21 Safety Interview Questions and answers

Why are you interested in this position?

Example: "I'm interested in this job because I can see that, in this role, my skills could
help solve this problem within your company. I also see an opportunity for me to learn
and grow these skills, so we both would benefit personally, professionally, and
financially.

What weakness should I say in an interview?

Answer “what is your greatest weakness” by choosing a skill that is not essential to the
job you're applying to and by stressing exactly how you're practically addressing your
weakness. Some skills that you can use as weaknesses include impatience,
multitasking, self-criticism, and procrastination.

Q1. Tell me about yourself.

“Thank you for inviting me to be interviewed for this Safety Officer position today.
Over the years, I have built up extensive experience, skills, and knowledge that are a
strong match for the job description. I am passionate about safety, meticulous in my
planning and organizing, and I always work quickly to build a culture within the
organization where everybody from the top down puts safety above everything else.
Important skills and qualities I possess that will enable me to excel in the role include
strong communication and interpersonal skills. I always communicate consistently,
ensuring the safety messages and policies I want to put across are understood. I will
build strong relationships with the senior management team and managers within the
organization to ensure the health and safety objectives are conveyed throughout the
company. Finally, my knowledge of health and safety law, regulations, and procedures
are second to none and I will make sure I protect your organization and your
employees from the hazards and risks that are present.”

Q2. Why do you want to work here as a Safety Officer?

“I want to work for you because I genuinely believe you can only achieve your
objectives as a Safety Officer if the organization you are working for is serious about
safety and it supports you in your work. Having carried out lots of research into your
company, it is clear you take your responsibilities seriously and you have a culture that
puts safety above everything else. I am passionate about safety and doing things the
right way is something I always look for in a company when seeking employment. If
successful, I plan to stay working with your company for many years to come and I
feel this is a place I will be supported in my duties.”
21 Safety Interview Questions and answers

Q3. What are the different steps of a Risk Assessment?

 The Health and Safety Executive's Five steps to risk assessment.
 Step 1: Identify the hazards.
 Step 2: Access the Hazard and Decide who might be harmed and how.
 Step 3: Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions.
 Step 4: Record your findings and implement them.
 Step 5: Review your risk assessment and update if. necessary.

Q4. What are the most important skills and qualities needed to be a
Safety Officer?
Q5. What would you include in a safety policy if we asked you to
create one?
Q6. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Q7. How would you define safety?
Q8. How would you manage safety at our company?
Q9. What’s the definition of an accident?
Q10. What is a hazard and how does it differentiate from risk?
Q11. Give me an example of a health and safety law and how it
impacts an organization.
Q12. How will you handle the workload that comes with being a
Safety Officer?
Q13. If you saw someone working dangerously, what would you say
and do?
Q14. How would you deal with employees or clients who are not
interested in Health and Safety? How would you engage with them?
 Q15. If the senior management team pushed back against your safety
recommendations, how would you respond?
Q16. Give an example of when you had to demonstrate leadership
skills.
Q17. Tell me about a time when you broke the rules at work.
Q18. Tell me about a time when you used your powers of persuasion
to influence a situation.
Q19. Where do you see yourself in five years?
Q20. Why should we hire you as our Safety Officer?
Q21. That’s the end of your Safety Officer interview, do you have
any questions for us?

The Skills and Qualities Needed to be a Safety Officer

Before you attend your Safety Officer interview, it is essential that you learn the skills and qualities
needed to perform the role to a consistently high standard. Any Safety Officer job description will
list the more prominent skills and qualities needed to maintain competence in the role, and these will
form the basis of the interview assessment criteria. The following skills and qualities are commonly
found within the Safety Officer job descriptions and person specifications.

A THOROUGH UNDERSTAND OF SAFETY AND APPLICABLE LAWS

First and foremost, Safety Officer needs a thorough understanding of safety, how it is managed in the
workplace, and the relevant laws and regulations that encompass it. An employer will expect their
Safety Officer to be able to advise them in respect of law and policies, and in the United Kingdom,
the applicable law is predominant the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

KNOWLEDGE OF THE RISK ASSESSMENT PROCESS

A Safety Officer will use the five-step risk assessment process almost every day of their working
life. Therefore, it is vital they are able to conduct workplace risk assessments and also teach other
members of staff how to use them, too.

COMMUNICATION AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

A Safety Officer must have strong communication, influencing, and interpersonal skills, and be able
to explain the benefits of safety in a concise and clear manner to the workforce.

ANALYTICAL AND PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS

Safety Officers need strong analytical and problem-solving skills and be capable of responding
quickly to issues, hazards, risks, and problems as and when they occur.

INTERPERSONAL AND RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING QUALITIES

A Safety Officer must be able to work with people at all levels from within the organization, as well
as being commercially-aware. The Safety Officer will have to work with the Senior Management
Team and managers/team leaders from across the company to build a culture that insists safety must
always come first.

IT LITERATE AND WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF MICROSOFT APPLICATIONS

Safety Officers must be IT literate because the vast majority of the work they carry out will be
recorded, shared, and disseminated online. A competent Safety Officer will be able to use Microsoft
Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other applicable applications and risk assessment recording tools.

Other essential skills and qualities needed by Safety Officers include having a good eye for detail,
confidence in their abilities, taking responsibility for their continuous professional development, and
making sure they keep updated with developments and laws from within the health and safety sector.

SAFETY OFFICER INTERVIEW TIPS – HOW TO PASS

A SAFETY OFFICER INTERVIEW!
The following five tips will be crucial in helping you to prepare for a Safety Officer interview. If you
have a Safety Officer interview coming up with any organization whatsoever, make sure you read
and implement the tips that follow to increase your chances of success!

SAFETY OFFICER INTERVIEW TIP #1

How do I prepare for a Safety Officer interview? The fastest way to prepare for your Safety Offices
interview is to consider how you will implement and manage safety within their organization.
Consider the risks and hazards present in their company and have a set plan in place of how you will
deal with them. If you know what you will do in respect of safety before you get the job, this will
help increase your chances of success.

SAFETY OFFICER INTERVIEW TIP #2

Don’t get caught out by the basics of safety! Before you attend your Safety Officer job interview,
brush up on the basics. What is safety? What is the difference between a risk and a hazard? What is a
risk assessment and what laws does their organization have to adhere to in respect of safety?

SAFETY OFFICER INTERVIEW TIP #3

A common Safety Officer interview question centres on the risk assessment process. What are the
five steps to a risk assessment features often during Safety Officer job interviews! Make sure you are
fully aware of the risk assessment process and be able to recite it word for word.

SAFETY OFFICER INTERVIEW TIP #4

What questions are asked during a Safety Officer interview? This is a common question asked by
applicants waiting to attend their interview. We have conducted the research for you and the 21
questions listed on this page have featured the most during Safety Officer interviews during the last
12 months! Be sure to prepare answers to all of them before you attend your interview.

SAFETY OFFICER INTERVIEW TIP #5

At the end of your Safety Officer interview, you will have the chance to ask some questions of your
own. Here are three smart questions to ask in a Safety Officer interview:

Q1. What are the most pressing safety issues or concerns within the organization right now?

Q2. What is the current culture like within the organization in respect of safety? Is safety taken
seriously by everyone?

Q3. How often do you change working practices and procedures in the workplace and how could
I help you to achieve and maintain safety standards in respect of these?

10 safety interview questions with sample answers

1. What are your credentials as a safety manager?

Example: “I earned a master's degree in occupational safety and health five years
ago, and I've worked in the industry ever since. I started out as a junior safety officer
at Jones Company, and about two years ago, I was promoted to a team
leader position.”

2. How would you conduct a workplace safety audit?

Example: “To audit workplace safety, I would familiarize myself with current
protocols, review recent incident reports and schedule an observation session. Then I
would prepare an analysis of my findings, share them with stakeholders and suggest
relevant recommendations.”

3. How would you encourage staff members to adopt your safety measures?

Example: “In my experience, staff members readily adopt safety measures that are
easy to follow. I strive to make them as easy as possible by providing training,
recommending changes to work areas and processes. I also help departments
advocate for additional resources when necessary.”

4. What would you do if you observed employees neglecting to follow safety

procedures?

Example: “This can be a challenging situation, especially when you want to build a
strong, trusting relationship with colleagues. However, I wouldn't hesitate to issue a
warning if I observed a safety violation. I think it's essential to communicate the
importance of occupational health and safety at all times.”

5. How does a successful job site look to you?

Example: “When I visit a job site, I expect to see health and safety guidelines posted
in an easy-to-access location in languages the employees can read. I also look for
appropriate equipment and material storage and tidy work areas. If I have the
opportunity to observe employees, I make notes about recommendations I can share
with them at a future meeting.”

6. How do you reconcile safety measures with resource expenditures?

Example: “I understand that corporate budgets can't always support recommended

safety measures. That's why I grade my recommendations to ensure that stakeholders
know which are non-negotiable.”

7. What would you prioritize during your first week as a safety officer?

Example: “I would begin my first week by reviewing current protocols, incident

reports and job site data. Then I would reference health and safety regulations and
industry best practices to create a list of recommended changes. I would create a
timeline for approving and implementing these changes, which would include training
and determining metrics.”

8. How do you stay abreast of new or updated safety regulations?

Example: “I subscribe to updates from the Department of Labor and the

Occupational Safety and Health Administration. I also read industry news and check
local government agency updates weekly.”

9. What is your management style?

Example: “I typically prefer a coaching approach to management. I love teaching

employees how to improve and helping them grow via challenges and greater
responsibilities. I tend to take a long-term view toward employee growth, as I think it
truly helps junior staff members develop into leaders.”

10. Why do you want to work here?

Example: “I've followed Edison Firm's developments for years, as I've always
considered this company to be the most innovative in the industry. I would love to
have the opportunity to help Edison Firm pursue new challenges while ensuring that
employees and workspaces remain safe. After all, a safe workspace is a foundation for
growth.”