Anyone work or know of anyone who works in Health&Safety?

[checkitgirl]

Hi Mumsnetters

Please help me as I need some direction.

I have the opportunity to try something completely new and start an apprenticeship in HSE. I'm 40, single parent (DD14)and haven't had much of a career to be honest, as I've never really known what I've wanted to do. I am certain I have ADHD but it's only sadly dawned on me recently. I am a massive over-thinker, over analyser, take things to heart, get bored easily, yet like some kind of routine and like to know what I'm doing. I never like to stay in one place for long. I get itchy if I do. I'm an introvert - I get on well with people but prefer my own company/working on my own with some level of social interaction, just not all the time as I think I annoy people. So, a job where I can move about and not see the same people too often would be good.

I've always mainly worked for myself but I need a change and to challenge myself. I hit 40 this year and I am so sad as I feel I have wasted my life. I did manage to do a PGCE a few years ago. Although I enjoyed the teaching part, did well in all the assessments etc, I did struggle massively with school politics and the workload was insane. I realised this wasn't for me and I hated being observed, scrutinised and seeing the same faces everyday was difficult. I also struggled a lot with information. I didn't understand how primary teachers were/could be expected to learn the whole curriculum across all the subjects and teach it to a high standard. I now realise that this would be easier over time but all the information and multi-tasking was also a challenge for me.

So...question is, would a HSE job be right for me given what I have typed? And if anyone works in H&E, what would it be like day to day? (I know there would be a lot of variations of course).

I have looked at some HSE jobs advised and my goodness, the employers ask for a lot of things! I'm concerned I would never be able to take that level of responsibility on, or know how to deliver on everything.

Any advice please x

I'm not sure someone who gets bored easily is a good fit for H&S. You need to have an attention to detail and be tenacious, following through on things that the people you're supporting would be happy to leave on the backburner.

I guess it could be varied as there are different types of health and safety areas to work in. My ds who is now 24 did an apprenticeship. He does a lot of travelling to various building sites and residential estates like housing associations, checks things out, writes up reports. We live in the East midlands and most days he can be travelling to Yorkshire, Birmingham, up to Leeds etc. If there has been an accident or breach of H&S he has to sit in on meetings etc to evaluate why it has happened who is at fault etc. He says he is never popular going round reprimanding people etc but that is the whole point of his job to make sure no-one gets injured so it's all part of the job. He seems to like it and gets paid well for a 24 year old. He has had to do a lot of study. I guess there are H&S advisors in all types of businesses, hospitals etc so I guess if you get bored with one area you can move.