Health and safety inspector

Health and safety inspectors deal with health and safety in the workplace. They inspect many different types of workplaces, working with employers, providing advice and guidance to reduce risks. Inspectors also investigate accidents that happen at work and enforce the law. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and local authorities employ most health and safety inspectors.

Also known as:

Safety inspector

Work activities

Health and safety inspectors visit places of work to make sure that employers are maintaining legal standards of health and safety and people are following health and safety rules. Their job is to protect employees and the public against hazards, and to improve health and safety standards. Many inspectors specialise in one type of industry. Inspectors can make routine visits, where they contact the organisation in advance or, more usually, surprise visits to do spot checks.

Inspectors check the workplace thoroughly, for example, checking equipment, potentially harmful chemicals, and the way that people work within the organisation. They make sure that there is a clear health and safety policy, and they talk to employees about it. For example, inspectors might find that employees do not have enough protection from high levels of noise or fumes. They could find that access to fire escapes is not easy, that toxic material is not stored away safely or that there is an increased risk of employees falling from heights. They might find that there are not enough safety handrails, or that there is no proper procedure for lifting heavy items, or that people are working in an area where vehicles are reversing, for example. In other cases, they might find that employees who use machinery are taking short cuts to get work done quickly, and not following all the safety procedures.

Health and safety inspectors who work for the Health and Safety Executive travel to a wide variety of workplaces, including factories, farms, construction sites, fairgrounds, offshore gas and oil installations, schools, hospitals, and nuclear installations. Places like offices, shops, warehouses, hotels, restaurants and leisure facilities are inspected by local authorities, often by environmental health officers. Some authorities have their own health and safety inspectors. During a visit, inspectors might decide that an organisation could improve the health and safety of employees by making some changes. They provide advice and guidance, and influence employers and others to take responsibility for reducing risks. They also encourage employers to give safety training. They give advice on how to change the layout of the workplace, or on the benefits of introducing a new piece of safety equipment. The inspector might have to be very persuasive in order to convince managers or owners that they need to make this change.

If the breaches of the law are more serious, the inspector can issue an improvement notice, which gives the organisation at least three weeks to make the required changes. Sometimes, inspectors visit a workplace after an accident or to investigate a complaint. In the event of an accident, the inspector collects information about what has happened. They usually take photographs and measurements, and interview the people involved. Sometimes, the inspector sees that there is a risk of serious personal injury. In this case, the inspector can issue a prohibition notice to stop the dangerous practice taking place immediately. If the employer does not make the changes, the inspector’s last resort is to take the matter to court. Inspectors can be witnesses in magistrates’ courts (law courts in Scotland) and employment tribunals. Health and safety inspectors also spend time in the office. They deal with telephone queries and consult with colleagues about any problems they have come across.

They also write reports on any visits they have made. These reports describe what the inspector found and the suggestions they made for improvements. Inspectors need to understand health and safety legislation and industrial processes, so they read technical literature in order to keep up to date with any changes. Some inspectors spend much of their time outdoors. Inspectors working in some sectors need to wear protective clothing while on site visits.

Personal qualities and skills

As a health and safety inspector, you’ll need to be able to:

Take in complex information and make objective, balanced judgements – based on all the available facts.
Pay attention to detail at all times; you will also need to be observant.
Explain health and safety regulations carefully and clearly.
Deal with stressful situations when people are angry or upset.
Apply the law firmly and fairly, including during the prosecution of employers.
Present a logical, thorough argument.
Plan and prioritise a caseload.
Work calmly under pressure.

You should have:

A commitment to ensuring people’s health and safety at work.
Determination, confidence and enthusiasm, and an enquiring mind.
Good communication, interpersonal and influencing skills.
Written communication skills for producing reports and preparing legal cases.
Tact and good negotiating skills.
A calm, professional and persuasive manner to defuse potential confrontations.
Good organisational skills to prepare and prosecute cases using your own evidence.
Administrative and IT skills to keep accurate notes and records.

You should enjoy working on your own and as part of a team. You will need to be able to climb stairs and ladders to inspect some premises. You’ll sometimes have to go to places that are noisy, hot or cold, or where there are fumes or dust.

You will have to work outdoors as part of your job. You’ll need to have a full driving licence and should be prepared to do a lot of travelling to different sites.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised on the HSE and LGJobs websites, in local/national newspapers, and on the Government’s Find a Job service.

Pay and opportunities

Salaries vary depending on location and responsibilities. The pay rates given are approximate. Health and safety inspectors earn about £22,000 per year, rising to £50,000 with experience.

Hours of work: Health and safety inspectors usually work a 38-40-hour week. However, you might be required to work longer hours, and occasionally at weekends. Flexible working hours might be available.

Where could I work?

The HSE employs many health and safety inspectors. You must be prepared to move location at various times during your career to take up an appointment in a different part of the country. Local authorities also employ health and safety inspectors. Opportunities for health and safety inspectors occur in HSE and local authority offices in towns and cities throughout the UK.

Self-employment opportunities occur for experienced health and safety inspectors to work as consultants on a self-employed basis.

Entry routes and training

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) usually expects applicants to have a degree or equivalent qualification. However, it might also consider applications from people without a degree (or equivalent), if they have relevant competencies and can clearly demonstrate the intellectual abilities required, for example, through work-based learning or other academic/professional qualifications. Some posts require certain nationality conditions or security clearance.

You may be able to enter this career path by doing a level 3 (advanced) apprenticeship as a safety, health and environment technician.

If trainee positions are available with the HSE, they are advertised through the website at a particular time during the year, with an approximate date announced in advance. Some inspectors specialise in one area, for example, offshore operations, electrical inspections or mechanical engineering inspections. A relevant degree and/or professional qualification is usually required for these posts. Candidates complete an online application form, online judgement assessment tests, and tests of numerical and mechanical reasoning. People who reach the required standard attend an assessment event, which includes a competency-based interview, further tests and a group discussion exercise.

Trainees with the HSE usually work towards further qualifications in Regulatory Occupational Health and Safety, covering:

Legal and enforcement issues.
Safety and risk assessment.
Occupational health and hygiene.
Business awareness, people and influencing skills.

Trainees also have on-the-job training and will start to visit workplaces on their own after the first few months. They also attend residential training courses. Health and safety inspectors who work for local authorities will have similar training.

Health and safety inspectors can progress to senior and management posts in their organisation.

Qualifications

The usual entry requirements for a degree in any subject are:

Two to three A-levels.
GCSEs at grades 9-4 in two to three other subjects. Depending on the subject, you are likely to need GCSEs in English and maths at grades 9-4.

Alternatives to A levels include:

Edexcel (BTEC) level 3 National qualification
International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma.

However, course requirements vary so check prospectuses carefully.

You will usually need a full and valid driving licence.

Being able to read, write and speak Welsh may be an advantage when you’re looking for work in Wales.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Applicants sometimes have a background in engineering, technology or in a scientific field, with responsibility for health and safety. Otherwise, holding another relevant professional qualification, for example, in occupational hygiene, can lead into health and safety work.

Access courses: If you don’t have the usual qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree course, a college or university Access course, for example, Access to Science, leading to a degree course in occupational safety and health, or a related subject, could be the way in. These courses are designed for people who have not followed the usual routes into higher education. No formal qualifications are usually needed, but you should check this with individual colleges.

Postgraduate courses: Graduates in relevant subjects might be able to take a postgraduate course in occupational health and safety or risk management, on a full- or part-time basis. A small number of universities offer postgraduate degrees by distance learning.

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