Health and Safety Officer

Job Specification: Health and Safety Officer

Salary: £40,383

This role will require Security Clearance, so you must have lived in the UK for over 5 years

Job Purpose

The primary purpose of the Health and Safety Officer is to promote and maintain a safe, healthy and compliant working environment by ensuring that employees, contractors, visitors and members of the public are protected from workplace hazards and risks.

The role supports the organisation in meeting its legal obligations under relevant health and safety legislation, reducing accidents and incidents, and fostering a positive health and safety culture throughout the organisation.

Main Responsibilities

1. Assist the Estates and HSQE Manager in monitoring compliance with relevant health and safety legislation, organisational policies and procedures.
2. Provide health and safety advice, guidance and training to employees, managers and other relevant stakeholders.
3. Conduct workplace inspections, audits and risk assessments to identify potential hazards and ensure appropriate control measures are implemented.
4. Investigate accidents, incidents and near misses, identifying root causes and recommending appropriate corrective and preventative actions. Ensure incidents are reported to the relevant regulatory authorities, including the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), where required.
5. Provide advice, guidance and support to managers and employees in completing and reviewing high-quality risk assessments and workplace inspections, ensuring health and safety risks are appropriately identified, assessed and managed across the organisation.
6. Develop, review and update health and safety policies, procedures and safe systems of work to ensure continued legal compliance and good practice.
7. Maintain accurate health and safety records, documentation and management information.
8. Support the continuous improvement of health and safety arrangements and promote a positive safety culture across the organisation.
9. Undertake other duties commensurate with the nature, level of responsibility and grading of the post, as required.
10. All employees are required to comply with organisational health and safety policies, procedures and relevant statutory requirements.

 

Special Conditions

• The role may involve travel to various organisational sites and locations.
• Duties may occasionally involve exposure to unpleasant or disturbing images or environments.
• On occasion, the postholder may be required to provide on-site health and safety advice in challenging or potentially hazardous environments.

 

Person Specification

Knowledge and Qualifications

Essential:

• NEBOSH Diploma or Level 4 NVQ in Occupational Health and Safety Practice.
• Actively working towards Chartered membership of IOSH.
• Thorough understanding of health and safety legislation, principles and their practical application within the workplace.
• Knowledge of risk assessment methodologies, accident investigation, workplace inspections and health and safety management systems.

Desirable:

• Chartered membership of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).
• Knowledge of recognised health and safety management standards and best practice.

Experience

Essential:

• Experience of providing professional health and safety advice, guidance and support within an organisation.
• Experience of conducting workplace inspections, audits and risk assessments.
• Experience of investigating accidents, incidents and near misses.
• Experience of balancing legislative compliance with practical workplace activities and operational requirements.
• Experience of supporting managers and employees in implementing effective health and safety arrangements.

Key Skills and Competencies

• A structured and analytical approach to problem-solving.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to prepare and present reports and deliver training sessions.
• Effective interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to provide practical, proportionate and commercially aware health and safety advice.
• Ability to identify risks, assess their significance and recommend appropriate control measures.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and work independently.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to challenge unsafe practices constructively and resolve conflict professionally.

Personal Attributes

• Proactive and committed to improving health and safety standards.
• Professional, approachable and confident when providing advice and guidance.
• Able to build positive working relationships across all levels of an organisation.
• Committed to continuous professional development.
• Promotes a positive health and safety culture through engagement, communication and good practice.