HSE Officer – Electrical Substations

Job Description

HSE Officer – Electrical Substations

Location: Erbil and Duhok Governorates, Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Work Arrangement: 70% Site-Based / 30% Office-Based

Working Days: Saturday to Thursday

Working Hours: 8 hours per day

Travel: Frequent travel to electrical substation locations is required

Position Overview

We are seeking a responsible and experienced HSE Officer to oversee and implement Health, Safety, and Environmental requirements at electrical substations across Erbil and Duhok Governorates.

The successful candidate will be responsible for monitoring site activities, ensuring compliance with approved HSE procedures, supporting safe de-energization and re-energization activities, implementing Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) requirements, conducting hazard identification and risk assessments, and ensuring that all personnel follow established safety procedures.

The position requires a strong understanding of safety requirements within electrical substations and high-voltage environments, as well as the ability to identify hazards, control risks, and maintain a strong safety culture among site personnel.

Key Responsibilities

1. HSE Compliance & Standards

• Monitor and ensure compliance with applicable international electrical safety standards, including relevant IEC standards and applicable electrical safety requirements.
• Ensure all personnel comply with approved HSE plans, site safety rules, procedures, and protocols.
• Monitor work activities to ensure that they are performed in accordance with approved Method Statements and risk assessments.
• Promote a strong safety culture among all personnel working at the substation.

2. De-Energization & Re-Energization Safety

• Ensure previously established and approved de-energization and re-energization procedures are properly implemented.
• Monitor safety requirements before, during, and after the isolation of electrical equipment.
• Verify that required safety controls are in place before allowing work to commence.
• Ensure that equipment is not re-energized until all required safety checks and work completion requirements have been confirmed.
• Coordinate with technical teams and relevant substation personnel regarding safety requirements during switching and restoration activities.

3. Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)

• Implement and monitor Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures for electrical equipment and systems.
• Ensure appropriate isolation, locking, tagging, and identification procedures are followed.
• Verify that personnel understand and comply with isolation requirements before starting work.
• Monitor the removal of locks and tags and ensure proper authorization before re-energization.
• Maintain appropriate LOTO records and documentation.

4. PPE & Site Safety

• Ensure all personnel entering and working within the substation wear the required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Conduct regular site inspections to verify correct PPE use.
• Ensure personnel use appropriate PPE for the specific hazards associated with their activities.
• Identify and address unsafe behaviors and unsafe working practices.
• Stop or escalate unsafe work activities when necessary.

5. Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment

• Conduct and support Hazard Identification and Risk Assessments (HIRA) for planned site activities.
• Identify electrical, mechanical, environmental, and other workplace hazards.
• Evaluate risks associated with substation inspection, testing, maintenance, and other activities.
• Recommend and implement appropriate control measures.
• Review risk assessments when work conditions or activities change.
• Conduct regular site safety inspections and communicate identified hazards to the relevant teams.

6. Safe and Unsafe Work Areas

• Identify and clearly distinguish safe and unsafe work areas within the substation.
• Ensure restricted and hazardous areas are appropriately barricaded, marked, and controlled.
• Ensure personnel do not enter restricted areas without appropriate authorization.
• Monitor safe distances and access requirements around energized electrical equipment.
• Ensure appropriate warning signs and safety barriers are installed where required.

7. Site Monitoring & Safety Supervision

• Conduct daily HSE inspections of substation work areas.
• Monitor technical teams during inspection, testing, and maintenance activities.
• Ensure safe working practices are followed throughout the execution of work.
• Participate in toolbox talks and pre-work safety meetings.
• Monitor Permit-to-Work (PTW) requirements where applicable.
• Identify unsafe conditions and immediately communicate them to the relevant team leader and Project Manager.
• Follow up on corrective actions resulting from safety inspections.

8. HSE Reporting & Documentation

• Prepare daily HSE reports and site safety observations.
• Document incidents, near misses, unsafe acts, unsafe conditions, and corrective actions.
• Assist in preparing HSE plans, risk assessments, toolbox talk records, inspection checklists, and other safety documentation.
• Maintain accurate records of PPE inspections, safety inspections, HIRA, LOTO activities, and other HSE requirements.
• Support the preparation of final HSE reports upon completion of substation activities.

Qualifications & Requirements

Education

• Graduate of a relevant field
• International safety certificates are highly preferred

Professional Experience

• Previous experience working in electrical substations, electrical compounds, power facilities, or similar industrial environments is highly preferred.
• Practical understanding of electrical hazards and high-voltage working environments.
• Experience in site HSE supervision is preferred.
• Experience with LOTO, Permit-to-Work, hazard identification, and risk assessment is highly desirable.
• Experience in preparing HSE reports and safety documentation is preferred.
• Experience in safety planning and preparation of HSE procedures is an advantage.

Technical & Professional Skills

• Good understanding of electrical safety requirements and safe working practices.
• Ability to identify electrical and workplace hazards.
• Ability to conduct and document HIRA.
• Knowledge of isolation, de-energization, and re-energization procedures.
• Good understanding of PPE requirements for electrical and industrial environments.
• Ability to monitor and enforce safety procedures among site personnel.
• Good knowledge of MS Word and MS Excel.
• Strong organizational and documentation skills.
• Good report-writing and planning skills are highly preferred.

Language Requirements

• Kurdish – Required
• Arabic – Required
• English – Preferred, with a good command of written and spoken English.

Personal Attributes

The successful candidate should:

• Have a strong commitment to health and safety.
• Be highly observant and detail-oriented.
• Have the confidence to intervene and stop unsafe work when necessary.
• Be able to communicate safety requirements clearly to technical and non-technical personnel.
• Be capable of working under extensive pressure and demanding site conditions.
• Be responsible, disciplined, and proactive.
• Be able to work independently while coordinating effectively with technical and management teams.
• Be flexible and willing to travel frequently between substation locations.

Salary

Salary will be discussed during the interview based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, and suitability for the position.