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6.86 per hour for fire, health and safety officer
Rank: Forum user 
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is this what its coming to???
a large famous shopping company "not just any shopping company" are advertising for a fire, health and safety officer for an hourly rate of 6.86 per hour.
think i might stop college and try and do something else
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Rank: Forum user
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Pete - don't give upon college! That was my previous job for quite a few years (and to be fair, I learned a heck of a lot at that particular coal face!). The role is in-store and the training provided is level 2 (lower then the NEBSOH Cert). It's the equivalent of a TU safety rep. I wouldn't panic or give just yet :-)
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Yes - I think this is where things are going. Note the advert does not necessarily say full time (or 37 hours), but it does list.
Education
There are many qualifications one can pursue to become a Health & Safety Officer. These qualifications include:
• NVQ
• NEBOSH
• British Safety Council (BSC)
• BSc
• Masters
Health and Safety is a requirement and concern in every industry; therefore you will find these professionals having an array of backgrounds, mainly from these industries:
• Construction
• Manufacturing
• Engineering
• Scientific
Health & Safety Officers study Occupational Health and Safety Practice, Environmental Management, Fire Safety, Construction Safety and Risk Management.
All this for just over £13k, bargain, but for those desperate to get some experience a foot in the door (if you can get past the experience they seem to be looking for).
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Rank: Super forum user
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Unfortunately it's supply and demand.
Is it underpaid? Some would argue yes, otherwise would argue it's better than nothing! The latter of the 2 groups therefore fulfil the demand and companies know this. Who can blame a commercial organisation for trying to streamline their costs as best as possible?
Pay rates will soon rise when no-one suitably qualified / experienced applies for such positions, but until that time (obviously dependant on the availability of other means to make money in the field) such positions and pay rates will continue to be offered.
No-one is forced to apply / take on the role and everyone is in different position.
Sometimes I get the feeling organisations are bashed for advertising OSH jobs in the lower pay ranges, often unduly.
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Rank: Forum user
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The pay seems to be incredibly low in comparison to the job title, however in the current employment environment it could be a great start for somebody with a General Certificate, little experience and with limited outgoings (e.g. living with parents).
Good luck to anybody who goes for it.
D.
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Rank: Forum user
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Hello All
I totally agree, that pay rate is shocking. What's the point all that studying and end up with a pay packet like that.
I'm back on the tools Offshore as the money in the Safety game is getting worse.
I earn a lot more on the tools right now with least amount of hassle, anyway that's just my situation and would be interested if any more are in the same boat. Cheers.
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Rank: Super forum user
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I used to earn that doing bar work......many years ago!
As once said to me, you can tell a company's commitment to H&S based on the car the H&S Manager drives. Based on this offering, I'd suggest buying a good bicycle lock!
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Rank: Super forum user
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Is it a PT position or full? I currently work in retail and the fact is its not one of the traditional high paid sectors for safety but this does seem incredibly low….. Sales staff in the company would earn more than this!!!!!
SP900308 - I recon you have the basis of a good Friday posting there with that car comment? I like that?
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Rank: Super forum user
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It's not uncommon for graduates of any discipline to start on such a salary. You have to start at the bottom and work your way up. That's life. Most of us have had to do it at some point.
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Rank: Forum user
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it says the job is full time 37 hours perm, training will be provided,
job description below:
To assist the store manager in promoting and improving the fire, health and safety culture in store. Ensuring a considerably safe, secure and healthy environment for all staff. Full training provided.
I agree with some of the comments that people need to start somewhere and there may be chances of promotion but the street scene operatives (bin men and street sweepers) in my area are paid about £8 an hour, my other half is a part time cleaning supervisor for the nhs and is paid between £12-15 an hour and she has only been doing it for 6 months.
think i am going to carry on with college to keep the brain cells ticking until i find something i want to do
pete
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Rank: Super forum user
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Seems to me to be on the high side for a trainee!
Notwithstanding the above go for it and learn your trade. In my view there are far too many safety bods with degrees and no "hands on real world" experience. Employers have caught on and as posted elsewhere some safety bods have held the line with regards to salary
Some time ago our (I was contracted to) company advertised for a H&S Co-ordinator /Admin Assistant. It was a lowly position. At least 50 applicants submitted upon which 6 were short listed. One candidate answered upon salary expectations - £70,000 plus enhanced benefits. We appointed a chap from the tools trades paid for him for a NGC . It was a wise and profitable move as he is still with us.
If it is any consolation to you my starting salary (1st job) was £19.00 PER MONTH minimum 11 hrs per day 7 days per week.
Jon
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Rank: Forum user
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have to agree with Clairel and John
. Every trainee or apprentice has to start from the ground up including wages.
With the amount of people in the careers forum posting looking for 1st step into safety , trainee availability , no experience and no way to get it Catch 22 situations , im sure there is a lot of people who would grab the opportunity .
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Rank: Super forum user
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I'm not seeing the words 'graduate', trainee, or 'start from the ground up' in the original post.
Am I missing something?
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Rank: Super forum user 
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They are offering a job to someone with no experience & no quals
It appears they will provide training
Seems very good to me for the right person
The days when you can do a 12 day NGC course and land a H&S job are gone.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Ok, I clearly am missing something.... is this in the SHP?
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Rank: Super forum user
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If I was unemployed, then yes I would take the job if nothing else was available, better than dole money
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Rank: Super forum user
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it says the job is full time 37 hours perm, training will be provided, job description below:
To assist the store manager in promoting and improving the fire, health and safety culture in store. Ensuring a considerably safe, secure and healthy environment for all staff. Full training provided.
Above posted by cbrpete.
Now we have this information it completely changes the topic IMO - I quote - support the store manager - this appears a safety role in one single store - this is a massive investment in safety by the company - yes it may be some type of superstore or such…………………. I don’t know…………….
No retailer I am aware of would place this level of support into one store unit……………..
Given the fact the industry is losing regulators and competent persons - I think we all should applaud the introduction of this role - given these circumstances I'll feel it’s a fantastic opportunity to get a foot in.
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Rank: Forum user
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To Clarify,
This post is NOT fulltime f,h&s....it will be from between 6 hours (small store) to 37.5 (very large store)
training is in house, no NEBOSH etc...fire training is by a brigade....if you are in a small store, you willhave additional duties (this is retail remember!!) there is a high turnover for this role..
I was a F,H &S officer for this company...
Glad to get out!
HB
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Rank: Super forum user
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Sorry my earlier post #3 was incorrect, I hadn't realised the web site misdirected me to a different job.
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Rank: Forum user
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Our village gardener charges £13 per hour and appears to be never short of work (when the weather is kind to him of course!).
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Rank: New forum user
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To me, taking this job would be a 'strategic' decision. If it was the only way to get experience in the h&s field, then I might bite the bullet.
However, I'd have to be in a very strong financial position, with a good idea/plan of where I wanted to be and a timescale to work towards.
Bearing in mind the costs that can be incurred through accidents, etc, such a low wage is a poor investment by the company in h&s.
At a time when everything mortages,food, petrol, etc, is becoming more and more expensive how can someone be expected to survive on such a low wage.
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Rank: Forum user
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I'm registered with most job sites, and I'm on LinkedIn, receive SHP etc etc, and I cannot find this job anywhere. Can anyone provide a link?
I'm not sure where the OP is based, so maybe that's why I've not seen this, as it's not in or near my catchment area.
Sure, the rate is low, but it's a buyer's market right now.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Rank: Forum user
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Ah, Surrey, that would explain why it wasn't on my radar.
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Rank: New forum user
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I agree with previous posts that it is not uncommon for graduates to start on such a salary to gain workplace experience and then work up. My son is doing just that in his chosen career for the next year (he is actually doing it for expenses only as opposed to a salary), but he believes the exprience will help him advance later, and we have been recruiting for a trainee H&S graduate for a similar salary. (Admittedly it is not Surrey but the Midlands).
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Rank: New forum user
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I spent three and a half years at a Distribution Warehouse earning £16500 p.a. as the H&S Advisor which included travelling to other sites around the country and in the Republic of Ireland. A lot of H&S professionals would consider this to be low paid for the work carried out but I enjoyed the role and learnt a hell of a lot.
The site closed last year as the company went third party for their distribution requirements. All staff including myself were made redundant and it has been a struggle to find employment.
Not surprisingly the third party option didn't work for the company and they have decided to re-open the distribution side of the business and initially advertised my old position at twice the rate I was paid!
Being unemployed at the moment, having worked various minimum wage roles over the last twelve months, I would welcome the opportunity to be paid for a role which I enjoy regardless of the pay scale. Anything is better than JSA.
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Rank: Forum user
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I would take that job if I was looking to get my foot in the door. I'd milk all the experience and practical knowledge I could out of it, whilst furiously applying for better paying ones.
Retail is quite low risk, so the pay will reflect that I guess.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Zeb wrote:
Retail is quite low risk, so the pay will reflect that I guess.
I'm not sure the level or risk is the main decider, role and responsibility should be the key factor! Whilst the safety risk is generally deemed low, the business risk / liability in terms of potential enforcement / civil claims etc. is quite significant therefore a professional can make a big difference to the business's bottom line if in the right position.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Spot on Jake.
Don’t ever apply for a job in a large retailer Zeb thinking all you’ll be doing is watching out for shopping trolleys!
What about the fleet (Occupational Road Risk)
The rest of the supply chain DC’ etc
The new builds (CDM and construction)
The refresh stores (as above and other risks such as ACM Management)
Facilities management (millions of sq feet of roof space to maintain) additionally all the other controls around engaging 100’s of contractors in varying trades and disciplines
Fire safety (the biggest risk)
You won’t ever work in any other industry where you exposed to the level enforcement activity as what you are in retail.
You have a real opportunity to make a difference in a large retailer – trust me.
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Rank: Forum user
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I worked in retail for many years. The low risk comment referred to the perception of the bosses as to how much to pay rather than my own opinions.
I know all too well the pitfalls one can face in that industry!
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Rank: Super forum user
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Zeb wrote:I worked in retail for many years. The low risk comment referred to the perception of the bosses as to how much to pay rather than my own opinions. Interesting, not my experience thus far. Though granted the company I work for don't generally follow the industry norms in many respect! Maybe I'm lucky! There's often a bit of banter within the floor about who offers the greatest value, the operational teams citing productivity increases, the sales teams citing increased turnover, for us it's relatviley easy to eclipse these figures with examples of where, had our policies and procedurs not been followed (or indeed if something has gone wrong and we've completed a good damage limitation excercies) that we offer excellent net value to the business. Alot of the time we save their backside when they don't fully think through a proposal!! One of my pet hobbies :-)
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Rank: Forum user
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Sounds like your place has a better culture than mine did. Lucky you!
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Rank: New forum user
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Hi all,
I applied for this position a couple of weeks ago. Since then have been trying to follow-up and speak to the person mentioned in the advert - didn't succeed.
And then yesterday morning I had a phone call from the same person only to hear that "the position/role does not exist any more". May be some existing employee took it up as an added responsibility or they outsourced the function to consultants or I don't know what, but it simply "does not exist any more" - that's what I heard.
The role is based in the same town where I live. It seemed to me that it was a good opportunity given my current situation - at least a place to start. Didn't work out and I feel absolutely gutted.
Vivek
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Rank: Forum user
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Tell me where it is, and I will ask my Mrs and Kids not to go there, any company who asks for a safety guy who has control of Fire Safety, paying that , will take anyone on. personally where fire is concerned, I hope they get a visit from the Fire Bobbies, maybe thats the kick they need..
Someone in the first part of this thread said it was a level 2 entry job, I hope the manager has a minimum of Level 3NVQ, because they cover it.
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Rank: Forum user
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Qualifications does not always give a guarantee on competence, I worked with a fire safety guy with no known H&S qualifications but was a retained fire fighter and an excellent source of knowledge and expertise. Well known to the local authority who had nothing but respect for him.
I think the fire safety in this contect will be checks etc, surely most companies leave this to general managers and others?
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