Occupational Health and Safety Specialist Job Description
A practical, site-focused safety professional who identifies hazards, reduces risk and keeps the business compliant with UK health and safety law.
What does a Occupational Health and Safety Specialist professional do?
An Occupational Health & Safety Specialist assesses workplace risks, develops controls and training, investigates incidents and supports managers to maintain safe operations across sites.
Occupational Health and Safety Specialist job description template
Use this employer-ready example as a starting point, then replace the placeholders and adjust the content so it accurately reflects your vacancy.
Occupational Health and Safety Specialist
About the role
We are seeking an experienced Occupational Health & Safety Specialist to join [Company name] in [Location]. This role will lead risk assessments, develop and implement safety procedures, deliver staff training and investigate incidents to reduce harm. The post is [full-time/part-time], [permanent/fixed-term], and offers [Salary]. Candidates should have demonstrable H&S experience and strong communication skills; professional qualifications are desirable.
Key responsibilities
- Carry out routine and project-based risk assessments across sites and produce clear mitigation plans.
- Develop, review and maintain site-specific safety policies, procedures and permits to work.
- Investigate accidents, incidents and near misses; prepare root-cause reports and follow-up action plans.
- Design and deliver toolbox talks, induction training and competency assessments for employees and contractors.
- Monitor compliance with relevant UK legislation and industry standards; advise managers on legal duties.
- Conduct workplace inspections, audits and contractor safety reviews; record findings and track corrective actions.
- Support management with incident reporting to regulators where required and maintain safety records and KPIs.
- Advise on suitable PPE, control measures and safe systems of work for routine and non-routine tasks.
Essential skills and experience
- Proven experience working in an occupational health and safety role in the UK workplace.
- Practical knowledge of UK health and safety legislation and how it applies to workplaces (for example HASAWA principles).
- Experience carrying out risk assessments, site inspections and incident investigations.
- Strong written and verbal communication with the ability to present findings to managers and operational teams.
- Competence in producing clear, actionable safety reports and maintaining audit/training records.
- Ability to influence operational teams and drive corrective actions to completion.
- Willingness and ability to travel between sites as required.
Desirable
- NEBOSH Certificate or Diploma, or equivalent vocational/professional qualification.
- Membership of a professional body (for example IOSH) or working towards registration.
- Experience with ISO 45001 or other safety management systems.
- Previous sector experience relevant to the employer (construction, manufacturing, logistics, healthcare etc.).
- Formal incident investigation or root-cause analysis training.
- Experience using EHS/incident management software and basic MS Excel for KPI reporting.
What we offer
- [Pension contribution — specify employer rate]
- [Annual leave — e.g. number of days plus public holidays]
- [Flexible working or adjusted hours policy]
- [Training and professional development budget]
- [Performance-related bonus or discretionary scheme]
- [Private medical insurance or healthcare support (optional)]
How to apply
Apply with your CV and any additional information requested. Make the interview process, closing date and any assessment stages clear where known.
Use this as a starting point rather than a final advert. The strongest version will reflect the real role, salary, location, systems, responsibilities, benefits and working arrangements.
What is an Occupational Health and Safety Specialist role?
An Occupational Health and Safety Specialist provides technical advice and hands-on support to reduce workplace risk and ensure compliance with relevant regulations. They conduct risk assessments, lead investigations into incidents, deliver training, and work with managers to implement safe systems of work. The role typically involves site visits, stakeholder engagement and keeping accurate records to demonstrate continuous improvement in safety performance.
Typical employers
Manufacturing, construction, logistics, utilities, healthcare, local authorities and large multi-site businesses.
Core duties
Risk assessments, policy development, incident investigations, audits and training delivery.
KPIs to track
Incident rates, near-miss reports, audit findings closed, training completion and corrective action timescales.
Typical contacts
Site managers, contractors, HR, occupational health providers, insurers and regulatory bodies.
Typical Occupational Health and Safety Specialist responsibilities
Responsibilities should reflect the real scope of the vacancy rather than every task someone in this profession might ever complete.
Carry out routine
Carry out routine and project-based risk assessments across sites and produce clear mitigation plans.
Develop
Develop, review and maintain site-specific safety policies, procedures and permits to work.
Investigate accidents
Investigate accidents, incidents and near misses; prepare root-cause reports and follow-up action plans.
Design
Design and deliver toolbox talks, induction training and competency assessments for employees and contractors.
Monitor compliance with relevant UK legislation
Monitor compliance with relevant UK legislation and industry standards; advise managers on legal duties.
Conduct workplace inspections
Conduct workplace inspections, audits and contractor safety reviews; record findings and track corrective actions.
Support management with incident reporting
Support management with incident reporting to regulators where required and maintain safety records and KPIs.
Advise on suitable PPE
Advise on suitable PPE, control measures and safe systems of work for routine and non-routine tasks.
Occupational Health and Safety Specialist skills and experience to look for
Keep the essential list focused on what the person really needs to perform the role. Move useful-but-trainable experience into desirable criteria.
Usually worth prioritising
- Proven experience working in an occupational health and safety role in the UK workplace.
- Practical knowledge of UK health and safety legislation and how it applies to workplaces (for example HASAWA principles).
- Experience carrying out risk assessments, site inspections and incident investigations.
- Strong written and verbal communication with the ability to present findings to managers and operational teams.
- Competence in producing clear, actionable safety reports and maintaining audit/training records.
- Ability to influence operational teams and drive corrective actions to completion.
- Willingness and ability to travel between sites as required.
Useful where relevant
- NEBOSH Certificate or Diploma, or equivalent vocational/professional qualification.
- Membership of a professional body (for example IOSH) or working towards registration.
- Experience with ISO 45001 or other safety management systems.
- Previous sector experience relevant to the employer (construction, manufacturing, logistics, healthcare etc.).
- Formal incident investigation or root-cause analysis training.
- Experience using EHS/incident management software and basic MS Excel for KPI reporting.
See our guide to what to include in a job advert before publishing.
How to write a Occupational Health and Safety Specialist job advert
Small role-specific details can make the advert much easier for suitable candidates to assess.
Be specific about scope
State whether the role covers a single site, multiple sites or national coverage and how many operational staff or contractors the post will support.
List practical tasks
Candidates want to know how much site time, auditing, training and report writing are involved — give percentages or examples where possible.
Highlight essential experience
If sector experience (e.g. construction) or travel is required, make this clear so applicants can self-select appropriately.
Use measurable achievements
Ask applicants to provide examples of safety improvements they led, such as reduced incident rates or successful audits.
Be transparent on development
Note available support for professional development, membership fees or progression to a management role if offered.
Occupational Health and Safety Specialist salary considerations
Pay for occupational health and safety specialists varies widely. Instead of a single market figure, consider the factors below when setting a salary range for this role.
depending on experience
- Use a genuine range
- Separate variable pay
- Avoid “competitive” alone
- Match salary to seniority
What Occupational Health and Safety Specialist candidates will want to know
Practical details can influence whether a suitable candidate applies, even when the title and salary are attractive.
What sites will I cover and how much travel is required?
Applicants need clarity on single-site vs multi-site duties and expected mileage or overnight stays.
Who does the role report to and what authority will I have?
Experienced candidates want to know reporting lines and whether they can enforce corrective actions.
What safety systems and tools are already in place?
Knowing about current management systems, software and existing documentation helps candidates assess fit.
What training and CPD support is available?
Candidates expect information on professional development, qualification funding and membership support.
Are there shift patterns, out-of-hours duties or on-call requirements?
Clarify any weekend, night or emergency response expectations before candidates apply.
What size of team or number of contractors will I work with?
Detailing team size and contractor relationships helps candidates understand leadership and stakeholder engagement.
Where to post a Occupational Health and Safety Specialist job
For this role use a mix of broad UK job boards and specialist channels that reach qualified H&S professionals. Post on professional networks (such as LinkedIn), safety-focused job boards and sector-specific sites depending on the industry (construction, manufacturing, healthcare). Local recruitment agencies and trade publications are useful for site-based roles where practical experience and local knowledge matter.
Related health & safety / compliance job descriptions
Recruiting for a slightly different role? These templates may be a closer fit.
Occupational Health and Safety Specialist job description FAQs
Is NEBOSH a legal requirement for this role?
No. NEBOSH is not a legal requirement but it is a widely recognised qualification that demonstrates technical competence. You can specify it as desirable or essential depending on the complexity and risk profile of the role.
How can I assess a candidate's practical competence?
Ask for workplace examples of risk assessments and incident investigations, request sample reports, and include a practical assessment or scenario-based interview to test decision-making.
What pre-employment checks should I run?
Typical checks include right-to-work, references covering relevant H&S duties, verification of claimed qualifications and, where relevant, driving licence checks and DBS for regulated sectors.
How should I set experience expectations?
Base experience requirements on the job scope: single-site advisory roles need less experience than appointments covering multiple high-risk sites or managing teams. Be explicit about the level expected.
Can this role be part-remote?
Many H&S roles combine office-based administration with site visits. You can offer hybrid working, but be clear about minimum on-site presence and travel expectations in the advert.
Ready to publish this vacancy?
Use this template to tailor the advert to your organisation by adding specific site details, contract type and benefits. When ready, advertise via the channels noted above to reach experienced occupational health and safety professionals.
