Environmental health and safety manager
Manage health and safety programmes in your workplace. Help your organisation protect employees, the public and the environment.
Also known as: health, safety and environmental manager, health, safety and environmental lead, head of health, safety and environment
About the job
What it's like
You’ll manage an organisation’s environmental health and safety programmes. You’ll promote a positive culture of responsibility. There’s a strong demand for this job, as industries adopt greener practices.
Depending on your employer, your work could cover areas such as:
chemical and biological agents
waste management
radiation safety
air emissions
noise
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Your tasks might include:
developing emergency response plans and conducting drills
doing regular risk assessments and inspections
making sure the company complies with regulations and safety management systems, such as ISO9000
training employees on safety procedures and environmental practices
advising on energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness
investigating accidents and incidents and taking corrective actions
Green job
In this job you'll be doing work to help the environment. Find out more about green jobs.
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
Skills Development Scotland – information about green jobs in Scotland
The London School of Economics – careers in sustainability
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) – training and event
The Alliance for Sustainability Leadership in Education – Green Careers Guide (PDF download)
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
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Engineering and manufacturing
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.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- resilience
- analysing
- adaptability
- building relationships
- social conscience
- written communication
- verbal communication
- attention to detail
- developing a plan
- problem solving
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.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
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Biology
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Chemistry
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Environmental Science
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Physics
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Maths (Mathematics)
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Human Biology
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Foundation Apprenticeship: Scientific Technologies (Laboratory Skills)
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.
You’ll likely need a degree or postgraduate qualification for this job, or equivalent work experience. You can work towards this after school by going to university, college or by getting an apprenticeship.
Many job adverts for this role will ask for you to have a diploma from the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH), or an equivalent qualification.
It’s often essential to hold professional memberships, such as Cert IOSH, from the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.
A qualification in biosafety, occupational hygiene or a similar health and safety subject can also be very useful.
Explore the information you need for each route to this career.
University
For many roles, you'll need a degree or postgraduate qualification.
Subjects related to environmental health are very useful, such as:
Environmental Health with Professional Practice
Other university subjects which could be helpful for this career include:
Life Sciences
Chemical Sciences
Bioscience / Biological Science
Physical Sciences
College
Getting qualifications at college, such as an HNC or HND, could help you find work or progress to more advanced study. Subjects at college could include:
Applied Sciences
Bioscience / Biological Sciences
Chemical Sciences
Industrial Biotechnology
Apprenticeships
You could start learning the skills you'll need in this career through a Foundation Apprenticeship (FA). When you're in S5 or S6, you'll gain work experience while you study.
You might want to consider an FA in:
Scientific Technologies
Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) mean you learn on the job. You get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time.
You might want to consider an MA in areas such as:
Occupational Health and Safety Practice
Facilities Management
Life Science and Related Science Industries Technical
Regulatory Services
Many employers will ask for you to have a first-aid qualification, or to work towards one.
Strong communication, people and presentation skills.
The ability to influence stakeholders across the business.
Good time-management and organisational skills.
An in-depth knowledge of UK Health, Safety and Environmental legislation.
Experience in risk assessments and management systems.
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