Coatings & Blasting Lead

Job description

**Job Summary** The Coatings & Blasting Lead is a working lead position responsible for directing daily operations within the coatings and surface preparation department at Riggs Fabrication Shop. This role manages a crew of blasters and painters, ensures work is executed to project specifications and SSPC standards, and serves as the first line of quality control and safety oversight on the shop floor. The Lead reports to the Coatings Superintendent and is expected to set the standard for workmanship, production pace, and safe work practices. **About Loenbro** Loenbro is a trusted, long-term construction lifecycle partner to thousands of customers across the U.S. Our service offerings include Critical Electrical, Mechanical & Structural, Soft Crafts, Inspection, Underground Maintenance and Installation, and Fabrication, and our vertical market focus spans all industries. Our expertise lies in simplifying the complex, so that our clients gain clarity and control in construction and maintenance. We do this by taking full ownership on every interaction, delivering multi-scope project excellence, and establishing long-standing relationships with our partners as we enhance and maintain your critical infrastructure. We have a national presence but a local approach—so that every customer benefits from our capabilities and our care. Through their relationship with us and the One Loenbro model, our customers are able to simplify, control, and succeed in the everyday. **Essential Job Responsibilities** **Leadership & Supervisory Responsibilities** - Direct and coordinate the daily activities of the coatings and blasting crew — assigning tasks, sequencing work, and maintaining production flow in alignment with the shop schedule. - Serve as the primary point of contact for the crew during the shift; communicate priorities, schedule changes, and job-specific requirements clearly and in a timely manner. - Train and mentor coatings and blasting technicians on proper techniques, equipment operation, surface preparation standards, and coating application procedures. - Monitor crew performance and provide real-time feedback; escalate performance issues or crew concerns to the Coatings Superintendent . - Ensure the crew is properly equipped and that all required PPE, tools, and materials are staged and available at the start of each shift. - Conduct and document pre-shift safety meetings and job hazard analyses (JHAs) for coatings and blasting operations. - Support the Coatings Superintendent in tracking labor hours, production output, and material consumption against project budgets. **Technical Responsibilities** - Perform and oversee abrasive blasting operations (open blast and enclosed blast room) to SSPC-SP 6, SP 10, and SP 5 cleanliness levels as required by project specifications. - Apply and direct the application of industrial protective coatings using airless spray, HVLP, and plural-component spray equipment in accordance with coating system requirements. - Read, interpret, and enforce coating manufacturer product data sheets (PDS) and project coating specifications including mixing ratios, pot life, application thickness, cure times, and environmental limits. - Conduct and document wet film thickness (WFT) and dry film thickness (DFT) inspections throughout the application process; identify and disposition non-conforming work before it advances. - Oversee surface preparation including power tool cleaning, hand tool cleaning, solvent wiping, and masking of machined surfaces, hardware, and weld areas prior to blast and coat. - Coordinate with the QA/QC inspector and Coatings Superintendent on hold points, inspection records, and coating system sign-offs. - Troubleshoot coating defects, equipment malfunctions, and application issues; implement corrective actions and communicate findings to supervision. - Manage abrasive media inventory, coating material staging, and equipment readiness to minimize downtime between jobs. - Ensure blast room and paint booth are maintained in a clean and organized condition; oversee proper disposal of spent abrasive and coating waste per RCRA and site hazardous waste procedures. **Safety & EHS Responsibilities** - Lead by example — model safe behavior and enforce Loenbro EHS policies on the shop floor without exception. - Ensure all crew members are wearing required PPE including supplied-air respirators (SAR), hearing protection, eye protection, and appropriate chemical-resistant clothing before work begins. - Verify that supplied-air respirator systems are operating within specified CFM ranges and that hood/helmet equipment is inspected before each shift. - Identify and immediately correct unsafe conditions or behaviors; exercise stop-work authority when warranted and document the event. - Ensure compliance with all applicable OSHA 29 CFR 1910 General Industry standards and Loenbro EHS policies including hot work, confined space, and respiratory protection programs. - Support incident investigations by gathering facts, preserving the scene, and assisting the EHS Site Manager with documentation. *Other duties may be assigned as needed to support business operations.* **Minimum Qualifications** **Required:** - Minimum 4 years of experience in industrial abrasive blasting and protective coatings application in a fabrication shop, industrial plant, or construction environment. - Minimum 1 year of experience in a lead, foreman, or supervisory capacity directing a coatings or blasting crew. - Demonstrated working knowledge of SSPC surface preparation standards (SP 6, SP 10, SP 5) and industrial coating system requirements. - Ability to read and interpret coating product data sheets, safety data sheets, and project coating specifications independently. - Proficiency operating airless spray, HVLP, and plural-component coating equipment. - Experience performing and documenting DFT and WFT inspections using calibrated gauges. - Must be able to pass a supplied-air respirator fit test and medical evaluation per OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134.