Environment, Health & Safety Officer in Manchester

Job Title

Environment, Health and Safety Officer

Reports To

Chief Operations Officer

Description of role

Experienced and knowledgeable Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) Officer with experience of working within the In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) or Medical Devices industry.

The role is responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining the Company's global EHS framework, ensuring compliance with applicable legislation, industry standards and best practice across all Novacyt sites worldwide

Overall responsibility

The Health & Safety Officer is responsible for leading, coordinating, supporting and advising the business on all aspects of Environment, Health & Safety (EHS), including occupational health and safety, environmental management, COSHH, fire safety, emergency preparedness and regulatory compliance across all Novacyt sites globally.

The role is accountable for establishing, implementing and continually improving EHS management systems, policies, standards, processes, training, communications and performance measures to ensure a safe, healthy and compliant working environment across all laboratory, manufacturing, warehouse, office and field-based operations.

The post-holder will work closely with the Chief Operations Officer, Senior Leadership Team, site management teams, regulatory authorities and external partners to drive a proactive safety culture, support operational excellence and ensure compliance with applicable legislation and help develop & maintain ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 management systems throughout the Novacyt Group.

Key areas of responsibility

• Ensure a safe workplace environment for laboratory, warehouse, office and field-based employees, to a level of acceptable risk.
• Lead incident investigations, determine root causes, implement corrective and preventive actions, monitor effectiveness and ensure compliance with statutory reporting requirements.
• Develop, Maintain and continually improve the Company's ISO 45001 Occupational Health & Safety Management System and ISO 14001 Environmental Management System.
• Ensure that all Health, Safety, Environment, COSHH and fire safety policies, procedures, rules and regulations are adhered to and are regularly reviewed, updated and communicated.
• Ensure the Company meets its statutory obligations in all areas pertaining to health, safety and welfare at work, including statutory training and reporting, with appropriate records kept
• Co-ordinate and drive the completion and regular review of Risk and COSHH Assessments for all work equipment and operations.
• Ensure that safety inspections are carried out, fire drills and fire alarms are correctly reported, safety inspections and lone working procedures are managed, and employees are aware of their responsibilities, in alignment with onsite facility management.
• Manage the development of health & safety policies/procedures and systems of work, within a document control management system.
• Establish a full program of documented health & safety inspections, audits and checks.
• Establish a structured program of health & safety training for all locations throughout the Company.
• Liaise with external consultants in the provision of training programs and health and safety services, as applicable.
• Manage and devise the agenda for, chair and formulate & distribute minutes for the Health & Safety Committee meetings, ensuring that all agreed action points are completed within deadlines.
• Keep up to date with all aspects of relevant health, safety & welfare at work legislation and communicate relevant changes to the business.
• Lead emergency preparedness, business continuity and first aid programmes.
• Promote behavioural safety and positive safety culture.
• Maintain legal compliance registers and internal ISO audits.
• Support occupational health, wellbeing and health surveillance.
• Support sustainability and environmental initiatives.
• Provide regular reports to the ELT Team on relevant health and safety activities.
• Participate in monthly meetings when required to report on relevant health & safety matters. Liaise with suppliers of H&S Management systems.
• Manage the Combined Liability Insurance portfolio insofar as it relates to the HSO role remit.
• Any other reasonable duties which may be required by management from time to time.

Consults with

• Novacyt management and staff
• External companies and authorities such as the HSE, Fire and Rescue Service, and Environmental Health Office In the UK and all relevant regulatory bodies in Novacyt’s Global locations

Supervisory/Management Responsibilities

No direct supervision but a key role in influencing the Company’s behaviour at all levels

Qualifications, Skills and Abilities

• At least 3 years recent and relevant experience in a similar role - Required
• NEBOSH (General Certificate) qualified - Required
• NEBOSH Environmental Certificate - desirable
• COSHH Trained (chemical and biological) - Desirable
• Fire Safety Management qualification – Desirable

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Provision of advice to managers/supervisors
• Knowledge of H&S and E Management Platforms
• Handling of H&S investigations
• Experience of formulating, implementing and revising H&S policies and procedures
• Experience of biological Laboratory safety requirements to a minimum of CL2, preferable CL3
• Confidential in all matters
• Professional approach coupled with strong interpersonal skills.
• Excellent planning, organizational and time management skills
• Excellent verbal, written communication and presentation skills
• Strong IT skills
• Knowledge of Microsoft packages
• Ability to work on own initiative
• Ability to work in, and adapt to a rapidly changing environment
• Ability to work co-operatively with others to complete tasks and implement process improvements
• Support for HSE activities linked to HR inductions e. g. VDU assessments, equipment set up
• Flexible and co-operative at all times
• An assertive but calm demeanor
• Self-motivated
• Focused attitude to delivery
• Good timekeeping and attendance record
• Ability to work well with multifunctional teams to achieve practical solutions
• Good attention to detail/records management

Our Values

• Delivery Quality
• Collaboration
• Customer Centric
• Integrity
• People First
• Ownership