Health and Safety Executive
Apply before Midday on Monday 5th October 2026
Details
Reference number
(phone number removed)
Salary
£73,335 - £77,003
Non Standard B
A[1] Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Job grade
Senior Executive Officer
Band 3
Contract type
Permanent
Business area
HSE - Chemical, Explosives and Microbiological Hazards Division (CEMHD) - Onshore Chemical Division
Type of role
Engineering
Health and Safety
Operational Delivery
Working pattern
Full-time
Number of jobs available
4
Contents
* [2] Location
* [3] About the job
* [4] Benefits
* [5] Things you need to know
* [6] Apply and further information
Locations
Aberdeen, Ashford (Kent), Basingstoke, Birmingham, Bootle, Bristol, Buxton, Cardiff, Carlisle, Carmarthen, Chelmsford, Crewe, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Leeds, Milton Keynes, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Norwich, Nottingham, Oxted, Plymouth, Sheffield, Wrexham, York
About the job
Job summary
If you want a job that is a change from the norm, then consider a role as an ECCS Specialist Inspector where you'll secure the future safety of the public and people in these industries. These roles offer an excellent opportunity for those who are looking to be an expert in the field of Electrical, Control and Cyber Security we will also provide you with the tools, skills and knowledge needed to be an expert HSE inspector in Cyber Security. These roles also offer you development in both your legal and technical skills.
Sound interesting? Then please apply! We'd love to hear from you!
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
Our role goes beyond worker protection to include public assurance. We work to ensure people feel safe where they live, where they work and, in their environment.
Great Britain's health and safety record is the envy of much of the world. Central to this is our work to protect people by managing risk in a proportionate and effective way, supporting innovation and increasing productivity.
HSE leads the way but doesn't act alone. Working in partnership is one of our strengths. It's at the heart of how we protect workers and the public. We are firm and fair when using our legal powers. Inspection helps us check that serious risks are managed sensibly. When things go wrong, investigation helps us get to the truth and learn lessons. We hold employers to account for their failures and get answers for victims and make workplaces safer. The benefits that our work brings to business, workers and the UK economy are clear. Improved health and safety risk management protects workers and translates into reduced sickness absence, lower healthcare and welfare costs, and better productivity.
Chemicals, Explosives and Microbiological Hazards Division (CEMHD) is responsible for the GB-wide regulation of onshore high hazard premises and installations as well as the chemicals manufacturing sector as a whole. This involves delivering regulatory interventions in workplaces, engaging with key industry stakeholders and providing assurance that major accident risks are being properly managed.
HSE are responsible for securing safety across a range of industries including, energy production (oil, gas and emerging technologies), chemical/pharmaceutical production and storage, microbiological agents, explosives and pipelines
Job description
HSE Specialist Inspectors work across all of GB and whilst we would consider all CEMHD office locations we would be particularly interested in applicants who would be based in HSE offices in: Scotland, North East, Wales and South West. For a list of HSE Office locations please see [7] HSE
[8] Office Locations
Your main responsibility is to address major accident hazards in relation to Electrical, Control and Cyber Security at onshore major hazard installations, which includes oil refineries, oil and gas storage, chemicals production, and some nuclear sites.
We will be holding a Virtual Q+A on the 28th September 2026 at 12:00 midday, if you would like to attend this session, please contact so that we can send you a virtual Microsoft Teams invite where you will get the chance to find out more about the role and ask any questions you feel are necessary.
Key Responsibilities
* Inspect a variety of major hazard installations, either on your own or as part of an expert team, to make sure risks associated with industrial control systems are suitably managed and that operators comply with the law.
* Carry out technical assessment of Safety Reports provided by major hazard sites (both new and existing).
* Investigate safety related accidents and incidents involving industrial control systems in the major hazards industries.
* The production of technical inspection reports that identify risk gaps and failure(s) to comply with the law.
* Taking suitable enforcement action to address significant risk gaps on operator's sites e.g., prohibiting processes or activities.
* Forensic analysis of the electrical or control systems elements of accidents in major hazards industries in order to identify root causes and where necessary, leading the technical aspects of the investigation, calling in other expert support and supporting legal enforcement action to prevent a recurrence.
* Provide expert opinion on the management of industrial control systems and, when required, work as a specialist investigator or expert witness at tribunals, inquests and legal proceedings.
* Assessment of Safety Reports submitted by organisations to ensure effective management of risk and identify priority areas for inspection.
* Advise colleagues on technical matters out with their area of expertise e.g., standards for electrical equipment in explosive atmospheres, and how the conditions compare with minimum legal requirements and relevant good practice.
* Liaise with other Government departments, the public, industry, professional bodies and trade associations in order to secure intelligence, share information and contribute towards policy, research and guidance on functional safety, electrical equipment in explosive atmospheres and cyber security for Industrial Automation and Control Systems (IACS).
* Using your expertise and experience to drive improvements in technical and operational standards nationally and to promote better health and safety at UK forums, and at relevant conferences.
Training requirements
Whilst working for the HSE and in order to fully understand the legal and enforcement requirements of this role, you will be expected to develop your expertise by completing role specific training.
For Cyber Security specifically, HSE will provide a full development package to equip the successful candidate to assess this topic in line with HSE Operational Guidance (OG86) and other relevant standards e.g. IEC 62443.
Given that HSE regulates sites across the whole of the United Kingdom you will be expected to spend short periods working away from home which will include overnight stays.
Inspectors are required to work as part of a national team, with travel around UK to land-based high hazard sites, typically spending a day or two at duty holder sites both in an office environment and also out on the process plant. This is typically followed by a period analysing the inspection findings and producing a technical report.
Person specification
The role of a Specialist Inspector is challenging yet rewarding and offers a breadth of work that is unique across a huge variety of industrial sites and processes. Inspectors can be involved in detailed technical analysis of safety reports on one day, inspecting complex control systems and talking with engineering staff on site the next or perhaps involved in the aftermath of a major accident, working to find out the root causes and prevent a re-occurrence.
It's also an engineering role where you may be appearing in Court as an expert witness or perhaps working with committees on new Standards to drive improvements in industry.
You'll often have to make difficult decisions and use your enforcement powers to ensure compliance with the law, but you'll receive world class training to give you the skills to do this.
Essential Skills and criteria
* Previous experience in a Technical Engineering role.
* Experience in communication and influence across different levels, including senior management within an organization, effectively translating technical details for the intended audience.
* Experience of producing detailed and clear technical reports, and present complex technical information, including those for a non-technical audience.
* Ability to think strategically, identify underlying issues, and persuade and influence individuals at all levels.
* Have a breadth and depth of experience of working in Major Hazards / High Consequence / COMAH environment
Salary description
£73335.00 - £77003.00 per year