What Does an HSE Advisor Do? Roles, Responsibilities and Qualifications

A complete guide to the Health, Safety and Environment Advisor role in UK and international organisations

Published by Arinite Health & Safety Consultants | February 2026 | 12 min read

Every organisation needs someone to ensure that health, safety and environmental requirements are met. In the UK, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers to appoint one or more competent persons to assist them in complying with health and safety law. For many organisations, this means having an HSE Advisor, either as an employee or through an external consultancy.

But what exactly does an HSE Advisor do? Whether you are considering a career in health and safety, looking to hire an HSE professional, or wondering whether your organisation needs this expertise, understanding the role is essential. This guide explains the responsibilities, qualifications and skills required, and how HSE Advisors contribute to safer workplaces in the UK and internationally.

What Is an HSE Advisor?

An HSE Advisor (Health, Safety and Environment Advisor) is a professional who provides expert guidance on workplace health, safety and environmental matters. They help organisations comply with legal requirements, manage risks, prevent incidents, and create safer working environments for employees, contractors and visitors.

The role goes by various titles depending on the organisation and industry. You may see HSE Advisor, Health and Safety Advisor, Safety Advisor, EHS Advisor (Environment, Health and Safety), SHE Advisor (Safety, Health and Environment), or QHSE Advisor (Quality, Health, Safety and Environment). While the exact scope varies, the core purpose remains the same: protecting people and ensuring compliance.

HSE Advisors work across virtually every industry, from construction and manufacturing to offices and retail. Some work in-house for a single organisation, while others work for consultancies providing services to multiple clients. The level of seniority ranges from entry-level advisors to senior advisors and HSE managers, with responsibilities increasing accordingly.

Key Responsibilities of an HSE Advisor

The responsibilities of an HSE Advisor are broad and varied. While specific duties depend on the organisation, industry and seniority level, most HSE Advisors perform the following core functions:

Risk Assessment and Management

Risk assessment is at the heart of health and safety management. HSE Advisors identify workplace hazards, evaluate the risks they pose, and determine appropriate control measures. In the UK, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers to conduct suitable and sufficient risk assessments. HSE Advisors often lead or support this process, ensuring assessments cover all work activities, are documented appropriately, and are communicated to those affected.

Beyond general risk assessments, HSE Advisors may conduct or coordinate specialist assessments including fire risk assessments, COSHH assessments for hazardous substances, manual handling assessments, display screen equipment assessments, noise and vibration assessments, and working at height risk assessments.

Legal Compliance and Regulatory Liaison

HSE Advisors ensure their organisation complies with relevant health, safety and environmental legislation. In the UK, this includes the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and numerous other regulations covering specific hazards such as COSHH, manual handling, work at height, noise, fire safety, and reporting of injuries under RIDDOR.

HSE Advisors monitor changes in legislation, assess their impact on the organisation, and update policies and procedures accordingly. They may also liaise with regulatory bodies such as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in Great Britain, local authority environmental health departments, and the Environment Agency. This includes managing regulatory inspections, responding to enforcement notices, and coordinating with authorities during incident investigations.

Policy and Procedure Development

HSE Advisors develop, implement and maintain health, safety and environmental policies, procedures and management systems. This includes the organisation's health and safety policy (required in writing for employers with five or more employees under UK law), safe systems of work for specific activities, emergency procedures, and environmental management procedures.

Many organisations adopt formal management systems such as ISO 45001 for occupational health and safety or ISO 14001 for environmental management. HSE Advisors often play a key role in implementing and maintaining these systems, preparing for certification audits, and driving continuous improvement.

Audits, Inspections and Monitoring

HSE Advisors conduct regular audits and inspections to verify that safety standards are being maintained. This includes planned inspections of workplaces, equipment and work practices, audits against internal standards and external requirements such as ISO 45001, compliance audits against specific regulations, and contractor and supply chain audits.

They also monitor leading and lagging safety indicators, analyse trends, and report on HSE performance to management. This data-driven approach helps identify areas for improvement and demonstrates the effectiveness of safety programmes.

Incident Investigation and Reporting

When accidents, incidents or near misses occur, HSE Advisors lead or support investigations to determine root causes and prevent recurrence. This involves gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, analysing contributing factors, and recommending corrective actions. They also ensure that reportable incidents are notified to the appropriate authorities under RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) in the UK or equivalent requirements internationally.

Training and Competence Development

HSE Advisors identify training needs and deliver or coordinate health and safety training. This includes induction training for new starters, job-specific safety training, refresher training, specialist training such as first aid, fire warden, or manual handling, and management and supervisor training on their safety responsibilities.

They also coach and mentor managers and employees on safety matters, helping to build a culture where everyone understands their responsibilities and is competent to work safely.

Contractor Management

Many organisations use contractors for maintenance, construction, cleaning and other services. HSE Advisors often manage the safety aspects of contractor relationships, including pre-qualification and vetting of contractors, reviewing contractor risk assessments and method statements (RAMS), issuing permits to work for high-risk activities, monitoring contractor performance on site, and ensuring coordination between different contractors.

Environmental Management

Depending on the organisation, HSE Advisors may also have responsibility for environmental matters. This can include waste management and compliance with duty of care requirements, pollution prevention and control, environmental permit compliance, energy and resource efficiency, sustainability initiatives and carbon reduction, and environmental impact assessments for new projects.

Emergency Preparedness

HSE Advisors help organisations prepare for emergencies. This includes developing emergency response plans, organising and evaluating emergency drills, ensuring adequate first aid provision, liaising with emergency services, and coordinating business continuity planning.

Qualifications and Professional Development

HSE Advisors typically hold recognised qualifications in occupational health and safety. In the UK, the most common qualifications include:

NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety is often the minimum qualification for HSE Advisor roles. It provides a broad foundation in health and safety principles, legal requirements and risk management.

NEBOSH National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety is a higher-level qualification that demonstrates more advanced knowledge and is typically required for senior advisor and management positions.

IOSH Managing Safely is a shorter qualification aimed at managers and supervisors who need to understand their safety responsibilities.

Specialist qualifications such as NEBOSH Fire Safety, NEBOSH Environmental Management, or industry-specific certificates in construction (NEBOSH Construction Certificate) or oil and gas.

Professional membership is also important. The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) is the leading professional body for health and safety practitioners in the UK. Membership grades include Tech IOSH (Technician), Grad IOSH (Graduate), CMIOSH (Chartered Member), and CFIOSH (Chartered Fellow). Achieving Chartered status (CMIOSH) demonstrates a high level of competence and commitment to professional standards, and is increasingly expected for senior roles.

Essential Skills for HSE Advisors

Beyond qualifications, effective HSE Advisors need a range of skills:

• Communication skills: the ability to explain complex requirements clearly to different audiences, from senior management to frontline workers
• Influencing skills: persuading people to adopt safe behaviours and convincing management to invest in safety improvements
• Analytical skills: interpreting data, identifying trends, and conducting thorough investigations
• Attention to detail: ensuring nothing is overlooked in risk assessments, audits and compliance matters
• Problem-solving: finding practical solutions that balance safety requirements with operational needs
• Interpersonal skills: building relationships at all levels of the organisation and with external stakeholders
• Organisational skills: managing multiple priorities, deadlines and projects simultaneously
• Commercial awareness: understanding how safety contributes to business objectives and demonstrating return on investment

HSE Advisors in International Organisations

For organisations operating internationally, HSE Advisors face additional challenges. Different countries have different legal frameworks, enforcement approaches and cultural attitudes to safety. An HSE Advisor supporting international operations needs to understand the regulatory requirements in each country where the organisation operates, while also maintaining consistent corporate standards.

International frameworks such as ISO 45001 provide a common approach to safety management that can be applied globally. Many multinational organisations establish corporate minimum standards that apply everywhere, supplemented by local requirements where these are more stringent. HSE Advisors in these organisations often work with colleagues in different countries, coordinate cross-border projects, and help share best practices across the organisation.

In-House HSE Advisors vs External Consultants

Organisations can access HSE expertise in different ways. Some employ in-house HSE Advisors, while others use external consultants. Many use a combination of both.

In-house HSE Advisors offer deep knowledge of the organisation, its culture, processes and people. They are always available and can build long-term relationships throughout the business. However, maintaining an in-house team requires significant investment in salaries, benefits, training and management.

External HSE consultants bring broader experience from working with multiple organisations across different industries. They offer flexibility, allowing organisations to scale support up or down as needed. Consultants can provide specialist expertise that may not be available in-house, and they bring an independent perspective that can challenge established practices. For many organisations, particularly small and medium-sized businesses, outsourcing HSE support is more cost-effective than employing a dedicated in-house resource.

The UK legal requirement is for employers to have access to competent health and safety assistance. This can be provided by a competent employee, an external consultant, or a combination of both. What matters is that the assistance is genuinely competent and that the organisation can access the advice it needs when it needs it.

Do You Need an HSE Advisor?

Every employer needs access to competent health and safety advice. The question is how to obtain it. Signs that your organisation may benefit from HSE Advisor support include:

• You are unsure whether your current arrangements comply with legal requirements
• Risk assessments are out of date, incomplete or have never been done properly
• You have had incidents, near misses or enforcement action that suggests problems with your safety management
• Employees or their representatives have raised concerns about safety
• You are taking on new activities, premises or contracts that introduce new risks
• Clients or contracting organisations are asking for evidence of your safety competence
• You want to achieve ISO 45001 certification or improve your existing management system
• Your business operates internationally and needs to navigate different regulatory frameworks

How Arinite Can Help

At Arinite, we provide the expertise of experienced HSE Advisors without the overhead of employing them directly. Our team of Chartered (CMIOSH) consultants brings over 500 years of combined experience across virtually every industry.

Our services include:

• Outsourced health and safety management: we act as your competent person, handling day-to-day HSE requirements
• Risk assessment: comprehensive assessments covering all your activities and specific hazards
• Compliance audits: checking your arrangements against legal requirements and industry standards
• ISO 45001 implementation: designing, implementing and maintaining certified management systems
• Training: practical programmes that build awareness and competence at all levels
• Incident investigation: thorough investigations that identify root causes and prevent recurrence
• Policy and procedure development: clear documentation that meets legal requirements and works in practice
• International support: helping organisations maintain consistent safety standards across multiple countries

With experience supporting over 1,500 UK businesses and operations in more than 50 countries, we understand how to deliver HSE support that actually works. Our approach is practical, proportionate and focused on what matters. We call it "Keeping It Simple."

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