Becoming a Health & Safety Officer Career

A Health and Safety Officer is primarily responsible for the practical, day-to-day implementation of health and safety measures. Their tasks include conducting risk assessments, performing site inspections, and ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations. They also investigate accidents to determine root causes, deliver basic training to employees, and maintain records of incidents and inspections. This role is hands-on, focusing on operational-level activities to ensure safety practices are adhered to.

Qualification: Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Occupational Health & Safety Practice

The Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Practice is aimed at learners who have responsibilities relating to developing and implementing health and safety procedures and who are looking to apply for Grad/Cert IOSH upon completion.

You can check how our Level 6 NVQ programme meets the requirement for Certified IOSH membership by clicking HERE.

Learners could be a manager, supervisor or a staff member who want to enhance their skills for their practice or simply would like to see their practice from another perspective.

The ten units that all learners must complete to gain this qualification are:

• Promote a positive health and safety culture
• Develop and implement the health and safety policy
• Develop and implement effective communication systems for health and safety information
• Develop and maintain individual and organisational competence in health and safety matters
• Identify, assess and control health and safety risks
• Develop and implement proactive monitoring systems for health and safety
• Develop and implement active monitoring systems for health and safety
• Develop and implement health and safety emergency response systems and procedures
• Develop and implement health and safety review systems
• Maintain knowledge of improvements to influence health and safety practice

Suitable applicants for this programme must meet the following requirements:

• This programme is suitable for learners of 21 years of age and above.
• Learners must be in a voluntary or paid role within the sector.
• Learners must be able to demonstrate Maths and English at level 2
• Learners must have access to a qualified observer. This is someone who holds this qualification or an equivalent or higher.

What’s the Return on Investment (ROI)?

Health and Safety officers in the UK typically start with salaries of £28,000 or more per year, with opportunities to earn significantly higher in senior or specialised roles. For example, Consultants or Specialists in industries like construction, manufacturing, and oil and gas can command salaries exceeding £50,000 annually.

By completing a recognised qualification, you can position yourself for these higher-paying roles, often recouping the cost of the course within a year or two. Additionally, this investment in your career opens doors to roles with not just better pay but also benefits such as performance bonuses, pension schemes, flexible working options, and professional development opportunities.

The average salary for a Health and Safety Officer in the UK typically ranges between £28,000 and £50,000 per year, depending on the level of experience, qualifications, industry, and location.

• Entry-level Health and Safety Officers: £28,000–£30,000 
• Mid-level Health and Safety Officers: £30,000–£40,000 
• Senior Health and Safety Officers: £40,000–£50,000+