Choosing the right construction health and safety specialist can make a real difference to how risks are managed across a project. It is not just about finding someone who understands the regulations. They also need to understand how construction sites actually operate, communicate clearly with your team and provide advice that is practical to follow. With different consultants offering varying levels of experience and support, it helps to know what to look for before making a decision.
Check for Recognised Memberships & Credentials
Recognised NEBOSH qualifications are important, but professional membership can also indicate the standards a health and safety specialist is expected to maintain. Membership of recognised organisations, such as IOSH, can demonstrate that a consultant has reached a certain level of professional competence and is expected to keep their knowledge up to date.
When speaking to a potential consultant, ask which professional bodies they belong to and what level of membership they hold. It is also worth checking whether their qualifications and experience are relevant to construction, rather than health and safety in a completely different working environment.
Use the Occupational Safety and Health Consultants Register
The Occupational Safety and Health Consultants Register (OSHCR) gives businesses another way to check potential consultants before appointing someone. It provides a searchable directory of UK health and safety professionals who meet the register’s eligibility requirements.
You can use OSHCR to search for consultants based on factors such as their location, industry experience and areas of expertise. This can be particularly useful if you are starting your search from scratch or want to check the credentials of someone you are already considering.
Being listed on the register should not be the only factor behind your decision, but it provides a useful starting point before looking more closely at the consultant’s construction experience, previous work and whether they are a good fit for your business.
What is their Industry Experience?
Health and safety experience does not always mean construction experience. It’s common knowledge that construction brings its own risks and responsibilities, so it is worth finding out how familiar a specialist is with the industry before appointing them.
Clients they work with
Looking at the types of clients a health and safety specialist already works with can give you a better idea of their experience. They may support principal contractors, subcontractors, developers, property companies or businesses carrying out their own construction and maintenance work.
You do not necessarily need to find someone who has worked with a company exactly like yours. What matters more is whether they understand projects of a similar size, the type of work involved and the health and safety challenges that are likely to come with it.
What do they specialise in
Construction health and safety covers a lot of ground. Some specialists may focus heavily on site inspections and audits, while others have more experience with areas such as CDM support, risk assessments, method statements, accident investigations or ongoing health and safety management.
Think about what you actually need help with and check that the specialist has experience in that area. If you are looking for ongoing support across several construction projects, for example, someone whose experience is mainly limited to occasional inspections may not be the best fit.
Working Style and Approach
Qualifications and industry experience matter, but the way a health and safety specialist works with your team can be just as important. Construction projects move quickly, so you need someone who can give clear advice, deal with issues early and work alongside the people already responsible for delivering the job.
Proactive attitude
Look for someone who takes a proactive approach rather than only getting involved when a problem has already developed. Regular site visits, reviews and open communication can help identify issues before they become more difficult to manage.
Clear communication
Health and safety advice needs to be understood by the people expected to follow it. A specialist may be highly qualified, but that is of limited use if their advice is difficult to understand or full of unnecessary technical language.
They should be able to communicate clearly with different people across a project, from directors and project managers through to supervisors, subcontractors and workers on site. Recommendations should be straightforward, realistic and clear enough for the team to act on.
Cultural fit
The right specialist should fit comfortably with the way your team works. They need to be confident enough to challenge unsafe practices when necessary, while still being approachable and able to build a good working relationship with the people on site.
Health and safety support should not create unnecessary friction between consultants and the construction team. Someone who understands the pressures of delivering a project and can work collaboratively is more likely to get people engaged with the advice being given. The aim is to improve how risks are managed without making everyday tasks more complicated than they need to be.
Choose Hurst Setter as your Construction Safety Specialist Partner
Choosing a construction health and safety specialist comes down to more than qualifications alone. You need someone who understands the industry, communicates clearly and can work with your team in a practical way. Hurst Setter provides construction health and safety support with a focus on giving straightforward advice that works on real sites. If you are looking for a specialist who can support your business, help identify areas for improvement and work alongside your team without adding unnecessary complication, get in touch with Hurst Setter to discuss what you need.
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