The National Health Service (NHS) places a heavy emphasis on health and safety. The mission of health and safety officers is to reduce potential dangers to patients, other staff members, and visitors.
About this page, you will find information on the position of a health and safety officer in the NHS, including the admission criteria and the skills that are required.
a day at the office
They are accountable for the well-being of anybody who is employed by the NHS or who utilizes the organization's facilities, which include hospitals, health centers, and headquarters buildings.
You will be responsible for analyzing any and all areas of health and safety in your role as a health and safety officer, including.
containment of infections
ensuring the safety of children and people who are vulnerable
coping with potentially harmful materials
acts of violence and physical and verbal abuse
manual handling (lifting, carrying, etc)
food hygiene
Officers responsible for health and safety
Check out the buildings.
Create a set of guidelines and protocols for health and safety.
instruct the crew
Check if the personnel is following the procedures.
Investigate all occurrences and accidents involving health and safety.
Where will I get employment?
You will work out of an office, which may be located in a medical facility or in the main building of the organization. You should expect to spend a significant amount of time in the various wards, departments, and clinics of the hospital. You are also welcome to attend other locations run by the NHS, such as health centers.
Who will I be collaborating with?
Whenever possible, you will collaborate on projects with a health and safety manager as well as one or more health and safety advisors (or technicians). Your team is assisted by administrative staff members such as assistants and clerks.
You will collaborate closely with estates managers, security officers, and fire safety officials, among other staff members. There is a possibility that you may interact with members of the healthcare and other personnel at various levels. In most cases, you will have very little or no interaction with the patients.
Entry requirements
Officers of health and safety are required to have a relevant certification in the field. In most cases, a degree is required in order to work for the National Health Service (NHS) in the field of health and safety. This may be anything like, for instance,
NEBOSH's International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety is an internationally recognized certification. You are required to have some understanding of health and safety, as well as the NEBOSH General Certificate, although there are no defined admission criteria.
diploma in applied health and safety at level 6 from the National Compliance and Risk Qualifications (NCRQ). In order to enroll in this degree-granting program, you will typically require credentials at the level 3 level.
a degree in an appropriate field, such as occupational safety and health or environmental health
a postgraduate diploma or Masters
The requirements for a degree typically take three years to complete. Typically, in order to enroll in a degree program that is relevant, you will need to
two or three A levels in addition to up to five GCSEs (grades A-C), with English, mathematics, and science among the required subjects
any other credentials outside those mentioned, such as
BTEC, HND, or HNC all three
related NVQ
access course
credentials from either Scotland or Ireland that are equal
In most cases, a bachelor's degree with honors, a NEBOSH certification, or relevant work experience is required for admission to a postgraduate program.
On the other hand, given that every organization determines its own standards for admission, it is essential to do thorough research.
Skills needed
Officers in charge of health and safety must be.
concerned with issues of health and safety
prepared to behave in accordance with regulations
capable of providing training for employees at all levels
ability to prioritise
capable of working under adverse conditions
calm in tough circumstances
the ability to write reports
time management abilities
strong planning and organization skills
Training and professional advancement
When you join the National Health Service (NHS) as a health and safety officer, you will go through training that will familiarize you with the department as well as its processes and policies. Your company will anticipate that you will maintain your skills and knowledge by taking brief courses on certain areas, such as accident investigation or risk management, in order to fulfill this expectation.
It is possible that you may be strongly urged to pursue more credentials, and it is also possible that you will be given the option to participate in an apprenticeship.
Members of the Institution of Occupational Health and Safety are able to be obtained from the ranks of health and safety officials (IOSH). They have the opportunity to submit an application for chartered status with IOSH. Chartered safety and health practitioners are required to participate in yearly continuing professional development (CPD) in order to keep their skills and knowledge current (continuing professional development). The IOSH provides staff members with opportunities to further their education, including participation in conferences, seminars, and courses.