As title really,

Looking for a different career when I leave the RAF and the health and safety side of thing interest me quite a bit and was wondering if anyone on here works in H&S that could give me an insight as to what sort of courses are available so i can start on some now whilst the military will pay towards it !!

Thanks

Steve

Look at NEBOSH and IOSH as they seem to be the two leading training / qualifications organisations (that I’ve come across anyway) and most H&S jobs look for these qualifications / IOSH membership.

yep cheers.

Ive heard both of those mentioned and Im pretty sure that I can do them through the RAF.

Would there be different courses available depending on specific areas like workplace or schools etc.

Yes, there will be different courses for different industries, eg, construction.

Not saying don’t do it, but I would be cautious about it as a new career in the next couple of years at the Tories are scrapping some of the H&S legislation and the number of inspectors is being cut; there may be more people with experience than there are jobs.

NEBOSH General certificate will cover just about everything in working life. The construction certificate will cover the more exciting bits of construction equipment and the different mindset that exists in the industry.
If you can do some environmental stuff and quality along with it you will be well set.

While the number of HSE inspectors will reduce the insurance industry employs lots of H&S qualified people as do consultancies and within large companies there are numerous qualified people. Insurance drives the H&S culture as they look to keep costs down on the claims front.

My experience was that construction is a world apart where they will regard you as the enemy. You will be lied to and teams will conspire against you to avoid you marking them down, affecting their pay. Main contractors will expect you to do your job and stay out of their hair. There’s a lot of slopey shoulders where no-one wants to be the company paying for the safety.

Not all consultancies are much cop some are a box ticking exercise to meet the requirements for the main contractor/insurer. Try to find one that expects you to spend the time required to do the task and will also support your Continuing Professional Development with time and or finance.

In the current climate you will need to get on with the diploma as soon as you have your general certificate.

Some good advice above.

NEBOSH general cert first. Then probably the diploma. Then specialise.

One thing that gives you a head start, there are a LOT of quite cliched people working in the sector. If you are innovative and funny and personable it is not difficult to stand out and be rewarded accordingly.

Thanks for the informative replies.

I can do the nebosh gen cert and the diploma as distance learning and the RAF will pay most of the costs towards it which is good.

Ive got 7 years left in the RAF until Ive done my 22 years and can retire(age 43 !!!) but the way the military is going I will more than likely leave before that if I can get a good job in civvy street.

but the way the military is going I will more than likely leave before that if I can get a good job in civvy street.

You’d probably be very daft to leave so close to a pension point. Do the maths on that very carefully before you make that decision.

I can do the nebosh gen cert and the diploma as distance learning and the RAF will pay most of the costs towards it which is good.

I would caution against attempting the diploma via distance learning if at all possible. It is a massive step up from the general cert.

On a very practical note;

Guidance

That ^ website has an entire section dedicated to the nebosh exam and how to pass it. Good luck!

I work for a rather large construction company – about 85% of our H&S team are ex-forces!

Dare I say offshore oil and gas?

Good money, ex-forces fit in well, 1 for 1 leave (or better!). Everyone is included on the whole safety side of things, it’s the way of life out here, not just a gesture by the company to keep HSE happy. Follow up the OSH qualifications with the BOSIET and offshore qual’s.

OK, so you have to go to work in a helicopter, but you’d be used that surely?

Not in it myself but where I’ve worked the h and s guys are nearly always involved in iso stuff as well. Like 14001,18001 and 9001. Also looking at formal risk assesments. Might be worth thinking about.

H and s done well is great but it often isn’t.

Thanks for all the replies !!

that website above in the link is quite interesting !

Its not something Im going to jump into, Ive got an email address for an ex forces chap who now does H&S stuff and Im going to have a chat with him too !!

we do a lot of risk assessment and coshh stuff at work so know a little bit already !