Health & Safety Manager – Civils/Groundworks & Sewer Construction
Location: Surrey (with site travel across London & surrounding areas)
Employment Type: Full-time | Permanent
Sector: Civil Engineering | Groundworks | Utilities
About Us
We're an established, family-run civil engineering contractor with over 40 years' experience, specialising in sewer connections, excavation works, and site drainage. Operating across London and the South East, we deliver projects ranging from £3k to £3m for commercial and domestic clients, with a strong focus on quality and client loyalty.
As a close-knit, fast-paced team, we're looking for a dedicated Health & Safety Manager to join us and play a pivotal role in maintaining our excellent safety record while supporting our continued growth.
The Role
This is a hands-on HSE leadership position with real impact. You'll be responsible for developing and enforcing all health, safety, and environmental policies across multiple live construction sites, with a specialist focus on:
Excavation & tunnelling (shaft and heading, open cut/trench works)
Confined spaces (manhole entry, live sewer connections)
Lifting operations and heavy plant/machinery
You'll split your time between office-based work and regular site visits, working closely with our Contracts Manager, Scheduling Manager, site operatives, and clients. This role offers genuine scope for development within a growing family business.
Key Responsibilities
Safety Systems & Compliance
* Ensure full compliance with construction safety regulations and confined spaces/excavation standards
* Create, review and maintain site-specific RAMS for high-risk activities
* Develop and continuously improve company-wide HSE Management Systems
* Manage plant, equipment and vehicle fleet testing/calibration records
Risk Assessment & Site Inspections
* Conduct proactive safety audits across all active projects
* Identify and mitigate hazards including trench collapse, toxic gases, traffic management, and biological risks
* Monitor on-site compliance and enforce safety standards
Training & Culture
* Deliver effective H&S training (inductions, confined spaces, excavation safety, PPE protocols)
* Lead toolbox talks and safety briefings
* Champion a positive, preventative safety culture across the organisation
* Maintain training records and qualification tracking
Incident Management
* Investigate all accidents, near-misses and incidents to determine root causes
* Manage RIDDOR reporting and regulatory compliance
* Develop corrective action plans and compile safety performance reports
Stakeholder Liaison
* Liaise with clients, principal contractors, utility companies and regulatory bodies (HSE, water authorities)
* Lead H&S accreditations (CHAS, Constructionline Gold)
* Support tender submissions with pre-qualification documentation
* Stay current with legislation and industry best practices
What We're Looking For
Essential:
* 4+ years in a dedicated H&S role within civils/groundworks
* Specific experience in sewer construction, excavation, confined spaces, tunnelling and lifting operations
* NEBOSH Diploma (or equivalent professional safety qualification)
* CSCS card
* UK Driving Licence
* Strong IT skills (Microsoft Office suite)
Desirable:
* Degree in Health & Safety or related field
* Grad IOSH
* Confined Space Certificate
* TWSTC (Temporary Works Supervisor Course)
* Lifting AP (Appointed Person)
Your Profile
You're a self-motivated, proactive professional who can hit the ground running with minimal supervision. You demonstrate:
Perseverance in maintaining zero H&S stoppages
Quick thinking and ability to make an impact from day one
Calm under pressure with excellent judgement (including authority to stop unsafe work)
Strong communication and coaching skills to drive cultural change
Methodical organisation and exceptional attention to detail
Flexibility and adaptability in a fast-paced, small team environment
Genuine interest in process improvement and leveraging technology