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Bridging the Experience Gap – Becoming a Health and Safety Advisor

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For service leavers, transitioning to civilian life often involves choosing a career that complements your military training and skills. Becoming a Health and Safety Advisor is an excellent choice, offering job stability, strong demand across industries, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

This guide explains how to gain the experience and qualifications you need during your resettlement period to build a successful career as a Health and Safety Advisor.

Why Choose Health and Safety?

Health and safety professionals ensure workplaces comply with legal standards and implement practices to prevent accidents and injuries. Service leavers are particularly suited to this field because of their:

  • Discipline and attention to detail from military training.
  • Risk assessment skills gained during operations.
  • Leadership experience in enforcing protocols and managing teams.

5-Steps to Becoming a Health and Safety Advisor

1.  Understand the Role

As a Health and Safety Advisor, your responsibilities typically include:

  • Conducting risk assessments and audits.
  • Developing safety policies and procedures.
  • Delivering health and safety training to staff.
  • Investigating workplace incidents and recommending improvements.
  • Ensuring compliance with health and safety legislation.

This role exists in nearly every industry, including construction, manufacturing, healthcare, and corporate environments, providing flexibility in where you choose to work.

2.  Gain Relevant Qualifications

Qualifications are essential for establishing your credibility in this field. Use your resettlement period to pursue these key certifications:

Essential Qualifications:

  • NEBOSH General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety: Widely recognised and often required for entry-level roles.  Covers key areas like risk assessment, hazard control, and legal compliance.
  • IOSH Managing Safely:  Provides foundational knowledge for managing workplace safety.  Great for those new to the health and safety field.
  • Specialist Training:  Certifications in specific areas like fire safety, construction safety, or environmental management.

3.  Build Experience

Employers value practical experience in addition to qualifications. Here’s how to gain relevant experience during your resettlement period:

  • Volunteer for Safety Roles: Offer to support health and safety initiatives within your current military unit or during resettlement placements. Examples include conducting safety briefings, organising drills, or assisting with compliance checks.
  • Shadow a Health and Safety Professional: Arrange to shadow a Health and Safety Advisor in a civilian organisation.  This will provide first-hand insight into daily responsibilities and expectations.

4.  Craft a Strong CV

Your CV should reflect both your military experience and your new health and safety qualifications. Here’s how to tailor it:

Highlight Transferable Skills:

  • Risk assessment: “Performed comprehensive risk analyses to ensure operational safety in high-pressure environments.”
  • Leadership: “Trained and managed teams to maintain safety protocols in compliance with strict regulations.”
  • Incident investigation: “Led investigations into incidents to determine root causes and implement corrective measures.”

Include Health and Safety Certifications

  • Clearly list NEBOSH, IOSH, and any other certifications under a dedicated section.

Detail Relevant Experience: 

  • If you’ve taken on health and safety-related tasks during your resettlement placements or military service, such as organising safety training or managing hazardous materials, include these accomplishments with measurable outcomes.

 Tailor for Specific Roles: 

  • Align your CV with the job description, focusing on the skills and experiences most relevant to the position.

5.  The Benefits of a Health and Safety Career

  • Strong Demand: Nearly all industries require health and safety professionals, providing a wealth of opportunities.
  • Career Progression: With advanced qualifications, you can move into senior advisory or management roles.
  • Transferable Skills: The expertise you gain is applicable across multiple sectors, offering career flexibility.
  • Meaningful Work: You’ll play a vital role in protecting workers and promoting safe practices.

Final Tips for Success

  • Start early: Begin pursuing qualifications and building experience as soon as possible during your resettlement period.
  • Stay informed: Follow updates in health and safety legislation to remain current in the field.
  • Network: Join industry groups and forums to connect with professionals and learn about job openings.

Keep track of your progress with our helpful to do list below.

Health and Safety Career To-Do List – Bridging the Experience Gap

Copyright BV Associates Limited 7 Feb 25