Case Studies

Did you always know you wanted to build your career in health and safety?
No, it wasn’t my original plan. At university in India, I completed a Diploma in Computer Science Engineering. After graduating in 2003, I was eager to embrace new prospects and moved to Dubai, often referred to as the "land of opportunities", hoping to build a career in IT. Throughout a month of relentless searching, I encountered a recurring obstacle: almost every company I approached required a minimum of three years’ IT experience. Just as I began to lose hope, I was offered a job selling computer equipment in the prestigious Dubai Mall. The salary was modest, barely covering my living expenses, but I was glad to have secured my first role.

After working for two months in retail, a brief conversation changed the trajectory of my career forever. A client introduced me to the world of health and safety, explaining that not only was it a rewarding profession, but I could potentially earn three times my salary. Encouraged by his enthusiasm, I visited his site office and secured a junior role in the health and safety department. Initially, my responsibilities included checking personal protective equipment (PPE), delivering safety briefings based on the organisation’s comprehensive safety handbook, and collecting signatures to confirm understanding and compliance. However, my enthusiasm and proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint was soon recognised, and I was promoted to a Coordinator role. Key tasks included generating detailed reports and conducting thorough site walks to assess safety conditions. I completed a few OSHA courses at a local training institute to enhance my knowledge and became a certified First Aider and Fire Marshal.

Why did you take your first NEBOSH qualification, the NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety?
In 2012, a global recession meant that numerous companies were facing bankruptcy. To reduce the risk of being affected, I decided to relocate from Dubai to Saudi Arabia and within days of arriving, I secured a position as an HSE Coordinator. To further protect my future, I felt it was time to gain an internationally recognised health and safety qualification, which would complement my practical experience. After researching my options, I concluded that the NEBOSH International General Certificate (IGC) in Occupational Health and Safety was the best choice for me.

 

Did you enjoy the NEBOSH International General Certificate?
Returning to education after a decade was both daunting and invigorating. The challenge of attending classes and grasping complex topics was significant, but I thoroughly enjoyed my studies and was successful.

What impact did attaining the NEBOSH International General Certificate have on your career?
The NEBOSH International General Certificate (IGC) provided the essential technical foundation—the 'what' and 'how' of risk management. It gave me the toolkit for identifying hazards, assessing risks, and implementing controls, which is the bedrock of HSE profession.

Shortly after passing, I received an offer from a renowned construction consultancy to join its team as a Health, Safety, and Environment Advisor. The organisation was specifically seeking candidates with NEBOSH qualifications, so I would not have met its criteria without my NEBOSH International General Certificate.

I accepted the offer and took on the crucial responsibility of advising contractors on all health, safety, and environmental matters. Drawing upon the knowledge I had gained from my NEBOSH studies, I managed numerous contractors, effectively implemented HSE policies and practices, and conducted thorough risk assessments, audits, inspections and investigations, all while meticulously monitoring operations and measuring safety performance. During my time with this organisation, I continued my professional development completing ISO 45001 and 14001 lead auditor training, as well as gaining expertise in Six Sigma Lean Management.

In 2018, you joined your current employer JLL. Can you tell us about this organisation and its approach to health and safety?
JLL is a global professional services firm that specialises in real estate and investment management. Our project and development services cover the full project lifecycle including project and program management, cost management, fit-out, design solutions, engineering design and sustainability, development management, HSE, and digital solutions.

We strive to drive a culture of health, safety, security, environment and quality excellence through integrated management systems and our 'One team S.A.F.E.R. together' vision, values and behaviours. We believe that through cooperation with our service partners, suppliers, and people, we can all be safer together, no matter where we work. Our "One team S.A.F.E.R. together" programme represents a comprehensive, innovative and impactful approach to HSE that is delivering tangible results and helping to raise standards. It combines a clear vision, robust processes, technology enablement and leadership commitment.

The foundation of our success lies in the clear HSE vision and framework we've established, which includes global standards, cardinal rules, and expected behaviours. This provides consistent direction that aligns with ISO 45001 and 14001 requirements, ensuring we maintain the highest standards regardless of where we operate. Our programme includes numerous tools and processes such as hazard identification protocols, comprehensive risk assessments, permits to work systems, targeted safety training, rigorous contractor pre-qualifications, systematic audits, and thorough incident reporting and investigation procedures which are designed to deliver HSE excellence.

Technology plays a crucial role in enabling our success. We leverage advanced solutions like the CMO Compliance Software and Saifety.ai platform to streamline HSE data capture, analysis, and reporting, which enables truly data-driven decision making. While we continue to track traditional lagging indicators, we place particular emphasis on leading indicators such as safety observations, hazard reporting rates, and training completion metrics to proactively improve safety performance before incidents occur.

Central to our approach is visible leadership commitment at every level of the organisation. This supports our "fair and just" culture that actively encourages speaking up about safety concerns without fear of retribution, while also implementing employee recognition programs that celebrate positive safety behaviours.

Our programme extends beyond internal operations through strategic partnerships with clients and subcontractors, ensuring alignment on HSE objectives and requirements across entire project ecosystems. We build in regular reviews and audits to drive ongoing HSE performance improvement based on experience and industry developments. We also actively leverage our knowledge to shape conversations around safety throughout the real estate sector. We lead workshops, establish training academies with clients, and promote safety moments in all meetings. As a global company, our HSE initiatives create wide-reaching impact across operations in multiple countries and sectors.

The effectiveness of our approach is demonstrated through significant results on major projects. For example, we achieved 41 million safe man-hours without lost time injury on one of our giga-projects last year. JLL’s commitment to HSE excellence has also been recognised through numerous awards and certifications, including being named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for 17 consecutive years. This recognition reflects not only our internal performance but also our broader contribution to industry standards.

In 2022, whilst working as an Occupational Health, Safety and Environment Manager for the organisation, you decided to sign up for the NEBOSH Level 6 International Diploma for Occupational Health and Safety Management Professionals.

What motivated this decision:  By 2022, I felt the time was right to take my studies to the next level. I reviewed the syllabus of the NEBOSH Diploma qualification and saw that the content closely aligned with the responsibilities I held at the time as an Occupational Health, Safety and Environment Manager. At that time I was formulating and developing health and safety plans and procedures, conducting and preparing risk assessments, creating site-specific emergency response plans and fire management strategies, establishing safety performance indicators (SPIs), designing and implementing comprehensive training programmes, overseeing the annual audit programme, and ensuring the effective implementation of Permit to Work systems and Safe Systems of Work for contractors. The Diploma content would support these existing responsibilities, and I also believed that gaining this qualification would equip me for more senior roles. My manager encouraged me to enrol, recognising the value the qualification would bring to both the organisation and my own professional development.

What did you think of the course content: The curriculum was comprehensive and gave me a deeper understanding of risk assessment, legal frameworks, and effective safety practices. I learned the 'why' and the 'who' which elevated my perspective from that of safety personnel focused on compliance to a strategic advisor focused on organizational culture and performance. The knowledge I gained through my Diploma studies helped me make informed decisions and lead safety initiatives within my organisation.

How did achieving the Diploma qualification help you? The NEBOSH Diploma has helped me achieve so much in terms of increased recognition and advancement opportunities. Key highlights include:

• Being appointed as one of the HSE Subject Matter Experts for JLL’s Project and Development Services team in Saudi Arabia
• Revitalising my love for learning which has meant I have gone on to become a Certified Fire Protection Specialist (NFPA) and a Certified Risk Management Professional (PMI)
• Being part of the team that achieved ISO 45001 certification for JLL
• Becoming a Chartered Member of IOSH and an IOSH mentor
•  Becoming a Fellow of IIRSM
• Securing promotion to the Program Health and Safety Manager within a year of gaining my NEBOSH Diploma

What was the best thing you learned through your NEBOSH studies?
That a world-class safety professional is not a police officer of rules, but a business partner and an agent of change. Our value lies in our ability to build resilient, high-trust environments where people are the priority, which in turn drives operational excellence and makes the business fundamentally stronger.

Can you tell us about the Program Health and Safety Manager role you secured after completing your Diploma?
I was delighted to be appointed the Program Health and Safety Manager as it gave me the chance to apply everything I have learnt so far to something completely new. It has turned out to be one of the most challenging but rewarding opportunities I have been given so far in my career.

I am responsible for leading the development of a comprehensive Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) framework from the ground up for a major client in Riyadh who is new to the construction industry. Over eleven months, I had to establish a robust Health and Safety Management System (HSMS) across their entire project portfolio.

I began with a detailed analysis of their operations, identifying unique risks and regulatory requirements. Through strategic engagement with senior leadership, I aligned the organisation’s vision with a culture of safety and compliance.

I drafted tailored policies and procedures—including a Health and Safety Policy, Zero Harm Policy, Emergency Response Plan, Fire Safety Plan, and a full Health and Safety manual—alongside practical tools like inspection checklists, incident reporting forms, training registers, and compliance logs.

A key opportunity was aligning programme and construction managers' existing focus on delivery excellence with HSE best practices. I delivered targeted HSE awareness and training sessions that demonstrated how integrated safety management strengthens project outcomes and supports successful timeline and budget achievement.

The HSMS is now fully implemented across all client projects, embedding safety into daily operations and setting a new standard for health and safety in their organisation.

What advice would you give someone who wants to build a career in the health and safety profession?
At the start of my career, I believed that safety was just about common sense, but as I have gained experience, I have realised this perception is far too simplistic and can be potentially hazardous.

As safety practitioners we need to build foundation of knowledge gained from practical experience and training to keep our people safe and well. I encourage anyone who wishes to follow this path to build their competence by gaining a mix of formal education and practical experience as this is how I have developed the skills and knowledge I use to keep people in my care safe.

Your learning and development should never stop either because in this profession things are always evolving. Legislation changes, peers share new ways of doing things, and new technologies and innovations come along that can help you if you are open to learning. I am presently doing exactly that by helping to test safety AI software JLL have developed. The app can be used by health and safety professionals and non-health and safety staff to identify and address risks and hazards at construction sites. I love learning new things so am enjoying being at the forefront of this new technology.

My experience has also shown me the importance of building softer skills like effective communication and influence. Being able to find ways to connect with Senior Leadership, Construction Managers and workers were critical for me to get the HSMS embedded in my current role. I love my job. Its rewarding and I make a difference.