Where do H&S advisers work?

H&S advisers are based in a huge range of organisations – from small consultancies to multinationals – and work in partnership with a host of different people, from employees and employers, to trades unions and directors. They are responsible for ensuring that all current H&S legislation is adhered to, and policies and practices adopted. They help to plan, implement, monitor and review the preventative and protective measures that companies are required or choose to follow, and they work to minimise accidents and injuries, occupational health problems and operational losses.

Employers must now appoint ‘competent’ people with responsibility for H&S, irrespective of the size or undertaking of their organisation. A ‘competent’ person is somebody with sufficient experience, training, knowledge and/or other qualities to undertake the role, particularly risk assessment. Because there is a requirement in law to employ such a person, training and experience are legal necessities for the management of H&S. A breach of H&S law is a criminal offence that can result in fines, imprisonment, or both.