Health & Safety Officer in Brighton

Reports to: Health, Safety and Wellbeing Team Manager

Division: Health, Safety, Wellbeing and Building Services

Section: Health, Safety and Wellbeing

Location: Hollingdean Depot, BN1 7GA

Contract: 17 August 2026 - 18 October 2026

Job Purpose

Support council services and departments to develop and implement effective health, safety and wellbeing systems that promote a positive safety culture and comply with legislation and best practice. Provide professional advice and assurance, support risk management and improvement programmes, and work with operational managers to protect employees, visitors and contractors.

Main Duties

• Advise services on health, safety and wellbeing legislation, guidance and best practice, ensuring responsibilities are effectively met.
• Promote a positive safety culture covering staff training, equipment and vehicle/HGV use, site safety and statutory records.
• Produce and review risk assessments and method statements with operational staff, identifying hazards and suitable control measures.
• Prepare safety briefings, newsletters and communications and respond to health, safety and wellbeing enquiries.
• Investigate incidents, complaints, hazards and dangerous occurrences, identify improvements and implement preventative measures.
• Develop and implement health and safety policies, standards and procedures and monitor compliance through inspections, observations, audits and reports.
• Interpret legislation and advise services on its impact on current practice and statutory compliance.
• Present technical or sensitive information to relevant groups and elevate significant issues where required.
• Support Managers and Team Leaders with proactive and reactive improvement programmes, including audit actions, inspection plans, mandatory training, policies and performance targets.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes and systems and deliver agreed actions within required timescales.
• Deliver health and safety training to operational teams and support systems to ensure job-related training is completed and recorded.
• Support regulatory compliance relating to health and safety legislation, operating licences, chemical use and waste management certification.
• Monitor and audit safety performance, identifying trends and issues relating to incidents, accidents, equipment, vehicle driving, risk-control compliance and workplace conditions.

Health and Safety Responsibilities

All staff must take reasonable care of their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of others affected by their work. Duties must comply with the Council's Health, Safety and Wellbeing Policy, relevant service arrangements, guidance and legislation. Staff must not intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided for health and safety purposes, in accordance with Section 8 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act. Failure to comply may result in disciplinary action and may constitute gross misconduct.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Support the Council's equality, diversity and inclusion aims. Ensure inclusive and fair outcomes are reflected in work, communications and interactions with staff and customers. Challenge or report discrimination, harassment, bullying or other failures to meet inclusion requirements.

Essential Criteria

Qualifications and Knowledge

• NEBOSH General Certificate, NVQ Level 3 or equivalent health and safety qualification.
• Tech IOSH or membership of a relevant professional health, safety or wellbeing body, or working towards it.
• Evidence of maintaining professional knowledge and skills through CPD (approximately 30 hours annually) or developing qualifications towards NEBOSH completion.
• Understanding and practical application of HSG65 or an equivalent health and safety management system.

Experience

• Experience as a health and safety practitioner in a frontline operational environment, preferably in a relevant sector.
• Experience designing, developing and delivering bespoke health and safety training.
• Experience delivering health, safety and wellbeing activities to agreed standards.
• Experience interpreting health and safety legislation and guidance and converting requirements into policies, procedures and staff guidance.

Skills and Abilities

• Motivated, enthusiastic, tenacious and results-focused, with the ability to manage pressure, tight deadlines and changing priorities with limited supervision.
• Able to investigate incidents and near misses, gather evidence and identify corrective actions.
• Able to challenge unsafe practices, identify problems and influence decisions at different levels.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including report writing, presentations, influencing and motivating others.
• Strong networking, negotiation and partnership-building skills, with the ability to develop practical and innovative solutions.
• Confident using computer systems, analysing performance data and producing reports.

Other Requirements

• Commitment to developing knowledge of health, safety and wellbeing policies and practices and complying with relevant procedures and instructions.
• Genuine commitment to equality, diversity, fairness and inclusion.
• Ability to work outdoors occasionally in adverse weather and visit steep or difficult-to-access sites.
• Ability to travel to council locations across the city, including areas with limited or no public transport.
• Duties are not exhaustive and may change in line with service requirements.