Health and Safety Officer Clerical Officer Grade VII

Health and Safety Officer Clerical Officer Grade VII Mercy University Hospital

Location: On site / Cork City, Cork, Ireland
job type: Permanent / Full-time
Sector and subsector: Medical & Healthcare Administration
Annual Salary range:from € 60,613.00 to € 78,795.00

Purpose of the Post

• The Health and Safety Officer will lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of health and safety systems across MUH, ensuring full compliance with statutory, regulatory and corporate requirements.
• The post holder will act as the principal specialist advisor on all occupational health and safety matters to the Executive Management Board (EMB), senior leadership, Heads of Department and staff.
• Ensure compliance with the MUH Corporate Safety Statement and associated legislation.
• Advise management and duty holders on risk management, governance and legislative obligations in relation to occupational Health & Safety.
• Meet all internal and external reporting requirements, including to the Health and Safety Authority (HSA).
• Implement national policy issued by the HSE National Health and Safety Function.
• Liaise with external bodies including the HSA, Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor (DGSA).
• Produce regular performance reports for local management, EMB, South West Region and the NHSF.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities Health & Safety Management

• Lead and manage the MUH Health and Safety function, ensuring full compliance with all statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Promote and embed a positive safety culture across all hospital campuses and outlying facilities.
• Develop, maintain and regularly review the Corporate Safety Statement and all departmental safety statements in collaboration with the EMB and Heads of Department.
• Lead the hazard identification and risk assessment programme, maintaining the H&S Risk Register and escalating risks appropriately via the Corporate Risk Register.
• Recommend and monitor control measures to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of staff, patients and members of the public.
• Ensure safe systems of work, adequate information, instruction, training and supervision are in place across all departments.
• Develop and maintain all Health & Safety Policies, Procedures, Protocols and Guidelines (PPPGs) in line with organisational approval processes.
• Design and deliver a comprehensive audit and inspection programme to ensure ongoing legislative and policy compliance.
• Support the Hospital Emergency Planning Committee in maintaining effective emergency plans and procedures.
• Manage recommendations arising from regulatory body inspections (HSA, HIQA, DGSA and other relevant bodies).
• Develop the Occupational Health & Safety Management System in line with ISO 45001 and relevant legislation.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable Irish and EU occupational health and safety legislation and all other relevant legislation.

Legislative Compliance Register

• Develop, maintain and regularly review a Legal Register of all applicable Irish and EU health and safety legislation, mapping each statutory requirement to named duty holders and compliance controls within MUH, and providing periodic assurance reports to the EMB on the currency and completeness of legislative compliance.
• Monitor and act upon proposed and enacted amendments to Irish and EU health and safety legislation - including new Statutory Instruments, EU Directives and Regulations, and guidance issued by the HSA, EU-OSHA and the European Commission - and present an annual legislative update to the EMB and Health & Safety Committee identifying any compliance gaps and required remedial action.
• Act as MUH's competent person as defined under Section 18 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, providing the knowledge and experience necessary to enable the organisation to comply with the Act, and ensuring that competent persons are identified and appropriately supported at departmental level across all hospital sites.

Corporate Governance

• Provide assurance to the EMB that all health and safety regulatory requirements are met, or that robust systems are in place to ensure compliance.
• Establish and maintain local governance structures aligned with corporate governance arrangements.
• Advise the EMB and Heads of Department on policy development, legislative changes and strategic direction.
• Act as principal liaison with the HSA on health and safety matters relating to MUH, in consultation with the EMB.
• Liaise with Quality and Risk Management Department to promote risk reduction strategies identified through the Claims management process.

Health & Safety Committee

• Chair and facilitate the hospital Health & Safety Committee, meeting at minimum quarterly, with regular review of terms of reference and membership.
• Ensure clear action plans are in place and that committee actions are followed up and closed out.
• Coordinate health and safety plans to deliver on Service Plan objectives.
• Manage, support and coordinate the activities of elected health and safety representatives.
• Monitor, review and report on non-clinical adverse event data and trends using the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
• Ensure full Lost Time Incident compliance by promptly and accurately recording and managing all incidents in NIMS, with timely HSA IR1 notifications completed as required.
• Ensure timely escalation of incidents in line with HSE Incident Management Framework.
• Lead investigations, systems analysis and after action reviews of non-clinical incidents, supporting departmental managers to develop quality improvement plans.
• Identify potential breaches and drive corrective action.

Performance & Reporting

• Develop and manage Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for health and safety performance.
• Collate and report KPI data to local management, the EMB, health and safety committees and working groups.
• Develop expertise in health and safety information management systems.
• Ensure efficient administration of all H&S data collection processes.
• Undertake and support a Training Needs Assessment (TNA) across the organisation.
• Coordinate and deliver health and safety training programmes, including participation in global induction sessions for new staff.
• Ensure training records are maintained at departmental level.
• Promote awareness of training resources available locally and nationally.
• Lead educational sessions for managers and staff on legislative obligations, risk management and workplace safety responsibilities.

Service Development

• Develop, implement and monitor a rolling three-year Health and Safety Strategy and Action Plan.
• Design fit-for-purpose safety procedures and guidelines for both existing and new activities.
• Advise the EMB on short- and long-term health and safety objectives, priorities and performance standards.
• Maintain effective systems for performance review, document management and organisational learning.
• Support line managers in the motivation and day-to-day management of health and safety responsibilities.

Communication & Stakeholder Engagement

• Keep senior management informed of legislative changes and required compliance actions.
• Promote MUH health and safety programmes and campaigns to all staff and key stakeholders.
• Foster a learning culture in which staff report adverse events openly and without fear.
• Attend the NHSF Health and Safety Forum as MUH representative.
• Provide specialist advice across a broad range of areas including risk assessment, safety statements, biological agents, hazardous substances, noise, machinery, ergonomics and transportation of dangerous goods.

Eligibility Criteria (Qualifications & Experience)

• Hold a QQI Level 8 (or higher) major academic award in Health and Safety or a cognate discipline - including qualifications accredited by the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) for membership at Graduate level or above.
• Have a minimum of 3 years' post-qualification experience in a Health and Safety Officer or Advisor role.
• Possess the requisite knowledge, skills and management ability for the proper discharge of the role.

Full Job Spec is available on request.

Closing Date 1pm on Wednesday, 3rd June 2026.

MUH reserves the right to create a panel for this post from which permanent, fixed term and specified purpose vacancies of a full or part time duration may be filled.