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mike328  
#1 Posted : 27 January 2010 11:19:20(UTC)
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Guest

Hi all I'd be intersted in hearing your opinion on the difference between a H&S Manager and an Advisor regards
RayRapp  
#2 Posted : 27 January 2010 11:24:43(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
RayRapp

mike It should be the pay, but looking at the jobs in SHP you often can't tell the difference.
Andy Petrie  
#3 Posted : 27 January 2010 11:37:10(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Andy Petrie

An advisor gives safety advice to others (e.g. site managers) who take a decision as to whether they impliment that advice. A Manager makes the decision to impliment and tells others to do it. At least that's what would happen in an ideal world.
Alex Petrie  
#4 Posted : 27 January 2010 11:41:01(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Alex Petrie

Some (project) managers will see a difference, especially when it comes to an enforcement role. It may be viewed that an 'advisor' does not have the same level of authority when it comes to requiring actions to be carried out. However I appreciate that will really depend on the organisation.
luke590  
#5 Posted : 27 January 2010 11:43:38(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
luke590

The way i see it... Manager - will usually have either control of a safety budget or have be able to make direct decisions on matters of Health & Safety without too much resistance... An advisor, will have to run decisions, proposals for courses etc via someone else (MD, Senior manager) and will not generally have a direct influence on matters of safety. (i.e. needs the guys to go on a work at height course, but can only advise this to the MD... MD can still say he's not going to pay for it etc...) An advisor advises.... a manager manages simples. :P A few H&S Managers tend to be Advisors with more pay but same amount of control...
jwk  
#6 Posted : 27 January 2010 11:54:59(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
jwk

Sometimes a Manager will manage a team of Advisors, John
donnaf  
#7 Posted : 27 January 2010 12:01:11(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
donnaf

Basic definition for manager is someone who controls resources and expenditures Basic definition for advisor is an expert who gives advice Interestingly within the industry I am involved in we are starting to see people moving away from the term of Advisor in relation to safety as it has connotations of people saying and not actually doing................ Any roles I am scoping out with Clients in relation to HSE where the person isn't in charge of a team and is the sole person to get on with it I tend to use Co-ordinator as the title. Just to confuse things!! Best Regards - Donna
Fraser38932  
#8 Posted : 27 January 2010 14:31:46(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Fraser38932

In my experience H & S Manager tends to manage a team of safety advisors / have budgetory responsibilities / perhaps lead on accident investigation. Usually paid more for more responsibility. Less likely to be fired due to any organisational downturn. H & S Advisor tends to offer h & s advice, but has the power to stop work if there is an imminent / immediate risk to employee / visitor / resident health and safety / deliver internal health and safety courses / recommend suitable external h & s courses to either h & s manager or management.Usually paid less but more likely to be fired due to any economic downturn. John
Julian  
#9 Posted : 27 January 2010 16:39:41(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Julian

In some organisations its not so much the title you have, if you are responsible for the H&S for the company whether you are called an Advisor or Manager means little. You still manage h&s on a daily basis yet are qualified to advise the company (i.e up line) on legislative matters when it comes to policies and procedures etc. In addition, sometimes it depends on where you sit within your line management. What I'm saying is; It depends on the culture within the organisation, some companies prefer not to use manager titles for some roles because of corporate governance, responsibilities (particularly people management) and benefits and the structure only allows for so many and therefore use the term Advisor to give that person a title that still carries the same credibility as manager for the responsibilities.
jay  
#10 Posted : 27 January 2010 17:32:46(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
jay

In my organisation, the term "manager" is only used when there are significant resources to manage, i.e. teams, budgets, equpment etc. For HSEQ advisory/co-ordination roles, the preference is for the term Co-ordinator, even when the salary is the region of £ 40K. The term co-ordinator in UK can be misleading as it is also used instead of adminstrator type roles and usually a lower salary level. For my current job, my employer had a very poor response when the job was advertised initially in the SHP as the term co-ordinator was used and there was no indication of approximate salary level. In fact I did not even respond to it at that time, but did so some 5 month later when an opening was included in the careers forum! Incidently, I do not believe that a manager's title will be of advantage compared to that of an Advisor when it comes to redundancies, at least in the private sector. It is the contribution that the role makes in terms of value for money that probably counts.
pete48  
#11 Posted : 27 January 2010 19:44:53(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
pete48

One is spelt "manager" and the other "adviser". What defines the job is the job description/responsibilities and that scores the points for salaries etc. My own favourite job titles from my past. Safety Systems Manager, shortened to..? And General Operations Director, shortened to.....? There are as many perceptions as to what any particular job title means or the image it conveys as there are job titles.
Steve Sedgwick  
#12 Posted : 27 January 2010 20:27:32(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Steve Sedgwick

Jay has the right answer regards Steve
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