Health and Safety

Workers in this sector are involved in assessing work places and practices to ensure they are safe. They are responsible for ensuring that all safety legislation is adhered to and policies and practices are adopted. They help to plan, implement, monitor and review the protective and preventative measures that companies are required or choose to follow, and work to minimise operational losses, occupational health problems, accidents and injuries.

Check out the professional bodies own entries in the Profession Finder

There are a number of professional bodies covering these sectors. Here you will find information on:

• Jobs and salaries
• Routes and Qualifications
• Funding

The Health and Safety Executive, whose role it is to prevent death, injury and ill health in Britain's workplaces, has general information on what it is like to work in the sector.

Jobs and Salaries

Get more information about the Health and Safety profession by looking at the IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health) website.

How much could you earn as a Health and Safety Professional?

Read more about Health and Safety risk management in the construction industry on the APS (the Association for Project Safety) website.

Risk management is the process which aims to help organisations understand, evaluate and take action on all their risks with a view to increasing the probability of their success and reducing the likelihood of failure. Take a look at what jobs are available.

Routes and Qualifications

IOSH offers a wide range of courses and information on training to become a Health and Safety Professional.

The IIRSM (the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management) also gives information on training for its members.

Find out more information on training courses and further education relevant to the health and safety industry via the APS.

The Institute of Risk Management provides information on qualifications.

What’s it like working in this sector?

• Jobs usually involve a combination of office work and on-site evaluations
• A degree of travel involved, usually to clients premises or to assess specific locations.
• Read what it is really like to be a health and safety officer
• Publicjobsdirect.com has information on available jobs and general job descriptions 

How big is this sector?

• The chartered body for health and safety professionals IOSH (Institute of Occupational Safety and Health) has 36,000 members

Where can I work?

• Work is available throughout the UK however job opportunities are more concentrated in cities and areas with heavy industry.

What do employers look for?

• An accredited degree/HND in occupational safety, life science, engineering and health studies can increase your chances
• Good communication skills are essential, as explaining problems and negotiating safer practices with clients are a key part of the job
• Relevant work experience, for example interning at a local council’s health and safety office can enhance your application
• Experience of working in the areas you’re assessing is also often essential.