Emma McCrellis

Although the UK headquarters is based in Craigavon, Almac have sites operating in the USA, UK mainland, ROI and Asia. Over the last 10 years I have had the opportunity to visit a couple of these sites.

Can you outline your career to date?

After graduating UUJ (University of Ulster Jordanstown) with a BSc Hons in Business Studies and attaining a Nebosh Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety. I commenced employment with Almac in May 2009, primarily as an HSE Administrator. Ten years on, I am now a Safety Officer in Almac and have gained experience working in 5 out of the 6 current business units.

What does a typical day in your job involve?

Every day in our department can be different. Typically my role includes performing Safety Inspections, Internal Audits, carrying out Risk Assessments on new and existing pieces of plant and equipment, Reviewing and completing safety events and conducting Accident Investigations. I also provide Health and Safety guidance to employees.

What type of other skills do you need for your job, other than educational qualifications?

For this role you require more than just academia. Some key skills are:

  • Industrial experience, from how equipment operates to chemical handling and exposure to risks.
  • Good communication skills which are necessary for hosting committee meetings, delivering training or on a more personal level working with employees on a one to one basis.
  • People skills, I feel being able to listen to employees and understanding their needs is important, whether this is due to a temporary condition e.g. pregnancy or returning to work after illness or workplace adjustments for pre-existing conditions.
  • Investigative skills and being able to determine root causes of accidents and incidents.
  • A Hands-on approach to daily tasks and situations as they evolve and not be afraid to get “stuck in”.
  • Being able to manage your time effectively to tackle the every expanding to do list

What do you love most about your job?

What I love most about my job is the flexibility that the role of a Safety Officer involves. On a daily basis I perform a variety of tasks including delivering training, accident investigation, face fit testing new employees, performing audits and internal inspections, and it helps get me away from the office chair.

What great opportunities have you had in your role?

Although the UK headquarters is based in Craigavon, Almac have sites operating in the USA, UK mainland, ROI and Asia. Over the last 10 years I have had the opportunity to visit a couple of these sites. I have undertaken First Aider, Emergency Coordinator, Fire Warden and Emergency Response Team training equipping me with the necessary skills to cope with emergencies involving accidents, fires and chemical spillages. I have attended various safety seminars and a mock trial training exercise in London with respect to accident investigation.