Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

3.6.2 Health and safety adviser
Status
and 
competence
are essential to the role 
of health and safety and other advisers. They must be 
able to advise management and employees or their 
representatives with authority and independence. They 
need to be able to advise on:
➤
creating and developing health and safety policies. 
These will be for existing activities plus new acquisi-
tions or processes
➤
the promotion of a positive health and safety cul-
ture. This includes helping managers to ensure that 
an effective health and safety policy is implemented
➤
health and safety planning. This will include goal-
setting, deciding priorities and establishing adequate 
systems and performance standards. Short- and 
long-term objectives need to be realistic
➤
day-to-day implementation and monitoring of policy 
and plans. This will include accident and incident 
investigation, reporting and analysis
➤
performance reviews and audit of the whole health 
and safety management system.
3.6.3
To do this properly, health and safety 
advisers need to
➤
have proper training and be suitably qualifi ed – e.g. 
NEBOSH Diploma or competence based IOSH mem-
bership, relevant degree and, where appropriate, 
a Chartered Safety and Health Practioner. NEBOSH 
Certifi 
cate in small to medium-sized low hazard 
premises, like offi ces and retail stores
➤
keep up-to-date information systems on such topics 
as civil and criminal law, health and safety manage-
ment and technical advances
➤
know how to interpret the law as it applies to their 
own organization
➤
actively participate in the establishment of organiza-
tional arrangements, systems and risk control stand-
ards relating to hardware and human performance. 
Health and safety advisers will need to work with 
management on matters such as legal and technical 
standards
➤
undertake the development and maintenance of 
procedures for reporting, investigating, recording 
and analysing accidents and incidents
➤
develop and maintain procedures to ensure that 
senior managers get a true picture of how well 
health and safety is being managed (where a bench-
marking role may be especially valuable). This will 
include monitoring, review and auditing
➤
be able to present their advice independently and 
effectively.