Your journey into health and safety (sticky) (idea) (share)

[YoungNick]

Hey guys

I was just thinking while looking at a few past threads made here at HSfB and job sites in regards to professionals in a health and safety roles and their journey getting there and future goals.

Im not sure if we have anything here already.. So forgive me if they is a dedicated thread

I think it would be an amazing idea to make a sticky thread in which members who have worked their way up to an health and safety position or who are studying an health and safety qualification could share their journey from - leaving school - college - university - job roles/ opportunity that got them into a health and safety role etc.

I know i love reading peoples storys of how they have progressed their way up to a h&s role and where they started/ come from. And believe it could be really beneficial to new members who are just starting out to give them a bit more of a scope into an health and safety career

Any thoughts?

Nick

ps. My 1000 post here at HSfB

[Keith1983]

Just moved this into the Challenges and Suggestions section Nick.

[kevlarion]

I showed a talent for developing and carrying out projects when I worked in logistics in a computer factory, and my manager quickly took advantage by getting me to write the procedures for all the logistics operations. When he noticed that I included safety in the procedures he sent me on a ROSPA "Intoduction to H&S" course followed by a couple of train the trainer courses (manual handling and work at heights) and a certificate in training practice from Scotec (showing my age there). I was then put in charge of all the training in logistics, and I began to carry out formal risk assessments as well as write and deliver training courses.
I changed job a couple of times after that, each time focussing in a bit more on what I was really interested in, and a few years ago my current employer phoned me out of the blue and invited me for an interview for a quality consultant job, I took it on the proviso that I also take health and safety and environmental management. I got my first formal H&S qualification a year and a bit ago (Nebosh Diploma), having traded on my experience and enthusiasm up to that point.
I didn't start out with H&S management as a target, but it developed along the way anyway. I like to think that looking after the quality of a product, looking after the wellbeing of your employees, and taking care to not harm your environment are all really the same thing... running a business well.

[YoungNick]

Thanks very much Jack, Kev

Im going to place the all into a complete new thread so it looks a lot in order

Keep them coming guys

[Frenchie]

I was a high school drop out about 7ish years ago, with no real plan. I hopped about admin and retail roles for a while. One day I got a temp position in a company doing data entry for the HSEQ department and in the aim to get kept on I started studying decided I liked and got kept on. Kept building up my qualifications and eventually left to go to a H&S focused job rather than an admin job in a HSEQ department.

Not a very long or interesting story.... Sorry :/

[Alexis]

I was a high school drop out about 7ish years ago, with no real plan. I hopped about admin and retail roles for a while. One day I got a temp position in a company doing data entry for the HSEQ department and in the aim to get kept on I started studying decided I liked and got kept on. Kept building up my qualifications and eventually left to go to a H&S focused job rather than an admin job in a HSEQ department.

Not a very long or interesting story.... Sorry :/

Excellent story I thought Frenchie.

[Frenchie]

Thanks Alexis. I do think H&S can be a good shout for people that maybe don't want to go into full time education because the CPD element of it very high, which can be a good alternative for people who wish to just get out and start working.

Same probably applies to career changes

[bernicarey]

I was a high school drop out about 7ish years ago, with no real plan. I hopped about admin and retail roles for a while. One day I got a temp position in a company doing data entry for the HSEQ department and in the aim to get kept on I started studying decided I liked and got kept on. Kept building up my qualifications and eventually left to go to a H&S focused job rather than an admin job in a HSEQ department.

Not a very long or interesting story.... Sorry :/

OK, got to be done; the connection is just too close... 'Frenchie' being a ... ''High School drop out'...

[Stonehenge]

I started out in my company 20 years ago this August.

I first started as administration and software support. It was nice, but not me.

I then became a first aid and began supporting the SHEQ manager at the time. We developed the online incident log, and team meetings and training. Then he got made redundant and I started helping the new manager out with H&S stuff and that's when I got bit, bad, but the H&S bug.

My role had progressed from a team member to a H&S rep (although it's more of an advisor / officer, get stuff done kind of role). Up until that point I had no real formal training specfic to H&S so I did an IOSH workng safely, then a bunch of courses for manual handling, DSE assessor, CDM Coordinator, legislation, accident investigation etc and went onto the NEBOSH for Management of health & wellbeing, NVQ L5 and now the fire cert.

I have been bitten bad and have fallen hook, line and sinker for health & safety. Some people spend a lifetime looking for their forte, but I've found mine and I get a real kick of getting up every day knowing it's what I get to do every day.

I might sound sad to some, but it's something I absolutely love doing and I hope it flourishes into bigger and better things. There is nothing more satisfying for me knowing some of what I do helps not only a business but all the people I work with too, and apart from going home to a gorgeous husband and two smashing kids, it really doesn't get better than that

Angie

[Frenchie]

OK, got to be done; the connection is just too close... 'Frenchie' being a ... ''High School drop out'...

Yeah I know, saying my H&S story was bound to have that turn up

[bernicarey]

OK, got to be done; the connection is just too close... 'Frenchie' being a ... ''High School drop out'...

Yeah I know, saying my H&S story was bound to have that turn up

I think it's a brilliant story, made my day. 'Grease' has a special place in my life.

[Frenchie]

Grease should have a special place in everyone's life