Health and safety manager jobs
Health and safety is not only a legal requirement of any ongoing business, it is also important in maintaining morale of staff and also keeping them safe, which can reduce sick days and prevent litigation through accidents at work. In charge of H&S will be a health and safety manager or head of health and safety. Their job will be to keep in touch with the law and technologies surrounding the industry they are working in, performing inspections and ordering repairs, and to keep the staff informed about health and safety.
Logistics, with its heavy transport, warehouses, potentially hazardous materials and bulk goods, is inherently dangerous if the correct health and safety procedures are not observed. But even “safe” areas like offices require health and safety law to be implemented, and this will also form part of the health and safety manager’s role.
In large companies, the health and safety manager might be required to oversee several sires, and an in-depth knowledge of their H&S requirements will be required. The health and safety manager often has the power to shut down any part of a site he or she thinks falls below the required standards.
The skills required
Instilling health and safety is often something of a persuasive skill, as it’s well known that workers get complacent and can often fall into bad habits. It will be up to the head of health and safety to make sure rules are observed, so good communication skills – informing and listening – will be essential.
The role also requires an ability to absorb and comprehend changes in H&S law and the H&S implications of new technologies. This could involve study and attendance at seminars, where a receptive personality will be valued.
The job will involve a good deal of paperwork, digital and literal, so good computer skills, especially report-writing, will be necessary.
Health and Safety Manager Jobs in Widnes
At the north-eastern edge of Cheshire lies Widnes, a town of around 60,000 population built on heavy industry, particularly chemicals, where ICI had a huge presence for decades before fragmenting in the 1990s. The chemical industry chose Widnes partly for the plentiful supply of water, just like Runcorn, to which it is joined by a railway and road bridge over the Mersey.
The centre of Liverpool is 11 miles (17 km) to the west, with Liverpool John Lennon Airport just 4 miles (7km) form the centre of Widnes. Although not actually in Widnes, the Jaguar Land rover car production plant is just outside the town in Halewood, and it has been a large employer of people from Widnes. For decades the plant was owned by Ford, and the locals still cal the main boulevard that passes it “The Ford Road”. Under the new management, the factory is doing extremely well, helped by a local enthusiastic workforce.
Widnes has two musical claims to fame, one certain, one apocryphal. First was the Stone Roses’ Spike Island gig, the pinnacle of the Madchester scene in 1990. The second claim is that Paul Simon wrote “Homeward Bound” at Widnes Station, although Simon isn’t 100% sure himself!
Widnes has retained many of its industrial plants, although they are no longer owned by the giant ICI, and have been taken over by a multitude of companies. The well-connected town is handy for Liverpool, Warrington, St Helens and Runcorn, and has the M62 at its northern point. All this makes it a good place to locate any logistics operations, and indeed, Health and Safety Manager jobs or similar positions have been through our system in Widnes.
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Cast UK’s logistics opportunities
Cast UK was founded by specialists in the logistics, supply chain and procurement trade, and as we grow, we only employ consultants from the same backgrounds. This gives us in-depth knowledge of what employers and candidates are looking for.
We have jobs in all areas of the UK, so are perfectly placed to find you work wherever you are located. If you’re moving house, please check to see if there are any positions available in the new area; if you’re simply looking for more job fulfilment or to advance your career, there’s more than likely an employer who’s looking for the skills you are offering.
Employers approach us to find candidates because they are confident that we will be able to fill their managerial and executive vacancies. So do get in touch if you’re looking for a job in logistics; there’s a good chance a vacancy will arise with your name on it.
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