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Chuks  
#1 Posted : 11 November 2012 17:52:03(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Chuks

Folks,

Please can someone explain to me what is the difference between:

A Health & Safety Officer,
A Health & Safety Coordinator,
A Health & Safety Advisor,
A Health and Safety Coach and
A Health & Safety Manager?

as I have found these confusing in a few job adverts _Chuks.
Canopener  
#2 Posted : 11 November 2012 20:23:36(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Canopener

The reality is that there may be no difference between hem. The job title is all but meaningless, it is the Job Description that will normally define the roles and responsibilities etc.

I wouldn't read too much into a title.
Jake  
#3 Posted : 12 November 2012 08:08:38(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Jake

Agree with canopener, my Job title doesn't even have the words "Health and Safety" in it!
damelcfc  
#4 Posted : 12 November 2012 08:30:14(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
damelcfc

Very, very, very loosely speaking to answer your question, with the usual 'there will be plenty out of this scope' disclaimer;

Co-ordinator usually admin/systems based reports to a Manager
Officer next up the hierarchy
Coach suggests training
Manager will as title suggests usually manage people or budgets / both etc etc
Many consultants will in effect be advisors as that is the service they are offering

It works both ways as I say, some Managers actually 'manage' nothing at all - its just over time the name has stuck within that business sector - they would in reality be more of an advisor.

Very good piece in SHP this month (November) pages 39-42 (40 to be specific) looks at a typical hierarchy.
KieranD  
#5 Posted : 13 November 2012 12:39:11(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
KieranD

Job titles are expressions of the culture of an organisation.

Read 'Software of the Mind' by Geert Hofstede, Sage Publications. You can apply the 5 dimensions of culture he extracts from his multi-cultural research to figure out what a job title probably means in a specific context - though it may differ in the same company in a different country and/or a different time period. People are cultural as well as physical animals.
Chuks  
#6 Posted : 17 November 2012 12:14:02(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Chuks

thanks everyone for your responses, they are all good and has helped to shed more light into this area.
Franky  
#7 Posted : 07 December 2012 22:27:54(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Franky

They are all the same Chuks. In my last company which I incidently left six weeks ago, they had Health and Safety Advisors, Senior Health and Safety Advisors, Project Health and Safety Advisors and a Company Health and Safety Manager.

Further to the above some of the Safety Advisors in the company were more qualified and expernenced that the Senior Safety Advisors / Managers. Titles changed as per contract and Clients requirements. On the Crossrail contract they required Project Health and Safety Managers and to satisfy the client all our company did was to change the job titles to secure contracts, but still on the companys books as an Advisor.

I did a bit of research on the competencies of our companys safety people and found a couple were not even qualified, excuse given was that they had Grandfathers rights to practice. Another employees who was a Site Agent and a buddy of one of the Senior Project Managers was pushed through a fast track NVQ course then once he got his NVQ they gave him a heavy Civil Engineering region (London) to look after. Barely got his NVQ then let loose without any experience, makes me shudder. Titles don't mean a twoddle Chuck so long as you are qualified and experienced (competent) to practice. That's all that counts at the end of the day. Good luck and all the best to you.
markr  
#8 Posted : 12 December 2012 16:16:18(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
markr

chucks, just to add, although I agree with everyones post, if the individual went to court then the title of that individual would come under scrutiny and Advisor only has to provide the correct advice therfore little responsibility, I belive the title officer adds more responsibility and Manager well you get the picture, most companies miss this point by a mile and they don't understand that diffrent titles mean diffrent levels of responsibility, some of the other titles like coach are just made up, but look into your T&C's when offered a post, that's what you have to know, what that perticular company expects!
pl53  
#9 Posted : 12 December 2012 16:41:55(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
pl53

Titles are what companies give to people, or people give themselves, to allow them to feel more important (or less important) than someone else. For an organisation where there is only one person undertaking a health and safety role they are meaningless.
David68  
#10 Posted : 14 December 2012 19:57:11(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
David68

Have to agree, titles are often meaningless. I am the H&S Manager, Coordinator, Advisor depending on who my manager is introducing me to. I call myself Dave it is much easier
Chuks  
#11 Posted : 16 December 2012 21:09:06(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Chuks

Thanks every1 for your wonderful contributions. surely it has been a very lively debate!_Chuks
RayRapp  
#12 Posted : 22 December 2012 12:40:07(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
RayRapp

Finally, I have held the titles of Assurance Engineer, HSQE Adviser, H&S Manager and Consultant...as far as I am concerend you can call me what you like - just don't call me early in the morning. :)

ps I always describe myself as a Health and Safety Practitioner.

Ray
Zimmy  
#13 Posted : 07 January 2013 19:46:23(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Zimmy

Mine is Health and Safety Supervisor. I think the 'Practitioner' is the best one. Rob Monday to Thursday and on a sunny Friday 'Tall' Julie ;-)
John M  
#14 Posted : 07 January 2013 20:24:39(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
John M

The simple answer is ££££££s
Jon
CliveLowery  
#15 Posted : 07 January 2013 20:41:55(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
CliveLowery

I started with my current employer 8 years ago as the H & S Manager. I soon noticed when our Project Managers were asked who is responsible for H & H on site they quoted me.

Title change to Advisor followed - still do exactly the same nd hve same responsibilities. Just makes others think
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