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Posted By Martin Beattie
I am in need of some advice from the forum in the hope that this enquiry strikes a chord with some of the forum readers. I am 36 years of age and just achieved The NEBOSH 1st year general certificate with the expectation of projecting myself into the health and safety job market within the next couple of months.
My query is this, I’m not absolutely sure were to go from here, I’m ready for the challenges of the health and safety sector (not necessarily the construction industry) and feel sure that I am a very capable person, but when I speak to a health and safety colleague of mine he asks the same question, ‘what do you want to specialise in?’ And this may sound stupid, but I’m not sure!
I know I am prepared to travel either home or abroad for the opportunity to prove myself, but surely until I can actually hold a health and safety position, only then can I begin to decide what area I would like to specialise in?
I have included a brief summary of my current position and relevant experience, and would be very grateful for any input or comments you may have.
Thank you for your time.
PROFILE
An accomplished self employed painter and decorator currently working as a safety advisor/decorator in a successful decorating business. A well presented person with experience in all aspects of the business structure, is flexible with excellent computer literacy skills, has the ability to communicate well at all levels and work well as a member of a team.
SUMMARY OF SKILLS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Safety advisor status within the company (NEBOSH standard).
Preparation of risk assessments.
Preparation of method statements
Responsible for the induction of new
personnel.
Computer literate (Microsoft Office 2000).
Financial control within the company.
Working within set budgets and deadlines.
Resolving queries.
Responsibilities for stock control.
Consultation with clients on one to one basis.
Supervisory role.
My outside interests include general keep fit, attempting to play golf (4 years now), learning Spanish, painting and writing.
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Posted By clive bradburn
Martin
Don't worry about having a specialism. Many employers would rather see self motivation, enthusiasm,flexibility, determination, common sense and a sense of humour.By the way I am looking for just those qualities. Suggest you look in the next S&H Practitioner
for an advert for two H&S advisers for DEFRA (new Govt Dept) based at Guildford it might just suit you.
Best of luck
Clive Bradburn
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Posted By Martin Beattie
Clive
Many thanks for your comments, unfortunately I'm in the middle of two large contracts which I feel I need to get out of the way before I can move on, they should be completed around the beginning of December. Good luck with your vacancies and again thanks for your comments.
Martin
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Posted By SCOTT MURDOCH
Martin
My name is Scott Murdoch and am in the same situation as yourself,looking to progress my career within the field of health and safety.
if you look on the net there are quit a few sites with jobs advertised
Best of luck
Scott.
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Posted By Laurie
Martin
Why specialise? In a seven hour day yesterday I covered scaffolding, colostomy bags, workstation temperature, glare (from a flat roof), ionising radiation, fly work in theatres, first aid in horticulture, barefoot dancers on wooden floors, asbestos, safety committees, height of telephones, flor coverings, dermatitis, fire escape routes and blood borne viruses!
I would not think that many safety officers would find this unusual. Once you specialise uyou restrict yourself.
Much more interesting to know something about everything, than everything about something!
Laurie
Laurie
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Posted By Martin Beattie
Laurie
Costomy bags, jesus! Hope there wasnt a fear of them imploding.
Many thanks for your reply, I appreciate your advice and I am beginning to understand how diverse this job can be.
Martin
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Posted By Ashley Williams
I agree with Laurie's comments, In the last week, i've visited a pharmasutical company to see how they do things. Delt with 2 safety policys, risk assessments, stress and a couple of insutrial injurys. I got the CHIP 3 consultation document Twice??? Its a thick as a phone book. Tomorrow 3 meetings and the next 2 weeks i get to see 1600 10year olds with the HSE!
Dont specialise unless you have to.
Ashley
Sorry about spelling mistakes!
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Posted By Peter J Harvey
Total agreement, in fact in some ways I feel specialisation can go against you. There was I six months ago looking for a job with exactly the same feeling, was my experience to general, could I specialise if I wanted to?
It is not only the safety knowledge and skills that sell you, consider the personal aspects, and how you are going to work with others at all levels and promote a safety culture.
Good luck
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Posted By Martin Beattie
Peter and Ashley Many thanks to you both for your comments, I feel a great deal more confident about my futue employment within this sector. The original advice I received from my colleague had me reaching for my chequebook, believing the more qualificatons I have the better my prospects would be. Clive Bradburn commented on my query, the jist of his advice was simple, have the relevant experience and be able to fit in to a team.
Are you then saying the qualifications and experience I have at present stand me in good stead (here I go again)
Many thanks again for your comments and any other advice would be appreciated.
Martin
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Posted By PatrickT
Good luck in the job Hunt, I believe that you have one further advantage that you paid for your own training and have had experience from the managerial side as opposed to gaining experience from the trade union perspective.
I am finding to my cost that the expertise and experience I have gained through the trade union movement re occupational health and safety matters often far outweighs the knowledge threshold of consultants who have been booked to undertake training / risk assessments within our organisation.
I am often picking holes in basic reports and findings due to, I think that the H&S profession encouragement for too much with regard to "know little about everything and nothing about what is being undertaken".
The Fire Regs have been amended recently and require employers to undertake risk assessments of their premises, sounds like a lucrative area to specialise in.
PatrickT
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