Posted By Dee Two main things: A good friend who is a recruitement consultant who advised me there was a shortage of young peole coming into health and safety and therefore I would be in demand as well as extremely good money to be made - he was right. Secondly a very enthusiastic and infectious trainer who did my IOSH Managing Safely 5 years ago - Malcolm Green of IHT in Aberdeen, I thank you. Dee (25 year old MIOSH)

Posted By Bill Bircham Hi Anne, I imagine like many of us, I didn’t decide from the outset to make a career in H&S. Started out as junior clerk in 86 for BR, did a multitude of roles, working around the country and up the ladder, ended up as Station Manager for Intercity Great Western when the industry was privatised. Couple of buyouts later, the then Safety Manager (Wayne – where are you?) left when the pay structure was ‘amended’ to cut the salary bill and he was treated a bit rough. I had a reasonable aptitude for doing the H&S stuff well, seeing it as a necessary evil rather than as an integral part of the job (I had yet to be educated!!) By the time the posting came up permanently, I was bitten, and with the support of my Business Group Manager and the HQ Safety Manager, I was supported through the N. Cert then the old Style Diploma (Ian, Huw – will always be indebted to you both) Just before my final Dip Exam, following another re-org, I took the money and ran, one of the best moves made. Immediately found another position (experienced rail safety staff were – and still are – a bit on thin on the ground – it’s all consultants these days – No offence!) with an Infrastructure Company as a divisional safety manager. This role soon expanded and gave me the chance to learn all about how we build railways to balance my operations experience. This firm was also good to me, and as the role expanded, supplemented my H&S with QA & Environmental qualifications (John, Francis – still going strong I see – give my regards to Richard!). I stayed with this firm up until about 3 yrs ago, during which time I wangled my way up to the top of the HSQE Tree. I was then ‘approached’ re my current employer, London Underground. Initially I wasn’t too keen, and only agreed to go for the interview if it could be done on a day when I was due to pass through London, and could be held 1st thing. To my surprise the answer was yes. Went along, not really fussed about the opportunity, next thing I know I’m in negotiations re the package and then joined them. As anther good employer, they are also supporting my personal and professional development, so who knows what’s next. When I hit 40 perhaps I’ll sit and do some serious thinking about what I do with my ops / eng / safety experience Until then, I’ll just keep being thankful for my good fortune at being in the right place at the right time! R Bill

Posted By Antony Eckersley I used to be an apprentice trained printer and realized that I did not want to be on the shop floor for the rest of my life. So I got a prospectus from Leeds Met University and saw the occupational health and safety degree course. I thought with my experience of industry from the shop floor perspective I may be able to do this. It was one of the biggest decisions I made in my life going from a well paid job to being a student. I found it very hard at first as I had not been in education for seven years so I had to learn how to learn again. Once I had passed my degree course I got a job in a factory as a safety advisor and for the last seven years I have been a health and safety consultant which I enjoy very much. I started in IOSH as GRAD OSH and have been through all the levels up to the new CMIOSH status. I think it is very important that people who want a career in health and safety have worked at the sharp end. This will help them know how a business runs and the position safety should take within the organisation. There is nothing worse than someone who has been on a safety course and does not know how to properly apply safety philosophies for the industry they are assessing. From my experience they just like to quote legislation and tell the business owner you can’t do this or that with out thinking about what they are saying or using any practical approaches. This is the type of person who gives safety a bad name and can cause business owners to ignore any suggested improvements. If approached correctly health and safety is taken seriously by business owners and they tend to act upon practical sensible recommendations. Antony

Posted By steve e ashton From working as a devt chemist in the chemicals industry - A work accident that caused a colleague to lose the sight in one eye and suffer facial disfigurement. It could so easily have been me, I began to take an interest in my own safety - and shortly thereafter, had the opportunity to take an interest in the H&S of others. Twenty five years ago! Steve

Posted By David Onigbanjo After I accepted a job as a multi-disciplined engineer, I was told on my first day, "by the way, you're responsible for H&S". I said I would do it so long as the company trained me properly. That was 1993. My organisation funded me through the Diploma and then an MSc. I enjoyed learning and applying the new skills, and being able to make a difference straight away. It wasn't long before the engineering went out of the window and H&S became my full time job. Regards, Dave O.

Posted By Karen Todd Have an engineering background. Was working as a project manager for a structural steel company, looking at training needs for the guys with a training advisor from CITB. He said that the NEBOSH certificate would be a good course for me to do. I'd never heard of it (yes, really) but it was only £125 one evening a week at the tech and I asked the boss if he'd pay for it. He said, "If you be our H&S officer". Once I got my certificate I knew I wanted to go on and do the diploma and self funded that, and moved into H&S full time. KT

Posted By Ian Jones Having worked as a stunt performer for ten years (live performance and film & TV) and listening to people saying things like “you cannot do that because of health and safety”, I decided to investigate H&S by completing a NEBOSH Cert. Then discovering an enthusiasm for the subject I went on to complete the diploma and gain my MIOSH. The end result is that I got into safety to do more dangerous things………………….safely!

Posted By David P. Johnson An obnoxious employer who had no understanding of the term "employment rights" or "welfare". But it's not just good for getting the wind up people, all though I (and others probably) found this a very satisfying way to gain insight and interest in the field. Dave (all heart) Johnson

Posted By Rakesh Maharaj As a young aeronautical engineer in training (3rd year of my degree), I witnessed a mum-to-be, whilst in her 3rd trimester, fall down a spiral staircase disabling her permanently from the waist down and.... I immediately changed my discipline from AE to H&S and have never since looked back! Regards R

Posted By Jonathan Sandler Please not the (95) next to Franks name is the year I took my NEBOSH Exam and not his age!!!!! Sorry Frank

Posted By Robert K Lewis Surprising perhaps how many of us ended here following the proximity of a major accident. Mine was on June 1st 1974 when one of my friends and I had finished a game of bowls, before the afternoon shift, at 1300. At 1650 he was dead - buried somewhere in a chemical plant explosion. He was dug out 21 days later, I had been standing on top of him for the previous five days and not known it. At that point I decided that there has to be some way in which the lives and limbs of those earning an honest crust could be better protected. I still meet some of the survivors and we still recall what we were doing at the time it occurred. I was 8 miles away when there was a loud noise and bits of plaster were dislodged from the walls of the house I was in. Bob

Posted By Robert K Lewis John We are still part of folklore but increasingly there are people who were not even a twinkle in their father's eye at the time and the lessons are dimmed - Witness the Conocophilips report on the HSE website today - all basic lessons from Nypro. Bob

Posted By Peter Marsh As an ex Fleet Air Arm Armourer of 34 years service, Health and Safety was unheard of in the mid 1960's. But Safety precautions were drilled into us from day one of basic training, and that has always remained with me. It just seemed a natural progression when i left the Navy to go into the Safety Precaution business, (Health and Safety). I now work as a civil servant for the MOD at a very busy Air Station and feel privileged to pass on all my experiences to a new generation of sailors who are very safety aware these days. Promotion prospects for a Chartered Safety and Health Practitioner in the MOD are not good, but the working environment does make up for it. I also do my upmost to help ex service lads who are interested in pursuing a Health and Safety career to get as qualified as they can be, and actually get stuck in and do the job. Peter Marsh. CMIOSH MIExpE MIIRSM DipRSA.

Posted By Michael Nolan The reason I got involved in H&S is simple, I nearly died at work due to a guard failure! 16 years later I’m at CMIOSH, doing H&S part time for my employer as well as other things. Trying to find full time job in manufacturing doing H&S now, no luck as yet but still looking!

Posted By Mike Craven I'm not clever or talented enough to do anything else!!!! Sorry - only joking Like a number of others, I come from a trade union safety rep background. Started with Communication Workers (Post Office) Union in 1987. Had a break from 1991 to 1995 when I was a "full-time union branch secretary" (although I still retained an interest and kept my place on the safety committee. Went back to being the TU safety rep in 1995. At this time, the safety rep position, unlike the branch secretary post, didn't attract full-time secondment, and I spent half my working life carrying out other various Post Office admin and clerical duties. In late 1995, however, a part-time vacancy arose for a"safety officer", working with the Regional Safety Manager. For the next 6 years, I successfully (in my opinion) combined my role as the TU safety rep with the role of part-time safety officer - only once being accused by a particularly militant colleague of "running with the fox, whilst hunting with the hounds"! In 1996, I did my NEBOSH certificate and in 1997 I "hit the jackpot". The Post Office went for Investors in People". What a wonderful thing IIP was!! - suddenly we were awash with money! "Do the diploma Mike? - of course, you go ahead lad" In 2001, having completed the TUC tutors course the previous year, I became involved in the tutoring of TUC Stage 1 and 2 courses, got a place on the Post Office (Counters and Customer Management) national safety committees and did the TU role pretty much full-time. In 2002, I made a major change by leaving my Post office employment after 22 years (man and boy). I had joined the Post Office at 17 and, despite a number of job changes had never sougt or received any form of promotion, but was firmly established in my "comfort zone". Although I had my qualifications and a few bob in redundancy money, I did wonder whether I would ever find another employer, and whether or not I would end up stacking shelves at tesco (with all due respect to Tesco shelf-stackers - my wife is one). Four months later, after enjoying a long holiday, I got a job as Health & Safety Manager at a local Further & Higher education college. For the past couple of years, I have held my current posts as the Health & Safety Manager in a small district council and H&S Adviser to the local Leisure Trust. Sorry to go on, and I can't for the life of me think why anyone should want to read all this, but there are two points I would make. 1) Don't be afraid to leave your comfort zone. I have doubled my gross salary since I left the Post Office three and a half years ago and I wondered at the time, if I was doing the right thing!!! 2) Don't let anyone tell you that you can't get anywhere if you have the "baggage" of having been involved in the trade union - I've always found it to be a major asset and something that many employers welcome. Mike

Posted By Alan Manchester A genuine belief that work should be a means to an end and not an end in itself! Work should enable people to enjoy their lives. I feel that it is tragic when somebody is injured or becomes ill through their work to a degree that affects their ability to enjoy life. However, I find that this principle is often poorly understood. Whilst I have nothing against health promotion activity aimed at allowing people to make informed choices in their personal lives, I do not believe that it is an employers role to try to directly influence behaviour away from work. The role of health and safety professionals should be to to ensure that people are kept healthy so that they can make their own choices. For example, ongoing debates such as calls for employers to introduce drugs testing (where it is not based on a safety case) is actually contrary to the principle because it involves attempting to control peoples choices. Away from principles, the work itself is especially interesting because there is no work place or activity that is not relevant. I struggle to think of a more diverse field.

Posted By Emma Forbes The amazing wage for the little work I have to do. Oh, I wish!!! Just being facetious - bad day. I started with the council dealing with commercial contracts for waste collection and my initial career plan was to start undertaking the work done by the overall manager. So whilst poaching about in his office, offering to take on all sorts of tasks, I came across a little scrap of paper bookmarking a page on a book. This bit of paper was a risk assessment - the only one I had seen at this point (this wasn't 19-canteen, this was only 5 years ago!!). I wanted to expand my knowledge of these lickle risk assessments so put myself forward for IOSH's Managing Safely course. When I completed this course, it horrified me to see what little work we were doing with regards to health and safety so I started including it in my workload. Of course, H&S is hard enough to do stand alone without having to juggle it with something else, so I approached my head of service, threw a hissy fit and they created a post. I now look after 5 sections with approximately 300 manual staff and a dose of admin staff covering Parks, Waste Disposal, Cleansing, Burials - very diverse. Some days I look at the intranet at the vacancies and long to become a dinner lady/lollypop woman as it's too much at times, but then I think that if I didn't do it, no-one would or, it wouldn't be done properly! Can't bring myself to leave all the guys, that I know so well now, in the lurch.

Posted By Roy Smith What lead me into health and safety, I think a large majority of people like myself enter into the field by natural progrestion, I have worked in the oil and gas industry for longer than I care to remember, in the `good old days` in the offshore drill industry safety was just paid lip service it just did not exist.A very serious accident happened in the middle east in which several people died in a short space of time, due to the lack of any safety procedures and planning. This has all changed now Thank God. Upon reaching management level within the offshore industry, I had a pressing feeling that I wanted to prevent personnel from getting injured. This to me and to many of my fellow safety personnel could be called natural progrestion. I then decided to do do something about it, I took the NEBOSH certificate and then attended Nottingham Trent on a part time basis. I am still working in the oil and gas industry and have travelled all over the world doing a job that I would not exchange for any other, passing on your knowledge and experience to others that have never been exposed to health and safety gives the greatest satifaction that you could wish for. The rewards can not be measured in money. Working in developing countries were life has very little cost you can feel that you are making a valuble contribution in preserving lives. You will never know how many injuries you have helped to prevented or lives saved, you can not measure this. I would recommend to any personnel working in the H&S field to consider a career in the oil and gas industry, there is a shortage of people who really do care. The money is good the work locations are sometimes very bad, but the satifaction is great.

Posted By Paul Leadbetter I was a chemist analysing samples from a strange breed called occupational hygienists; at that stage, I hadn't any idea about that discipline but the more I found out the more I decided that it sounded a lot more interesting than analysing the samples. I was given the opportunity to retrain as a hygienist (nearly 20 years ago, now) and then moved into consultancy. The consultancy decided that it was easier to sell the skills of safety advisors so put me through the NEBOSH Cert and Diploma and here I am CMIOSH and LFOH (and self-employed and loving it). Paul Leadbetter

Posted By fats van den raad Because I was off sick one day!!!! That's the genuine truth. I took a day off sick and it just happened to be the day my colleagues in the work shop decided to elect someone into the vacant post of shop steward/safety rep. I returned the following day and found myself elected, because I was not there to defend myself. This lead to EETPU shop steward and safety rep training, and I developed an unhealthy liking for this health and safety lark. Convinced management that I should go on the NEBOSH Cert course (the exclusive domain of managers up to then) and then managed to wangle myself out of the workshop and into H&S role for about 50% of the time. (using dubious arguments such as "you spend all this money on sending me on a NEBOSH Cert course, and now you dont want me to use it!!!) Got together with full time Safety adviser and together we managed to convince powers holding purse strings that diploma course must be done. Got that (first time, thank god) and been learning and applying the trade since.