Project EHS Specialist

The Project EHS Specialist is responsible for leading and coordinating all Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) activities associated with equipment installation, startup, commissioning, qualification, validation, testing, troubleshooting, and operational readiness activities performed by the project team.

This role will proactively identify hazards, assess risks, develop mitigation strategies, investigate incidents, support safe work execution, and ensure compliance with applicable occupational health and safety regulations, site requirements, company procedures, and industry best practices. The Project EHS Specialist will work closely with engineering, validation, quality, operations, and project management teams to promote a strong safety culture and achieve project safety objectives.

• Develop, review, and maintain Job Hazard Analyses (JHA), Job Safety Analyses (JSA), and task-specific risk assessments.

• Identify hazards associated with equipment installation, startup, commissioning, qualification, validation, troubleshooting, testing, and maintenance support activities.

• Evaluate risks and establish appropriate control measures to minimize personnel exposure and operational risks.

• Participate in project planning meetings to ensure safety requirements are incorporated into execution plans.

• Review work activities and provide safety guidance prior to execution.

• Support safe work planning and pre-task risk assessments.

• Perform routine field observations, inspections, and safety assessments during project activities.

• Monitor compliance with established safety procedures, work instructions, and safe work practices.

• Verify proper utilization of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

• Support safe execution of activities involving electrical systems, energized equipment, lockout/tagout (LOTO), machine guarding, lifting activities, temporary utilities, and process equipment.

• Identify unsafe conditions and behaviors and ensure timely implementation of corrective actions.

• Participate in safety walks and project safety reviews.

• Respond to safety incidents, near misses, and unsafe conditions.

• Lead or support incident investigations and root cause analyses.

• Develop corrective and preventive action recommendations.

• Track implementation and effectiveness of corrective actions.

• Maintain incident records and communicate lessons learned to project teams.

• Conduct project safety trainings, orientations and onboarding activities.

• Facilitate toolbox talks, pre-task safety discussions, and safety awareness sessions.

• Provide coaching and guidance to project personnel regarding safe work practices.

• Promote a proactive safety culture through employee engagement and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Maintain project safety documentation, inspection records, training records, incident reports, and risk assessments.

• Prepare safety metrics, reports, and project safety performance updates.

• Support audits, assessments, and compliance reviews.

• Ensure project activities comply with applicable occupational health and safety regulations, company procedures, and site requirements.

• Participate in equipment startup and operational readiness activities from a safety perspective.

• Support safety reviews associated with new equipment, process modifications, and system turnover activities.

• Collaborate with engineering and validation teams to identify and mitigate risks prior to system release and operational use.

• Professional registration with the applicable Costa Rican professional association (CFIA or other relevant professional body), when required by the candidate’s discipline.

• Specialized training in:

• Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment

• Incident Investigation and Root Cause Analysis

• Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)

• Electrical Safety

• Machine Safety

• Emergency Response

• First Aid and CPR

• Experience supporting equipment commissioning, qualification, validation, startup, and operational readiness activities.

• Experience in medical device, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or highly regulated manufacturing environments.

• Familiarity with Environmental, Health, and Safety Management Systems.

• International certifications such as OSHA 30-Hour, NEBOSH, ASP, CSP, or equivalent are considered an asset.