Health and safety inspector : Employers and vacancy sources

Health and Safety Executive (HSE)  is the main employer of health and safety inspectors and falls within the remit of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) . Inspectors work in offices across England (with headquarters in London and Merseyside), Wales and Scotland. The Field Operations Directorate (FOD), which deals with much of the training, is managed as seven geographical divisions throughout the UK.

The HSE is responsible for manufacturing premises, construction sites, railways, underground systems, mines, landfill sites, agriculture, hospitals, nursing homes, educational establishments, airports, utilities including gas, electricity and water suppliers, police and national government.

Health and safety teams within local authorities also employ inspectors and are responsible for shops, offices, hotels, catering establishments, leisure and entertainment businesses and places of worship. Whilst much of this type of work is undertaken by environmental health officers, there is a need for health and safety professionals, particularly at a managerial/strategic level.

Health and safety inspectors are now more common as organisations adopt risk assessment strategies, and some inspectors find opportunities in organisations such as hospitals and large food retailers with responsibility for large teams of staff.

Health and safety inspectors with extensive experience can work for specialist consultancies in areas such as construction health and safety, stress management and safe working at heights. These roles involve consulting with businesses regarding their legal duties and helping them maintain good health and safety standards by undertaking audits, conducting site inspections and providing training.

Health and safety professionals can also be found in the manufacturing, construction, logistics and utilities industries, though job titles and functions may vary.

Sources of vacancies

• Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
• Civil Service Jobs
• Local Government Jobs
• Safety and Health Practitioner (SHP)
• Specialist journals of the industry in which you are interested.
• Local and national press.

Specialist recruitment agencies, such as Principal People , also handle vacancies. Search the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) consultancy finder for a list of relevant member agencies.

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