Senior Environmental Health & Safety Officer

Role Purpose:

The Health & Safety Officer is responsible for ensuring safe operations within a chemical or other high-risk industrial environment. This role supports compliance with regulatory standards, leads hazard identification and risk control activities, and promotes a strong safety culture to prevent accidents, injuries, and environmental releases.

Key Responsibilities

1. Regulatory Compliance & Governance

• Ensure full compliance with chemical industry regulations, hazardous substances legislation, and site permits.

• Maintain and update HSE procedures, emergency plans, chemical handling standards, and permit-to-work systems.

• Assist with regulatory audits, inspections, and external reporting requirements.

2. Risk Assessment & Hazard Control

• Lead risk assessments (HIRA, COSHH/chemical risk assessments, job safety analysis).

• Oversee control of high-risk activities such as confined space entry, hot works, chemical transfer, working at height, and energy isolation (LOTO).

• Monitor safety-critical equipment and engineering controls (ventilation, containment, gas detection, emergency showers, etc.).

3. Chemical Safety & Process Safety Support

• Monitor safe storage, handling, disposal, and transport of hazardous chemicals.

• Support process safety reviews (HAZOP/HAZID) and monitor compliance with safety integrity/engineering controls.

• Ensure chemical inventory data, SDS documentation, and labelling systems remain accurate and up to date.

4. Incident Management

• Lead or support investigations into incidents, near misses, chemical spills, exposures, and equipment failures.

• Conduct root cause analysis and ensure effective corrective and preventive actions are implemented.

• Maintain incident reporting systems and track trends for continual improvement.

5. Safety Culture & Training

• Deliver safety training, chemical awareness, and toolbox talks for staff and contractors.

• Engage with operational teams to influence safe behaviour and promote a positive safety culture.

• Participate in safety committees, emergency response drills, and behavioural-based safety programs.

6. Site Inspections & Monitoring

• Conduct routine HSE inspections in chemical processing areas, storage zones, labs, utilities, and high-risk workspaces.

• Monitor PPE use, safe systems of work, and work-permit compliance.

• Track safety performance metrics and prepare periodic HSE reports for management.

7. Emergency Preparedness

• Support development, testing, and continuous improvement of emergency response plans.

• Participate in drills for chemical spill response, fire, evacuation, and rescue operations.

• Ensure emergency equipment and alarms are functional and maintained.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong understanding of chemical hazards, process safety principles, and industrial risk management.

• Excellent communication and coaching skills with ability to influence at all organisational levels.

• Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret technical safety information.

• Ability to remain calm and effective in emergency situations.

• Proficient in safety management systems (ISO 45001 preferred).

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Recognised health & safety qualification (NEBOSH, Diploma, Degree in OHS, or equivalent).

• Experience in chemical, pharmaceutical, oil & gas, manufacturing, or other high-risk industrial environments.