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