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The Job Description of a SHEQ Manager

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SHEQ managers ensure that their companies meet safety, health and quality standards with the products they produce and the employee work environment. By developing and maintaining specific rules, they help prevent worker accidents and assist businesses in complying with government regulations. With safety knowledge and proper certifications, you can have a meaningful career in SHEQ management.

SHEQ Skills

SHEQ managers must review and comprehend many government regulations. According to the employment website O*Net Online, health and safety managers also need to exercise good judgment and make timely decisions. As they monitor the work environment, the SHEQ managers must recognize potential hazards and quickly determine how to best solve observed problems. Analytical skills are important to their quality-control duties. As SHEQ managers inspect products and work facilities, they must accurately analyze quality and adherence to established guidelines.

Daily Responsibilities

The SHEQ manager must ensure the quality of a company's products. Through regularly scheduled inspections, the manager determines whether the items meet established government and industry regulations. To keep up with these standards, SHEQ managers monitor new laws that are relevant to their company's business. As rules change, they update company guidelines and develop implementation strategies. Once policies are in place, the SHEQ manager regularly surveys the work environment to ensure regulation compliance.

When Accidents Happen

When accidents occur within the workplace, the SHEQ manager evaluates the incident to determine its source and manage the consequences. This may involve speaking with injured parties and witnesses to the accident. The manager may then investigate for problems such as equipment failure or human error. Once an origin is identified, the SHEQ manager may have to report the findings to higher management and create a problem-solving strategy. In some industries, the manager may also be required to report the incident to a relevant government agency.

Education and Qualifications

According to O_Net Online, most health and safety managers have earned at least a bachelor's degree. National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health certification is essential to securing an SHEQ management position. Construction skills certification is also helpful, along with qualification in environmental management systems. O_Net Online lists the average annual salary of a health and safety manager as $67,960 as of 2013. The expected job growth is slow, at three to seven percent between through 2022.

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Writer

Erika Winston is a Washington, D.C.-based writer, with more than 15 years of writing experience. Her articles have appeared in such magazines as Imara, Corporate Colors E-zine and Enterprise Virginia. She holds a Juris Doctor degree from Regent University and a Masters in public policy from New England College.

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