Is a safety manager role for you? Salary, skills and key responsibilities

LOOKING for a safe bet for your next job? Then snap up a role as safety manager.

The UK enjoys some of the most stringent safety regulations in the world, designed to keep workers free from harm in every industry.

However, expert safety managers are in high demand to ensure it is enforced.

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With job security and a salary comfortably above the national average, it’s a role where you can make a genuine difference.

Check out the salaries and what you’d need to do here:

• Health & Safety Coordinator, Sir Robert McAlpine, Sellafield
• Fire Safety Project Manager UK, Amazon TA, Manchester
• Safety Manager, GE Aviation, Cheltenham

Have a healthy interest in finding out more? Here are your three-minute ‘need to know’ from Sun Jobs.

What does a health and safety manager do? 

As the job title neatly explains, the main purpose of the job is to manage the health and safety of employees – and any visitors to your organisation too.

This takes many forms from inspecting workplaces to ensure compliance with health and safety legislation, developing effective health and safety policies and procedures and carrying out risk assessments.

You may also be expected to keep notes on statistics on accidents and injuries, asses their cause and make recommendations to prevent similar accidents from happening again. 

Around a quarter of all safety managers are female, and more women are gradually entering the industry.

How much does a health and safety manager get paid? 

The national average for a manager’s position is £43,700 although it’s possible to earn more than £60,000. 

At a more junior level, health and safety officers earn from £32,000 to £38,000.

What qualifications will I need to become a health and safety manager? 

The usual route is to take an NVQ/SVQ at Level 3 in Occupational Health and Safety Practice.

Higher level accredited qualifications at Levels 4 to 6. are achievable via the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.

What personal skills will I need? 

The job is a combination of management, detective work, leadership and advocacy.

You will need to be astute at spotting issues and solving problems, often when others fail to see the danger.

Alongside this, you need great communication and influencing skills, plus solid administration expertise with a proactive approach.

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