Case Studies

Ali, your health and safety career spans over a decade. What made you decide to pursue a career in health and safety?
After earning an honours degree in chemical engineering in 2013 from the University of Science and Technology in Sudan, I was eager to begin my career so asked my cousin, a mechanical engineer in the onshore oil and gas industry, to share my CV with his employer. While they had no openings for chemical engineers, they offered me a role as a safety officer recognising the relevant knowledge I had gained for this position through my degree. My studies had covered key topics such as process safety, HAZOP, chemical handling, exposure control, and advanced environmental subjects, all of which are highly relevant to the health and safety field. My engineering background also equipped me with critical thinking and troubleshooting skills.

I accepted the offer and began reporting to a safety supervisor with over 15 years’ experience. Under his mentorship, I developed essential skills, including preparing risk assessments, monitoring control measures, identifying unsafe acts and conditions, and managing critical lifting and confined space activities. In addition to sharing his extensive knowledge, he encouraged me to pursue safety courses to enhance my professional development. The short courses I completed at that time deepened my knowledge and were directly relevant to my responsibilities. I found working as a safety professional highly engaging and valued the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues across all departments and organisational levels. The exciting projects that followed in construction and infrastructure solidified my decision to remain in the safety field.

You completed your first NEBOSH qualification, the NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety, in 2020.

• Why did you choose this qualification? Ever since I joined the profession, other safety practitioners had consistently recommended the NEBOSH International General Certificate to me. It has a reputation for providing foundational knowledge in occupational safety and health (OSH), with a particular emphasis on risk management and control. Its structure and content equip safety practitioners to address a broad spectrum of common risks. In my view, completing the NEBOSH International General Certificate is a critical early step if you want to work in the OSH field. Here in the Middle East, it is often a specified requirement for health and safety roles, with many employers mandating that any candidates who don’t have this qualification when recruited, must complete it during their probationary period.

 

• How did you find it? - The NEBOSH International General Certificate was packed with extensive OSH information, making it a tough but rewarding challenge. I began studying in 2018 and passed the final unit in March 2020. It was a demanding journey, but I cherished every moment. I studied in work breaks and during the weekend and felt I was learning everything I needed to be a confident, competent and highly capable safety professional.

• How did it help you? – The NEBOSH International General Certificate significantly enhanced my professional capabilities in multiple ways:

1. It deepened my understanding of the wide range of reasons why health and safety should be proactively managed - I use this information to get buy-in, tailoring my communication to highlight which of the benefits of compliance or the consequences of non-compliance I think will resonate best with my audience. For example, senior managers often respond best if you show that effective health and safety management can boost organisational profits by avoiding the direct and indirect financial losses that follow a safety failure.
2. It provided clear, practical guidance on controlling critical risks and managing a wide range of safety-related issues.
3. It helped establish me as a trusted advocate for workers in my organisation - someone with both the will and the knowledge to protect their physical safety and psychological wellbeing.
4. It introduced me to key concepts - like safety management systems and OHS key performance indicators.
5. It gave me a solid foundation to continue my learning - Completing the NEBOSH International General Certificate gave me the knowledge and confidence to enrol immediately in the NEBOSH Diploma programme.

You are now a dual NEBOSH Diploma holder, having completed the NEBOSH International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety in 2023 and the International Diploma in Environmental Management in 2025, studying with NEBOSH Gold Learning Partner SHEILDS:

• Why did you choose to take these qualifications? I pursued the NEBOSH International Diploma because it is widely regarded as the gold standard in the safety field. The content gave me advanced knowledge across a wide range of topics, including occupational health, accident investigation and much more.  I then chose to study the NEBOSH Environmental Diploma to deepen my understanding of environmental management systems and enhance my capability in this increasingly vital area. The course covers essential topics relevant to many industries, such as waste management, sustainability, the circular economy, corporate social responsibility, renewable energy, and the hydrological cycle. Beyond the content, I pursued NEBOSH Diplomas to prepare for leadership roles in health and safety. They’re often specified for director-level positions in the Middle East. Holding a NEBOSH Diploma also opened the door to postgraduate study at Master’s level, meets the criteria for Certified Membership of IOSH, and allowed me to bypass the B-ASP exam and proceed directly to the B-CSP exam.

• How did you find studying at Diploma Level? Earning both the NEBOSH Safety and Environmental Diplomas was a demanding yet rewarding five-year journey. Studying at Diploma level requires focus and commitment, but my prior NEBOSH General Certificate gave me a strong foundation, which made it easier to first pass my Safety Diploma with Credit. Regular discussion groups with friends helped me understand and retain the information covered more effectively. I went on to complete the Environmental Diploma with Credit. Careful time and financial planning meant I also achieved ISO 14001 and BCSP certifications whilst completing my second NEBOSH Diploma. Funding the Diplomas can be a challenge, but many NEBOSH providers offer instalment plans, which makes the process more manageable.

• How has achieving these qualifications helped you? Both NEBOSH Diplomas have been worth every penny, both in terms of the knowledge gained and the professional opportunities they’ve created. Achieving these qualifications significantly advanced my career in several key ways:

1. They open doors to managerial roles within the HSE sector, in prestigious organisations, with competitive salaries, and enhanced job security.
2. They strengthened my professional reputation and enabled me to attain membership with esteemed safety bodies such as IOSH.
3. They boosted my competence and confidence—the comprehensive knowledge gained from the Diploma empowered me to manage diverse projects effectively.
4. They helped me to improve workers’ safety and environmental awareness through in-house training and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
5. They also opened the door to pursue an MSc in Occupational Health and Safety. For some courses you have the option to transfer credits, shortening the program’s duration and reducing its overall cost.

Do you have any advice for other safety professionals that will help them balance work and study?
Balancing full-time work, family commitments, and studying is challenging. I found that dedicating at least one hour to study at work and at home daily and studying for four hours over the weekend worked for me. This schedule may limit your social life in the short-term, but the investment in your personal development is worthwhile. Ensure you take days off to rest, keeping your mind clear and your body and mind prepared for the exam.

In June 2024, you secured a new role as Occupational Health and Safety Consultant for Dar Al-Handasah based in Saudi Arabia. Can you tell us a little about the company and your role in particular?
Dar Al-Handasah Consultants (Dar), founded in 1956, is a privately owned international firm specialising in engineering, architecture, planning, environmental consulting, project and construction management, facilities management, and economics. Headquartered in Beirut, Lebanon, with major offices in Cairo, London, Warsaw, Pune, and Amman, it operates 46 branch offices across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. The organisation employs 9,250 staff, including 6,300 qualified professionals. Dar has served over 950 clients in 60 countries, managing more than 4,000 projects valued at over US$300 billion. The firm excels in diverse engineering fields, delivering comprehensive consultancy services.

I joined Dar as an HSE Supervisor and was later promoted to Senior HSE Engineer. I am currently working on the Third Saudi Expansion Project in Makkah (Mecca)—the largest and most significant infrastructure development in Saudi Arabia. With a workforce exceeding 70,000 and a capital investment of over $100 billion, the project aims to expand the capacity of the Holy Mosque to accommodate millions of pilgrims and visitors practicing their religious beliefs.

Representing the client, the Ministry of Finance’s Project Management Office (PMO), I oversee the main contractor and their subcontractors. I support Dar and the client’s health and safety (H&S) objectives through leadership tours, daily safety observations, workplace inspections, and participation in high-level safety and progress meetings. My responsibilities also include reviewing contractors’ HSE plans, risk assessments, and method statements.

A key focus is public safety—especially during Ramadan and Hajj—when we prioritise mitigating risks such as falling objects, sharp edges, and other hazards that could impact pilgrims. During the remainder of the year, our emphasis shifts to worker safety and maintaining high health and safety standards throughout the project lifecycle.

What do you enjoy most about being part of the health and safety profession?
I feel deeply valued in my role, as just as a city relies on hospitals and doctors, projects depend on safety professionals to function effectively. I take pride in contributing meaningfully to humanity and society. Each day, I find fulfilment in correcting workers’ unsafe behaviours, guiding senior management to meet their safety goals and objectives, and engaging in problem-solving to proactively address critical risks by finding optimal solutions. I also cherish the opportunity to learn from my mistakes, treating them as valuable lessons to grow and improve.

Given your extensive experience and connections, what do you think makes a good health and safety professional? 
A strong health and safety professional should have:

1. Deep safety knowledge - which can be acquired through NEBOSH Certificates and Diplomas.
2. The ability to work in a collaborate way – This is vital to ensure success particularly in large-scale projects.
3. Strong communication skills – it is important to be able to speak the right language for all levels and to be an attentive listener.
4. A positive attitude and patience - transforming a workplace safety culture is a gradual process that requires time and persistence.

What advice would you give someone pursuing a health and safety career?
Begin with the NEBOSH International General Certificate to build a strong foundation in occupational health and safety (OHS). Don’t just aim to earn the certificate, embrace its syllabus, apply its principles, and let it fuel your confidence to excel in the field.

Connect with other safety professionals who can offer guidance and support, particularly when you are trying to get your first entry-level role.

See yourself as a champion for workers whose safety awareness is limited.

Document your work diligently, uphold ethical standards, and use your authority responsibly, always guided by integrity.

Commit to lifelong learning and self-improvement to ensure you always provide well-informed advice and stay relevant.

View your safety role as a humanitarian mission, wake up each day excited to save lives and share knowledge that empowers workers to protect themselves.