WHAT DOES A HEALTH AND SAFETY ADVISOR DO?
Published: Apr 26, 2025 - The Health and Safety Advisor supports field operations by implementing health and safety strategies, conducting inspections, audits, and promoting compliance through training and engagement. This role manages incident investigations, analyzes safety data, develops courses, and collaborates closely with site teams, contractors, and client representatives. The head also represents the company at external events while maintaining professional communication and driving continuous improvement in health and safety performance.
A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Health and Safety Advisor
1. Health and Safety Advisor Duties
- DSE Assessment Review: Independently review Display Screen Equipment (DSE) user self-assessments
- Control Implementation: Identifying and implementing any controls/adjustments as agreed before closing on the assessment tool
- Workstation Assessment: Undertaking workstation assessments at any of the offices/client site locations
- Risk Assessment: Undertaking workplace risk assessments, identifying and ensuring the effective implementation of suitable control measures
- Contractor Scheme Management: Administer and maintain appropriate records for the AI contractor competency scheme
- Contractor Coaching: Reviewing contractor competency assessments and coaching contractors to assist them in achieving approved contractor status
- Accident Data Management: Log accident data and maintain the accident database
- Noticeboard Coordination: Coordinating and maintaining sites SHE noticeboards
- E-Learning Management: Manage the SHE E-Learning site
- Employee Support Coordination: Inputting new starters, archiving leavers and arranging DSE visits with staff, supporting them and liaising with IS / Facilities to ensure they receive any equipment
- Training Program Management: Manage the SHE employee training program, to include arranging courses, maintaining an accurate training matrix and identifying refresher training needs
- Induction Training Delivery: Manage the SHE induction process and deliver training to new starters
- Accident Investigation: Undertake accident investigation as directed by the SHE Manager
- SMM Program Delivery: Assist with the implementation and delivery of the BAE Safety Maturity Matrix (SMM) and SMM Lite Programmes
- Leadership Support: Deputise for the Head of SHE in periods of absence and support other tasks to support the function
- Assurance Program Support: Assisting with the SHE Assurance, Strategic Improvement and Five-Year Review Programmes
- Action Tracking Management: Logging SHE assurance/inspection actions into Support Works (action tracking software) and ensuring closure of such actions
2. Health and Safety Advisor Details
- HSE Process Management: Manage and coordinate HSE Processes
- Audit Facilitation: Assist with the preparation and facilitation of internal and external audits
- Contractor Compliance Coordination: Facilitate and process all contractor compliance requests
- Training Presentation: Present and support safety, risk and compliance training across the company
- HSE Data Management: Record, process and store HSE Data for ongoing evaluation and identification of solutions to improve effectiveness
- Safety Standards Enforcement: Ensure that workplaces conform to organisational and client procedures and safety standards
- Procedure Development: Develop and maintain procedures, instructions and other safety practices and programs to help assist in growth and exceeding standards
- Hazard Reporting: Report any situations at the workplace that could constitute a hazard to any person, environment or equipment
- Regulatory Support: Identify relevant legislation, corporate EHSS expectations and other stakeholder requirements to support site management in developing objectives, strategies, procedures and implementation
- Legislation Monitoring: Understand forthcoming legislation and ensure implications for the business are understood and acted on
- Performance Monitoring: Monitor site EHS performance and trends and develop solutions to improve performance
- Compliance Assurance: Ensure trust and reputation through compliance with legislation, standards and ethical policies – ensuring compliant facilities, processes and staffing to meet regulatory challenges
3. Health and Safety Advisor Responsibilities
- Performance Data Analysis: Collect, verify, collate and present statistics to identify trends in performance
- Toolbox Talk Delivery: Develop and deliver pre-start and toolbox talks
- Training Coordination: Assists with the coordination of HS training for staff and workforce
- HSE Coaching: Provides HSE Management System (SMS) and contractual requirements coaching
- Accident Investigation: Conduct accident investigations
- Data Management: Manage IMPACT data
- Safety Inspection: Carry out basic Health and Safety inspections
- Team Support: Providing information, guidance and support for two Health and Safety Advisors and the Regional Distribution Management Team
- Accident Reduction Initiatives: Develop and implement accident and RIDDOR reduction initiatives
- Compliance Assurance: Ensuring Customer Service Centres and the External Regional Distribution Centre are compliant with all H&S legislation
- Incident Analysis: Analysing accident statistics and near-miss reporting, providing recommendations for improvements and ensuring learnings are shared across specific sites
- Audit Execution: Arranging, undertaking and reporting on regular H&S audits and inspections including revisit audits with the 2 Health and Safety advisors
4. Health and Safety Advisor Job Summary
- Policy Development: Working with the senior leadership team to develop, implement and manage Health and Safety leadership and technical expertise in the form of written policies, guidelines and procedures
- Competent Person Fulfillment: Verbal communications and practical involvement fulfill the legal requirement of a competent person
- System Implementation: Participate in the development, progression and implementation of the site safety management system
- Meeting Participation: Attend whole Team H&S meetings and Biosafety meetings to promote the philosophy and obtain feedback to ensure consistency in standards and approach
- Legislation Interpretation: Interpret and ensure the appropriate application of H&S legislation and incorporate it into H&S policies and guidelines
- EHS Ownership: Take ownership of the site "Environment, Health and Safety"
- Management Reporting: Generate written reports to management
- Training Provision: Working with the training team, ensure adequate provision of H&S training for employees, through external training providers and development and delivery of 'in-house' training packages
- Audit Guidance: Participate in, train and give guidance on team inspections and audits, giving guidance to the management audit team
- Audit Program Development: Participate in audits and the development of the site audit programme
- CPD Maintenance: Maintain CPD by attendance at seminars, courses and conferences, and reading of relevant H&S journals and publications
- Risk Assessment Support: Support occupational health and line managers to assess the level of risk and determine first aid requirements
5. Health and Safety Advisor Accountabilities
- Field Operations Support: Provide Health and Safety support to Field Operations
- Strategy Implementation: Implement the Health and Safety strategy and policy within the area of the business
- Compliance Management: Manage compliance through behavioural safety engagements, inspections, and audits
- Performance Review: Undertake regular reviews of the performance of personnel and contractors about meeting the health and safety operating standards
- Performance Improvement: Intervene to improve performance where expectations are not being met
- Personnel Coaching: Advise, guide and coach all personnel with the implementation of the company procedures
- HR Strategy Support: Support the HR Department in implementing future strategy requirements
- Accident Investigation: Undertake Accident/Incident investigations in line with corporate requirements
- System Administration: Input and administer electronic systems, relevant to the role, as required by the company (such as identifying gaps, trends and providing analysis)
- Administrative Tasks: Administration Tasks (e.g., reports, meetings, investigations, appraisal, communication circulars, leaflets and notices)
- Training Development: Train Provision, Course Development and roll out initiatives within the organisation
- Team Engagement: Engage with all levels of the organisation, with a strong emphasis on being able to engage with the site-based teams, including operatives, engineers and site-based supervisors
- Contractor Communication: Maintain visible communication with principal contractors and client representatives
- External Representation: Represent the Company at external events (meetings, seminars, etc.) in a professional manner