Health and Safety for Success
Royal Bank of Scotland's (RBS) outgoing Divisional Health and Safety Manager, Andrew Sharman is on the brink of an exciting move which will see him change, not only job and company, but country. This is the latest development in an already illustrious career within the health and safety field.
A chance injury (a nasty chemical burn) in his first job as a Process Engineer led Andrew to consider the impact of the inherent dangers of his job and how health and safety procedures, in any job, had a vital position in the workplace. Following his accident and having established his interest in occupational health and safety, Andrew came to SCE Enterprise to complete the NEBOSH General Certificate which he did, successfully, 1999.
Once he completed the NEBOSH Certificate, Andrew found that he was inspired and wanted to learn more. The content of study of the NEBOSH certificate had equipped Andrew with the broad knowledge and appreciation of the variety of workplace hazards. Completion of the qualification gave him the motivation to change career from Engineering to Health and Safety.
Since completing the NEBOSH Certificate with SCE Enterprise, Andrew's commitment to his learning and career development has been outstanding. Andrew has undertaken and achieved degree level qualifications in Occupational Health and Safety Management and Training and Development. He also holds a Masters in International Health and Safety Law and Environmental Law and has attained a number of risk-specific qualifications along the way. Not content to stop there, Andrew is currently undertaking an MSc in Organisational Behaviour.
So, what can such a wealth of knowledge and learning do for your career? In Andrew's case, the commitment has certainly paid off.
A NEBOSH General Certificate alone will help you progress to a supervisor level role or a management development programme in which health and safety procedures are included. Employers recognise that building the understanding of the principles of risk management of their line managers is imperative. If you choose to progress from the Certificate, the NEBOSH Diploma will establish you as a recognised health and safety practitioner. SCE Enterprise also delivers the NEBOSH Diploma.
Andrew has used his continual learning to create a glittering career within health and safety. He has held a range of health and safety posts within blue chip organisations such as Scottish Power and, Scottish and Newcastle and RBS. In addition to his "day jobs" Andrew is also a Chartered Safety Practitioner and a Chartered Fellow of Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). Andrew also sits on the IOSH Board and is a respected speaker, presenting regularly at Health and Safety conferences worldwide.
Andrew has now decided on his next move. At the end of this year, Andrew is set to re-locate to Switzerland to undertake the post of Director of Health and Safety for the world's biggest glass container manufacturer - 70% of the glass bottles and jars around the globe are made by Owens-Illinois or one of their licensees. SCE Enterprise thinks that Andrew's career is a fantastic example of where your career can take you once you decide on continued professional development.
