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