Health & Safety Specialist
Location: Toronto, ON (Multiple Project Sites and Head Office in Scarborough ON)
Full Time Role
About Eastern Construction
At Eastern Construction, our Core Purpose is to enrich the lives of our employees. We lead, manage, and deliver complex construction projects across the Greater Toronto Area, operating under collaborative models such as Construction Management, Guaranteed Maximum Price, and Design-Build. With more than 1,000 projects completed over seven decades, we have earned a reputation for delivering high-quality work, fostering strong partnerships, and supporting the long-term success of our people.
Our approach is guided by three Strategic Anchors:
- Best Construction Experience
- Exceptional People
- Unique Projects Built Right
Our culture and performance expectations are shaped by our Core Values: Responsive Team Player, Can-Do Attitude, and Unstoppable Drive. These values define how we work, collaborate, and deliver excellence.
Role Overview
The Health & Safety Specialist is a subject-matter expert who independently manages health and safety across assigned Eastern project sites. Operating with a high degree of autonomy, the Specialist owns site-level safety outcomes end-to-end, serves as the primary safety point of contact for project teams and subcontractors, and applies deep working knowledge of the OHSA ("Greenbook"), Construction Regulations 213/91, and the Eastern Safety Program to make sound decisions in the field.
- Independently plans and executes site inspections, audits, and follow-through on corrective actions
- Diagnoses site-specific risks and designs targeted mitigation and training interventions
- Leads incident and near-miss investigations, including root cause analysis and reporting
- Advises Project Managers, Superintendents, and subcontractors on regulatory interpretation and safe work practices
- Contributes to the continuous improvement of Eastern's Health & Safety Program based on field insights
Key Responsibilities:
- Compliance & Regulatory Expertise: Serve as the site-level authority on the OHSA, Construction Regulations 213/91, WSIB requirements, and the Eastern Safety Program. Interpret regulatory changes and translate them into practical site guidance for employees, contractors, and visitors.
- Site Ownership: Take full ownership of health and safety performance on assigned projects, from mobilization through closeout. Conduct inspections, issue findings, and drive resolution directly with site leadership and trade partners.
- Worksite Analysis & Incident Investigation: Lead investigations for incidents, near-misses, and unsafe acts. Perform root cause analysis, identify trends, and communicate corrective and preventive actions to the Central Safety Committee and senior leadership.
- Risk Assessment & Hazard Control: Perform job hazard analyses, review subcontractor safe work plans, and validate site-specific safety plans before high-risk work proceeds (e.g., work at heights, hoisting, excavation, hot work, confined spaces).
- Training & Coaching: Deliver technical training, orientations, and toolbox talks. Coach supervisors and foremen on Competent Supervisor responsibilities and support their development as day-to-day safety leaders.
- Record Keeping & Reporting: Ensure Eastern Construction's policies and procedures regarding the completion of required documentation are adhered to in order to comply with OHSA, regulatory requirements, and the Eastern Construction Health & Safety Program for record keeping requirements. Track leading and lagging indicators and produce clear analytics for leadership.
- Program Contribution: Contribute to Eastern's COR / ISO certification maintenance, WSIB Health & Safety Excellence Program submissions, and internal audits. Recommend program updates based on field observations and regulatory changes.
- Return-to-Work Support: Partner with HR and senior leadership on modified work planning and WSIB claims documentation for site-based incidents.
Leadership & Relationship Management:
- Influence Without Authority: Builds credibility with Project Managers, Superintendents, trades, and subcontractors to drive safe behaviours without relying on direct reporting lines. Uses expertise and relationships, not hierarchy, to move the needle and foster a strong, uniform safety culture.
- Listening, Understanding & Responding: Listens well, seeks to understand and responds appropriately to the concerns of others by being receptive to new information, seeking out the facts before drawing conclusions and showing a willingness to see things from another person's perspective. After assessing the issue, takes the appropriate action to achieve resolution via verbal and/or written communication.
- Problem Solving & Conflict Resolution: Confidently navigates disagreements between safety requirements and production pressures. Able to break down problems and manage conflict by effectively dealing with issues in a professional manner, proactively seeking solutions and escalating issues when needed.
- Confidence & Ownership: Comfortable stopping work when required. Presents him/herself in a confident and professional manner and takes ownership of issues and challenges as they arise. Able to make difficult or unpopular decisions and stand behind them when grounded in regulation and best practice.
Job Knowledge & Technical Skills:
- Health & Safety: Deep working knowledge of the OHSA & Regulations ("Greenbook"), Eastern Construction's Health & Safety Program, and qualifies as a Competent Supervisor as defined by the OHSA. Ability to promote and enforce Health & Safety policies and implement procedures with a "zero" tolerance stance to ensure a safe workplace.
- Investigation & Analysis: Skilled in incident investigation methodologies, root cause analysis, and trend reporting across multiple projects.
- Communication: Ensures professional, accurate, thorough and timely communication with respect to reports, legislative changes/requirements and follow up from safety audits and inspections. Communicates confidently with field crews, senior management, and external regulators (MLITSD inspectors, WSIB).
- Computer Skills: Ability to proficiently use email, Microsoft Office, and safety management systems to maintain the Health & Safety database and effectively communicate to all stakeholders.
Initiative & Self-Management:
- Autonomy: Manages own schedule across multiple project sites with minimal supervision. Prioritizes based on risk, project phase, and site activity.
- Results Orientated: Sets goals and prioritizes in order to maximize the use of resources to deliver the Health and Safety Program. Maintains focus on the "big picture" and makes recommendations for improving workflow/methods or operations to improve performance and the delivery of the Health & Safety Program. Able to foresee emerging issues and identify and manage all associated risk.
- Continuous Improvement: Actively seeks better ways to deliver the safety program and proposes program-level enhancements based on field observations.
Qualification & Experience
- 3+ years of Health & Safety experience in the construction industry, with demonstrated ability to independently manage safety on active project sites.
- Post-secondary education in Health & Safety, Construction, Engineering, or a related field.
- Strong working knowledge of the Ontario OHSA ("Greenbook") and Construction Regulations O. Reg. 213/91.
- COR or ISO Internal Auditor Certification (either accepted as equivalent).
- NCSO, CRSP, or Gold Seal Certification considered an asset.
- Valid Ontario driver's license and ability to travel between GTA project sites.
What we offer:
- Competitive Salary $60,000- $110,000
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Mental health and wellness support
- Life Insurance
- RRSP and savings plan
- Opportunities to grow your career on meaningful projects
- Diversity and Inclusion.
The posted compensation range reflects the broader external market for this opportunity. Individual compensation is determined based on experience, qualifications, project scope, responsibilities, and internal equity considerations.
Please note that Eastern Construction does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies.
Ready to Apply?
Apply on LinkedIn posting or send your resume [email protected]
