Chapter 8 - Health and Safety Inspectors, Safety Advisers and Safety Engineers

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of health and safety inspectors, safety advisors, and safety engineers. Health and safety inspectors' work is to seek out dangers in existing plants and processes and to assess whether the steps taken to combat the dangers meet legal and other standards for safety. Several insurance companies employ safety inspectors often doing much specialized work. The numbers employed are much smaller in comparison with the government inspectorates; however, they are generally increasing. Safety advisors are employed at various levels in most industries. In a senior role, they advise on the strategy for safety in all matters affecting the company or organization. The scope of their work depends on the size and nature of the industry. Sometimes the work covers security, product safety, fire prevention, disaster contingency planning, and occupational safety, and occasionally, it may include occupational hygiene. Occupational safety has a broad scope, including the advising of management on aspects of the design of plant, processes and equipment, the specification of safe systems of work, attention to legal requirements, committee work and joint consultation on safety matters, safety training for management and workers, investigation of accidents and the collection of data on accidents, and generally, the advancement of all aspects of accident prevention. Safety inspectors employed by insurance companies are experienced engineers, often with professional standing.