Are you looking to write your perfect Health and Safety Officer CV?
Health and safety officers play a critical role in ensuring workplace well-being and a well-crafted CV is your gateway to landing your dream job in today’s competitive job market.
We’ve created the ultimate step-by-step guide to help you write a great CV that will impress employers and get you more interviews. Sounds good? Let’s get started!
I am a motivated, passionate and hard-working Health and Safety Advisor who is NEBOSH qualified and always strives to achieve the best possible. I am well-organised, and I embrace new challenges with great enthusiasm. As part of my work, I have travelled to various locations within the UK partaking in numerous projects.
Achievements
More than three years of work experience
Project Manager on numerous occasions
Provided H&S training to a class of 15 people
Education
2009 – 2012
BSc Safety, Health & Environmental Management
BCU
Degree: [2:1]
Relevant Modules:
Environmental Management
Organisation and Health & Safety Law in Practice
Understanding the Research Process
Professional Practice
Food Science and Control
2007 – 2009 Results: English: B Mathematics: B Business: A
A Levels
Kingwood College
Work experience
Feb 2012 – Present
Health and Safety Advisor Kingwood College
Main duties performed:
Ensuring compliance with health, safety and fire legislation
Identifying HSE hazards and carrying out risk assessments
Performing routine site audits and inspections
Carrying out incident/accident investigations
Supervising contractors while on-site
Amending the organisation’s safety policies & procedures (when required)
Preparing and presenting reports for senior management
Providing advice and guidance to students and staff alike on a range of safety issues such as fire regulations, hazardous substances and noise
Organising training sessions and toolbox talks
Attending daily coordination meetings
Assisting the Health & Safety Manager with day-to-day activities
Dealing with visits from the police and the fire brigade
Supporting office staff with record-keeping and data management
Managing the maintenance of vehicles and plants
Nov 2011 – Feb 2012
Health & Safety Officer Selfridges & Co
Main duties performed:
Ensuring all H&S legislation and policies are adhered to on-site
Arranging first-aid training for members of staff
Accidents, incidents and claims management
Managing third-party contractors on-site
Carrying out routine workplace inspections
Performing COSHH assessments
Assessing contracts and getting quotes from third parties
Giving expert safety advice to all stakeholders
Maintaining safety equipment (CCTV, alarms, first aid kit, etc.)
General Admin duties (phoning, printing, photocopying, etc.)
May 2011 – Nov 2011
Office Assistant Green Line Ltd
Main duties performed:
Being the first point of contact for customers
Making and answering phone calls
Printing, photocopying and faxing of documents and letters
Inputting data into electronic information systems
Ensuring the office space is kept clean and tidy at all times
Professional Training and Qualifications
Qualified First Aid Mentor and Life Support trained
NEBOSH National Diploma
Level 3 IT Training
Skills
Excellent communications skills
Staff Training and Development
Full Clean Driving License + the ability to work across multiple sites
Research and report writing
Understanding technical policies, manuals and blueprints
Hobbies and interests
One of my greatest hobbies is keeping fit at the local gym. I also enjoy swimming, hill walking, camping and spending time with my family and friends.
References
Mr Sebastian Connolly Health and Safety Manager, Kingwood College Address: 54 Warren St, West Burton, DL8 4ZZ Tel: 000 1058 0377 Email:[email protected]
Mr Josh Power Health and Safety Manager, Selfridges & Co Address: 88 Cambridge Rd, Bellingham, NR13 7RG Tel: 000 2639 6450 Email:[email protected]
Preview
Preview
What makes this CV good and effective?
Tailoring to the job: This CV clearly indicates how the candidate’s skills and experience align with the specific requirements of the Health and Safety Officer role. It uses industry-specific terminology and keywords found in the job specification, making the CV more targeted and impactful.
Good formatting and layout: The CV has consistent and professional formatting, including bullet points for easy readability. It also utilises headings, subheadings and white space to enhance visual appeal.
Ideal length: The CV is of a reasonable length (2 pages) while still providing comprehensive information. They have not included any unnecessary details or lengthy paragraphs that could make locating key information difficult.
Choose a professional and easily readable font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Font size should typically range from 10 to 12 points. You can use bigger font sizes for the headings and subheadings.
Arrange your CV in a logical order, starting with the professional summary and ending with references. In between, place your work experience, education, qualifications and skills sections. Check out these blank CV templates that have conventional CV structures and layouts.
Use bold or italics for emphasis sparingly. For instance, you can bold job titles and italicize company names. The more you use these effects, the less impactful they become.
Ensure all content is left-aligned for a clean and organised appearance. You may, however, centre-align the personal details of your CV (i.e. name and contact details).
Place your contact information at the top of the CV, including your phone number, email address and LinkedIn profile if applicable. Some applicants mistakenly put it at the back of their CVs, making it difficult for employers to identify the owner of the CV and get their contact details.
Aim for a concise CV of 1-2 pages, focusing on the most relevant and impactful information.
Your CV’s personal details section is where you provide essential information about yourself. It should contain your full name, contact details like phone number and email address and your address. Make sure your details are accurate and up-to-date.
Your personal statement should contain a snapshot of your skills, experience and your career aspirations, helping employers see if you’re a good fit for their job opening. Make it engaging and tailored to the job you’re seeking.
Your personal profile on a CV should typically be a concise and focused paragraph, consisting of 2 to 4 lines or around 50-100 words. It should be long enough to introduce yourself and highlight your key qualifications and career goals but short enough to be quickly and easily read by potential employers.
As an experienced Health and Safety Officer, I’ve successfully implemented safety protocols that reduced workplace accidents by 25%. With a strong background in risk assessment and regulatory compliance, I’m dedicated to creating a secure and compliant work environment. My proven track record in incident investigation and safety audits ensures a commitment to your organisation’s safety standards.
Accomplishments
The accomplishments section of your CV is where you list key achievements that show off your skills and make you stand out. Think about awards you’ve won, promotions you’ve earned or impressive grades you’ve achieved.
Example:
Achieved “Safety Excellence Award” for outstanding safety practices.
Promoted to Senior Safety Officer for exceptional performance.
Trained 50+ employees in safety procedures, reducing incidents.
Obtained NEBOSH Health and Safety Certification with distinction.
Work history
In your CV’s employment section, focus on listing your work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent job. For each position, provide a concise description of your responsibilities, highlighting your key achievements and contributions to show potential employers what you bring to the table. This is considered the most important section of your CV so make sure it’s well-written and impactful.
Conduct safety inspections and audits to identify hazards and ensure compliance with regulations.
Develop and implement safety policies, procedures, and programs to maintain a safe work environment.
Provide safety training and awareness programs for employees to reduce accidents and injuries.
Investigate and report on workplace accidents and incidents, and implement corrective actions.
Collaborate with management to create emergency response plans and conduct drills.
Stay updated on health and safety legislation and regulations to ensure company compliance.
Manage safety documentation, including incident reports, safety manuals, and training records.
Education
The education section of your CV provides a snapshot of your academic background. It includes the institutions you attended, the dates you were enrolled, the qualifications you earned (e.g., Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees) and your field of study.
Example:
September 2014 – June 2018
Bachelor of Science in Occupational Health and Safety
University of Stafford
Degree Classification: First Class Honours.
Subjects studied:
Health and Safety Management
Risk Assessment and Control
Environmental Health
Workplace Ergonomics
Safety Legislation and Compliance
September 2012 – June 2014 Results: Health and Safety: A, Chemistry: B, Mathematics: B.
A-Levels
Safety Skills College
Qualifications & professional training
In this section, you can add your professional training qualifications.
Example:
Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety – The Health and Safety Institute
NEBOSH National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety – National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health
Level 4 Certificate in Environmental Management – British Safety Council
First Aid at Work Certificate – St. John Ambulance
Fire Safety Risk Assessment Certificate – Fire Safety Institute
Core competencies
The core competencies section is a crucial part of your CV where you highlight your skills and abilities relevant to the role.
Your skills should encompass a mix of technical knowledge, like risk assessment and regulatory compliance, as well as soft skills like communication and problem-solving. For instance, you should include skills such as “OSHA Compliance”, “Incident Investigation”, “Safety Training”, “Emergency Response” and “Strong Communication” to demonstrate your capabilities in this field.
Example:
Risk assessment: Proven track record of conducting comprehensive risk assessments in manufacturing environments, resulting in a 30% reduction in workplace incidents.
Regulatory compliance: Adept at interpreting and ensuring compliance with UK HSE, OSHA, and environmental regulations, consistently maintaining a safe and lawful workplace.
Incident investigation: Skilled in leading investigations into workplace accidents, using root cause analysis to prevent reoccurrence and improving safety protocols.
Safety training: Developing and delivering safety training programs, increasing employee safety awareness and reducing incidents.
Emergency response: Coordinating and executing emergency response procedures during fire and chemical spill incidents, minimising potential harm.
Problem-solving: The ability to identify safety issues, develop solutions, and implement preventive measures, reducing risks and maintaining a safe work environment.
Auditing and inspection: Conducting regular safety audits and inspections, ensuring compliance and identifying areas for improvement.
Environmental health: Expertise in assessing and addressing environmental health concerns, minimising environmental impact.
Incident investigation: Ability to lead investigations into workplace accidents to determine causes and prevent future occurrences.
Communication: Strong communication skills for clear safety documentation and team collaboration.
It can help you connect with potential employers on a more personal level and showcase skills or qualities that may be relevant to the job.
For example, if you enjoy team sports, it might suggest good teamwork skills, or if you’re an avid reader, it could indicate strong research and analytical abilities.
However, it’s important to be selective about what hobbies you include, ensuring they are relevant or add value to your application.
Example:
I’m passionate about outdoor activities, particularly hiking and trail running. These pursuits not only keep me physically fit but also reinforce my appreciation for risk management and safety practices in diverse environments.
Professional references
Finally, in this section, you can give details of your two referees who can vouch for your character and abilities to employers. It’s essential to inform your referees in advance and ensure they are willing to provide a reference if contacted by a potential employer.
Example:
Mr Robert Johnson Health and Safety Manager, SafeGuard Health Ltd Address: 123 Witham Street, London, UK Tel: +44 123-456-7890 Email:[email protected]
Ms. Helen Evans Senior Safety Consultant, SecureHealth Services Address: 56 Brick Lane, Manchester, UK Tel: +44 987-654-3210 Email:[email protected]
Note: If you do not wish to disclose your references on your CV, you should write, “References are available upon request.”
Professional formatting: Ensure your CV is well-structured and easy to read, with consistent formatting and clear headings.
Quantify achievements: Use numbers to quantify your accomplishments, such as “Reduced workplace incidents by 35%” or “Trained 100+ employees in safety protocols.”
Start with a strong summary: Begin with a compelling personal profile statement that outlines your core skills and experience. Make sure it’s concise and attention-grabbing.
Highlight certifications: Showcase your relevant certifications prominently, such as NEBOSH or OSHA certifications, to demonstrate your expertise.
Detail incident responses: Provide examples of how you’ve managed and resolved workplace incidents, emphasizing your ability to handle crises.
Conclusion
This is the end of our comprehensive guide on crafting a compelling Health and Safety Officer CV.
With the provided example, a step-by-step guide and tips, you should now have all the necessary tools and know-how to create the perfect CV and secure a rewarding job in the health and safety industry.
Good luck!
Written by Sobhan Mohmand Sobhan is a qualified Careers Advisor and Professional CV Writer with over 10 years of experience in helping job seekers get a job. He is a Member of the Careers Development Institute (CDI) and is listed on the official UK Register of Career Development Professionals. He holds a Level 6 Diploma in Career Guidance and Development (QCF).
