Health And Safety Advisor

Purpose of the Job

The Health & Safety Officer will provide operational leadership for health, safety and environmental compliance across our engineering, testing, prototype build and office environments. This is a hands-on, part-time role suited to an experienced professional who can work autonomously in an SME setting, balancing legal compliance, risk management and safety culture development in a high-technology, R&D and low volume manufacturing environment.

Key responsibilities
Governance, Compliance & Leadership

Operate as the company’s competent person for Health & Safety under UK legislation, ensuring compliance with all statutory obligations and industry best practice

Develop, maintain and continuously improve the company’s Health & Safety Management System

Provide professional advice to the HR Director, senior leadership and engineering managers on health, safety and regulatory matters

Monitor and interpret changes in legislation and ensure timely implementation across the business
Risk Management & Operational Safety

Lead and conduct risk assessments and method statements (RAMS) for engineering, test, workshop, high-voltage and low volume build activities

Oversee safety management for:
oHigh-voltage systems
oMechanical and electrical testing environments
oManual handling and workshop operations
oHazardous substances (COSHH)
oContractor and visitor safety

Ensure suitable controls are implemented, monitored and reviewed
Incident Management & Assurance

Lead investigations into accidents, incidents and near misses, ensuring root cause analysis and effective corrective and preventative actions

Maintain statutory records and reporting, including RIDDOR where applicable

Prepare safety performance reports, trend analysis and compliance dashboards for senior management
Training & Safety Culture
Develop and deliver targeted H&S training and briefings including:
Induction training
High-voltage awareness

Workshop and test safety

Fire safety and emergency response

Promote a positive safety culture through engagement, communication and continuous improvement initiatives
Audit, Inspection & Continuous Improvement

Conduct planned and ad-hoc safety inspections and internal audits

Support external audits, customer assessments and regulatory inspections

Contribute to the development of systems aligned to ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 (where applicable)
Wellbeing & Environmental Support

Support wellbeing initiatives including ergonomic assessments, occupational health coordination and mental wellbeing programmes

Support in the development of the company’s Environmental Management System (EMS) in line with ISO 14001

Identify and manage environmental risks and impacts, including:
Waste management and recycling
Energy use and sustainability initiatives
Hazardous materials handling and disposal
Environmental compliance obligations
Support environmental audits, customer assessments and continuous improvement plans

Competencies, Skills and Experience
Strong working knowledge of UK Health & Safety legislation, including:
Health & Safety at Work Act 1974
Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations
COSHH
PUWER
LOLER
RIDDOR
Proven experience in a technical, engineering, manufacturing or R&D environment
Ability to operate autonomously in an SME, managing priorities with minimal supervision
Experience conducting accident investigations and formal risk assessments
Confident communicator with the ability to influence engineers, managers and senior leadership
Strong report writing, documentation and organisational skills
Attention to detail, identifying potential hazards and ensuring that all safety measures are implemented correctly and consistently
Experience in automotive, EV, high-voltage, defence or regulated industrial environments
Familiarity with ISO 45001 / ISO 14001 frameworks
Experience supporting customer, regulatory or defence-sector audits

Qualifications
IOSH qualification (minimum requirement)
NEBOSH Certificate or Diploma (preferred)
Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g. IOSH) desirable