Apologies in advance for this, but just got to put pen to paper so to speak and get it ‘off my chest’. Had a coffee with a very close friend yesterday morning for an hour or so, who has retired from work, and as you do just chewing the cud. Very rarely do we talk about my industry/work but the topic came up as he knows I’m ‘winding down’ as it were, and additionally, I mentioned that I’d had two calls and one email from H&S people made redundant in the last week, which was ‘playing on my mind’. What concerns me is what he said in that he reckoned; “it will probably be the ‘thin end of the wedge’ and you probably ain’t seen nothing yet”. He went on to mention things like, recent press and media coverage on relaxation on H&S ‘rules’, likely changes in legislation, low risk workplaces no longer required to do RA’s and HSEs online RAs, you know the kind of stuff we’ve all heard recently. He continued on; “which all then means that companies/businesses will relax somewhat in that they will no longer see the importance of ‘managing’ H&S and that safety will not be high on their priority list……..” of course with some it never is/was eh?. So relating to the three redundant contacts that I’ve recently heard from; I don’t think I should be advising them to ‘stick’ with H&S with families/mortgages to consider and would you recommend anyone thinking of entering H&S career to even bother? I believe that if this is the way my close friend ‘sees’ things…. and he’s not alone I guess, then my goodness what are the leaders and those with influence of SMEs thinking? It was bad enough before all the recent information / misinformation but when anything is relaxed including H&S, IMHO it takes a long, long, long time to re-engage and recover. Personal experience confirms the ‘bad times’, I’ve not been able to give any work to a couple of associates who help me out for almost a year now……. one IS changing careers….. if he can. The phone just doesn’t ring, the emails don’t ‘land’. Ok for me as I fit into a ‘niche’ market and I’ve got just a nice bit of work for as long as I want it, but blimey it’s a good job I don’t need the work otherwise I’d be like so many others I reckon. So the point I’m making and question is, is it the ‘thin end of the wedge’? Would you tell those poor unfortunates who’ve been made redundant to ‘stick at it’, ‘soldier on’ or would you advise then to change industry/career? And if it is the latter, if/when ‘things’ pick up where will all the H&S professionals be? I suppose they’ll be on the OSHCR…..waiting for the call….. This OSHCR is surely going to be bit of a ‘white elephant’ because we’re probably not going to be needed……soon anyway. Sorry folks, worst time I’ve seen/heard/experienced in 28 years and hate to be the doom and gloom merchant, always try to look on the bright side but where do ‘we’ go from here and what’s the answer.......? If there is one.

To be fair, I don't think this is just associated with the H&S industry. I know of FM's that are in the same boat, and also several people in HR. I think that as a country we are a fair way before we are out of the woods, and businesses as a whole are still looking at a way to steady the bottom line. Construction is still a precarious industry to be in for example, as is engineering.

What career path is every going to be the right one in recession all sectors are being hit so it doesn't matter what you do for a living it will always affect you in some form or another. manufacturing fell on it's needs decades ago as the then Government saw banking and finance as the way they wanted the country to go now that has failed they are trying to rekindle manufacturing. i would say there has been a step rise in the need for H&S professionals as it is seen as a critical part of running any business when 10-20 years ago no-one really cared about the welfare of the workforce. i believe time have changed but when need to apply a good deal of common sense and not prevent business from making money due to over complicated or prohibitive H&S procedure that are over the top. Phil

Know what you mean Ian - I was H&S, then E and then saw the Q on the horizon and decided to take a retirment package as I didn't fancy it....that was back in 2000......! Since then, guess what...? I've had to get some 'Q' qualifications to respond to the clients request, oh well, less haste more speed.

I am sure we didnt all get born into our role we have a had ajourney ir two mine has been exciting and challenging .........labourer.......HMforces.......construction..........education....health safety and security....health and safety....we all have to change and adapt our knowledge and learn new skills...or we miight as well pack up and go home....(which i wouldnt mind today its quite nice)

Thanks for the positive words of encouragement Chris & Steve - I must admit 'I'm alright Jack' but if you have work that you can pass on to someone or know businesses that need people, I obviously know three individuals and their families who would welcome the news/opportunity. If so, please PM so I can forward on.

HI guys, A good thread but you can't wait for the phone to ring, you have to go out and get the work. There has been a step change in advertising over the last three years and its the companies that do the smart marketing that are getting the work - personally I've never been so busy, having said that I wouldn't take on any staff due to the over riding 9 to 5 work mentallity

Hiya - its not just bad for managers of safety - enforcers are in the mix too with redundancies - I head up the safety function for a big organisation with many site in most major UK cities - I don’t have Lead or Primary Authority so I deal with many EHO's on a weekly basis and even their statutory positions are under threat. Some have gone!!!! It grim out there.

Its hard times for lots of people, Anybody relying on the phone to ring is in for a hard time, especially with more public sector cuts coming, and people in some SME's will soon figure that H&S is not rocket science and the bulk of H&S can be done in-house. But good H&S people will always be in demand, and the trick is to be good, and offer added value. There are a small number of enthusiastic amateurs out there offering their services thinking a NEBOSH cert is their dream ticket (check the yellow pages under H&S consultancies if in doubt, then check their websites), and these people will suffer unless they are offering specific niche services. Would I recommend H&S? Yes, the move to a more controlled, regulated and professional service is good. I disuade some people who think it is an easy move, but for the people who see developing their career over a 5 year period or longer, to become professional and are keen to learn and put in the hard work then there will be opportunities. Unfortunately with the econoy the way it is it could be difficult for some to get that first paid job and even the good consultants could struggle if there isnt the money around.....

Tried to stay away from this one, but. I was made redundant almost a year ago from a post called the Business Systems Advisor at a company conected to the Rail Industry. My main role was not H&S although about half of my work was very closely linked to it. I worked alongside a guy who was responsible for the quality side of things by setting quality procedures with those who made them work and I checked that they were being followed. Therefore there was quite avariety of work to be done. This was trimmed down last year and I was made redundant (not forced but taken with both hands after 45 years). This shows that there are some employers out there who have been looking to reduce the total H&S aspect of tasks and mixing them with other disciplines such as quality management provided the quality side is supplemented with some sort of H&S knowledge such as NEBOSH Certificate, it is wroth remebring that many companies will simply lok to comply with the law and let other H&S issues muddle along until things get better and then try and catch up. This means the future although bleak now will get better, perhaps I will be to old by then but the younger persons in the field should keep thier hopes up and learn additional skills while they can.

Redken I don't want to sound cynical but could this have something to do with the consultants register? Perhaps people joining to start IPD and gain chartered stats who would not otherwise have bothered? That's not to say its a bad thing if it means more are progressing beyond the basic level and reaching a higher level of competence. It doesn't necessarily mean a higher demand for their services in industry?

Many thanks for the responses and a lot of good points made, especially on Q & E, I can certainly pass these on to those less fortunate than myself. I for one have seen a demand from my exisiting clients for the 'E' in recent years and latterly work on the related Achilles audit. Mentioned to one other individual this afternoon about E quals and he's desperate to add to his 'bow' but an embargo on training currently..... which is not unusual I suppose given the current 'climate'. The three people I've heard from recently that have hit bad times are from the South West, South East and the Midlands with the industries covered being construction, engineering and local government - so an even spread. All directly employed, not consultants. Additionally, none being replaced to my knowledge by consultants, in two cases roles being absorbed with one not knowing. Certainly, as the country begins to pull out of the recession from a couple of years ago, I should think and sincerely hope, 'we' are more in demand and the comment on job adverts in the SHP may be a future 'signal'. I certainly won't be taking much notice of IOSH membership as a guage on the job market One good thing that has come out of this thread is that one of the 'redundant' people who contacted me has obtained an interview - makes me feel warm anyway.