Environmental health and safety manager
Manage health and safety programmes in your workplace. Help your organisation protect employees, the public and the environment.
Also known as: head of health, safety and environment, health, safety and environmental lead, health, safety and environmental manager
About the job
What it's like
You’ll manage an organisation’s environmental health and safety programmes. You’ll promote a culture of safety and environmental responsibility. You will help everyone to know what they have to do to stay safe and what the company will do to protect them.
There’s a strong demand for this job, as industries must adopt greener practices and comply with safety and environmental laws.
Depending on your employer, your work could cover areas such as:
chemical and biological agents
waste management
radiation safety
air emissions
noise
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Your tasks might include:
managing the health and safety processes and policies for the site where you work
doing regular risk assessments and inspections
making sure the company complies with regulations and safety management systems, such as ISO9000
managing internal and external audits
working with the leadership team, HR and external agencies to achieve the company’s environmental goals
reporting on how the organisation complies with regulations
promoting a positive health and safety culture
training employees on safety procedures and environmental practices
developing emergency response plans and conducting drills
advising on energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness
investigating accidents and incidents and taking corrective actions
representing the organisation in community or industry safety groups
The environmental health and safety manager plays a vital role in any company. You’ll ensure the protection of employees' health, safety, and wellbeing, as well as safeguarding the environment from harm due to business activities.
Green job
In this job you'll be doing work to help the environment. Find out more about green jobs.
Hours
You'll work between 35 and 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday. In some industries your hours could be irregular. You may work shifts or be on call in case of emergencies or accidents. Part-time work and job sharing may be available.
Environment
You’ll normally be based in an office, but working from home could be possible for some of your week. You might also spend time in other environments such as factories or building sites, depending on the industry you work in.
At times, you might need to wear protective clothing such as overalls, safety glasses or ear protectors.
Travel
You may travel to other parts of the business if you work for a national company.
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career.
Like the sound of this career?
Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Environmental health and safety manager'
Select qualification level(s)
Other careers that you might like
Environmental consultant Environmental manager Environmental advisor Sustainability manager Renewable energy manager Environmental engineer Sustainability consultant Environmental product manager Climate change specialist Environmental officer
Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
Engineering and manufacturing
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- environment health and safety
- safety culture
- emergency response planning
- emissions inventory
- occupational hygiene
- process safety management
- greenhouse gas
- inclusive leadership
- chemical accidents
- system deployment
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- resilience
- analysing
- adaptability
- building relationships
- social conscience
- written communication
- verbal communication
- attention to detail
- developing a plan
- problem solving
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Biology
Chemistry
Environmental Science
Physics
Maths (Mathematics)
Human Biology
Foundation Apprenticeship: Scientific Technologies (Laboratory Skills)
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
You’ll likely need a degree or postgraduate qualification for this job, or equivalent work experience. You can work towards this after school by going to university, college or by getting an apprenticeship.
Many job adverts for this role will ask for you to have a diploma from the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH), or an equivalent qualification.
It’s often essential to hold professional memberships, such as Cert IOSH, from the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.
A qualification in biosafety, occupational hygiene or a similar health and safety subject can also be very useful.
Explore the information you need for each route to this career.
University
For many roles, you'll need a degree or postgraduate qualification.
Subjects related to environmental health are very useful, such as:
Environmental Health with Professional Practice
Other university subjects which could be helpful for this career include:
Life Sciences
Chemical Sciences
Bioscience / Biological Science
Physical Sciences
What you need to enter a degree course depends on the subject and university. For an environmental health degree, you'll likely need:
4 Highers at ABBB or better, including science subjects, especially biology or human biology
National 5 qualifications in at least 1 science subject
Some universities will have higher entry requirements – these are what you'll need as a minimum. A relevant HNC or HND will allow you to apply for some courses.
For entry to a postgraduate course, you'll need an honours degree in a relevant subject.
College
Getting qualifications at college, such as an HNC or HND, could help you find work or progress to more advanced study. Subjects at college could include:
Applied Sciences
Bioscience / Biological Sciences
Chemical Sciences
Industrial Biotechnology
What you'll need for a college course depends on the qualification level, subject and college. As a guide, for an HND in Applied Sciences, you'll likely need two Highers at C or better, including a minimum of one science.
Apprenticeships
You could start learning the skills you'll need in this career through a Foundation Apprenticeship (FA). When you're in S5 or S6, you'll gain work experience while you study.
You might want to consider an FA in:
Scientific Technologies
Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) mean you learn on the job. You get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time.
You might want to consider an MA in areas such as:
Occupational Health and Safety Practice
Facilities Management
Life Science and Related Science Industries Technical
Regulatory Services
Many employers will ask for you to have a first-aid qualification, or to work towards one.
Strong communication, people and presentation skills
The ability to influence stakeholders across the business
Good time-management and organisational skills
An in-depth knowledge of UK Health, Safety and Environmental legislation
Experience in risk assessments and management systems
Find the right course for you
Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Environmental health and safety manager'
