What does a HSE job entail?
All companies have a responsibility to provide a safe working environment for their staff. This is extremely important in heavy industry in particular, where volatile chemicals, heavy and dangerous equipment and extreme working conditions all come into play. A failure to account for these risks could result in severe fines and reputational damage, as well as potentially fatal accidents and illnesses for staff.
This is why most large companies employ specialist health, safety and environment (HSE) professionals. This discipline may also be called environmental health and safety (EHS), occupational health and safety (OHS) or work health and safety (WHS).
Health and safety managers ensure the organisation they work for follows health and safety regulations to provide a safe work environment. A health and safety manager will conduct risk assessments and audits, check that machinery and equipment are safe, and ensure that working methods meet legal standards.
They are also responsible for explaining regulations in areas such as occupational health (noise, dust and fumes), fire safety, and moving and storing dangerous materials.
Responsibilities for a HSE professional typically include:
As a HSE professional, you will be tasked with:
- Ensuring the safety of all crew members across the organisation providing strategic health and safety support to the site leadership team, engineering, procurement, and construction contractors.
- Developing, updating, maintaining and documenting safety standards, instructions, and codes.
- Developing and delivering training programmes to ensure all staff understand their responsibilities in maintaining a safe work environment.
- Running risk assessment and reviewing designs for projects for compliance with both company and industry standards.
- Advising on crisis management responses to emergency situations and incidents either during or after regular working hours.
What qualifications do I need to work in health and safety in this industry?
This is an advanced role requiring a good mix of experience alongside multiple qualifications and skills.
Essential qualifications
- You normally need a HE qualification or degree - usually in occupational safety and health, engineering, technology, building, physics or chemistry.
- If you have a degree in another subject you can take a postgraduate course in risk safety and health through distance learning.
- Entry without a degree is possible if you have the relevant health and safety qualifications and some experience.
- For some entrants, it is a second career - often after a job in which they have had some responsibility for safety.
- Several years of work experience as a Health and Safety Executive preferably in an oil and gas environment.
- Advanced knowledge of construction methods, materials and legal regulations.
- Excellent communication and IT skills.
- Several years of experience in the offshore E&P industry.
Essential skills
- Focussed and analytical thinker with strong problem-solving skills.
- Observant with great attention to detail and organisational skills.
- Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines independently and as part of a team.
- Willing to stay up-to-date with changes in the law and technological advancements.
- Able to explain scientific or technical information in simple terms to wider teams.
- Confidence in making unpopular decisions.
- Tactful and able to get on well with people from all backgrounds and professionals from other disciplines.
To work offshore, you must have the Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training Certificate (BOSIET). Many people do the course at their own expense before looking for work. In other cases, some companies sponsor new employees through the course.
Who employs health and safety professionals in the energy industry?
Many organisations advertise safety manager jobs, but there is a particularly great need within the energy, process and infrastructure industries due to the risk involved in the work. This demand is global, so it’s common for employers to recruit new talent internationally.
Typical employers include:
- Oil and gas - HSE professionals are essential on oil rigs. A combination of extreme working conditions, long shifts, heavy machinery and flammable materials all contribute risks that need to be managed.
- Petrochemicals - In a refinery setting, HSE professionals need to manage risks around the use of heavy equipment, exposure to high temperatures and hazardous gases, and handling of flammable materials.
- Construction - Common duties for a HSE professional in construction include managing risks around working at height, moving heavy objects, handling asbestos and electricity.
- Mining - Mining accidents such as tunnel collapses, floods and fires can be fatal, so HSE professionals play a vital part in keeping staff safe and productive.
Why Airswift?
Airswift has helped place Health and Safety Executive candidates for over 40 years globally. We have 60 physical offices across the globe and a host of networks throughout international markets. We understand the energy processing and infrastructure sectors can be demanding which is why we focus heavily on helping our candidates get placed.
Airswift is a global entity with headquarters in Asia, North America and the U.K. We can help you find health and safety jobs across the world.
If your job requires you to relocate overseas, we can make the transition as smooth as possible. We can provide support for travel, documentation, housing and more.
Are you an employer looking for health and safety professionals?
If you’re an employer or hiring manager looking for talent to fill your health and safety positions, we can help. Airswift can take care of all details when it comes to HR such as:
- Contract negotiation
- Background checks
- Drug screens
This will give you more time to run your business.
Contact Airswift
Get started with your job search by uploading your CV on this page. We look forward to helping you find your next job!
What other candidates say
- “Individuals have gone the extra mile to ensure that my needs and concerns have been dealt with in a most professional manner. In my opinion, no company has conducted itself in a more professional manner than Airswift.”
- “Whenever I had a question there was always someone there to answer it. My old company ‘forgot’ about me after I had started but, Airswift has always been there. I’m very pleased.”
- “I have talked to several different agencies and none of them have been as great as Airswift!!”
