Health and Safety Inspector

Kaimātai Hauora-Haumaru

Health and safety inspectors assess workplaces and work activities to determine if employers are keeping workers and other people safe and healthy at work. They also educate people about health and safety, investigate accidents and lead prosecutions.

Learn about this job

Secondary education
Useful experience
What you will do
Skills and knowledge
Entry requirements
Chances of getting a job
Find out more about training
Career progression and specialisations
Working conditions
Physical requirements
Useful personal qualities
Industry
Similar jobs in the industry

Secondary education

There are no specific secondary education requirements to become a health and safety inspector, but NCEA Level 2 maths and English are useful.

Study fields

Occupational Health and Safety

Study levels

Up to NCEA Level 3

Useful experience

Useful experience for health and safety inspectors includes:

risk management
interpreting laws and regulations
compliance, investigation or enforcement work
occupational health experience, such as occupational nursing
technical or scientific work
working with legal systems and processes
health and safety management.

What you will do

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

assess if workplaces have safe and healthy work practices, and sound health and safety management systems
assess work activities and practices
ensure suitable protective equipment, such as hearing protection, is provided and used correctly
ensure suitable controls are in place to manage workplace risks
investigate serious harm incidents and accidents, and situations where someone could get hurt or injured
investigate occupational disease
write reports about the results of assessments and investigations
serve notices to get improvements done or shut down workplace processes
take legal action or give evidence in court when necessary.

Skills and knowledge

Health and safety inspectors need to have:

knowledge of health and safety acts and regulations, and how to interpret them
an understanding of safe work practices and how risks are managed
knowledge of health and safety management systems
knowledge of hazardous substances used in workplaces and their adverse effects
the ability to conduct investigations and prepare cases for prosecution
the ability to educate and influence others.

Pay

Trainee and newly warranted health and safety inspectors usually earn

$61K-$66K

per year

Fully trained health and safety inspectors with at least five years' experience usually earn

$76K-$93K

per year

Job opportunities

Poor

Chances of getting a job as a health and safety inspector are poor, as staff turnover is low and a limited number of trainees are accepted each year.

Length of training

1-2

years of training required

Industry

Public Order and Safety

Similar jobs in this industry

Building Surveyor

Police Officer

Biosecurity Officer

Environmental/Public Health Officer

Health and Safety Adviser

Entry requirements

To become a qualified health and safety inspector, you need to have:

a full, clean driver's licence
the ability to drive a manual car
passed a police check.

If you are accepted, you then:

work as a trainee health and safety inspector and complete at least 12 months of on-the-job study and practical training to achieve a WorkSafe New Zealand Identity Card
work as an assistant health and safety inspector
complete six to 12 months further on-the-job training and study to gain a Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Enforcement Officer Warrant
apply for promotion to become a fully qualified health and safety inspector.

Chances of getting a job

Staff turnover low and limited trainee positions

Vacancies for health and safety inspectors are limited as most people find the job rewarding and stay in the role for a long time.

A limited number of people are accepted as trainee health and safety inspectors each year. In 2016, eight trainees were recruited and WorkSafe New Zealand intends to recruit about 25 in 2017. Competition for trainee positions is high, with around 100 applications per role.

Experience in specific areas helps your chances of employment

WorkSafe New Zealand is looking for people with expertise in:

construction
forestry
manufacturing
agriculture
oil, gas and mining
occupational health.

One employer of health and safety inspectors

All health and safety inspectors are employed by WorkSafe New Zealand.

Find out more about training

Employers and Manufacturers Association: (09) 367 0909 - learn@ema.co.nz - www.ema.co.nz

Progression and specialisations

Once qualified, health and safety inspectors may work in one of three teams:

assessments
investigations
response.

Health and safety inspectors can also progress to become technical specialists or managers within WorkSafe New Zealand.

Working conditions

Health and safety inspectors:

usually work regular business hours. However, they sometimes work evenings and weekends and may be rostered on call after hours
travel when required, especially during the first two years of their career to attend training courses
work indoors and outdoors, visiting locations such as shops, factories, construction sites, mines and forests
may work in conditions that are noisy, dirty, confined or hazardous, and with challenging people.

Physical Requirements

Health and safety inspectors need to have a good level of fitness as they may need to bend, climb and work in confined spaces.

Useful personal qualities

Health and safety inspectors need to be:

good at problem solving and analysis, with excellent judgement
good at making decisions
good at oral and written communication
able to keep information confidential
enquiring and alert, with an eye for detail and an ability to learn new things
firm, fair and impartial
able to relate to and work with people from a range of cultures and backgrounds
able to stay calm and work well under pressure and without supervision
able to cope with accident scenes and to deal with stress and conflict.