CHARLES HESTER
Summary
Dynamic Project Safety Lead with extensive experience at ExxonMobil, specializing in risk management and safety planning. Proven track record in developing effective safety strategies and fostering a strong safety culture, resulting in zero injuries during major projects. Skilled in incident investigation and effective communication, driving compliance and operational excellence across diverse teams.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Project Safety Lead
ExxonMobil
Port Arthur
09.2021 - Current
- Worked with the project team as a technical resource for risk mitigation to develop safe working strategies, processes, and procedures.
- Coordinated pre-task plan meetings that engaged all parties associated with high-risk work to gain alignment and understanding of the job task and all mitigations to the risk associated.
- Additional assignment, coordinate all the Civil & Mechanical Project work related to the Pipeline, Compressor, and Metering Station.
- $8-Billion LNG Plant.
Project Safety Lead
ExxonMobil
Corpus Christi
08.2021 - Current
- Transferred to Corpus Christi, Texas to work with the base team utilizing a Transformational approach to safety with the goal of fostering a strong safety culture here in the states to finalize the heavy civil construction prior to receiving and setting all the modules safely as they arrived from China.
- Worked alongside the EPC and Commissioning Team to ensure all work executed was in the Safest Manner, during Pipe Weld out, Electrical, and commissioning activities.
- $7-Billion Polyethylene Plant – New Modularized Construction Phase-2.
Project Safety Lead
ExxonMobil
Corpus Christi
10.2018 - 08.2021
- Worked with the Project Engineering Team in Yokohama, Japan to develop safe working strategies, processes, and procedures during the Engineering Phase for a Modularized Polyethylene Plant.
- Deployed to Penglai, China module fabrication yard to build relations with EPC and Mechanical Contracting Management Teams to establish a care culture utilizing Transformational Leadership Strategies to build a one-team environment to meet the project goal of no hurts.
- Facilitated front line leadership training for 200+ Foreman, General Foreman, and Superintendents, with the goal of fostering safe leadership execution habits.
- Implemented fit for purpose Safety Plans and Procedures that would allow smooth workflow during all aspects of module construction and ship loadout.
- Worked with the module yard Crane & Rigging Manager to develop a logistic plan for 27 crawler cranes up to 500 ton along with coordinating daily lift plans with no incidents during entire project build.
- $7-Billion Polyethylene Plant – New Modularized Construction Phase-1.
Project Safety Lead
ExxonMobil
Baytown
06.2014 - 10.2018
- Worked with the Project Management Team as a Technical Resource for risk mitigation, to develop Safe Working Strategies, Processes, and Procedures.
- Coordinated pre-task plan meetings that engaged all parties associated with high-risk work to gain alignment and understanding of the job task and all mitigations to the risk associated.
- Developed incentive programs that reinforced good behaviors.
- Monitored the projects safety and health by utilizing safety metrics and KPI’s.
- $7-Billion Polyethylene Plant – New Modularized Construction.
Project Safety Lead
Saudi Aramco
Yanbu
02.2013 - 06.2014
- Worked with Saudi Aramco Fire & Rescue Team to develop high angle and confined space rescue plans for the refinery prior to the turnaround.
- Facilitated high angle and confined space rope rescue training sessions for the base plant Fire and Rescue Team during pre-turnaround phase.
- Reported to Base Plant Maintenance Manager and Turnaround Manager with safe working execution strategies for the turnaround.
- Coordinated all safety meetings with Base Plant Safety Team, was point of contact regarding all safety concerns as a staff contractor for Saudi Aramco during the turnaround.
- Transitioned to the ExxonMobil Team on the Clean Fuel Project, which was new construction in same location near the Main Plant conducting field audits to ensure safe working procedure compliance.
- Was tasked to coordinate construction activities to support the Commissioning of a (Hydrogen Recovery Unit, Sulfur Recovery Unit, Mogas Desulfurization Unit, Amine Regeneration Unit, and 6-Substations), this was done with zero injuries.
- Saudi Aramco Major Turnaround & Clean Fuel Project - New Construction of 4-Units.
Corporate Safety Manager
STARCON International Inc.
La Porte
06.2005 - 02.2013
- Proven experience selecting, hiring, and developing a team of (25-30) HSE Technicians whom I managed over a 7-year period.
- Each of these HSE technicians, were able to set-up and manage Turnarounds and Capital Projects as a Lead Safety Technician where the work force usually exceeded 350 workers.
- My ability to work in a fast pace and cross-functional setting from the executive level discussing project strategies, to working alongside craft to ensure a safe working environment, comes from my years of Field Experience, Education, and Corporate responsibilities.
- Self-started with a drive for success along with an in-depth understanding of HSE impact on a company’s financials and operation.
- Facilitated behavioral based safety teams throughout the companies 19-maintenance sites to include the implementation of VPP status at one of the Marathon maintenance sites.
- Reporting to the VP of Operations providing safety leadership to the mechanical contracting organization’s 19- Maintenance sites in the US, 2- International maintenance accounts, all major turnaround, and capital projects.
- Experience working with ISNetworld, PIC, PEC, and Houston Area Safety Council on prequalification systems, training, and safety information.
- Responsible for case management and all incident investigations.
- Developed and facilitated training sessions with craft, frontline supervision, and management teams utilizing word documents, PowerPoint presentations, and video equipment.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Occupational Safety and Health
Columbia Southern University
Orange Beach, AlAssociate of Science - Safety/Emergency Management
Columbia Southern University
Orange Beach, AlSkills
- Risk management and safety planning
- Safety planning
- Incident investigation
- Technical training
- Project coordination
- HSE compliance
- Safety metrics monitoring
- Effective communication
- Problem solving
- Attention to detail
- HSE compliance and incident investigation
- Technical training and project coordination
Certification
- Associate Safety Professional, ASP, BCSP
- Transportation Worker Identification Credential, TWIC
- National Fire & Emergency Services, FEMA
- OSHA Standards & Inspection, OSHA
Timeline
Project Safety Lead
ExxonMobil
09.2021 - Current
Project Safety Lead
ExxonMobil
08.2021 - Current
Project Safety Lead
ExxonMobil
10.2018 - 08.2021
Project Safety Lead
ExxonMobil
06.2014 - 10.2018
Project Safety Lead
Saudi Aramco
02.2013 - 06.2014
Corporate Safety Manager
STARCON International Inc.
06.2005 - 02.2013
Bachelor of Science - Occupational Safety and Health
Columbia Southern University
Associate of Science - Safety/Emergency Management
Columbia Southern University