Torchora
Back to Home

Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Construction Health & Safety Officer

💰 $55,000 - $90,000

ConstructionHealth & SafetyHSESite Safety

🎯 Role Definition

The Construction Health & Safety Officer is responsible for planning, implementing and maintaining effective site-based health, safety and environmental (HSE) systems to protect workers, contractors and the public while ensuring compliance with local legislation, company policy and industry standards (NEBOSH, OSHA, CDM, ISO 45001). This role leads safety inspections and audits, delivers training and inductions, conducts risk assessments and accident investigations, and partners with project teams to embed a positive safety culture across medium to large construction sites.

Key search terms and SEO-targeted phrases included: Construction Health & Safety Officer, site safety, HSE officer, NEBOSH, permit-to-work, risk assessment, incident investigation, safety audits, ISO 45001.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Site Safety Advisor / Safety Technician (construction)
  • Site Supervisor or Site Engineer with safety responsibilities
  • HSE Coordinator or Compliance Officer

Advancement To:

  • Senior Construction Health & Safety Officer / HSE Manager
  • Construction HSE Lead / Regional HSE Manager
  • Head of SHEQ / Director of Health & Safety

Lateral Moves:

  • Quality Manager (Construction)
  • Environmental Manager (EHS)
  • Project Manager with HSE specialization

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Develop, implement and maintain site-specific health and safety plans (including RAMS, SWMS and permit-to-work procedures) that align with corporate HSE policy, applicable legislation (OSHA/CDM/Local regulations) and ISO 45001 frameworks to ensure legal compliance and risk reduction.
  • Conduct frequent proactive site inspections and safety audits across all construction zones, documenting findings, issuing non-conformance reports, and tracking corrective actions to closure while reporting safety KPIs to project leadership.
  • Lead or support formal incident and near-miss investigations using root cause analysis techniques, prepare detailed investigation reports, compile corrective/preventive actions and follow up to ensure lessons learned are implemented across projects.
  • Perform comprehensive risk assessments and job safety analyses (JSAs) for high-risk activities (work at height, confined space, excavation, lifting operations, hazardous substances), and ensure controls are implemented and communicated to supervisors and operatives.
  • Deliver structured site safety inductions, toolbox talks and competency-based training sessions for operatives, subcontractors and site visitors to raise awareness, improve competence and reduce unsafe acts and conditions.
  • Manage the permit-to-work system, including hot works, confined space entry, electrical isolation and excavation permits, ensuring permits are issued only after proper controls and supervision are in place.
  • Oversee contractor pre-qualification, induction and ongoing monitoring to verify subcontractor compliance with site HSE requirements and ensure safe integration of third-party works into project schedules.
  • Maintain accurate HSE records, logs and statutory registers (training, inspections, permits, incident reports, medical surveillance) and provide weekly and monthly safety performance reports to project management and corporate HSE teams.
  • Monitor and enforce use of personal protective equipment (PPE), fall-arrest systems, safety harnesses and other controls; conduct PPE audits and address non-compliance through coaching and enforcement procedures.
  • Coordinate emergency preparedness and response planning, including fire drills, evacuation procedures, first-aider/medical response arrangements and linkage with local emergency services and site command structures.
  • Assist project teams with design-phase hazard reviews (HAZID/HAZOP) and participate in pre-construction safety planning to identify hazards early and reduce lifecycle risk through design or planning controls.
  • Support fleet, plant and lifting equipment safety by ensuring up-to-date inspections, operator competency checks, and the implementation of exclusion zones and tagout/lockout procedures.
  • Implement and manage behavioral safety programs and positive reinforcement campaigns to drive worker engagement, report unsafe conditions and continually improve safety culture.
  • Monitor statutory and regulatory changes affecting construction safety, interpret implications for ongoing projects and update site procedures and training as required.
  • Liaise with clients, local authorities, safety inspectors and insurance representatives during inspections and audits; prepare for and support external audits and regulatory visits.
  • Develop, maintain and report against site-level HSE performance indicators (TRIR, LTIFR, near-miss rates, corrective action closure rates) to demonstrate continuous improvement and compliance with targets.
  • Support health surveillance programs and occupational health initiatives (noise, dust, vibration controls), coordinate medical monitoring where required and escalate health risks to management.
  • Provide technical guidance on hazardous materials handling, COSHH assessments and waste management practices to ensure safe storage, segregation and disposal on site.
  • Participate in project meetings and change control forums to evaluate the HSE impact of scope, schedule or resource changes and recommend mitigation measures to preserve safety outcomes.
  • Coach, mentor and supervise junior safety staff and site supervisors on best-practice safety management, incident reporting, auditing techniques and regulatory compliance.
  • Prepare and present clear, data-driven HSE briefings and executive summaries to senior management to influence decision-making and secure resources for critical safety initiatives.
  • Ensure COVID-19 (or similar infectious disease) controls and public health guidance are embedded into site operating procedures, including welfare, sanitation and social distancing measures when required.

Secondary Functions

  • Support development of project-specific HSE documentation such as induction modules, checklists, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and management of change records.
  • Assist in procurement reviews to ensure equipment and contractor safety records meet company HSE standards prior to award.
  • Participate in continuous improvement initiatives, driving eH&S system enhancements (digital reporting, mobile inspection apps) and contributing to HSE management system certification readiness (ISO 45001).
  • Act as a point of contact for employee safety concerns and support grievance processes related to workplace safety.
  • Contribute to safety-focused tender preparation and bid responses by providing HSE plans, historical performance data and resource estimates.
  • Support corporate campaigns on topics such as fatigue management, mental health awareness, and occupational hygiene to broaden the scope of site HSE programs.
  • Provide ad-hoc guidance on ergonomics and manual-handling improvements to reduce musculoskeletal injury risk among site labor forces.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • NEBOSH National General Certificate or NEBOSH Construction Certificate (or equivalent); NEBOSH Diploma preferred for senior roles.
  • Proven knowledge of OSHA/OSHA-equivalent regulations, UK CDM 2015 or local construction safety legislation and ISO 45001 requirements.
  • Strong experience developing and reviewing RAMS, SWMS, JSA and permit-to-work systems for construction projects.
  • Competence in incident and root-cause investigation methodologies (e.g., 5 Whys, fault tree analysis) and statutory reporting procedures.
  • Capability to conduct formal safety audits and inspections using industry-standard checklists and produce compliant audit reports.
  • Demonstrated experience with behavioral safety programs, toolbox talks, competency-based training and safety induction delivery.
  • Proficient in preparing and maintaining HSE documentation, compliance registers, and reporting KPI dashboards (Excel, Power BI or similar).
  • Familiarity with construction management and site software (e.g., Procore, SiteDocs, iAuditor, PlanGrid) and mobile inspection tools.
  • Technical knowledge of hazardous substances controls (COSHH), noise and dust mitigation measures, and occupational health surveillance.
  • Experience managing contractor HSE pre-qualification, safety performance monitoring and integration of multi-trade work packages.

Soft Skills

  • Strong communication skills — able to clearly present HSE information to operatives, supervisors, clients and senior management.
  • Influencing and stakeholder-management — drive compliance without direct line authority by building relationships and credibility.
  • Analytical and problem-solving ability — convert inspection findings and incident data into practical corrective actions and preventative measures.
  • Leadership and coaching — mentor site teams and junior safety staff to raise HSE competency across the workforce.
  • Attention to detail and thorough documentation practices to support legal defensibility and quality audits.
  • Calm under pressure and decisive in emergency or incident response situations.
  • Cultural sensitivity and ability to engage diverse, multi-lingual construction workforce.
  • Time management and prioritization skills when balancing inspections, investigations and project meeting commitments.
  • Continuous improvement mindset — commitment to develop processes, reduce risk and embed safety-by-design thinking.
  • Ethical, professional approach to ensure transparency and trust when reporting incidents and non-conformances.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree or diploma in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Occupational Health & Safety, Environmental Health, or equivalent technical qualification.

Preferred Education:

  • NEBOSH Diploma, MSc in Occupational Health & Safety, or equivalent advanced HSE qualification.
  • IOSH Managing Safely or IOSH Membership (GradIOSH/CMIOSH) considered an advantage.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Construction Management
  • Occupational Health & Safety
  • Civil/Structural Engineering
  • Environmental Health & Safety

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 3–7 years of hands-on health & safety experience in construction environments; larger projects or specialist works may require 5+ years.

Preferred:

  • 5+ years of progressive experience as a Construction HSE Officer or Site Safety Advisor on medium to large-scale building, infrastructure or industrial construction projects, with demonstrated success leading audits, investigations and contractor management.
  • Prior exposure to major project delivery environments, international standards (ISO 45001) and successful interaction with regulators and clients.
Explore More Careers