What you need to perform it
Primary qualification
- University or technical qualification in safety/industrial risk, with the NEBOSH International General Certificate as the sector's usual bar (or equivalent).
- Incident-investigation training with a causal method (TapRooT, Tripod or similar — indicative per contractor).
- BOSIET/FOET with CA-EBS, offshore medical and advanced H2S where the field requires it.
Basic STCW
- A-VI/1
- OPITO BOSIET
- OPITO Offshore Emergency Response Team Leader (ERTL)
Specific courses
- PTW administration: energy isolation, confined spaces and hot work
- Barrier management and process safety (UK safety case / US SEMS references — indicative per regime)
- Drill leadership: fire, H2S, man overboard and evacuation
- Safety-data analysis: observations, near-misses and trends
Indicative experience
Indicative: 3-5 years in heavy-industry or offshore HSE, with at least one hitch as embarked junior HSE before owning the unit's role.
Observations
Advises rather than replaces line responsibility: safety belongs to each area's leadership and the OIM. On international contracts the post may be shared driller/operator. Progression: HSE Officer → fleet HSE Superintendent → QHSE management.
What this role does
Adviser and keeper of the unit's safety system: administers the permit-to-work regime, runs inductions, drills and safety observations, investigates incidents with causal methodology, feeds the contract's KPIs and advises the OIM on barrier management. The authority to stop an unsafe job is real and protected by the system.
Typical watches
- Availability during active operations
Key responsibilities
- Implementation and audit of the SMS (Safety Management System).
- Investigation of incidents and near-misses.
- Management of SIMOP (Simultaneous Operations) and PTW (Permit to Work).
- Conducting safety inspections and Muster Drills.
- Emergency response coordination (fire, blow-out, evacuation).
Operational scope
- The whole MODU
- Coordination with land for emergencies
- Safety audits
Profile reviewed by HydroAbyss (2026). Cited rules and timeframes are indicative: the final requirement is set by the flag State, the Administration and each company.