary communication link between customer helicopter representatives and QAS project management teams.
Develop incident write-ups and communicate to the project team any known Good Catches, Near Misses, and Incidents.
Communicate Good Catches, Near Misses, and Events to customer representatives.
Maintain tracking spreadsheets of daily, weekly, and monthly helicopter hours and resources.