So Ian, what does your job involve as a Health and Safety Advisor?

My role within the KFRS Health and Safety team is to work both independently and jointly with a variety of other teams to ensure safety and compliance with policy and procedures  appropriate for their work and the service as a whole. This includes carrying out internal audits on stations, accident investigations and delivering health and safety training.  

What do you enjoy most about working at Kent Fire and Rescue Service? 

Every day is different working for KFRS and is one of the things I most enjoy about my job. I also really value the interaction with other colleagues and being able to have an insight into so many different parts of the fire and rescue service.  

What does a typical day look like for you? 

Due to the nature of our work in Health and Safety my typical day varies, depending on the priority of mine and the teams workload. An element of my day that never changes is to check my emails and answer any immediate requests. This could then be followed up by attending fire stations to carry out a station inspection, meetings, or visit a training site venue to carry out a risk assessment. Being a relatively small team, we also hold a weekly catch-up meeting in our office to discuss ongoing work projects.    

How long have you been a part of the Health and Safety team?

I have been part of the KFRS Health and Safety team for just over two years now, after finishing a career with the military. 

How would you describe your team to someone thinking about applying for a role in the Health and Safety team? 

I would describe our team as having a hands-on approach when working on a number of different areas within health and safety. It’s important that each member of the team is supportive and dedicated to the role and keeping our colleagues safe.    

What do you feel has been your biggest challenge in your role? 

My biggest challenge since becoming a member of KFRS has definitely been gaining knowledge of the fire service and learning all the nuances that are associated with KFRS. 

What are you most proud of in your career at Kent Fire and Rescue?

In my relatively short career with KFRS, I have been most proud of the support and training that our team have provided and continue to provide to firefighters. Our most recent project displayed this through the reduction we were able to achieve in musculoskeletal injuries. It is the small achievements that give the greatest fulfilments.