Health & Safety Compliance Officer – Essex

Health & Safety Compliance Officer – Essex Location: Essex Pay: £20.00 PAYE / £25.61 Umbrella per hour Hours: 37 hours per week Working Pattern: Full-time, 5 days per week onsite Contract: Initial 6-month contract Closing Date: Monday 24 August 2026 Health & Safety Compliance Officer VNA Recruitment is currently recruiting for an experienced Health & Safety Compliance Officer to join a busy operational services team within a large public sector organisation in Essex. This is an excellent opportunity for a Health & Safety or compliance professional with experience working in a frontline operational environment , particularly within local government, waste management, street cleansing, transport or similar services. You will play a key role in maintaining safe working practices across operational teams by carrying out inspections, audits, risk assessments and compliance monitoring. You will also work directly with managers, employees and contractors to identify risks, investigate incidents and drive improvements in workplace safety. This is a hands-on role requiring someone who is confident being visible across operational sites and challenging unsafe working practices where necessary. The Role As a Health & Safety Compliance Officer, your responsibilities will include: Carrying out planned and unannounced Health & Safety audits and inspections Monitoring day-to-day operational activities and safe working practices Undertaking workplace, depot and site inspections Completing route safety assessments and operational observations Monitoring employee compliance with PPE requirements Identifying unsafe practices and ensuring appropriate corrective action is taken Checking vehicle, equipment and workplace safety procedures Supporting the preparation and review of risk assessments Reviewing method statements and safe systems of work Providing practical Health & Safety advice to managers and frontline employees Delivering Health & Safety training, inductions and toolbox talks Carrying out employee competency assessments Investigating workplace accidents, incidents and near misses Identifying root causes and recommending appropriate corrective actions Preparing detailed investigation, audit and compliance reports Monitoring actions arising from inspections and investigations Analysing Health & Safety data and identifying recurring trends Recommending opportunities for service and safety improvements Supporting compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements Working collaboratively with managers, employees, contractors and other stakeholders About You To be considered for this position, you should have: Previous experience within Health & Safety, operational compliance or workplace safety Experience carrying out Health & Safety audits and inspections Experience monitoring compliance within an operational or frontline environment Good working knowledge of Health & Safety legislation and best practice Experience identifying workplace hazards and assessing risk Experience supporting or completing risk assessments Experience investigating accidents, incidents and near misses Ability to identify root causes and recommend practical corrective action Experience delivering workplace training, inductions or toolbox talks Experience carrying out employee competency assessments Strong written communication and report-writing skills Good analytical skills and ability to identify trends from operational data Confidence providing Health & Safety guidance to managers and employees Ability to professionally challenge unsafe practices Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills Ability to work independently and manage competing priorities Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office and relevant compliance systems Relevant Operational Experience Experience within one or more of the following environments would be particularly advantageous: Local government Waste and recycling Refuse collection Street cleansing Environmental services Transport or fleet operations Highways or grounds maintenance Frontline operational services Why Apply? £20.00 PAYE / £25.61 Umbrella per hour 37 hours per week Initial 6-month contract Work within a large public sector organisation Varied Health & Safety and compliance responsibilities Hands-on role working directly with operational teams Opportunity to influence workplace safety and service standards Exposure to audits, inspections, investigations and training Full-time position This opportunity would suit an experienced Health & Safety Officer, H&S Officer, Compliance Officer, Safety Officer, Health & Safety Advisor or Operational Compliance Officer who is comfortable working in a practical frontline environment. If you have strong Health & Safety and compliance experience and can confidently carry out inspections, investigations and workplace audits, we would like to hear from you. Apply today with an up-to-date CV for immediate consideration. Applications close Monday 24 August 2026. VNA Recruitment is acting as a recruitment agency in relation to this vacancy.