Posted By dave Tierney Same as a number of other members really. Started out as a NUPE shop steward and safety rep in 1979. I worked in Local Government in the Waste Management sector. I attended numerous H&S courses at the TUC centre in Crouch End London. The TUC ran loads of H&S courses in the late eighties early nineties when the six-pack came out and I attended them all. Took a major TU role in undertaking risk assessments for all disciplines within the Waste Management sector. IT was during this time I decided to take a more formal approach to my qualifications and was successful in completing the Certificate in H&S in November 1996. Having this qualification and my experience enabled me to get my first formal H&S post in the Social Care Department, this was as a H&S trainer, I developed designed and delivered training in Manual Handling, Food Hygiene, Fire Safety, First Aid (first Local Authority to be accredited by the HSE to deliver the First Aid at Work) I delivered the training for about five years during which time obtained the Cert Ed Post 16 qualification. I was elected as the UNISON branch H&S officer in 1998; this enabled me to have a wider role in H&S. I became involved in all areas of H&S from Social Care, Education, Environment, leisure and Grounds Maintenance; I also undertook the IOSH branch route to become a Tech SP. In 2001, I applied for and was successful in becoming the H&S safety Officer within the Housing Department. After about two years in this position, I started completing a NVQ4 in H&S and in 2003; I became a member of IOSH (now CMIOSH). This year due to the Housing Stock being transferred away from local Government, I have become the H&S Manager for one of the largest registered social landlords in the UK with 32,000+ housing stock. I owe where I am today to the trade union movement, it provided me with the opportunity to become involved with H&S at the grass root level. It also gave me the confidence to progress my career in the field of H&S. It may have taken me 17 years to get a step on the H&S career ladder, but I believe the apprenticeship I served for those 17 years has provided me with the skills, knowledge and understanding of H&S in a variety of disciplines at grass root level. Dave T

Posted By Derrick Robinson Back in the late 80s I was working in purchasing and I was part of a team trying to implement these new fangled COSHH regulations. After a few weeks of non productive meetings I made the mistake of saying that we were never going to get anywhere unless 1 person took the job on, my colleagues rapidly pushed their paperwork across the table and ran like ****. After that along came the Environmental Protection Act and the requirement to register the process and that came my way because "its a bit like COSHH" Setting up and running an Environmental Management System and taking the company through ISO 14001 remained a second job for the next 10 years, along the way I acquired AIEMA qualification. When the company decided to go also for BS 18001 accreditation I was asked to move over full time to what had by then become a properly staffed H and S department, as I had the management systems experience from my work on 14001. I learnt the safety side on the job, doing first NVQ 3, then NVQ4 and lots of short courses. I am now MIOSH and hoping to become CMIOSH when I complete my first CPD cycle in Jan 07. So I have gone round full circle, after about 16 years I am back doing COSHH assessments, amongst many other things.

Posted By Geoff S Bottomley I was told that Safety was only as good as the weakest link. I didn't wont to be the weakest link. I am now H & S manager Construction awaiting Dip 2 results.

Posted By Liam Mc Conalogue Many many years ago as an ex-commercial fisherman I witnessed an accident which resulted in a deckhand sufferring horrendous crushing injuries all because an ignorant skipper kept shouting at the young man to work harder. I then got into construction and saw some risky tasks being performed by operatives all because their boss was giving them hell. I decided H&S was the best route to go if I was going to ATTEMPT to change attitudes, which I have to say can sometimes be an extremely difficult task indeed, but highly rewarding when success in achieved. Liam

Posted By Gordon Thelwell A good friend of mine was killed whilst at work. I now work in the sector where he died.

Posted By rory patrick reed I served in the Royal Navy for over 19 years and sought a different career path. I attended a variety of resettlement information days and whilst attending one in Plymouth felt that the speakers where likeable; interesting and passionate. It lit a beacon inside and subsequently applied for a 6 week safety management course in Plymouth. Whilst on the course I applied for my first full time health and safety post in Glasgow and was successful...... I am now a chartered OHSP working as the Head of Corporate Responsibility for the Scottish Executive.

Posted By Simon Tam God led me to health and safety! Oop... safety and health. Personally, I have a clear vision and mission that safety and health profession is the most meaningful profession on earth, we act like angels to guard our colleagues against evil things, to forsee dangers before they become a source of threats and to remind "people" the true meaning of quality and purposive "life"! Simon Tam

Posted By Andrew Robertson-Böber After studying Classics it occurred to me that there was no real career in having a succinct knowledge of Latin prose praising the virtues of bestiality. Therefore I set out in my first job to re-train myself in H&S. How this happened I cannot be entirely sure. I suppose it was something I recognized as a void within the standard ops the public venue I worked in and the realization that what needed to be implemented wasn't all that diff. Over the years I expanded on this knowledge base, undertaking both didactic and non-didactic forms of training, before settling into a full-time career in H&S. What particular interested me to it was the specialist fields, the more one studies something from a general premise then the more one find specifics fields of interest. In my own case this has taken me into the study of infectious diseases, more precisely zoonoses. AJRB CMIOSH

Posted By phillip baker Having worked as a site operative and being told you cant! it`s not legally, and all the other phrases people use who dont undestand good practice or current legislation, i decided to enroll on the road to NEBOSH and have not looked back. Now currently working as a site safety advisor for the same organisation providing the correct advice and guidance.

Posted By Glyn Atkinson From apprenticeship days in 1970 onwards, working for a major fertilizer factory at Immingham, in Lincolnshire, the watchword was always - work safely, this plant can bite you! Wear your PPE at all times - it becomes second nature then. Coming out of my time - Flixborough happened- thirty miles away, and the shock wave hit a huge shop window and deflected nearly nine inches in the centre before shattering, luckily no one was anywhere near it ! Then , years of contracting at various firms, years of working to BS and ISO standards, calibrating instrumentation, and working in intrinsically safe environments on explosion proof zoned equipment. Then, one day - the 60 watt light bulb lit up, in the shape of John Gilbertson of Key, Health and Safety. Safety information to a fledgling workshop safety representative in a clear, concise, understandable manner and like the Christians who discover God in a flash.... I was bitten by the bug to learn more.... and to try to become someone working in a similar style. Cast off those overalls before you're 45 and go for the safety career - you're not stupid, just need the rest of a practical education in certain areas to enhance your current knowledge! Less than seven years and several safety courses and exams later, here I am at Chartered status, amongst the professionals, letters behind my name, proud of my achievements, and earning far more than in a dead end trade job... actually valued for what I produce each day, and on first name terms with the local HSE inspector, working with, not fighting against them, hopefully to make the right decision or choice to prevent accidents or incidents, but knowing that help in many technical forms is to hand for situations where I am not the "know it all ". Am I still learning?.... of course, because health and safety is brilliant in theory until people are introduced into the equation. The degree with no experience of working life and reactions of the working populace is an empty qualification , in my very humble opinion. You need to equate problems with viable solutions to try and save that director's pound, and enhance a safe working environment for the shop floor. That's where the "life experience" comes into practical play and ideas from previous employments can be used or doctored to suit the present situation to resolve your current problem. Your past helps the present and shapes your future, use all experiences and move forward, learning more as you go!

Posted By Sarah Darlington I returned to work part time after having children doing project work. The company was sold at an American firm who carried out SHE surveys. When the results came in I was asked to review and fix!! Requested training from the company and did my NEBOSH Certificate, then NEBOSH Dip 1. 11 years later worked in a variety of industries and eventually found a firm to fund the rest of my qualification, which of course is now NEBOSH Level 6. Enjoy the variety in the role but sometimes find it frustating... Sarah

Posted By AMJAD AL ATA Hi Anne, My good destiny led me to this profession. I graduated in 1999 as electrical engineer, worked (3 years) in country (home) where the Health & safety = big zero, after that i travlled to UAE looking for good future, i entered UAE on 2002 (vist visa/3 months) looking for electrical engineering related job, my visa finished & i did not rturned home, after other 4 unlegal stay in UAE someone call me for interview (start point) the position was safety engineer, i fialed then they offered me a safety inspector position with low grade & poor pay, I accepted. In 2004 i get a crtified industrial hygiene manager certificate (US/Distance learning), now doing NEBOSH Cert (Next March Exam) (Distance learning). I think & i am sure that there is no profession that will satisfy my needs as this one (H&S). My Road Map (six years): 1- Certified fire protection specialist (NFPA) 2- NEBOSH Dip. Level 6. 3- MSc in OHS (UK). isn't it the good fate? Regards Amjad

Posted By colin I was a self-employed subbie, Nullifire applicator and site foreman/painter, While I was recovering from a back operation, I happened to stumble on a website chat-forum called health and safety for beginners, had a read through the site and got interested in the subject. I self-funded the Nebosh gen cert and C&G 7302 teaching cert, became a moderator on HSFB and I'm now looking for my first health and safety job and hopefully start a level 6 H+S qualification. It's a fascinating subject and I know from personal experience how an injury at work affects not only yourself but your family. mentally, physically and financially. Colin