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Health and safety adviser

Keep people safe from injuries, accidents and health problems in the workplace.

Also known as: health and safety officer, health and safety coordinator

About skillsGetting in

About the job

Salary

Source: National Careers Service

Weekly

£423

Entry level

£962

Experienced

Monthly

£1,833

Entry level

£4,167

Experienced

Yearly

£22,000

Entry level

£50,000

Experienced

7,000

people are currently employed

High growth

300 more jobs in 5 years

These figures refer to this job and similar ones with comparable skills and qualifications. They only apply to Scotland. Source: Oxford Economics

What it's like

You would keep people safe from accidents, injuries and health problems in the workplace. You’d create health and safety policies and make sure employers and workers follow them.

Depending on your employer, your work could cover areas such as:

  • Fire safety

  • Occupational health

  • Noise

  • Safe use of machinery

  • Control of hazardous substances

You would:

  • Develop effective policies and procedures

  • Make regular inspections and risk assessments

  • Keep records of accidents

  • Advise on protective clothing and equipment

  • Train employees on safety issues

  • Investigate accidents and recommend improvements in safety standards

  • Write reports

You’d work with Health and Safety Executive inspectors and trade unions.

You’d need to have a good knowledge of health and safety legislation and keep up to date with changes in the law.

In some companies, responsibility for health and safety may be part of another job role such as personnel or facilities management.

Hours

Your typical working hours would be 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. In some industries your hours could be more irregular. You may work shifts or be on call in case of emergencies or accidents.

Environment

You would normally be based in an office. You could also spend time in other environments like factories, building sites or offshore rigs, depending on the industry you work in. In some industries the work could be very physical and you may need to work outside, at heights or in cramped spaces. You may also be required to wear protective clothing like overalls, safety glasses or ear protectors.

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Top skills

Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!

It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.

Here are some of the skills you'll need to do this job:

  • understanding
  • negotiating
  • developing a plan
  • attention to detail
  • empathising
  • problem solving
  • written communication
  • verbal communication
  • building relationships

Your skills are important

Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.

Discover skills

Getting in

Explore the sections shown for more information about getting into this career.

You might have qualifications which are not shown here but will allow you access to a course. You can compare your qualifications by looking at their SCQF Level. For more information about this, check out the SCQF website.

Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.

Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:

  • Environmental Science

  • Practical Craft Skills

  • Foundation Apprenticeship: Engineering

  • Skills for Work: Building Services Engineering

You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.

You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.

Discover what's on offer at your school on  Apprenticeships.scot.

To become a health and safety adviser, you can either study for health and safety qualifications whilst you are working or take a training course before looking for a trainee position.

The type of training you take will depend on the industry you work in.

Relevant work-based qualifications such as a Scottish Vocational Qualification in Occupational Health & Safety (SVQ level 3/4) or a Higher National diploma (SCFQ level 8), degree (SCQF level 9/10) or postgraduate qualification (SCQF level 11) in a subject like Occupational Health & Safety, Engineering, building or sciences.

The University of the West of Scotland offers a Occupational Health & Safety Degree (SCQF level 9/10) which requires National 5 qualifications and a minimum of three Highers or a relevant HNC/HND.

To enter a postgraduate course (SCQF level 11) you will usually require an honours degree in a relevant subject.

Qualifications should meet Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) standards.

Qualifications and experience that develop an understanding of relevant health and safety regulations and allow you to use problem-solving and communication skills.

You must hold a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent and pass a health and safety test to work and train on construction sites.

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