Health And Safety Advisor

Freelance Health & Safety Consultant

Location: St Albans
Contract: Initial six-month assignment
Day rate: To be confirmed
Working pattern: Five days per week on site
Start: Short notice preferred

The opportunity

We are looking to speak with experienced freelance Health & Safety professionals for an initial six-month assignment with a regulated business based in St Albans.

This is a hands-on contract with a clear objective: assess the organisation’s existing health and safety arrangements, identify compliance gaps and implement practical improvements that can be sustained after the assignment finishes.

You will work across production, laboratory, warehouse and office environments and will need to be comfortable getting into the detail rather than operating purely at a strategic level.

The assignment will include:

• Conducting detailed health and safety compliance audits
• Reviewing policies, procedures, SOPs, risk assessments and COSHH documentation
• Identifying and prioritising compliance gaps
• Implementing practical improvements across operational departments
• Reviewing incident reporting and investigation processes
• Strengthening root cause analysis and corrective action procedures
• Reviewing PPE, signage, fire safety, first aid and workplace controls
• Improving chemical handling, waste management and housekeeping standards
• Reviewing health and safety training systems and records
• Delivering practical health and safety awareness training
• Supporting departmental health and safety representatives
• Tracking audit findings and actions through to completion
• Providing clear progress reports to senior management
• Establishing systems and processes that can be maintained after the assignment ends

The person

This would suit an experienced Health & Safety contractor who can come into a business, quickly understand where the gaps are and take ownership of delivering improvements.

You will need to be comfortable working autonomously, challenging where necessary and building relationships with people across different operational departments.

You should have:

• A recognised Health & Safety qualification such as NEBOSH or equivalent
• Strong knowledge of UK Health & Safety legislation
• Good working knowledge of COSHH
• Strong auditing and compliance experience
• Experience delivering Health & Safety improvements within a regulated environment
• Experience within production, manufacturing, laboratory, pharmaceutical or a similar operational setting
• Strong problem-solving and investigation skills
• The ability to influence stakeholders and drive actions through to completion
• Availability to start at relatively short notice

Previous experience within GMP, pharmaceutical, laboratory or another highly regulated environment would be particularly useful.

Working arrangements

• Initial six-month freelance assignment
• Five days per week on site in St Albans
• No home working
• 40 hours per week
• Potential for the assignment to extend
• Day rate and IR35 status to be confirmed

This is a delivery-focused contract rather than a maintenance role. The business needs somebody who can identify what needs improving, take ownership of the work and leave behind stronger and more sustainable Health & Safety arrangements.