Overview

The role of the workplace health and safety (H&S) adviser is to offer the expert skills and knowledge necessary to promote a positive H&S culture within a business or organisation. H&S advisers play a vital role in helping to prevent and control occupational risk, demonstrating that H&S has moved away from reactive, accident-based management towards a more preventative approach (this is highlighted by the recent launch of NEBOSH’s Certificate in the Management of Health and Well-being at Work; find out more about this qualification at www.neboshhealthand wellbeing.org.uk). This current focus on stress prevention and management has been highlighted in the media (not always positively), as have attempts to reduce the number of creative ‘sickies’ thrown by workers wanting a day off. Indeed, the fewest instances of sick leave on record were logged in 2009, according to the CBI, with workers taking an average of 6.4 days off. This figure (the latest currently available) is the lowest since the CBI began recording statistics in 1987.

Where do H&S advisers work?
H&S advisers are based in a huge range of organisations – from small consultancies to multinationals – and work in partnership with a host of different people, from employees and employers, to trades unions and directors. They are responsible for ensuring that all current H&S legislation is adhered to, and policies and practices adopted. They help to plan, implement, monitor and review the preventative and protective measures that companies are required or choose to follow, and they work to minimise accidents and injuries, occupational health problems and operational losses.

Employers must now appoint ‘competent’ people with responsibility for H&S, irrespective of the size or undertaking of their organisation. A ‘competent’ person is somebody with sufficient experience, training, knowledge and/or other qualities to undertake the role, particularly risk assessment. Because there is a requirement in law to employ such a person, training and experience are legal necessities for the management of H&S. A breach of H&S law is a criminal offence that can result in fines, imprisonment, or both.

Smaller organisations will often make the H&S ‘competent’ person function one part of a job, with the individual concerned responsible for it as part of their role while doing another job too. Larger organisations will employ a specialist (or specialists), or use a consultancy.

H&S skills gained in the Services
The Armed Forces have individuals in all branches and trades who have some practical experience and awareness of H&S at work. Most people work for at least some of the time in potentially hazardous environments or with dangerous equipment, or both. Indeed, many people actively involved in H&S work may not even recognise that is what they are doing, or they may regard it as a relatively unimportant part of their job.

Because the Forces currently run modular environmental training courses in H&S, leading to a certificate, there are opportunities to gain qualifications during Service. The tri-Service-sponsored university one-week short course modules, which include the key subjects, are available free to those who can justify the training need.

Many Forces people are currently in posts that would enable them to gain significant H&S qualifications (N/SVQs or NEBOSH awards). For those coming to the end of their Service career, there are H&S courses aimed at the potential manager who sees the subject being part of a job description (e.g. the IOSH Certificate in Managing Safely) or the person looking to specialise in this field (e.g. the NEBOSH National General Certificate).

Training and qualifications
All occupational H&S practitioners need a common core of knowledge in order to practise effectively. The NEBOSH National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety is the qualification for aspiring health and safety professionals, designed to provide students with the expertise required to undertake a career as a safety and health practitioner, and also provides a sound basis for progression to postgraduate study. It assumes prior learning equivalent to the National General Certificate, and, to date, more than 10,000 passes have been awarded. Exams are held each year in January and July, with the syllabus comprising four core units:

1. Unit A: Managing health and safety
2. Unit B: Hazardous agents in the workplace
3. Unit C: Workplace and work equipment safety
4. Unit D: Application of health and safety theory and practice.

Students may choose to take the individual units in any order over a five-year period and will be awarded a certificate for each unit passed.
NEBOSH (with more than 30,000 people taking its qualifications annually) also offers the following:

• National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety
• International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety
• Diploma in Environmental Management (level 6)
• National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety (level 3)
• Fire Safety and Risk Management Certificate
• National Certificate in Construction Health and Safety (level 3)
• International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety
• National Certificate in Environmental Management
• National Certificate in the Management of Health and Well-being at Work
• International Certificate in Construction Health and Safety 
•  International Technical Certificate in Oil and Gas Operational Safety.

N/SVQs at levels 3 and 4 in occupational health and safety practice provide people with good career opportunities. Recognised by IOSH as being equivalent to the NEBOSH National Diploma, they each take approximately a year to achieve.
Scientific, engineering or technical degrees, HNDs, HNCs, National Diplomas and National Certificates are particularly appropriate for H&S. The Open University recognises many Service qualifications, and awards points towards degrees on production of the necessary evidence.

There are postgraduate qualifications in H&S, with special emphasis on occupational, environmental and hygiene aspects. Some universities have MSc distance learning programmes that focus on H&S and lead towards corporate membership of IOSH (see below) within one year. Training can be expensive, but there is financial help available (see ‘Factfile’).

• Everyone joins as an Affiliate member and has access to all membership benefits and services.
• A Technician Member (Tech IOSH) has an accredited qualification, competence and at least five years’ experience in health and safety. Continuing professional development (CPD) is required.
• A Graduate Member (Grad IOSH) will be working towards Chartered membership and completing initial professional development. This level of membership requires an IOSH-accredited qualification. CPD is required.
• Chartered Members (CMIOSH) possess the competence demanded of professionals in health and safety management or leadership positions. They must maintain a CPD record in order to retain Chartered status.
• Chartered Fellowship (CFIOSH) is awarded to Chartered Members who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to the health and safety profession, and who also maintain a CPD record.

Employment
Although the H&S sector has, like many others, been hit by the current financial downturn, there are still openings available – for example, in the pharmaceutical, chemical, medical devices and healthcare sectors – particularly for those with relevant experience. Good advice for job seekers is that employers tend to favour job applicants who have good people management and interpersonal skills. Health and safety professionals should also keep their skills up to date. And, if they can bring a range of additional skills – such as being able to provide in-house training in areas like manual handling or first aid – that is another benefit as far as employers are concerned. In addition, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations outline the legal requirements for safety management issues – if anything, this increases the need for companies to employ ‘competent’ persons themselves, as opposed to dealing with safety issues via consultants.

Jobs range from a small company employing an individual to a major organisation that has an entire safety team. Some companies specialise in H&S issues such as planning supervision, safety audits, engineering surveying and insurance company safety assessments. Facilities management is another sector where employment possibilities are enhanced by a safety qualification. As noted above, many employers look for H&S advisers to have training qualifications, and to be able to assess the need for, design and deliver safety training.

The HSE employs inspectors and other staff through an online recruitment process. Trainees will usually spend their first two years training in the Field Operations Directorate. After that, some may be deployed into the Hazardous Installations Directorate to meet business needs or for personal development.

Salaries
Salaries vary widely, depending upon appointment, location and type of company. Some roles within the NHS and education sectors offer salaries on the low side for the range of responsibilities required, but this is often offset by the benefit of longer-term contracts. An hourly rate of up to £50 for a self-employed consultant is not unheard of, and some specialist roles can command daily rates of £550-plus – but such contracts are rare. H&S trainers are also well paid by current standards. A NEBOSH National Diploma holder could earn over £25,000 per year, depending on experience and managerial responsibility.

KEY CONTACTS

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Head Office, Redgrave Court, Merton Road, Bootle, Merseyside L20 7HS Tel: 0845 345 0055
Website: www.hse.gov.uk Twitter: @H_S_E

Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), The Grange, Highfield Drive, Wigston, Leicestershire LE18 1NN Tel: 0116 257 3100
Website: www.iosh.co.uk Twitter: @IOSH_tweets

National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH), Dominus Way, Meridian Business Park, Leicester LE19 1QW
 Tel: 0116 263 4700 Website: www.nebosh.org.uk