Safety Officer Course: How To Stand Out In Your Career

Safety officers play an important role in any business and make a big difference in the lives of other employees. They are especially needed in larger industries such as mining, engineering, and construction where workers can be most at risk. If you are considering a career as a safety officer and considering enrolling in a safety officer course, this guide will give you all the steps you need to get started. Along with the skills and requirements you will need to get a job. We’ll also look at the qualities you need to stand out as a good safety officer when applying for jobs.

Importance of a safety officer in business

A safety officer is often one of the most important employees in a business, as they are responsible for the well-being of other workers. A safety officer's main priority is to prevent accidents or injuries that could happen in the workplace. Certain businesses need safety officers to maintain a high standard of safety in the workplace.

Safety officers are responsible for ensuring the company stays up to date with legislation policies and safety procedures. They ensure that these procedures are being followed responsibly by everyone involved in the business.

They are responsible for running inspections thoroughly and regularly throughout the business to assess any risks that could occur. Hazards or areas of the business which could cause complications are taken care of as quickly as possible by safety officers. If any accidents have taken place in the past, safety officers investigate them thoroughly and use this information to prevent the repeat of these mistakes.

These daily responsibilities are important for businesses to protect their employees, keeping them safe and healthy. Having good health and safety is important for the reputation of the business, and ensures employees stay happy and keep up their morale. With a safety officer course, you can work towards a position as a safety officer in your next job.

Responsibilities of a safety officer

We’ve looked at the general responsibilities of a safety officer, which is to uphold the standard of safety precautions in a business. Although, your responsibilities and tasks may differ depending on the industry you work in. Some tasks may include the following:

• Creating and maintaining a safety management system.
• Drafting a safety management plan.
• Ensuring necessary safety equipment is available for employees.
• Ensure employees are using safety equipment.
• Carrying out inspections.
• Investigating and recording safety incidents.
• Training employees.
• Writing reports.

Safety officer course: Becoming a safety officer

The qualifications you need to become a safety officer differ between industries. It’s important to research the industry you are interested in before enrolling in a safety officer course to ensure that you have the right qualifications. Once you’ve decided which industry you’d like to work in, contact the industry body to find the requirements you need.

Most industries require you to have:

1. Formal qualification relevant to the industry.
2. Completed safety officer course and certification.
3. Work experience within the relevant industry.

The Emcare safety officer course is recommended for anyone hoping to enter a professional working environment as a safety officer. It includes an all-in-one course which can be completed in just 2 weeks. Your safety officer certification does not expire, and you have two years before individual modules expire.

Qualities of a good safety officer

If you’ve found your relevant industry and completed your Emcare safety officer course, you want to make sure you stand out above the rest to find a good job. Some certain characteristics and qualities make a good safety officer. If you prioritise these 6 qualities then you will have what it takes to be a brilliant safety officer.

Have genuine concern and empathy for other people: Being a safety officer means your job is going to involve caring about others, and putting them before yourself. It takes self-sacrifice to become a great safety officer and stand out above the rest. Your responsibilities affect more than yourself, therefore it’s important to show genuine care and concern for others. Your job is to save lives and prevent dangerous accidents, and you should feel fulfilled and motivated by the difference you make to others.

Always have a good plan to follow: Being a safety officer comes with a lot of planning. If you can create a clear and concise plan to follow, it can help you avoid mistakes along the way. Creating a clear plan for employees means they will have something to follow and refer back to, and it keeps everyone up to date with any changes that may happen along the way. Use your plan to train employees efficiently, and enforce rules that need to be upheld.

Be a leader: A safety officer that stands out is someone who can show good leadership skills. Your position often involves training employees and, to do this effectively, you need them to listen to you. Gaining their respect is extremely important. You need employees to respect you and respect that what you are teaching them is for their benefit. Never treat employees badly, or do anything that could make them lose respect for you, such as violate safety rules that you’ve put in place. Remember, safety regulations apply to everyone in the company, and that includes you. Good leaders lead by example, so ensure you follow regulations strictly at all times.

Don’t forget to focus on the positives: Although your job involves investigating mistakes and errors in the safety plan of a business, it is not helpful to only focus on the negatives. Try to keep up the morale of employees by finding ways to focus on the positive areas. You can reward staff when they have done a good job, and when they are following the correct safety rules. This is a great way to encourage employees to do things the right way.

Be a good communicator: No amount of planning is going to do the job if you can’t communicate effectively. Creating a strong line of communication between yourself and your employees is one of the best ways to stick to the plan you create and uphold safety regulations.

Always listen to employees, as they are the ones who have key information regarding daily operations and safety within the business. They can often be the ones most aware of safety hazards in their tasks. Creating good communication enables employees to share this information with management and feel respected as part of a team. Try to create working methods of communication right from the start, and always be open to adapting your communication methods to suit the business's employees. Some favourable methods of communication involve the following:

• Hold meetings regularly, these could be in the form of short daily meetings or check-ins, alongside longer meetings that occur weekly.
• Include face-to-face discussions with management staff and individual employees.
• Create a survey to gain relevant information from employees.
• Host training workshops or focus groups to cover specific safety topics.
• Create a system where employees can log any issues they have, or give ideas to solutions.
• Share information and safety updates with employees on a regular basis through newsletters or notice boards.

Be dedicated to your job: We can’t stress enough how valuable safety officers are in a business and your job comes with so much responsibility. You need to be dedicated and enthusiastic about your position at all times. A star safety officer is proactive and gets the job done. If you come across a safety hazard or notice safety regulations are not being upheld, you need to resolve the situation immediately. If employees are in danger the issue cannot wait.

Not only do you need to deal with situations immediately, but you need to take a dedicated approach to anticipate risks that could occur. Carefully complete all your safety checks when necessary, and always try to adapt and improve the safety regulations that are already in place.

How to find a job after your safety officer course

Once you’ve completed your safety officer course and have all your relevant certifications in order, finding a job can be overwhelming. Working as a safety officer in South Africa is a competitive career choice, so you want to be the best candidate you can possibly be. Completing the Emcare safety officer course is just the start to finding the perfect job to suit you and your capabilities. Here are a few steps you can take to find the job you’re looking for and kickstart your career.

Gain Experience: Once you’ve completed your Emcare training, you need to ensure you have experience within the industry you want to work in. The amount of experience needed to get a safety officer job differs between industries, so do your research thoroughly. If you have experience within the mining industry, for example, you could apply as a safety officer or junior safety officer in this industry.

Improve your knowledge and skills: In most jobs and new positions, you work your way up to a superior role over time. A good place to start your career and improve your skills is to job-shadow. Try to learn from someone who is already an expert in the industry you want to work in. Job-shadowing also shows your commitment to your career and you are more likely to get hired.

Create a professional CV: When applying for a job it’s extremely important to have a professional CV. Your CV is the first thing an employer will look at when considering you for the job, and you have a much better chance of getting the job if you give a good impression from the start. Make sure to add all your relevant qualifications and certificates onto your CV, along with a detailed description of your work experience and skills.

Apply for more than one job: You will increase your chances of finding a job if you apply for more than one. Do your research to find as many job openings as possible and don’t be afraid to reach out and send your CV to as many businesses as you can. If you are called back for an interview, the key is to stay calm and confident, showing your interviewer you are qualified and capable for the position. You can find job openings by doing the following:

• Searching online.
• Look for openings in local newspapers and community noticeboards or Facebook pages.
• Ask around and enquire by word of mouth with people you know in the industry.

Completing the Emcare safety officer course is one of the best ways to make yourself stand out and get the job you need. Our training provides you with modules and skills needed to work as a safety officer in a professional environment. All the training courses we offer are accredited by the local accreditation authorities. Start your career today and enrol in Emcare’s safety training.