CHARLES JR. DESTEFANO
Savannah
Summary
As an experienced safety manager, Charles focuses on minimization/elimination of injury and loss. He provides oversight and support to safety professionals, assists in accident investigations, and monitors project compliance. Charles exemplifies our mission of Nobody Gets Hurt and will reinforce safety best practices.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Area Safety Manager
Kiewit Corporation
09.2025 - Current
- Developed and implemented safety training programs to enhance workforce competency and compliance.
- Conducted comprehensive safety audits to identify hazards and ensure adherence to regulations.
- Collaborated with project teams to integrate safety measures into operational plans effectively.
- Led incident investigations, analyzing root causes and recommending corrective actions for prevention.
- Mentored junior staff on best practices in safety management and regulatory compliance.
- Provided expert guidance on regulatory requirements, industry best practices, and company policies related to safety management.
Safety Manager
Kiewit Infrastructure Co.
01.2023 - Current
- Construction of the wastewater treatment plant expansion from the existing 12 million gallon per day to 28.2 million gallons per day.
- Scope includes construction of a primary flow metering structure, a solids contact electrical building, a solids contact tank, a moving bed biological reactor, carbon storage and pumping, a scum and sludge pump station, and a fats, oil and grease receiving station.
- Work involved pile driving to erect forms.
- The project is being executed within the operational facility, involving coordination with the client and several other adjacent contracts.
- Charles is responsible for the development and implementation of the projects health and safety plans, including incident investigations, safety and health trainings, work plan development, and site inspections.
- In addition to his trainings, Charles enforces procedures for working in site-specific conditions, including lock-out/tag-out, work around water, and confined spaces.
- These constraints require safety to be a priority, and under Charles leadership, there have been zero recordables to date.
- As the manager of health and safety on the project, Charles also regularly coordinates with the client to update and align goals relating to safety on the project.
Safety Manager
Kiewit Infrastructure Co.
01.2022 - 01.2023
- Construction of a 7-mile light rail extension of the I-90 corridor.
- The alignment connected to the center roadway in I-90, extended east through the Mount Baker Tunnel, crossed the Homer M. Hadley (HMH) floating bridge, through the Mercer Island Lid, and crossed the East Channel Bridge.
- The work included guideway installation, tunnel and floating bridge retrofits for light rail transit operations, and two stations.
- The new rail line that crosses the HMH floating bridge moved from a fixed portion of bridge deck to one that floats, the first of its kind in the industry.
- Due to the projects location, the work required extensive stakeholder coordination with WSDOT, City of Bellevue, Sound Transit, Mercer Island, and the Muckleshoot and Suquamish tribes who have fishing rights on Lake Washington and the surrounding waterways.
- Charles was responsible for executing the project safety plan during the night shift.
- He oversaw field operations, including incident investigations, safety and health trainings, work plan development, and site inspections.
- Safety trainings were tailored to the marine adjacent environment as well as silica exposure during demolition operations.
- Charles was responsible for developing and implementing the individualized silica control plan for each operation.
- He conducted regular safety meetings with project personnel and maintained OSHA logs.
- Additionally, Charles performed safety inspections alongside Sound Transit senior staff and coordinated daily with client safety inspectors to review the projects safety operations.
Safety Manager
Kiewit Infrastructure Co.
01.2022 - 12.2022
- Construction of a 1.55-mile light rail extension, including the first location along the system where a main transit center and light rail came together.
- Scope included public and private utility relocations, the systems first-ever aerial station, two new at-grade stations, two prefabricated traction power substations buildings, single-span precast girder bridges at the Arizona Canal and the Arizona Canal Diversion Channel, and a 10-span steel and precast tub girder bridge spanning I-17.
- Funding was provided by Proposition 400, the Phoenix Transportation 2050 tax, and Federal Transit Administration funds.
- Charles was responsible for the development and implementation of the health and safety plans for night shift operations, including incident investigations, safety and health trainings, work plan development, and site inspections.
- Safety trainings included operating on live track, executing work in a marine adjacent environment, and lock-out/tag-out.
- Charles performed daily site safety audits and regularly communicated with the client to discuss project safety operations, including performing field walks with the client.
- He developed and performed the foremen meeting, executed subcontractor safety review, and maintained safety record documentation.
- Charles and the teams safety efforts resulted in zero recordables during the project.
Safety Intern
Valley Metro
01.2022 - 12.2022
- Construction of a new 6-mile light rail extension.
- The project included third-party utility relocation and the modification/reconstruction of five roadway structures, including a new bridge over the Western Canal.
- Due to the projects location in downtown Phoenix, the project required extensive coordination of work activities to minimize noise, MOT impacts, and operational impacts.
- The team conducted accelerated shutdowns and scheduled marathon weekends to minimize these impacts and expedite the schedule.
- These constraints required safety to be a priority.
- The project was tailored to working within the live trackwork and operational public facility environment, assuring workers and the public stayed safe and Valley Metro operations were not interrupted.
- This included the implementation of safety barriers between the work zone and pedestrians.
- Charles executed tasks under the leadership of the Project Safety Manager, performing project orientation, conducting safety trainings, executing foremen and field auditing, monitoring safe work operations alongside active track, and coordinating safe site access.
- His trainings consisted of procedures for working in site-specific conditions, including work around electrified rail, fall protection, lock out/tag out, and dropped objects.
- Charles participated in monthly client safety meetings to coordinate project safety operations.
Safety Manager / Assistant Project Manager
MB Bryent Construction
01.2018 - 12.2021
- Construction of residential deck and awning elements with projects ranging from $3,000 to $50,000.
- Charles performed and managed the deck and awning installation, small tool training and use, machinery/equipment repair, and procurement of project materials.
- He was responsible for coordinating with the clients to review the work and make certain that the clients goals and expectations were met.
Education
BS -
Safety Management
Skills
- Trenching safety
- Workplace inspections
- Safety audits
- Hazard identification
- Accident investigation
- Safety training
- Safety program development
- Implementing policies
- Safety hazards analysis
- Problem-solving abilities
- Effective communication
- Relationship building
Certification
- Graduate Safety Practitioner, #16403
- Safety Trained Supervisor Construction, STS-C
- Construction Health and Safety Technician, CHST
- Basic Workplace Security Awareness, FEMA and EMI
- First Aid/CPR/AED Certification
- OSHA 30-hr
- OSHA 10-hr
- GSP
- STS-C
- CHST
Professional Associations
American Society of Safety Professionals, member
Personal Information
Title: Project Safety Manager
Timeline
Area Safety Manager
Kiewit Corporation
09.2025 - Current
Safety Manager
Kiewit Infrastructure Co.
01.2023 - Current
Safety Manager
Kiewit Infrastructure Co.
01.2022 - 01.2023
Safety Manager
Kiewit Infrastructure Co.
01.2022 - 12.2022
Safety Intern
Valley Metro
01.2022 - 12.2022
Safety Manager / Assistant Project Manager
MB Bryent Construction
01.2018 - 12.2021
BS -
Safety Management