Assistant Health and Safety Manager

Assistant Health & Safety Manager

Hertfordshire / Essex, Site Based
£45,000–£55,000 + Package
 

You won’t be coming in to build a health and safety function from scratch or carry the whole project on your shoulders.

You’ll be working directly underneath an experienced Health & Safety Manager, supporting the day-to-day management of safety across a major construction project.

That means being out on site, working with the project team and subcontractors, identifying problems before they become incidents and making sure the standards written into RAMS, construction phase plans and company procedures are actually being followed when the work starts.

The project gives you exposure to a busy construction environment with multiple subcontractors, changing phases of work and a significant building services element.

This is not an environmental management position. There will naturally be some crossover as part of the wider project requirements, but your day-to-day responsibility will be Health & Safety.

You’ll support the H&S Manager and wider construction team by carrying out inspections, audits, reviewing documentation, challenging unsafe working practices and helping subcontractors and project managers get things right.

For an Advisor looking to develop into a more senior H&S position, you’ll be working underneath someone with strong site-based H&S experience while taking responsibility for a broad range of day-to-day safety activity across the project. The salary range reflects that level, with the lower end suited to someone with solid Advisor experience and the upper end aimed at a more established candidate who can operate with a good degree of independence.

What you'll do

• Carry out regular Health & Safety inspections across the project and identify unsafe practices, non-conformances and areas requiring improvement

• Support the H&S Manager with the day-to-day implementation of the project Health & Safety strategy

• Monitor compliance with company Health & Safety policies, procedures, RAMS and current legislation

• Review subcontractor RAMS, safe systems of work and associated Health & Safety documentation

• Review subcontractor weekly documentation and "Friday Packs" alongside the relevant package and site managers

• Support weekly subcontractor Health & Safety meetings and engage directly with subcontractor supervisors and "Black Hats"

• Review and audit permits to work and make sure they are being correctly issued and followed

• Carry out weekly and monthly site inspections and support formal project Health & Safety audits

• Review subcontractor site inspections and ensure actions and non-conformances are properly closed out

• Check statutory and project-specific Health & Safety registers are current

• Assist with LOLER and PUWER inspections and review subcontractor inspection records

• Support the investigation of accidents, incidents and near misses and ensure the appropriate documentation and corrective actions are completed

• Review risk assessments covering COSHH, manual handling, fire safety and construction activities

• Support the implementation of safe systems of work covering electrical safety, temporary works, lifting operations, confined spaces and other higher-risk activities

• Carry out site inductions, toolbox talks and Health & Safety briefings where required

• Monitor subcontractors on site and challenge unsafe behaviour where necessary

• Work closely with Project Managers, Construction Managers, Package Managers and Supervisors to resolve Health & Safety issues

• Produce reports following inspections and audits and help track corrective actions through to completion

• Promote a positive Health & Safety culture where issues are raised early and dealt with properly

What you'll need

• Previous experience working in a Health & Safety Advisor or similar position within UK construction

• Good practical knowledge of construction site Health & Safety

• Experience carrying out site inspections, audits and Health & Safety reviews

• Experience reviewing RAMS and safe systems of work

• Confidence dealing directly with subcontractors, supervisors and construction management teams

• NEBOSH Construction Certificate or equivalent Health & Safety qualification

• CSCS Card

• Good understanding of current UK Health & Safety legislation

• Experience within M&E, major construction, data centres, infrastructure or other technically complex projects would be particularly relevant

• IOSH membership or additional Health & Safety qualifications would be beneficial

About the company

James Lewis is supporting an established Principal Contractor delivering major construction and technically complex projects across London and the South East.

Their portfolio covers data centres, commercial construction, education, healthcare, science and technology and other critical infrastructure environments.

You’ll join an established project team and report directly into the Health & Safety Manager, supporting them with the practical day-to-day management of Health & Safety across the site.

The role will suit someone who enjoys being visible on site, speaking with the workforce and project teams and dealing with Health & Safety practically rather than spending the majority of their week behind a desk.

Please click the ‘Apply’ button. Don’t worry if your CV isn’t up to date. Just send what you have and we’ll deal with that later.