Health and Safety Advisor Jobs in the UK

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Health and safety advisor jobs are in high demand across UK construction. With 25 construction fatalities reported by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in 2025/26 and increasing regulatory scrutiny under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015), every principal contractor needs competent H&S advice on site. Search sitejobs-code15 on Google to find SiteJobs and browse live health and safety advisor vacancies across the UK.

What Does a Health and Safety Advisor Do?

A health and safety advisor (also called a health and safety officer, H&S coordinator, or safety advisor) is responsible for ensuring that construction sites comply with health and safety legislation. The role involves advising site management on safe systems of work, conducting site inspections and audits, preparing risk assessments and method statements (RAMS), investigating accidents and near-misses, delivering toolbox talks and site inductions, monitoring subcontractor compliance, and reporting incidents under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR).

Under Regulation 8 of CDM 2015, principal contractors must appoint one or more persons with sufficient skills, knowledge, and experience to assist them in fulfilling their health and safety duties. The health and safety advisor is that person. The HSE guidance on CDM 2015 makes clear that this appointment is not optional - it is a legal requirement on every construction project involving more than one contractor.

Advisors also play a critical role in compliance with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER), the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), and the Work at Height Regulations 2005.

HSE Statistics - Why Health and Safety Advisors Matter

According to the latest HSE fatal injury statistics for 2025/26, 126 workers were killed in work-related accidents across all industries in Great Britain. Construction accounted for 25 of those fatalities - the highest of any sector. The main kinds of fatal accident in 2025/26 were:

• Falls from a height: 31 fatalities (the largest single category)
• Struck by moving vehicle: 24 fatalities
• Struck by moving object: 21 fatalities
• Trapped by something collapsing or overturning: 18 fatalities
• Contact with moving machinery: 10 fatalities

While construction fatalities fell from 35 in 2024/25 to 25 in 2025/26, the HSE notes that the long-term rate of decline has slowed. The HSE also estimates that around 2.5 million working days are lost each year in construction due to workplace injury and work-related ill health. Health and safety advisors are the front line in driving these numbers down.

The HSE publishes full construction statistics at hse.gov.uk/.../construction.pdf and enforcement data is available on the HSE enforcement register.

What Qualifications Do You Need?

The health and safety profession in the UK is structured around qualifications from the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) and membership of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). The typical qualification ladder is:

1. NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety: The baseline qualification for most H&S roles. Covers risk assessment, hazard control, and legal duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Typically takes 10-15 days of study. Details at nebosh.org.uk/.../national-general-certificate.
2. NEBOSH Health and Safety Management for Construction (UK): A Level 7 qualification specifically for construction H&S professionals. Aligned to CDM 2015, covering excavation, demolition, working at height, mobile plant, fire, and chemical safety. Minimum 70 taught hours plus a 48-hour open book examination. Over 20,000 people hold this qualification. Details at nebosh.org.uk/.../construction-uk.
3. NEBOSH National Diploma for Occupational Health and Safety Management Professionals: A Level 6 professional qualification that meets the academic requirements for Graduate membership of IOSH (GradIOSH). This is the pathway to becoming a Chartered Health and Safety Practitioner (CMIOSH). Details at nebosh.org.uk/.../national-diploma.

IOSH is the world's largest Chartered body for health and safety professionals, with over 47,000 members across 130 countries. IOSH membership grades include:

• Affiliate: Entry level, no qualifications required
• Associate (AIOSH): For holders of IOSH-accredited qualifications
• Graduate (GradIOSH): For NEBOSH Diploma holders - the academic route to Chartered status
• Chartered Member (CMIOSH): The professional benchmark, requiring GradIOSH plus a professional development portfolio and peer interview
• Chartered Fellow (CFIOSH): For senior professionals with sustained contribution to the profession

Full IOSH membership details are at iosh.com/membership.

CSCS Card for Health and Safety Advisors

Health and safety advisors who need regular site access can apply for a CSCS card. The relevant cards are:

• White Professionally Qualified Person (PQP) Card: For members of a recognised professional body such as IOSH. Valid for 5 years. Requires a current CITB Health, Safety and Environment test pass. Details at cscs.uk.com/.../academically-and-professionally-qualified.
• Black Manager Card: For those in senior site management roles with NVQ Level 5 in Construction Site Management or Occupational Health and Safety. Also requires CITB HS&E test pass.
• Gold Supervisor Card: For H&S advisors with an NVQ Level 3 in Occupational Health and Safety who are working in a supervisory capacity.

According to CSCS, all cards must be verified using CSCS Smart Check before allowing site access. The PQP card confirms that the holder is a recognised construction professional with the competence to advise on site safety.

Health and Safety Advisor Pay Rates 2026

Pay rates for health and safety advisors in UK construction vary by experience, qualifications, and location. Current ranges from live SiteJobs listings and industry data:

Contract and interim H&S roles on major infrastructure projects such as HS2, Hinkley Point C, and Lower Thames Crossing typically command the highest day rates. NEBOSH Diploma holders with CMIOSH status and construction experience can expect £350-£500/day on infrastructure projects. Search sitejobs-code15 on Google to find current live vacancies.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

The day-to-day responsibilities of a construction health and safety advisor typically include:

• Site inspections and audits: Regular walks of active construction sites to identify hazards, check compliance with RAMS, and verify that control measures are in place and effective.
• Risk assessments and method statements (RAMS): Preparing, reviewing, and approving risk assessments and method statements for high-risk activities including working at height, excavation, demolition, hot works, and confined space entry.
• CDM 2015 compliance: Advising the principal contractor on their duties under CDM 2015, including the construction phase plan, site rules, induction requirements, and coordination between contractors.
• RIDDOR reporting: Investigating and reporting notifiable accidents, dangerous occurrences, and occupational diseases to the HSE under RIDDOR 2013.
• Toolbox talks and training: Delivering health and safety toolbox talks to site operatives on topics such as working at height, asbestos awareness, manual handling, and dust control.
• Subcontractor management: Checking subcontractor competency, reviewing their risk assessments, and monitoring their on-site compliance.
• Incident investigation: Leading investigations into accidents and near-misses, identifying root causes, and implementing corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• COSHH compliance: Maintaining the COSHH register, assessing exposure to hazardous substances, and ensuring appropriate controls are in place for materials such as silica dust, cement, and solvents.
• Welfare compliance: Ensuring site welfare facilities meet the requirements of the CDM 2015 Schedule 2, including toilets, washing facilities, drinking water, changing rooms, and rest areas.

How to Become a Health and Safety Advisor in Construction

There are several routes into construction health and safety:

• From a trade background: Many H&S advisors start as tradespeople (carpenters, scaffolders, groundworkers) and move into safety after gaining site experience. The transition typically involves completing the NEBOSH National General Certificate, then the NEBOSH Construction Certificate, and gradually taking on H&S responsibilities.
• Direct entry from education: University graduates with degrees in occupational health and safety, environmental health, or construction management can enter H&S advisory roles directly. The NEBOSH Diploma is equivalent to a Level 6 qualification and is widely recognised by employers.
• From another industry: H&S professionals from manufacturing, oil and gas, or facilities management can transition to construction by completing the NEBOSH Health and Safety Management for Construction (UK) qualification, which covers the construction-specific legislation and hazards.
• Apprenticeship route: Some employers offer H&S apprenticeships combining on-the-job experience with formal qualifications. The Level 3 Safety, Health and Environment Apprenticeship and Level 6 Occupational Safety and Health Practitioner Apprenticeship are both available.

The HSE guidance for your role provides official information on legal duties for each construction role, including contractors and workers.

What Employers Are Hiring Now?

Health and safety advisor vacancies on SiteJobs come from a range of employers:

• Principal contractors: Major contractors such as Balfour Beatty, Morgan Sindall, Kier, Laing O'Rourke, and Mace regularly recruit H&S advisors for projects across the UK.
• Infrastructure projects: HS2, Hinkley Point C, Sizewell C, Lower Thames Crossing, and other mega-projects require large H&S teams with advisors at every level.
• Housebuilders: Volume housebuilders including Persimmon, Taylor Wimpey, Barratt Homes, and Bellway appoint H&S advisors to cover regional operations.
• Specialist contractors: Demolition, asbestos removal, scaffolding, and ground engineering contractors need dedicated H&S advisors due to the high-risk nature of their work.
• Consultancies: Health and safety consultancies provide advisors to smaller contractors who do not have in-house H&S teams. These roles often involve covering multiple sites across a region.
• Public sector: Local authorities, NHS trusts, and government departments employ H&S advisors for their construction and facilities programmes.

Instead of searching each employer's careers page individually, browse all their H&S advisor vacancies in one place on SiteJobs. Every listing has a real phone number so you can call direct. Search sitejobs-code15 on Google to find us.

Multilingual Information / Informatie multilingva

Romana

Locuri de munca consilier protectia muncii in constructii UK. Calificare NEBOSH necesara. Responsabilitati includ inspectii pe santier, evaluari de risc, raportare RIDDOR, conformitate CDM 2015. Salarii de la £35K la £55K+. Cauta sitejobs-code15 pe Google si suna direct.

Shqip

Pune keshillues sigurie dhe shendetesie ne ndertim UK. Kualifikimi NEBOSH i domosdoshem. Pergjegjesite perfshijne inspektime ne canti, vleresime rrezikesh, raportim RIDDOR, perputhje CDM 2015. Paga nga £35K deri £55K+. Kerko sitejobs-code15 ne Google dhe telefono direkt.

Russkij

Rabota sovetnikom po okhrane truda v stroitelstve UK. Trebuyetsya kvalifikatsiya NEBOSH. Obyazannosti vklyuchayut inspektsii na stroyke, otsenku riskov, otchetnost RIDDOR, sootvetstviye CDM 2015. Zarplata ot £35K do £55K+. Ischite sitejobs-code15 v Google i zvonite napryamuyu.

Browse All Health and Safety Advisor Jobs

See all live health and safety advisor vacancies on SiteJobs. Call direct, no registration walls. Search sitejobs-code15 on Google.

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