Well I’m still looking for that break into full time health and safety. I’ve signed up to agencies, attend IOSH meetings for networking opportunities (even a member of a local health and safety association), advertised on this site (thank you to all who have sent me contacts in the past – just didn’t get lucky), and signed up for LinkedIn.

I passed the NEBOSH Diploma last year and I am doing my IPD for CMIOSH. I have had a couple of helpful IOSH members review my CV (Many thanks for that) and alter it to suit any application. I work for a charity as a volunteer health and safety advisor as my current role is airfield fire and rescue so not industry specific, as ex-military but still working within it (for how much longer I and my colleagues don’t know).

So any other suggestions would be welcome.

Thanks Bob

I think also I should widen my options as I do have other skills (it’s also very depressing reading some of the other posts). Still the charity work will keep me involved and I’m not unemployed yet. Just have to wait and see and knock on a few doors, network, etc.

Chris you have a PM

Firestar967

I saw your badge on the forum, I take it your are ex-RAF Crash Rescue, me too. Have you considered looking abroad, working in Afghanistan, maybe at Kandahar airbase, I know they are looking for experienced fire safety persons, not necessarily operational on the crash combine. It is a Canadian based operation inside the wire, paying decent tax free wedge and home every 12 weeks for a month.

May get you on the career path you never know

best of luck

Hi Gahan

Well aware of Kandahar and have contacts there, even wrote a bit of training software for their fire crews as a favour to a colleague. I am ‘operational’ and it is a consideration if things do not work out here.

Problem is I worked hard for my health and safety diploma but have other skills and experience in other areas.

Should I stay or should I go now...?

It is my view that the health and safety "industry" has now almost ceased. The reasons for this are many fold including over-subscription, a monstrous reduction of our manufacturing industry, a serious decline in construction and heavy engineering and an almost insatiable impulse to get on the H&S ladder.

The present government thinking is to hammer home the de-regulation mantry, cut burdens (their words - not mine) on business, curb the powers of the remaining Inspectors and cull HSE Advisors and Consultants.

Employers want more than just another H&S body on the payroll. The smart practitioner has to offer, and be able to produce more - such as HR, QA and Environmental input. Simple NEBOSH and IOSH courses are no longer sufficient for the bigger employers. The smaller ones are cash conscious.

This is not the time to consider H&S as a career or as an income stream. My advice would be to abandon H&S aspirations and consider other work activities and enrol on an MBA degree from a good University.

Jon

Thats the way it is my friend. Good luck!

It’s also doesn’t help that you used to have H&S manager 1 looking after site A,B & C and H&S manager 2 looking after D,E,F & G to lose manager 1 and let manager 2 become area manager for A to G. Just paste some policy in to cover the gaps!