Health and Safety Advisor Interview Questions and Model Answers
🔹 General Questions
Q1. Can you tell us about your background and experience in health and safety?
A1. “I have over [X years] of experience in occupational health and safety, working across industries such as construction, manufacturing, and oil & gas. My responsibilities have included conducting risk assessments, developing safe systems of work, training staff, and monitoring compliance with legislation such as OSHA and ISO 45001. In my last role, I successfully reduced incident rates by 20% through targeted safety campaigns and proactive inspections.”
Q2. Why do you want to work as a Health and Safety Advisor in our company?
A2. “I am passionate about creating safe work environments where employees feel protected and valued. Your company’s reputation for high safety standards aligns with my values. I want to contribute by ensuring compliance, driving continuous improvement, and building a strong safety culture that protects people and supports business growth.”
Q3. What do you consider the most important qualities of a successful safety professional?
A3. “Strong communication, attention to detail, and leadership. A Health and Safety Advisor must not only understand legislation but also be able to communicate risks clearly to workers and management, influence behavior, and remain approachable so that employees feel comfortable reporting hazards.”
Q4. How do you stay updated on current health and safety legislation and best practices?
A4. “I regularly follow HSE (UK), OSHA (US), and ILO guidelines. I also attend webinars, professional courses, and subscribe to safety journals. I am a member of IOSH, which allows me to engage with other professionals and learn from case studies and networking events.”
Q5. What motivates you to work in occupational health and safety?
A5. “I find it rewarding to know that my role directly prevents injuries and saves lives. Seeing workers return home safely every day because of effective safety systems gives me a strong sense of purpose and achievement.”
🔹 Technical / Knowledge-Based Questions
Q6. What is the difference between hazard and risk?
A6. “A hazard is something with the potential to cause harm, such as a moving forklift. A risk is the likelihood and severity of that harm occurring, such as the chance of a pedestrian being struck by the forklift. Risk is the combination of probability and consequence.”
Q7. Can you explain the hierarchy of control measures?
A7. “The hierarchy of controls ranks methods to reduce risk:
- Elimination – Remove the hazard entirely.
- Substitution – Replace with a safer alternative.
- Engineering Controls – Isolate people from the hazard.
- Administrative Controls – Training, supervision, safe systems of work.
- PPE – Last line of defense.
For example, in noise control: eliminate noisy equipment, substitute with a quieter model, install sound barriers, rotate staff, and provide hearing protection.”
Q8. What safety legislation or regulations are you most familiar with?
A8. “I am most familiar with the Health and Safety at Work Act (UK), OSHA standards (US), and ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems. I have also worked with local regulatory frameworks, ensuring that company policies align with national requirements.”
Q9. How do you conduct a risk assessment?
A9. “The process includes:
- Identifying hazards.
- Deciding who might be harmed and how.
- Evaluating risks and implementing controls using the hierarchy of control.
- Recording findings.
- Reviewing and updating regularly or after changes.
For example, in excavation work, I identified cave-in hazards, assessed risks to workers, introduced shoring, signage, and safe access, and reviewed after each phase.”
Q10. What types of safety inspections have you carried out in your previous roles?
A10. “I’ve conducted daily site inspections, weekly toolbox inspections, monthly audits, and special inspections for high-risk activities like confined space entry, hot work, and lifting operations. These inspections helped identify hazards early and implement corrective actions before incidents occurred.”
Q11. How do you ensure compliance with PPE requirements on site?
A11. “I begin with training so workers understand why PPE is important. I ensure PPE is comfortable, suitable for the task, and readily available. During site inspections, I check usage and address non-compliance immediately — often by engaging the worker, reminding them of risks, and escalating to supervisors if repeated.”
Q12. Can you describe the elements of a strong safety management system?
A12. “A strong SMS includes:
- A clear safety policy.
- Defined roles and responsibilities.
- Risk assessments and safe systems of work.
- Training and competency development.
- Active and reactive monitoring.
- Emergency preparedness.
- Continuous review and improvement.
ISO 45001 is a good framework for structuring these elements.”
Q13. What methods would you use to investigate a workplace accident?
A13. “I would secure the scene, provide first aid, and gather evidence (photos, witness statements, CCTV). Then, I would identify immediate, underlying, and root causes using methods such as the ‘5 Whys’ or Fishbone Diagram. Finally, I’d recommend corrective and preventive actions and ensure follow-up.”
Q14. How do you measure safety performance?
A14. “Using both leading and lagging indicators:
- Leading: number of inspections, training hours, near-miss reports.
- Lagging: accident frequency rate, lost time injury rate, incident statistics.
This provides a balanced view of both prevention and outcomes.”
Q15. What is the role of health surveillance in occupational safety?
A15. “Health surveillance monitors workers’ health where risks remain despite controls, e.g., hearing tests for noise exposure or lung function tests for dust. It helps detect early signs of ill-health, checks effectiveness of controls, and ensures compliance with regulations.”
🔹 Scenario-Based / Behavioral Questions
Q16. A worker refuses to wear the required PPE. How would you handle the situation?
A16. “I would first approach the worker calmly to understand their reason. Often, discomfort or lack of awareness is the cause. I would explain the risks and the protective purpose of PPE. If refusal continued, I’d escalate to their supervisor and document the case, ensuring consistent enforcement of rules.”
Q17. If you identified a serious hazard during a site inspection, what would be your immediate action?
A17. “I would stop the work immediately if it posed imminent danger. Then I’d isolate the area, inform the site manager, and ensure corrective action is taken before work resumes. Worker safety always takes priority over productivity.”
Q18. How would you respond if management pressured you to overlook a safety violation to meet deadlines?
A18. “I would respectfully but firmly explain that overlooking safety could lead to accidents, legal consequences, and reputational damage far worse than a delay. I would document the situation and propose safer alternatives to meet deadlines without compromising compliance.”
Q19. Describe a time you successfully improved safety culture in your workplace.
A19. “In my last role, I noticed poor near-miss reporting. I introduced a reward-based reporting system and short weekly toolbox talks. Within 3 months, near-miss reports increased by 70%, allowing us to prevent potential accidents. This improved trust between management and workers.”
Q20. A contractor reports a near miss but doesn’t want it documented. What would you do?
A20. “I would explain that documentation is not about blame but about learning and prevention. I’d assure confidentiality where possible and emphasize that recording the incident helps protect all workers by preventing recurrence.”
Q21. If a fire alarm goes off and workers do not follow the evacuation procedure, how would you address it afterwards?
A21. “I would review the evacuation drill with all staff, identify why procedures were not followed, and provide retraining. I’d also involve fire wardens and supervisors to ensure accountability. Drills would be repeated until compliance improved.”
Q22. You are asked to prepare a toolbox talk for new workers. What topic would you choose?
A22. “I would choose site-specific hazards such as working at height or moving vehicles. I’d keep the talk short, interactive, and practical, using examples, PPE demonstrations, and encouraging questions to make it engaging.”
Q23. How would you deal with conflicting opinions between supervisors and workers on safety matters?
A23. “I would listen to both sides, refer to risk assessments and regulations, and mediate with evidence-based solutions. If necessary, I’d involve higher management but always emphasize that safety decisions must be based on facts, not opinions.”
Q24. A serious accident has occurred, and media is asking questions. What role would you play?
A24. “I would not speak directly to the media unless authorized. My role would be to gather accurate information, support the investigation, and prepare factual internal reports. Communication with external stakeholders should follow company protocol, usually via management or PR.”
Q25. How would you ensure subcontractors follow site safety rules?
A25. “I would include safety requirements in contracts, provide induction training before work, monitor compliance through inspections, and enforce accountability by reporting non-compliance to management. Safety must apply equally to employees and contractors.”
🔹 Closing / Self-Reflection Questions
Q26. What has been your most challenging safety issue, and how did you resolve it?
A26. “In one project, workers resisted wearing harnesses at height. I conducted extra training, shared case studies of fall accidents, and arranged proper, comfortable equipment. Compliance improved significantly, and fall risks were reduced.”
Q27. How do you encourage employees to report hazards or near misses?
A27. “By making reporting simple and non-punitive. I encourage open communication, assure workers there will be no blame, and introduce recognition for proactive reporting. This builds trust and a strong reporting culture.”
Q28. What steps would you take in your first 90 days as our Health and Safety Advisor?
A28. “First, I’d review existing policies, accident records, and training programs. Then, I’d conduct a site-wide inspection to identify gaps. Finally, I’d propose a short-term action plan with quick wins, such as refresher training, while preparing a long-term safety improvement strategy.”
Q29. How do you balance productivity with safety requirements?
A29. “I believe safety and productivity complement each other. Safe systems prevent downtime from accidents. I work with supervisors to design efficient but safe procedures, ensuring workers follow them without unnecessary delays.”
Q30. Where do you see yourself in your health and safety career in the next five years?
A30. “I aim to develop into a senior HSE management role, leading safety strategy at an organizational level. I also plan to gain further qualifications, such as the NEBOSH Diploma, to deepen my knowledge and contribute to continuous improvement in safety culture.”
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