Health and Safety Adviser
Also advertised as: EHS Advisor, Health and Safety Adviser, Health and Safety Officer, HSE Advisor, Safety Coordinator, SHEQ Advisor
Helps an organisation prevent accidents through risk assessment, training and audits.
What the job involves
Health and safety advisers keep people safe and organisations legal. You write and review risk assessments, investigate incidents, audit sites, train staff and advise managers. NEBOSH is the standard qualification and is achievable while working.
Typical responsibilities
- Carry out risk assessments and site audits
- Investigate incidents and near misses
- Deliver safety training and briefings
- Maintain safety documentation and reporting
- Advise managers on legal duties
Common employers
- Construction firms
- Manufacturers
- Logistics operators
- NHS
- Councils
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£28,000 – £34,000 a year
With experience
£40,000 – £55,000 a year
Typical hours
37.5 to 40 hours with site travel
Working environment
Sites, factories and offices
Remote working
hybrid
Demand for this work
high
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Risk assessment
- Incident investigation
- Safety legislation
- Training delivery
- Influencing
Transferable skills you may already have
- Site supervision
- Spotting hazards
- Toolbox talks
Requirements employers ask for
- Risk assessment
- Incident investigation
- Safety legislation
- Training delivery
- Influencing
- NEBOSH General Certificate usually expected
Useful but not essential
- Site supervision
- Spotting hazards
- Toolbox talks
- NEBOSH Diploma
- IOSH membership and chartered status
Helpful qualifications
- NEBOSH Diploma
- IOSH membership and chartered status
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Safety, Health and Environment Technician (Level 3)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Occupational safety
- Related subject: Engineering
- Related subject: Environmental health
Where this career can lead
next
Health and Safety Manager
next
SHEQ Manager
next
Head of HSE
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Direct route from a trade or supervisory role
- NEBOSH is achievable part-time
- Strong demand across industry
What people find hard
- Can be seen as the blocker
- Serious incidents are distressing
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a health and safety adviser?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. not_required
- How much does a health and safety adviser earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £28,000 to £34,000 a year, rising towards £55,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Site supervision, Spotting hazards, Toolbox talks.
Related careers
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Manufacturing Engineer
Designs and improves the processes used to build products on a production line.
Production Planner
Schedules manufacturing activity so materials, machines and people are ready when needed.
Quality Inspector
Checks parts and products against specifications to catch defects before they reach customers.
Machine Operator
Sets up and runs production machinery to manufacture parts or products.
Toolmaker
Makes and repairs the precision tools, jigs and moulds used in manufacturing.
Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 14 September 2026.
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