Explore careers

Useful experience for health and safety advisers includes:

• work in a trade that requires health and safety awareness, such as construction or agriculture
• work as a health and safety representative while doing a different job
• experience in the industry that you want to work in – for example, forestry
• a background in occupational health nursing
• work for the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC).

Health and safety advisers may do some or all of the following:

• identify and measure chemical, physical and health hazards
• provide reports, and develop strategies, policies and procedures to minimise workplace hazards
• educate and train staff in managing workplace risks
• provide information on new hazards and legal requirements
• encourage staff to participate in health and safety procedures
• inspect workplaces to check health and safety procedures are followed
• record and investigate incidents and injuries, and equipment damage
• help injured staff return to work
• prepare reports on safety performance.

Good demand for health and safety advisers

Opportunities for health and safety advisers are good due to:

• demand for trained, experienced health and safety advisers in many industries, especially construction, agriculture, manufacturing and forestry
• WorkSafe's strategy to improve health and safety in New Zealand workplaces
• government and industry initiatives to improve the health and safety culture in New Zealand industries.

Shortage of trained, experienced health and safety advisers

The number of new health and safety advisers is insufficient to meet demand. This is because it takes a long time to train as a health and safety adviser, and relevant industry experience is important for specific roles. As a result, some employers are recruiting from overseas.

High demand for occupational hygienists

There is strong demand for occupational hygienists (sometimes called industrial hygienists) who identify, evaluate and control risks to worker health from physical, chemical, and biological hazards.

According to the Census, 2,445 health and safety advisers worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Types of employers varied

Health and safety advisers may:

• be employed by businesses across a wide range of industries
• work as consultants for health and safety consulting firms
• be self-employed, working on contract for several smaller businesses
• work in the not-for-profit sector.

Larger businesses in industries with higher rates of work-related injuries usually employ full-time health and safety advisers. These industries include:

• manufacturing
• mining and quarrying
• forestry
• fisheries
• construction
• agriculture.

Employers and Manufacturers' Association

(09) 367 0909 - learn@ema.co.nz - www.ema.co.nz

Health and Safety Association of New Zealand

info@hasanz.org.nz - www.hasanz.org.nz

NZ Institute of Safety Management

027 524 3911 - admin@nzism.org - www.nzism.org

NZ Occupational Health Nurses' Association (Inc)

027 526 6220 - admin@nzohna.org.nz - www.nzohna.org.nz

New Zealand Occupational Hygiene Society

 admin@nzohs.org.nz  - www.nzohs.org.nz

Health and safety advisers may progress to set up their own business, or move into management, teaching or research roles.

Health and safety advisers can specialise as an occupational hygienist, or specialise in particular industries such as:

• agriculture, forestry or fishing
• construction
• health
• hospitality
• mining
• oil and gas
• processing and manufacturing.

Health and safety advisers need to be:

• good at relating to a wide range of people
• patient
• able to remain calm in emergencies
• skilled at understanding complex information and presenting it simply and accurately
• safety-conscious
• good at problem-solving and decision-making
• able to work independently and in a team.