After graduating 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.

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 equipment and instrumentation, reviewing and completing safety events and conducting Accident Investigations. I also provide Health and Safety guidance to employees.

For this role you require more than just academic qualifications. 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 being afraid to get “stuck in”.
• Being able to manage your time effectively to tackle the ever-expanding to-do list

What I love most about my job is the flexibility. On a daily basis I perform a variety of tasks including delivering training, accident investigation, performing audits and internal inspections.

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

I have undertaken First Aid, 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.