Career Advice for an Occupational Health and Safety Specialist

As an Occupational Health and Safety Specialist, you will be responsible for ensuring that workplaces are safe and healthy for employees.

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How to Become an Occupational Health and Safety Specialist

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to become an Occupational Health and Safety Specialist

Should you wish to work as an Occupational Health and Safety Specialist you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for an Occupational Health and Safety Specialist

  • A degree in Occupational Health and Safety, Environmental Health, or a related field.
  • Professional certification from a recognised organisation such as NEBOSH or IOSH.

Key Responsibilities for an Occupational Health and Safety Specialist

  • Developing and implementing health and safety policies and procedures.
  • Conducting risk assessments and identifying potential hazards.
  • Providing training and education to employees on health and safety practices.
  • Investigating accidents and incidents and making recommendations for improvement.
  • Collaborating with management and employees to create a culture of safety in the workplace.
  • Staying up-to-date with relevant legislation and industry best practices.

What to expect as an Occupational Health and Safety Specialist

As an Occupational Health and Safety Specialist in the UK, you could work for a variety of organisations such as government agencies, construction companies, manufacturing plants, and healthcare facilities.

Recommended Occupational Health and Safety Specialist Jobs

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How to get Occupational Health and Safety Specialist Jobs

Our advice on how to get an Occupational Health and Safety Specialist job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete an Occupational Health and Safety Specialist application. If you have not held an Occupational Health and Safety Specialist position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held an Occupational Health and Safety Specialist role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Occupational Health and Safety Specialist CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Occupational Health and Safety Specialist application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become an Occupational Health and Safety Specialist in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become an Occupational Health and Safety Specialist 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be an Occupational Health and Safety Specialist and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Occupational Health and Safety Specialist experience.

How to get Occupational Health and Safety Specialist Experience

What does it take to be an Occupational Health and Safety Specialist? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Occupational Health and Safety Specialist jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Occupational Health and Safety Specialist through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be an Occupational Health and Safety Specialist Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Occupational Health and Safety Specialist part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Occupational Health and Safety Specialist or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Occupational Health and Safety Specialist freelance work

If you have impressive Occupational Health and Safety Specialist qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.