Health and Safety Warehouse Manager in London

The Health and Safety department's primary function is to ensure there is a safe and healthy working environment for all employees, customers, and visitors. This involves identifying potential hazards, implementing control measures to mitigate risks, providing training, and ensuring compliance with relevant health and safety legislation. The team also plays a crucial role in investigating accidents, promoting a positive safety culture, and developing and maintaining health and safety policies and procedures.

This is achieved by working closely with key stakeholders throughout the business, including heads of departments, the people team, and facilities, development, and new stores teams. Training, educating, and supporting our colleagues at Dunelm is key to promoting a positive safety culture within our business.

What you'll be doing:

• Mentor colleagues within the team and wider business to develop their own understanding of Occupational Health and Safety, including supporting through external qualifications such as NEBOSH or IOS.
• Lead and manage change and improvements, including being accountable for improvements in specific areas of the business such as the Home Delivery Network / Pausa Operation.
• Be the first point of contact for all sites to assist with queries and to support with accident investigations.
• Carry out risk assessments and consider how risks could be reduced.
• Outline safe operational procedures which identify and take into account all relevant hazards.
• Carry out regular audits and inspections to check policies and procedures are being properly implemented and adhered to.
• Ensure working practices are safe and comply with legislation.
• Influence senior managers within the business to affect change where risk or poor performance is identified through auditing and inspections.
• Help to prepare health and safety strategies and develop internal policy.
• Lead in-house training.
• Keep up to date with new legislation and maintain a working knowledge of all Health and Safety Executive (HSE) legislation and any developments that affect the employer's industry.
• Attend Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) seminars and read professional journals.
• Ensure equipment is installed safely and is fit for purpose.
• Devise and implement new processes and procedures to continually reduce the number of accidents that occur across all sites.
• Assist sites to defend any personal injury claims, including attending court where required.
• Research and select the best training provision on the basis of cost vs. needs.
• Whenever possible, produce in-house training documentation.
• Control insurance payouts now we have increased the excess to £10,000 per claim.
• Manage waste and recycling activities throughout all sites to ensure we are generating income from as much of our recyclable waste as possible, i.e., cardboard and plastic. Limit the amount of waste going to landfill.
• Maintain a good working relationship with all suppliers/training companies, hold/attend annual review meetings.
• Coach and develop good relationships with store managers to encourage a strong health & safety culture across sites.
• Support with preparing monthly and quarterly reports for the Exec board.
• Analyse safety data to identify trends and drive continuous improvement.
• Ensure key personnel within the business are aware of the current Health & Safety performance by producing timely and accurate reports.

What we'll look for in you:

• Full UK Driving Licence.
• A good understanding of UK Health & Safety and Fire legislation – NVQ Level 5 or higher in Occupational Health & Safety or equivalent. NEBOSH Fire Certificate.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to lead and influence others at all levels of the business.
• Self-confident, resilient, and self-motivated.
• Ability to prioritise workload.
• IT literate with good numeric skills (Excel spreadsheets / PowerPoint / Publisher).
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Excellent influencer.
• Continuous professional development – willingness to learn and develop personal skills.
• Must be registered with an industry body such as IOSH and be able to demonstrate working to a high level such as Grad or Cert status.
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in a senior role or health and safety role.