Hi all I am just in the throws of yes writing my own job description! a couple of questions I need to answer are: Describe the decision making in this role? Why does your job exist? I have my own answers... What are your thoughts many thanks?

That's what construction does for you.

It does beg the question why are you writing your own job description? Did your employer have a H&S professional prior to you?

Your job exists because your company has a moral and legal duty to ensure the safety of its employees, and the safety of any other person who is affected by what it does, you are there to advise so they can do this. And to keep the managers and directors out of jail! But you can't put that bit in. I am presuming you are there as an adviser. As for decisions; not sure what your remit is within the company. Do you have to make any at the moment?

and to rename your post to "Profit Prevention Officer"

Very Good

Good one.

A word of caution, the book mentioned by Kieran has a huge flaw - it makes little or no reference to 'occupational health' and even repeatedly refers to the safety professional. In that very important aspect it is very behind the times. I was surprised that IOSH have put their seal of approval to it given the increasing importance rightly placed on the 'health' part of our role.

What 'turkee' refers to as a 'huge flaw' and 'completely behind the times' in 'Be the Best' can equally be interpreted as a partial limitation and 'way ahead of the standarrd of most OSH practitioners'. It's true that Byrne probably slips up with the expression 'safety professional'. A careful unbiased reading will also reveal that he explicitly refers to 'occupational health' numerous times. He also emhasises consistently how oversight of employee health is best divided across the senior management team members so that OSH leaders ADD VALUE by ensuring health and safety are given due priority funding and is delivered. 19th and 20th century disputes over territory and labels, Byrne argues, are best left to those unwilling or unable to add value through what he calls 'widening the profit margins' through OSH design and delivery. Bearing in mind the question raised on this thread, 'turkee's observation is exactly what Byrne is challenging: the 'silo' approach that is, at best, pre-1974.