Case studies: Inspector of health and safety: Zameer

Zammer has a degree in microbiology. He now works for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), a central government organisation that regulates health and safety in the UK

The mission of the organisation is to protect people's health and safety by ensuring risks in the changing workplace are properly controlled. We do this through research, information, advice, promoting training, new/revised regulations, codes of practice, inspection, investigation and enforcement. As one of the frontline of HSE, I'm responsible for day-to-day inspection and investigation activities.

It doesn't matter what degree subject you study; HSE's workers come from a wide range of backgrounds. However, a degree does help you learn the skills that are relevant to this job. For example, in my science-based degree, there was a lot of emphasis on developing analytical skills, and I would routinely gather information in often unfamiliar circumstances and analyse it against known rules. This is similar to walking into many workplaces and enforcing health and safety law.

Place yourself in any working situation. Imagine the range of risks to an individual's health and safety and what could be done to prevent or control them. Using judgement based on your training, influencing skills, and informed common sense, your job is to convince those involved (often directors and senior managers of large and small organisations) to make changes - to improve working conditions and maybe even save lives. Not everyone will appreciate what you're trying to achieve and sometimes it's a struggle to convince others about what's needed, but this is a fundamental part of what an inspector has to do.

Inspectors of health and safety check all kinds of workplaces, from factories, refineries, farms and construction sites to fairgrounds, hospitals and universities. The variety of sectors, industries and processes that l see means that the job is interesting as well as challenging. Inspections are normally made unannounced, and I'm not always welcome, so interpersonal skills and an appropriate level of assertiveness are important. Investigations will cover accidents, dangerous occurrences, ill health and complaints. The investigation of fatalities and serious accidents may mean dealing with bereaved families or traumatised and distressed witnesses as well as anxious duty holders.

In this job, I deal with many different people - directors, managers, employees, union representatives, and also members of the public. Their level of knowledge and understanding of health and safety issues varies, so inspectors need to adapt their approach to cope with this. We're required to be fair and open-minded and show an appreciation of the needs of different cultures and practices.

It's also important to develop confidence and ability in speaking persuasively to gatherings of employers or other stakeholders. I've found that it's important to learn the art of questioning to be able to draw out the information required from the people you meet. Your main source of information when carrying out your work will be people.

The best part of my job is that no two days are the same. You also have the privilege of seeing many interesting work processes, which the public would never see. The part that I don't enjoy is attending fatal accidents, especially when they could have been prevented through simple measures. While this is a sad part of the job, you're also bringing some comfort to those that have been affected by providing answers to what has happened and bringing justice where appropriate.

My role has changed since I joined the organisation. With increasing experience, I've taken on increasing responsibility. I'm assigned more work with larger organisations and industries with complex risks where health and safety law is more difficult to apply. I also have the opportunity to manage and implement local projects targeted at specific risks and industries. I'd like to continue to develop my experience and skills in my current role.

As a more experienced inspector, I take a lead role in activities involving healthcare in London. I'd like to develop this further given the increasing emphasis on London becoming a world leader in the field.