Professional Health and Safety Officer Development Training

Start Your Career in Health & Safety with Practical Skills, Not Just Theory

The ASQSL Professional Health and Safety Officer Development Training is a practical, career-focused programme developed for individuals who want to start or develop a career in occupational health and safety.

The programme is formally accredited by ProQual and combines structured learning with practical exercises, realistic workplace scenarios, assignments and assessments.

While learners develop essential knowledge of UK health and safety legislation and principles, the programme goes further by helping them understand how a Health and Safety Officer actually operates in the workplace.

From conducting inspections and identifying hazards to reviewing risk controls, investigating accidents, communicating with workers and challenging unsafe behaviour, the training is designed to bridge the gap between knowing health and safety and applying health and safety.

The programme has a strong construction focus, making it particularly suitable for people seeking to begin or develop a Health and Safety Officer career within the construction industry.

 

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Why We Developed This Programme

Starting a career in health and safety can present a difficult challenge.

Many people undertake health and safety training and gain theoretical knowledge but then discover that employers also want practical skills and workplace experience.

At the same time, gaining that experience can be difficult without first securing an H&S position.

ASQ Solutions Limited developed this programme to help bridge that gap.

Our aim is not simply to teach learners regulations and terminology. We want learners to develop an understanding of the day-to-day responsibilities, decisions and activities of a Health and Safety Officer.

 

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The programme therefore combines:

KNOWLEDGE + PRACTICAL APPLICATION + PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Learners are taught the principles, shown how they apply in realistic workplace situations, and given opportunities to practise through scenarios, exercises and assignments.

Don’t just learn Health & Safety. Learn how to apply it.

 

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Who Is This Training For?

The programme has been designed for new and aspiring Health and Safety professionals and is particularly suitable for:

• Individuals with little or no previous H&S experience who want to start a career in health and safety.
• Construction workers looking to move into a Health and Safety Officer role.
• Supervisors, foremen and other construction personnel seeking to develop their H&S knowledge and responsibilities.
• Newly appointed or junior Health and Safety Officers who need further practical development.
• Individuals considering a career change into occupational health and safety.
• Employers wishing to develop suitable existing employees into junior H&S personnel.

No previous Health and Safety Officer experience is required.

 

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Course at a Glance

Course Information	Details
Course Title	ASQSL Professional Health and Safety Officer Development Training
Accreditation	ProQual Accredited
Duration	5 Weeks
Training Days	5 Days
Schedule	1 Day per Week – Weekends
Delivery	Live Online via Zoom
Tutor-Led Learning	Approximately 35 Hours
Experience Required	No previous H&S Officer experience required
Assessment	Assignments, Practical Activities & Final Assessment
Course Fee	£750 per learner
Progression	Occupational H&S career development and Level 3 NVQ pathway

 

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What Will You Learn?

By completing the programme, learners will develop the knowledge and practical understanding needed to:

• Understand the role and responsibilities of a Health and Safety Officer and how the role interacts with workers, supervisors and management.
• Explain the moral, legal and organisational reasons for managing health and safety.
• Understand the importance of organisational safety culture, leadership and effective communication.
• Understand how health and safety can be systematically managed using approaches including PDCA and HSG65.
• Develop practical understanding of key UK health and safety legislation.
• Understand the structure and application of CDM 2015 and important construction project documentation.
• Recognise fire hazards and understand fundamental fire prevention arrangements.
• Understand how PUWER and LOLER apply to work and lifting equipment.
• Understand and contribute to risk assessments, RAMS, permits and safe systems of work.
• Understand COSHH assessments and the management of hazardous and dangerous substances.
• Recognise different types of workplace accidents and injuries.
• Understand accident, ill-health and near-miss reporting, including RIDDOR.
• Participate effectively in accident investigation and understand Root Cause Analysis and Fault Tree Analysis.
• Understand workplace first-aid, PPE and emergency/evacuation arrangements.
• Carry out basic hazard spotting and workplace safety inspections.
• Recognise and understand controls for significant construction hazards.
• Understand the purpose and basic principles of H&S auditing.
• Recognise important occupational health hazards and appropriate controls.
• Understand workplace mental health, occupational stress, health monitoring and health surveillance.
• Communicate effectively with workers and supervisors about H&S matters.
• Challenge unsafe behaviour constructively.
• Understand how leadership, culture, communication, positive reinforcement, learning and proportionate discipline can influence workplace behaviour and safety performance.

The programme develops progressively from understanding the H&S role and management principles through legislation, practical risk management, incident investigation, construction hazards, occupational health and behavioural safety.

 

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5-Day Course Content

Day 1 – The H&S Officer, Safety Management & the Law

The first day establishes the foundations of the Health and Safety Officer role.

Learners explore what H&S Officers and Managers actually do and why organisations need to manage health and safety effectively.

Particular attention is given to organisational safety culture, effective communication and leadership from the top, helping learners understand that successful health and safety management depends on much more than simply having rules and procedures.

Learners are also introduced to health and safety management systems, including the Plan–Do–Check–Act (PDCA) approach and HSG65, before examining the UK legal framework and key health and safety legislation. Topics

Topics include:

H&S Officer/Manager’s Role • Reasons for H&S Management • Organisational Safety Culture • Effective Communication • Leading from the Top • H&S Management Systems • PDCA • HSG65 • The Law • UK Legislation • Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 • Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

 

Day 2 – Managing Workplace Risks & Safe Systems of Work

Day 2 moves from management principles into the practical systems used to manage workplace and construction risks.

Learners examine the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, including their structure and application, project notification and key project documents.

The session also covers fire safety, work equipment and lifting equipment before progressing into the practical management of work through Safe Systems of Work, permits, RAMS and risk assessment.

Learners are also introduced to COSHH assessments, spill prevention and control and DSEAR. Topics

Topics include:

CDM Regulations 2015 • Structure & Application • Project Notification • Project Documents • Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 • Fire Classification & Prevention • PUWER 1998 • LOLER 1998 • Safe Systems of Work • Permits • RAMS • 5 Steps to Risk Assessment • COSHH & COSHH Assessments • Spill Prevention & Control • DSEAR 2002

 

Day 3 – Accidents, Emergencies, Inspections & Work at Height

Day 3 concentrates on one of the most important operational responsibilities of an H&S Officer: identifying problems, responding appropriately and helping prevent recurrence.

Learners examine workplace accidents and different categories of injury, including mechanical, thermal, electrical and chemical injuries.

The programme then considers accident, occupational ill-health and near-miss reporting, RIDDOR 2013 and accident investigation.

Learners are introduced to techniques including Root Cause Analysis and Fault Tree Analysis, helping them understand why effective investigation must look beyond simply identifying who was involved.

The day also covers first aid, PPE, emergency procedures and evacuation before moving into the practical activities of hazard spotting, workplace safety inspections and work at height.

Topics include:

Workplace Accidents • Mechanical, Thermal, Electrical & Chemical Injuries • Accident, Ill-Health & Near-Miss Reporting • RIDDOR 2013 • Accident Investigation • Root Cause Analysis • Fault Tree Analysis • First Aid • PPE • Emergency Procedures & Evacuation • Hazard Spotting • Safety Inspections • Work at Height Regulations 2005

 

Day 4 – Managing High-Risk Construction Activities

Day 4 concentrates on significant hazards commonly encountered within construction and other higher-risk workplaces.

Learners examine manual handling, asbestos, confined spaces, excavations and demolition, including the hazards H&S Officers should recognise and the control measures they should expect to see.

The session also introduces Health and Safety Audits, helping learners understand the difference between identifying hazards during routine workplace inspections and systematically evaluating whether an organisation’s H&S arrangements are working effectively. Topics

Topics include:

Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 • Asbestos Safety • Confined Spaces Safety • Excavation Safety • Demolition Safety • Health & Safety Audits

 

Day 5 – Occupational Health, Behavioural Safety & Worker Wellbeing

Day 5 develops an understanding of hazards that may not necessarily cause an immediate accident but can result in long-term occupational ill health.

Learners examine safety signs and electrical safety before exploring respiratory hazards, occupational skin conditions, vibration, noise and biological health hazards.

The session also considers mental health, occupational stress, health monitoring and health surveillance.

Understanding Behaviour – Not Just Enforcing Rules

A distinctive part of the final day is Behavioural Safety.

Effective H&S Officers need to be able to recognise unsafe behaviour, but simply telling workers what they are doing wrong is not always enough to achieve lasting improvement.

Learners explore why people sometimes behave unsafely even when they know the correct procedure.

This includes considering factors such as:

Time Pressure → Habit → Complacency → Peer Pressure → Poor Supervision → Fatigue → Inadequate Training → Poorly Designed Work → Wrong Equipment → Management Pressure

The programme explores how an H&S Officer can use positive reinforcement to recognise safe behaviour rather than interacting with workers only when something goes wrong.

Learners also consider the importance of creating a culture where genuine mistakes and near misses can become opportunities for learning and improvement rather than automatic blame.

At the same time, a positive safety culture does not mean accepting deliberate or repeated unsafe behaviour. Learners consider the role of fair and proportionate discipline, including how site warning or card systems may be used in accordance with organisational procedures.

The key principle is:

Understand what is driving the behaviour, reinforce what is being done well, correct what needs to improve and intervene firmly when necessary.

Behavioural Safety • Safety Culture • Unsafe Behaviour • Positive Reinforcement • Challenging Unsafe Acts • Learning Rather Than Blame • Fair & Proportionate Discipline • Worker Engagement

The remaining Day 5 topics from the syllabus include:

Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 • Electricity and Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 • Occupational H&S • Respiratory Hazards • Occupational Skin Conditions • Vibration • Noise • Leptospirosis • Legionella • Tetanus • Hepatitis • Mental Health • Occupational Stress • Health Monitoring & Surveillance.

 

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How Is the Training Delivered?

The programme is delivered through live instructor-led online training via Zoom.

5 Weeks – 1 Training Day per Week

Training takes place at weekends, making the programme accessible to people who may already be working or have other commitments.

Each training day provides approximately 7 hours of tutor-led learning, giving approximately 35 guided learning hours across the programme.

Learners also undertake structured assignments and practical exercises between training sessions.

The weekly format allows learners time to:

LEARN → REFLECT → COMPLETE ACTIVITIES → RECEIVE FEEDBACK → PROGRESS

 

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How Will I Be Assessed?

Assessment takes place throughout the programme rather than relying entirely on one final examination.

Learner achievement is evaluated through a combination of:

• Weekly assignments
• Practical exercises
• Workplace and construction scenarios
• Tutor questioning and discussions
• Trainer observation
• Participation and engagement
• Individual Trainer Review Reports
• Final online knowledge assessment
• Individual learner portfolio

The final knowledge assessment consists of 25 questions completed within 30 minutes, including multiple-choice and short-answer questions.

Successful completion is based on satisfactory achievement across the programme’s assessment activities and learning outcomes.

 

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Progression to the Level 3 NVQ in Occupational Health and Safety

For learners who want to continue developing their H&S career, ASQSL also offers the ProQual Level 3 NVQ Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety.

The Level 3 NVQ is competence-based and requires candidates to demonstrate their ability through appropriate workplace evidence.

The Professional Health and Safety Officer Development Training can therefore provide a valuable foundation before or alongside the learner’s development of occupational competence.

Your Development Pathway

Professional H&S Officer Development Training

↓

Develop Knowledge & Practical Skills

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Gain Appropriate Workplace Experience

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Generate Valid Workplace Evidence

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Progress Towards Level 3 NVQ

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Continue Professional H&S Career Development

Where any evidence developed during or following the training is intended to contribute towards an NVQ, that evidence must independently meet the relevant qualification’s assessment criteria and evidence requirements.

 

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What Makes This Programme Different?

Many people entering health and safety need more than an introduction to legislation.

They need to understand what they may actually be expected to do when they arrive on site or enter the workplace as an H&S Officer.

That is the gap this programme has been designed to address.

Practical Career Focus

The programme has been developed around the knowledge and activities relevant to someone beginning an H&S Officer career.

Construction-Focused Learning

The course includes significant construction-specific content and practical construction scenarios.

Behavioural Safety

Learners develop an understanding of how to communicate with people, influence behaviour, recognise good practice, challenge unsafe acts and promote learning rather than simply policing the workforce.

ProQual Accreditation

The programme has achieved independent accreditation through ProQual.

Structured Assessment

Learners are required to participate, complete assignments and practical activities and demonstrate their learning through assessment.

NVQ Progression

Learners can continue developing occupational competence through the ProQual Level 3 NVQ Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety where appropriate.

 

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Why Choose ASQ Solutions Limited?

ASQ Solutions Limited specialises in vocational assessment, professional training and health and safety consultancy, with particular experience within the construction sector.

Our approach is built around practical industry application.

We believe H&S professionals should understand not only what the regulations say, but also how to identify problems, communicate effectively, recommend proportionate controls, influence behaviour and follow actions through to completion.

With ASQSL, learners benefit from:

Experienced Industry Practitioners • Practical Training • Live Tutor Interaction • Realistic Construction Scenarios • Structured Learner Support • ProQual Accreditation • NVQ Progression Opportunities

 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need previous Health and Safety experience?

No. The programme has been designed to accommodate new and aspiring H&S professionals, including people with little or no previous Health and Safety Officer experience.

Is the course suitable for someone changing career?

Yes. Career changers are one of the groups the programme has been designed to support. The course starts with the foundations of H&S management before progressively introducing legislation, practical H&S activities, construction risks and occupational health.

Is the course accredited?

Yes. The ASQSL Professional Health and Safety Officer Development Training is formally accredited by ProQual.

How long is the course?

The programme consists of five training days delivered over five weeks, with one live training day each week.

When does the training take place?

Training is delivered at weekends, one day per week.

Is the training online?

Yes. The programme is delivered through live instructor-led training via Zoom. This is interactive tutor-led training rather than simply providing learners with recorded videos to watch independently.

How much does the course cost?

The course fee is £750 per learner.

Will I have assignments?

Yes. Learners complete structured assignments and practical activities as part of the programme.

Is there an examination?

There is a final online knowledge assessment consisting of 25 questions to be completed within 30 minutes, together with other assessment activities completed throughout the programme.

Will this course automatically make me a qualified Health and Safety Officer?

The programme provides structured professional development in the knowledge and practical understanding needed by new and aspiring H&S Officers. Occupational competence also develops through the appropriate application of those skills and experience within the workplace.

Learners wishing to demonstrate workplace competence can subsequently progress towards an appropriate competence-based qualification such as the ProQual Level 3 NVQ Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety.

Is this the same as the Level 3 NVQ Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety?

No. They serve different but complementary purposes.

The Professional Health and Safety Officer Development Training is a structured training and development programme that teaches and develops H&S knowledge and practical understanding.

The Level 3 NVQ Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety is a competence-based qualification requiring appropriate evidence demonstrating what the candidate can do in the workplace.

Can I progress to the Level 3 NVQ after this programme?

Yes. Learners who subsequently have suitable H&S responsibilities and access to appropriate workplace evidence may progress towards the ProQual Level 3 NVQ Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety, subject to the qualification’s entry and assessment requirements.

Ready to Start Your Health & Safety Career?

From Novice to Site-Ready

Whether you are completely new to health and safety, moving from a construction role into H&S, or looking to strengthen your practical skills as a newly appointed Health and Safety Officer, the ASQSL Professional Health and Safety Officer Development Training provides a structured pathway for your professional development.

LEARN. PRACTISE. APPLY. PROVE.

ProQual Accredited | 5 Training Days | Weekend Delivery | Live via Zoom