anyone employed as an HSE advisor?

[stepmeek]

I am currently working as a field service engineer, and have been "on the tools" so to speak since I left school in various jobs (military, oil and gas etc). I am looking at trying to go into the health and safety profession but I am cautious of throwing money away on courses that won't get me anywhere. Anyone with any experience I would appreciate if I could ask a few questions about the profession and the prospects in general (a PM would be great). Also quality of training providers etc would be good to know. Thanks

[55palfers]

I spent the best part of 25 years in Health & Safety. Mostly high-hazard / high-consequence sites.

Took NEBOSH qualifications route (by exam) and ended as Dip.2 OSH, which after a number of years experience enabled me to gain Charted status of IOSH.

Happy to advise, drop me a PM.






PS Has that marked me out as the saddest anorak on PH?

[elanfan]

Fellow NEBOSH chap here (God I hated it!). OP you will need to get yourself in effect a degree in OS&H the Nebosh cert is probably equivalent to a GCSE (some providers do a 2 week course). Colleagues who had the degree took at least a couple of years to get it and I think it required 2x5 week courses within the 2 years. It is hard work and Nebosh speak is almost a language of its own.

Don't limit yourself to the HSE large companies employ such folk also some of the larger insurance companies employ Liability Surveyors in an effort to get their clientele working safer and thus saving them money on claims. You'd get to see dozens of different businesses each month, travel, meeting new people (who don't want to see you).

[edc]

Have a look at Alison.com There are some free 'diploma' H&S courses on there. These are online and free and you can self study in your own time. It will give you something useful it not necessarily the 'full ticket' to put on your CV and ground you with the basics.

[stepmeek]

Thanks for the reply gents. Regarding the different levels of NEBOSH qualification, would I be able to get a foot in the door and start a career in HSE with only the certificate qualification or would I be looking at going up to degree level before I can realistically expect to start getting work?

My current role I work from home, travel to various sites so the opportunity for me to try and gain some health and safety experience is non existent.

[imp123]

The HSE are advertising at the moment for trainee inspectors and more specialised roles:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/careers/index.htm