How to Become a Safety Officer in the UAE [2024]

Table of Contents:

• What Does a Safety Officer Do?
• How to Become a Safety Officer?
• Conclusion
• Bonus Points

As the UAE continues to expand its infrastructure and industrial sectors, the role of Safety Officers becomes increasingly critical. So if you want to seize the upcoming opportunities in this market, then you should know how to become a Safety Officer in the UAE.

In this guide, we explore the essential steps and qualifications needed to embark on a rewarding career, ensuring you’re well-prepared to contribute to the nation’s safety standards.

What Does a Safety Officer Do?

Like in any other country, as a Safety Officer in the UAE,  your primary responsibility is to ensure safety in the workplace. Aside from that, there are so many functions Safety Professionals undertake on a daily basis.

Here are some of the tasks of a Safety Officer:

• Identifying hazards in a workplace and taking steps to mitigate the risk.
• Ensuring that employees are aware of the safety protocols and procedures.
• Encouraging employees to use safety equipment and follow safe practices.
• Responding to emergencies, providing first aid, and carrying out safety checks on equipment.
• Training new employees on safety procedures.
• Developing safety policies and guidelines for various situations.
• Investigating incidents or accidents and ensuring the safety of everyone involved.
• Studying accidents and drawing up safety measures to avoid similar incidents.
• Monitoring sites and areas around the workplace to ensure compliance with safety rules and regulations.

How to Become a Safety Officer?

Step 1: Get Your Bachelor’s Degree

If you want to become a Safety Officer in the UAE, then start with a foundational degree. Having a bachelor’s degree in Occupational Health and Safety, Disaster Management, or any other relevant field is a good starting point. This should form a strong foundation for you to build your career on.

Step 2: Explore Safety Courses

Next, you need to opt for specialised training. In some organisations, having a certification in Safety Training can be one of the basic requirements to become a Safety Officer in UAE. You can opt for one of these free Safety Office training courses on UniAthena:

• Diploma in Environment Health and Safety Management: Learn the importance of health and safety in a working environment in just 2 weeks. Understand different types of hazards and how you can prevent and manage them.
• Diploma in Construction Safety: This safety course will cover safety practices on construction sites, and delve into legal frameworks, hazard identification, risk management, and more.
• Mastering Hazard and Safety Management: Learn to set up a safe and secure workplace in just 7 days. Learn about the laws and regulations and get a certification from CIQ, UK.
• Basics of Fire Safety: Learn about fire prevention and fire management systems, and develop an emergency response to fire hazards. This short course can be completed in 4-6 hours and you can earn your certificate from CIQ, UK.

Step 3: Gain Work Experience

Try applying for internships or entry-level positions to gain experience in the field. Industries like construction, manufacturing, and oil and gas are always in need of Safety Officers, so start applying for work experience in these domains.

Step 4: Get Familiar With UAE Regulations

Every country has its own set of safety regulations, so if you are looking for Safety courses in UAE to pursue a career in the field in the same country, then it is important to familiarise yourself with the specific regulations in UAE.

Step 5: Build a Network

Seize every chance you get to connect with other Safety professionals in the country. Attend industry events, webinars, conferences and even make connections online with other Safety Consultants, Health and Safety Officers, Construction Safety Officers, and more.

Step 6: Start Applying to Jobs

After building an impressive portfolio of academic background, practical experience and important connections, you are ready to become a Health and Safety Officer in the UAE. You can find jobs online or through your connections and apply for them. As a fresher, you will have to find entry-level positions or executive-level roles and as you gain more experience, you will slowly be able to climb the corporate ladder.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this article answers your question about how to become a Safety Officer in the UAE. A passion for safety and a ‘ready-to-learn’ mindset is critical in every step of the way. Our free courses can help you learn more about safety in various industries and even get certifications to prove your knowledge. Explore the courses now!

Bonus Points

• Even if you do not have a bachelor’s in a relevant field, you can still pursue a career in safety. You just need to gain the proper knowledge and certifications to prove your expertise, like a Diploma Certificate.
• Once you start your journey to become a Safety Officer in the UAE, it could take 2-3 years to build the necessary qualifications and experience to take on the role.
• Other than Construction and Manufacturing Industries, the Healthcare sector also has a high demand for Safety Officers.