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Job Description
Health and safety officers are responsible for promoting positive health and safety culture in a workplace.
Their job description usually involves roles that seek to maintain a safe work environment for company employees.
They usually achieve this through the implementation of external guidelines established by regulatory bodies.
Health/safety officers in performing their duties provide health and safety training courses for employees to educate them on necessary safety procedures.
They conduct risk assessments and site inspections to identify work areas that pose threats to life and property.
They also draw up safe operational practices necessary to minimize risk of workplace accidents.
Health officers carry out investigations on incidents, complaints, and recurrent health cases to identify and provide solutions to workplace situations.
They develop and implement internal health and safety policies/strategies necessary for optimized work processes.
They also inspect work machinery and equipment to ensure correct and safe installation.
Usually, safety officers maintain accurate records of incidents and inspection findings in order to prepare reports useful in taking strategic safety decisions. They prepare and mount safety signs at appropriate locations to indicate potential hazard.
They also prepare periodic safety statistics and submit to safety managers for review.
As part of their responsibilities, health/safety officers maintain an up-to-date knowledge of new HSE (Health, Safety and Environment) legislation as well as other developments that can impact a company.
They also make recommendations to management on fire regulations, occupational diseases, and waste disposal.
In fulfilling their work description, health/safety officers attend IOSH (Institute of Occupational Safety and Health) seminars to update job knowledge and enhance their skill.
The health/safety officer job requires a Bachelor’s degree in engineering, risk management, or safety management to qualify for it.
The major qualities you need to succeed on the job include problem-solving skills, as well as organizational and communication skills.
Skills
Requirements – Skills, Abilities, and Knowledge – for Health and Safety Officer Job
If you are looking to work as a health and safety officer, here are common requirements you may be expected to meet by most employers:
- Education and Training: To become a health/safety officer, you require a Bachelor’s degree in risk management, engineering, safety management, or in a related discipline. Certification from recognized occupational health and safety body is also necessary for the position
- Problem-solving Skill: Health and safety officers are well versed in developing safe operational strategies and solution to minimize work place incidence
- Organizational Skills: They are skilled in coordinating general workplace operations to ensure compliance safety standards
- Communication Skill: They are able to provide company staff with useful safety information by means of clear language.