Hello all, Looking to establish a career ladder for H&S in my organisation. One quick question, what would the job title be for an entry level safety professional, this person would not have the NGC but would be expected to have lower level qualifications such as IOSH Managing Safety. Your feedback will be greatly appreciated. Scott.

Hello Scott, I would tread with caution in this regard, check with your Company chiefs in determining the title that you might select; some Companies reserve the word "Advisor" for those with a minimum HND level qualification, selecting "Assessor" and "Representative" for those with lower level qualifications such as the Nebosh NGC Level 3 or IOSH Managing Safely. It is not written in stone but it is common for H&S Advisors to be HND. If you are starting at base level within your Company, i.e. first time assessment and post creation for a H&S rank structure, it would be wise to consider the future growth rate of this new structure, will it rise to Corporate level or remain on site local? If you are looking for H&S involvement at the base entry level such as basic knowledge and assistance at floor level, IOSH Managing Safely fits the "Representative" Role quite well, providing this individual has recourse to specialist advice and counsel when/where needed, and the capability to recognise where assistance is required. For an individual with a 50% plus level of work-load in direct hands on H&S, Risk Assessments, Remedial Action Plans, COSHH Assessments, Waste Management, Accident Investigations, H&S training, H&S Meetings and Minutes and so forth, the Nebosh NGC Level 3 would be the minimum, possible augmented by more dedicated H&S courses in Manual Handling Lifting and Moving for example. This is my experience anyway.

Since there is no recognised set of H&S job title/ descriptions (I've seen advisers titles on managers job descriptions) apart from Manager, Adviser and Officer; you can pretty much make it all up as you go. Personally, I would go with Trainee H&S Adviser for the entry level position that you are describing and advance the job title to Junior H&S Adviser for people with the NGC.