A Health and safety consultant plays a crucial role in an organization’s health and safety management. They ensure the total well-being of everyone in the workplace and help a business maintain compliance with health and safety regulations while improving workplace safety.
A health and safety consultant is one of the roles a health and safety personnel can play in earning a living. As a health and safety consultant, your work is to work for a consulting firm or set up your consulting firm and partake in conducting site inspections in a client’s organization. So, when doing that, the health and safety consultant gathers a lot of information for the client through observation, interviewing employees, performing tasks, analyzing data, and measuring risk in that place. During those visits in the client’s place, the health and safety consultant will also present recommendations for improvements and safety measures that have to be in place to ensure the safety of employees and everyone who may be exposed to such risk.
Any health and safety professional should desire to become a health and safety consultant, as this will give them more opportunity to influence their leadership from a top management perspective. However, there are many paths to becoming a health and safety consultant, so if you’re considering becoming one anytime, below is information on the various pathways that you can follow to actualize your goal.
How to become a health and safety consultant (HSC) in the UK.
1. Gain the relevant health and safety qualifications.
There are many health and safety qualifications in the UK, but NEBOSH is the most popular route to becoming a health and safety consultant. In the UK, they write the National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety or the National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety in NEBOSH, and these two courses provide the foundational knowledge needed for the health and safety consultant job. There is another course being provided by the NEBOSH, The level 6 NEBOSH National Diploma, which provides an excellent route to get many top-level health and safety positions in the UK, and it meets the requirement of getting a Certified IOSH membership grade and helps you progress faster top becoming a chartered member of IOSH (CMIOSH). At the CMIOSH level, you will be highly sought after as a health and safety consultant in the UK.
2. Gain relevant health and safety experience with skills.
Having practical experience will help someone out in the field of practice. So, someone planning to become a health and safety consultant in the UK should take that route and gain valuable health and safety experience on the job. Many employers prefer those with hands-on experience to engage them for consultancy work. Communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills should come in handy for anyone aspiring to be a consultant in the UK. Those skills are also highly sought after in the profession. Individuals can acquire these skills on the job or by attending conferences, workshops, and safety symposiums over several months.
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3. Networking.
Nothing beats network. When you network within your industry, you’ll likely meet other people in a similar role you’re planning to join. Their insights and knowledge will guide you on the best way to go in your journey to becoming a health and safety consultant. Various places to build this network quickly are joining the IOSH, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health. Joining them can help you meet other professionals. They have various membership categories, from student to fellow. Join them using this link if you’re interested.
4. Go for other professional certifications.
When you reach the status of CMIOSH, it will help boost your chances of being engaged as a consultant. The Certificate boosts your credibility and increases your chances of gaining top-level opportunities. The highest level of professional accreditation in IOSH is Chartered Fellow, and getting to such a status will require you to have been awarded chartered membership with five years of experience and an exceptional track record.
Conclusion.
Becoming a health and safety consultant is a continuous affair. It requires dedication, commitment to professional excellence, and a welcoming ability to remain in constant learning. A good shot at taking any of the NEBOSH will propel you in that direction. If you have other areas you feel we should have touched on in our article; please let us know by chatting with us through our message box link.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) concerning a health and safety consultant in the UK.
1. What is the UK health and safety consultant’s salary?
According to Glassdoor, the average health and safety consultant salary in the UK ranges from £ 34k to £45k. The average additional compensation is £1616, ranging from £942 to £2772.
2. is a health and safety consultant a promising career in the UK?
Health and safety consultants are a highly rewarding profession in the UK. It involves supporting health and well-being and keeping workers safe so they can return home to their loved ones and family the same way they came to work without harm or injury.
3. What is the qualification of a health and safety consultant in the UK?
The qualifications in high demand for a health and safety consultant are the National General Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health and a National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety. These certifications are from the body called NEBOSH.
4. What is the daily rate for health and safety consultants in the UK?
The median daily rate in the UK for a health and safety consultant is £575. This figure is based on job vacancies posted in the six months leading up to 19 June 2024.
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Onyeka Emma is a QHSE Professional with more than 10 years of experience in occupational health and safety, which spans many industries such as construction, beverage, oil and gas, etc. He has many health and safety certifications, including NEBOSH IGC, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018 Lead auditor certificate. A member of IOSH, ISPON, and Nigeria Red Cross Society. He is interested in business, entrepreneurship, Speaking, and motivating people to do better for themselves. He enjoys leisure with a good motivational book.
