Specialist Inspector - Occupational Hygiene (Band 3/SEO)

HSEs Occupational Hygiene teams play a critical role in HSEs mission to reduce work-related ill health and our work has an impact on almost every sector of Great Britains industry. We provide specialist advice to operational colleagues across HSE on controlling exposure to hazardous substances in workplaces and enforcing the law in this area. We also lead strategic and technical work to campaign for better risk control, provide occupational hygiene input into guidance and regulations and direct crucial research on health topics.

Our team of occupational hygiene specialists work in a wide range of industries with thousands of workers. This role provides a unique opportunity to apply your technical knowledge and practical experience, influencing whole industry sectors as well as helping individual employers understand the right controls to have in place. Contributing to the policy development and industry guidelines will broaden your knowledge and your professional credibility like no other role can. You will see a clear line of sight between your input and reducing ill-health in the workplace.

Our occupational hygiene teams are internationally recognised for their expertise and integrity, and you will be working with the widest range of health and safety specialists in Britain. Your work will protect thousands of people, whilst working in an inclusive environment where all of our people can thrive and be themselves.

Working Pattern

Please note that due to the demands of the Specialist Training Programme (STP) course, this role is only suitable for full-time working.

Travel

This post can be based in any of the advertised locations however, the role will involve regular travel to other HSE offices for meetings, as well as travel to HSE training events and to attend site visits. The amount of travel will vary but would typically be once per week.

As an occupational hygiene specialist inspector, you will be involved in both frontline regulatory work and developing technical policy.

Key Responsibilities

• Work as a member of a specialist team, led by a Principal Specialist Inspector, regulating workplaces to ensure that health risks have been identified, evaluated, and eliminated or adequately controlled
• Provide in-depth technical expertise to regulatory inspectors on occupational hygiene topics such as COSHH, legionella and asbestos across a wide range of industries
• Provide independent expert witness input to court, securing justice for sufferers of ill health in the workplace
• Develop operational and technical policy to influence and raise standards of control and clarifying legal requirements
• Work with others on projects and initiatives to review and inform health and safety policy, developing guidance and identifying any changes needed to expected standards and published information
• Work with colleagues helping to influence strategic stakeholders and campaigns

Specialist Training Programme

You will be supported by your manager and colleagues to understand your role in HSE, develop your skills, and support you in your continuing professional development. For the legal requirements of the role, you will be enrolled on the Specialist Training Programme (STP) and will be required to study for and successfully complete a formal assessment. We also have a strong focus on ongoing technical CPD and training in our core subject areas

Essential Skills and Criteria

• In-depth knowledge and current practical experience in the field of occupational hygiene and a proven track record of identifying occupational exposure control issues and solving problems
• Able to analyse gaps in compliance with the law by comparing conditions found in workplaces with minimum legal requirements and to support legal action to avoid further risk
• Able to use your communication skills to provide specialist opinion and expert evidence in reports for legal proceedings
• Able to liaise with colleagues across HSE and industry to develop operational policy, guidance and procedures on occupational hygiene matters and share these with stakeholders

At HSE, we are proud to be able to offer our people the opportunity to work in a hybrid way which combines working from home and the office. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement, and your allocated office will be your contractual place of work.

There will be a requirement to travel to the office for various activities, e.g., collaborative working, supporting and training colleagues. If hybrid working is suitable for you and your role, you will be expected to attend the office, or other business-related site, for 60% of your working week. The arrangements will be determined primarily by business need, but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account.

Therefore, we would encourage candidates to consider if the commute from home to the office is a feasible distance to travel before making an application. Please note that if you are successful, hybrid working will be discussed prior to taking up the post.