New job, first timer. Help!!

[SafetyBadger22]

Long story short, was a firefighter, FRA experience, IOSH trained and was responsible for the risk assessments on station. Now no longer in that job, landed a job as a H&S manager covering 2 commercial laundries. About 300 employees!!

I am only H&S, previous in my role left 8 months ago. No handover and unorganised information.

I have literally been left to my own devices.
I have re wrote some risk assessments, tasked some people with doing risk assessments, done an excel spreadsheet with everyone’s training dates and told 2 people to wear gloves

I feel like a fraud to be honest, is there some documents I can read to help me brush up on skills?

Am doing my NEBOSH Gen certificate in 3 week as well which I hope is going to help.

Any help much appreciated

[WillPool]

Welcome to the forums

You are on the right route, doing the Gen Cert, and things will slowly but surely fall into place.

It is always daunting starting work in a new place, particularly in a new industry.

Do some research to see if there are any specific industry HSE groups and try and join them to get a handle on risks/hazards you may not have thought of.

Off the top of my head, machinery, water, fire, electricity, fibres in the air etc etc

Good luck in your new job and with the NGC when it arrives

Will

[Alexis]

Hi SafetyBadger and welcome to HSfB from me too.

Just to add to Willpool's suggestions, you may have a local Safety Group that you could join for networking and learning from others.
https://www.safetygroupsuk.org.uk/local-groups/

The NEBOSH route, again as mentioned by Willpool, is a perfect start for you. Sometimes a wee bit "sore" but when it clicks, you will really enjoy it.

Jack Kane, our site owner started just like yourself, (although not an x-fire officer) and found his local Safety Group to be a good networking place.

From our main downloads pages, (accessible by clicking the logo at the top left hand corner of this page) the following article explains Jack's/John's journey into the World of H&S. (Apologies for the glitch with the "got it" box within our main site.)
https://www.healthandsafetytips.co.uk/A ... appen#wbb1

Our forums are full of information to help with your NEBOSH journey. Please don't hesitate to ask any question at all and one of our amazing members will come in when they have a moment to help.

Good Luck on your exciting H&S journey.

[Messy]

Hi SafetyBadger and welcome to the forum

I wonder if that Badger part of your name originates from the fire service?

I too am ex UK Fire Service but I am not brave enough to take on learning all you need to know to be competent in H&S, so hats off to you.

There are some very knowledgeable people on here from across the world who will be able to help you and it seems, have already started

[SafetyBadger22]

Thanks folks.

Some great resources on here.

It’s crazy how vast it is compared to just FRA work I done previously.

I’ve gave myself a list of tasks and think am on the right track…

1. Checking all staff have correct training, be it manual handling, first aid etc. compiling a list of these with renewal dates.

2. Check all SSOW have been reviewed and are relevant.

3. Check risk assessments are up to date and relevant, re write what is needed.

4. Get to know the staff, listen to their problems. I’ve already wrote a new policy for someone who was told they can’t use mechanical aids for moving stuff, when there is the option there for it.

5. Accident reports. Already done some of these. File them and investigate if needed.

6. Further training for myself. NEBOSH booked!

7. Checklists etc. weekly checks of equipment, first aid etc are all up to date and done correctly and filed.

Think I’ve got the basics covered there!?