How did I get here?
Career information
Real safety and health practitioners describe their career history to SHP
How did I get here?
Dian John - Director, Safe.D
What was the first job you got when you finished your education/training?
I joined the Royal Navy at 15 and served for 25 years. During the latter stages of my service I was involved in training personnel in sea survival, fire-fighting, first aid, seamanship, mine warfare, and the use of explosives. During my service I witnessed a number of fatalities, many of which could have been prevented. I became passionate about saving people’s lives and looking after others.
Why did you become interested in health and safety?
When I moved into
What qualifications do you hold?
In my early career I was more involved in skills training. I gained my NEBOSH National General Certificate and moved on to the Diploma while working at RoSPA. I have also achieved the IEMA certificate. Life goes full circle, as I now teach delegates on the NEBOSH course and IOSH courses, and have done so for more than 20 years.
Which is more important – experience or qualifications, and why?
Qualifications give the framework to enhance your career and demonstrate to others your ability. Experience is also essential in keeping up to date in an ever-changing work environment. Stress and behavioural safety, for example, were not even on the NEBOSH or IOSH agendas 20 years ago, but both are now important elements of health and safety training and company culture. Experience and qualifications both help practitioners achieve competency.
How has IOSH, or IOSH membership, helped you in your career?
I have been involved with many aspects of IOSH for more than 20 years. I was on the committee that helped set up the IOSH Managing policing services. I also give legislation update seminars for regional branches. IOSH has enhanced my career from the very early years and continues to do so. Demonstrating CPD as a chartered fellow is essential for me to maintain status in the field.
How did you get your current job?
Having worked at RoSPA and Woodland Grange for well over 20 years, I needed a challenge. As a self-employed trainer and consultant I am able to assist companies in developing management systems throughout the whole of their organisation. The development of all personnel, from the board to the shop floor, is very rewarding.
Describe an average day in your job?
Every day is different. Recently, I was in
What have been the highest and lowest points of your career?
I get a buzz when I know I have managed to convert cynics into having an active interest in health and safety. I’ve had very few lows (apart from keeping my accounts up to date!) I am passionate about the job I do.
What are your top two pieces of advice on getting a job in health and safety?
Always demonstrate a passion for health and safety, and show enthusiasm to everyone you meet. Never give up when talking to the ‘non-believers’ – they all come round eventually. If people come to you with a health and safety issue, always give practical advice. If it’s beyond your knowledge or remit, then seek professional advice from someone who has the competency to give it.
What has been the biggest change in health and safety since you have been working in it?
The move away from a ‘blame culture’ when things go wrong. Dedicated commitment from the top of an organisation is the way that companies can change safety culture and move ahead to the ultimate goal of ‘zero accidents’. This is certainly happening more now in the working environment.
CV Dian John Young
2007-now Director, Safe.D
1992-2006 Senior health and safety tutor/consultant, Woodland Grange
1989-1992 Senior health and safety consultant, RoSPA
1987-1989 Youth training scheme
1962-1986 Royal Navy
Lawrence Webb - Head of HSE strategy and development, Sypol Limited
What was the first job you got when you finished your education/training?
I was working in the sales team of a company that designed and installed structures and street furniture. Health and safety became an important part of my job, keeping my feet firmly on both sides of the fence! Working on projects such as the Millennium Dome, Manchester city regeneration, and Canary Wharf meant I could empathise with those trying to get the job done from the construction perspective as well as those wanting to achieve it in the safest way possible.
Why did you become interested in health and safety?
My curiosity was sparked during my college years – I enjoyed the challenge of resolving operational issues while having to consider the safety and well-being of the people involved. I found I had a talent for using a practical approach to solve these problems. Application of the law to these activities was also of interest and, as my career took off, I was drawn to these same challenges.
What qualifications do you hold?
I have a BTEC Diploma in building studies, an honours degree in town planning (taken deliberately to give me an overarching appreciation of construction activity), the CMTC Diploma in safety practice, the ‘old-style’ NEBOSH Diploma, and the IEMA Certificate (not to mention the essential soft-skills qualifications!)
Which is more important – experience or qualifications, and why?
Realistically, you can’t be competent without both; they go hand-in-hand. Qualifications provide the fundamental knowledge and associated expectations, while experience allows the application of what has been learnt. In practice, competence comes from getting things wrong as well as right – you don’t learn from an artificial desktop study. One aspect of competence often overlooked is the need to know your own limitations and when to seek help and advice.
How has IOSH, or IOSH membership, helped you in your career?
As an advocate of lifelong learning, the ability to network with my peers is essential for my own development. The way IOSH serves its members is, for me, an essential part of this process. Achievement of chartered status is the flagship requirement for those who take health and safety seriously. Progression to this level tells others that you have achieved a competency standard that will always be built upon through CPD.
How did you get your current job?
I was introduced to key people at Sypol and the ethos of the company through my previous work at Costain. When I was approached to discuss the opportunity to join Sypol, I jumped at the chance.
Describe an average day in your job?
For me, there is no ‘average day’, only interesting variation. My role is to show our customers how to achieve business benefit from sound HSE leadership and management. Whether it’s consultancy, training, business development, or strategic planning, the message is the same – a healthy workforce equals a healthy business.
What have been the highest and lowest points of your career?
Converting non-believers provides the best reward for me personally. Passing the NEBOSH Diploma also gave me a massive high. By achieving a qualification that is so hard to get, I proved to myself that I had the ability to understand the fundamentals of health and safety management. Lows are associated with investigation work following serious accidents – especially when the outcome is severe, yet so easily prevented.
What is your ‘pet subject’ in health and safety?
Hands-on application and implementation of construction-related health and safety, especially CDM.
What are your top two pieces of advice on getting a job in health and safety?
Taking on challenging roles is a must, but always be aware of your own limitations. Trying to exceed your own capabilities without help at too early a stage can result in accidents and ill health. Be a practitioner in both approach and delivery. Old-school dictators are of no use to those who need help and advice.
What has been the biggest change in health and safety since you have been working in it?
The final realisation that behaviour is the key to success.
CV Lawrence Webb
2009 to present
Head of HSE strategy and development, Sypol Limited
2008-09
HSCE leader, EEF Woodland Grange
2004-08
SHE manager, Costain Limited
1999-2004
Senior tutor/consultant, CMTC
1994-99
Regional sales manager/health and safety advisor, Woodhouse UK
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Robin Stowell - Safety coordinator, Garrad Hassan and Partners Ltd
What was the first job you got when you finished your education/training?
I joined the Royal Navy from school and spent the next five years training as a marine engineer officer. My first real job was as deputy marine engineer onboard a frigate. During the two-year appointment I sailed most of the world, including the Baltic Sea, Mediterranean, South Atlantic, Caribbean and the Gulf.
Why did you become interested in health and safety?
I didn’t realise how much of my daily activity was safety-related until the ship underwent an audit by the HQ staff. Some years later, I took the opportunity to become the Fleet’s safety, health, and environment officer and be the auditor. I could see the challenge in developing a ‘military’ safety culture and educating future generations of ships’ companies.
What qualifications do you hold?
BEng (Hons) in marine systems engineering from the Royal Naval Engineering College, Manadon; MSc in occupational health and safety management from Brunel University; chartered safety practitioner; chartered marine engineer.
Which is more important – experience or qualifications, and why?
Experience in a particular specialism is more important to me, as it is essential to recognise what you, and others, are talking about in order to communicate and cooperate effectively. Qualifications will demonstrate knowledge and professional capability.
How has IOSH, or IOSH membership, helped you in your career?
I have attended several CPD courses to better my knowledge base, and found them invaluable in day-to-day work activities. I have also recommended these to colleagues and directors, to fulfil their training requirements. As a chartered safety practitioner now transitioned into the renewable energy sector, I bring professional status to a rapidly-growing industry.
How did you get your current job?
I replied to an advertisement by Garrad Hassan for an offshore wind farm engineer but with my safety-related background, a new position was created. My brief was to improve the company’s internal safety management to the OHSAS 18001:2007 standard, develop the existing consultancy services in compliance with CDM 2007 requirements, and provide a new service as an independent safety auditor of renewable energy projects.
Describe an average day in your job?
Typically bipolar: I’m either in the office overseeing the internal safety management system and advising all areas of the company on how to integrate safety into specific projects, or out on site conducting audits of onshore and offshore wind farms. I also get involved in the engineering aspects of turbine installation and warranty inspection, as well as due diligence work for financiers.
What have been the highest and lowest points of your career?
Lowest: Being ordered to take responsibility for maritime safety during the Trafalgar 200 International Fleet Review, having previously said it was beyond my capabilities. However, my team produced and successfully implemented a safety case for transferring 25,000 personnel between 150 ships and shore over four days without injury. Highest: Joining Garrad Hassan as it picked up a Queen’s Award for Enterprise and was listed in the Sunday Times Profit Track 100.
What is your ‘pet subject’ in health and safety?
Safety is a language that needs translation. If you look in a dictionary (regulations) you might get the right definition of a word, but in what context? A phrase book (Approved Code of Practice) will give you a few useful sentences, but a teacher (competent safety practitioner) will develop a group’s cultural ability to survive and succeed. The key is to keep it simple and proportionate so that everyone can understand.
What are your top two pieces of advice on getting a job in health and safety?
Look at your existing skills and experience, see how they apply to the safety environment, and what you can build upon as a specialism. Don’t try to blag competence in a specific field when asked at an interview – they are likely to know more about it than you!
CV Robin Stowell
2009 - Present Safety coordinator, Garrad Hassan and Partners Ltd
2008 – 09 Project safety manager, SeaRoc Ltd
2006 - 08 Head of marine engineering dept, Royal Navy destroyer
2003 - 06 Fleet HS&E officer, Royal Navy HQ
2000 - 03 Propulsion engineer officer, Royal Navy aircraft carrier
