Posted By Clerissa
Dear Sirs

I have just graduated with a degree in Physics and Chemisty from Durham University.

I am looking for a position as a trainee inspector where I can train in health and safety within a company. I am looking to work anywhere in the midlands or further north in the country.

Could you possibly advise me as to which companies recruit people like myself and how I should go about applying for such vacancies or any other taining schemes.

Your sincerely
Clerissa Leney

Posted By MT
Is it an inspector or advisor/manager you want to become?

If it's an inspector, then you'd either need to start with the HSE as a graduate, which is highly unlikely as they are in the process of shedding yet more staff, and recruitment is on hold.
Or you could work for a local authority like me, however to get the job, you'd need H&S qualifications already.

Posted By MT
Depends - you could take either approach. I started working in the private sector in a role unrelated to H&S. I gradually took on responsibility for H&S within the company, and they paid for my courses. Eventually, I left to take up my current post within an LA as an authorised officer, or in other words an inspector working for an LA.

LAs have two ways of getting H&S inspectors - one is Environmental Health Officers. By virtue of their degree and their subsequent training and professional exams, they are authorised under HSAW Act as inspectors. LAs may also employ other persons who may be authorised under the HSAW Act, for example officers like myself, who have H&S experience already and are further trained by the LA until they are deemed competent.

You could scout around for companies without any H&S dept, take a job with them which isn't necessarily H&S based, but volunteer to take on the H&S function. That's what I did - volunteered to take it on, on top of my existing duties, as I knew it would benefit me in the long run. You could contact your local authority, ask if they employ H&S officers, and ask what qualifications they would be looking for to consider you for interview. That should help you decide what courses you should be looking at. Also, it will make sure you don't spend a great deal of time and money on courses which aren't necessarily right for the job. The NEBOSH Diploma for example is an excellent qualification, but LAs wouldn't necessarily want their officers to have it - there are far more job specific courses such as the NVQ Level 5 in H&S Regulation which are applicable to the job and would probably be provided by the LA.