What training is there to become a health and safety officer?

Who is or becomes a health and safety officer is decided by line managers or the management together with the employees. Employees can take the initiative if they are interested or need to, as every company has to take care of occupational health and safety issues.

The role of safety officer requires employees who are interested in occupational health and safety, have empathy and are persuasive. They must be motivated to acquire the necessary specialist knowledge and perform their duties responsibly. They must also be able to persistently advocate safety issues with the management if necessary.

Training to become a safety officer is not officially regulated. Prospective health and safety officers have various options for acquiring the necessary know-how:

• Training courses and courses: Private providers, SUVA and the Swiss Association for Occupational Safety and Health offer various training courses and courses (basic and advanced). These conclude with a school or association certificate.
• Industry solutions: Some industries have certified industry-specific safety systems that they offer to their member companies, for example in the form of manuals or by providing occupational safety specialists.
• Model solutions: Here, the company adopts a security system from a consulting firm and adapts it to its operational circumstances. Many providers of model solutions offer a corresponding range of further and advanced training courses for their member companies. The FCOS maintains an overview of certified model solutions.

Provider of training courses for safety officers (SiBe)