Safety advisor

Safety advisors make sure that their organisations have safe and healthy working environments. They help managers to plan, put into practice, monitor and improve safe working practices. Safety advisors carry out regular site inspections and risk assessments and they investigate accidents. They write reports, and provide advice and training, to help managers and staff improve health and safety.

Also known as:

Health and safety officer
Occupational safety officer

Work activities

Safety advisors are responsible for raising the profile of health and safety in organisations, and for making sure that a safe and healthy working environment exists for all employees. They work closely with managers, staff at all levels, trade unions, safety groups, health and safety inspectors and environmental health specialists, to ensure that workplace practices are safe and comply with legislation.

Safety advisors regularly visit sites in their organisation, to become familiar with the work being done and to assess the current safety standards. They carry out routine inspections and risk assessments, providing managers with regular reports on safety performance; safety advisors and managers can then work together to set priorities for making improvements. Advisors check that employees are following safety procedures and encourage good safety and health practices. They identify health hazards such as poorly designed equipment, inadequate lighting, high levels of fumes, dust or noise, or toxic material that is not stored away safely. They also help to conduct accident investigations, for example, taking photographs and measurements, and interviewing witnesses. They keep records and statistics of the occurrence and cause of accidents, and write up reports, providing managers and staff with advice on how to avoid accidents in the future.

It is important that safety advisors keep up to date with new health and safety legislation and understand the implications this could have on company policy. They attend short training courses on all aspects of health and safety. Many safety advisors are responsible for developing and running safety training courses for managers and employees, for example, on safe lifting procedures or fire prevention.

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

Personal qualities and skills

As a safety advisor, you’ll need to:

Be committed to protecting and improving health and safety in the workplace.
Combine technical and scientific knowledge with determination and attention to detail.
Pay attention to detail.
Work well on your own and in a team.
Cope well under pressure, reacting quickly to crises.
Make decisions and prioritise tasks.
Be flexible and adaptable.

You should have:

Organisational skills to plan your work (for example, routine site inspections).
Strong communication skills to work with a wide variety of people.
Confidence and good presenting skills to run training courses for staff.
A creative approach to problem solving.
Good report-writing and IT skills.
The ability to explain safety procedures and legislation clearly and concisely.
Good negotiation and persuasive abilities to influence managers and staff to change working practices or invest in new equipment.

You might need a driving licence if your work involves visiting different sites.

Pay and opportunities

The pay rates given are approximate. Safety advisors start on around £22,000 per year, rising to £50,000 with experience.

Hours of work: Safety advisors usually work 38-40 hours a week from Monday to Friday. They might also be required to work shifts, overtime, and be available for call-out in emergencies.

Where could I work?

Employers are sizeable organisations in industry and commerce, as well as in the public sector, including local authorities, the NHS and the Civil Service, for example. Other employers include universities and housing associations. Opportunities for safety advisors occur in towns and cities throughout the UK.

Self-employment opportunities occur for safety advisors to work on a self-employed, freelance basis.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised on job boards and employers’ websites, in professional journals, in local/national newspapers, and on the Government’s Find a Job service.

Entry routes and training

Many safety advisors have a degree, an MSc or a postgraduate diploma in occupational safety and health or a related discipline. The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) is the chartered professional body for people who work in this area, and it’s usual for safety advisors to be members. You can become a member of IOSH in the Graduate Member category with, for example, an accredited degree, MSc or postgraduate diploma. See the IOSH website for a full list of accredited courses.

You might follow the IOSH Initial Professional Development scheme to build a portfolio of relevant skills. You might be able to work towards a Certificate or Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety.

Alternatively, a level 3 (advanced) apprenticeship in the role of safety, health and environment technician could be a good way into this role.

Safety advisors can progress to senior and manager posts in their organisation. Some experienced safety advisors become self-employed.

Qualifications

For entry to a degree course in occupational health and safety (or similar), the usual requirement is two A-levels including at least one science, technology or mathematical subject.

GCSEs at grades 9-4 in five subjects including English, maths and science. A National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) Certificate might be required or accepted for entry to some courses.

Alternatives to A-levels include:

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

However, course requirements vary so check prospectuses carefully.

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 science, technology or management.

If you don’t have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree or HND course, a college or university Access course, for example, Access to Science, 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. A National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) qualification might be required or accepted for entry to some higher education 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 qualifications by distance learning. Check the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health website for the current accredited courses.

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