Health, Safety & Wellbeing Apprentice - Tees Valley

The Health, Safety & Wellbeing Apprentice will support the implementation, monitoring and promotion of health, safety, environmental and wellbeing standards across the Tees Valley Energy Recovery Facility construction project. The role is intended to develop a practical site-based HSE support professional who can assist with inspections, audits, inductions, toolbox talks, incident reporting, contractor monitoring, emergency preparedness and wellbeing initiatives.

Working alongside experienced HSE, Site Management and project personnel, the apprentice will progressively develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to contribute to a positive safety culture and support the project objective that all personnel return home safely each day.

Key Responsibilities

Health & Safety Support

• Support the Site HSE team with routine site inspections, safety observations and workplace checks.
• Assist with identifying unsafe acts, unsafe conditions, housekeeping issues and opportunities for improvement.
• Support preparation and delivery of toolbox talks, safety briefings and awareness campaigns under supervision.
• Assist with site induction administration and verification of training or competency records where required.
• Support monitoring of compliance with project HSE rules, PPE requirements and safe systems of work.
• Develop confidence in positively challenging unsafe behaviours and escalating concerns appropriately.

Wellbeing & Occupational Health Support

• Support wellbeing campaigns, health promotion initiatives and worker engagement activities.
• Assist with coordination of occupational health appointments, health surveillance administration or wellbeing events where applicable.
• Support welfare inspections, including welfare standards, rest areas, hydration, temperature, cleanliness and general worker wellbeing arrangements.
• Assist with checking first aid equipment, first aid rooms and related stock levels under the direction of competent personnel.
• Promote awareness of mental health, fatigue, heat stress, cold weather working and other wellbeing topics relevant to construction work.
• Maintain confidentiality and professionalism when handling wellbeing or health-related administration.

Emergency Preparedness

• Support emergency preparedness activities, including drills, briefings and emergency equipment checks.
• Assist with inspections of first aid points, emergency stations, fire points, muster points and signage.
• Support administration of emergency response records, drill reports and corrective actions.
• Develop understanding of site emergency arrangements, escalation routes and incident coordination processes.
• Assist with communication of emergency arrangements to personnel, contractors and visitors where required.
• Support lessons learned activity following drills, exercises or incidents.

Incident Reporting & Investigation Support

• Assist with recording near misses, observations, hazards, incidents and corrective actions.
• Support collection of factual information, photographs, witness details or documentation as directed by the HSE team.
• Help maintain incident, observation and action trackers.
• Support follow-up of corrective and preventive actions with responsible persons.
• Develop understanding of incident causation, root cause analysis and the importance of timely reporting.
• Contribute to trend reporting and communication of lessons learned.

Contractor Monitoring & Compliance

• Support monitoring of contractor compliance with site HSE rules, procedures and agreed working arrangements.
• Assist with review and administration of contractor documentation where appropriate and under supervision.
• Support HSE walkdowns with contractor supervisors, HSE representatives and site management.
• Assist with tracking actions from inspections, audits, observations and meetings.
• Develop professional communication with contractor teams and encourage positive safety behaviours.
• Escalate repeated non-compliance, high-risk behaviours or urgent issues to the appropriate HSE or Site Management representative.

HSE Systems & Reporting

• Develop competence in project HSE systems, registers, trackers and reporting tools.
• Assist with preparing routine HSE data, dashboards, meeting inputs or action updates.
• Maintain accurate records for inspections, observations, first aid checks, emergency drills and wellbeing activities.
• Support document control of relevant HSE information, briefings, notices and records.
• Assist with trend analysis and identification of recurring issues or improvement opportunities.
• Learn how accurate HSE data supports compliance, management decision-making and continuous improvement.

Entry Requirements

Essential

• Minimum age 18.
• Willingness to work in a live construction project environment, including site walkdowns and work-front engagement where appropriate.
• Good standard of written and verbal communication.
• Basic IT literacy and willingness to develop competence using HSE systems, registers and Microsoft Office tools.
• Positive attitude, reliability and willingness to learn.
• Ability to follow instructions, maintain confidentiality and escalate concerns appropriately.
• English and Maths requirements to be confirmed with the apprenticeship provider; Functional Skills support may be available where required.

Desirable

• Interest in construction, health and safety, wellbeing, emergency response or environmental management.
• Previous work experience, volunteering, part-time work or transferable practical experience.
• Driving licence or working towards one.
• Confidence communicating with different people in a busy working environment.
• Interest in helping others, promoting safe behaviours and improving workplace standards.