Irwin and Colton have partnered with NEBOSH on a series of articles looking into questions from their alumni.
Question: How can I get a job in Health and Safety on an offshore rig?
Working offshore is an attractive career option for many health and safety professionals.
Offshore roles can offer excellent career development opportunities, exposure to complex and high-hazard environments, and the chance to work on major energy projects around the world.
We recently received this question from a reader in Algeria, but the advice applies equally to professionals looking to work offshore in regions around the rest of the world.
From our experience, here’s what it takes to secure a health and safety role on an offshore rig…
Understand the different offshore sectors
When people think of offshore work, they often immediately think of oil and gas platforms. While these remain major employers of HSE professionals, offshore opportunities now exist across a range of industries, including:
Offshore oil and gas
Offshore wind energy
Marine and shipping operations
Subsea engineering projects
Offshore construction and installation
Decommissioning projects
Each sector has different requirements, but all place a strong emphasis on safety leadership, risk management and regulatory compliance.
Build strong HSE skills first
One of the most common misconceptions is that offshore employers only recruit people with previous offshore experience.
While offshore experience can certainly be advantageous, many employers first look for strong health and safety professionals who have worked in high-risk environments.
Experience in sectors such as:
Construction
Heavy manufacturing
Mining
Utilities
Major infrastructure projects
Logistics and transportation
Can provide highly transferable skills.
Employers are often particularly interested in candidates who have experience managing contractor safety, permit-to-work systems, high-risk activities, incident investigations and leadership engagement programmes.
Gain recognised qualifications
Qualifications play an important role when applying for offshore HSE positions.
NEBOSH qualifications are widely recognised across the global energy industry and can help demonstrate competence and a commitment to the profession.
Depending on the role and location, employers may also value:
IOSH membership
IEMA qualifications for environmental responsibilities
Process Safety qualifications
Occupational Health qualifications
Lead Auditor certifications
Professional registrations such as Chartered status
However, qualifications alone rarely secure a role. Employers want evidence that candidates can apply their knowledge effectively in offshore environments.
Obtain offshore certification
For many offshore positions, certain offshore-specific certifications are required before deployment.
The most widely recognised is the Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training (BOSIET) certificate, which provides training in areas such as:
Helicopter safety and escape
Emergency response
Sea survival
Fire awareness
First aid awareness
Different regions and operators may require additional training, but obtaining relevant offshore certification can demonstrate a genuine commitment to pursuing an offshore career.
Develop strong behavioural and leadership skills
Technical competence is essential, but offshore employers increasingly look for professionals who can influence behaviours and build positive safety cultures.
Life offshore involves working with diverse teams in remote and demanding environments. HSE professionals must be able to communicate effectively with everyone from senior management to contractors and frontline personnel.
During interviews, candidates should be prepared to discuss examples of:
Influencing leadership decisions
Managing challenging stakeholders
Improving safety performance
Delivering cultural change initiatives
These examples are often just as important as technical knowledge.
Be open to entry routes into the sector
Many professionals secure their first offshore role through contract or project-based opportunities.
Short-term assignments, rotational contracts and major project roles can provide valuable offshore exposure and lead to longer-term career opportunities.
We often advise candidates not to focus solely on the largest operators. Engineering consultancies, contractors, offshore service providers and renewable energy organisations can all provide excellent routes into the sector.
Consider regional opportunities
Offshore recruitment is increasingly international, with many operators, contractors and engineering organisations recruiting globally.
Being open to opportunities in different countries or regions can significantly broaden career prospects, as offshore activity continues across oil and gas, offshore wind, marine operations and wider energy projects around the world.
For example, in Algeria, opportunities are supported by the country's established oil and gas sector and ongoing investment in energy infrastructure. Professionals may find opportunities with operators, contractors and international organisations working both within Algeria and across the wider North African region.
Tailor your CV carefully
When applying for offshore HSE roles, your CV should clearly demonstrate:
Experience in high-hazard industries
Safety leadership achievements
Incident investigation experience
Contractor management expertise
Regulatory compliance knowledge
Measurable improvements delivered
Employers want to understand not only what your responsibilities were, but also the outcomes you achieved.
Where possible, include evidence of reduced incident rates, successful project delivery, improved audit performance or other key results.
Final thoughts
Offshore health and safety careers can be both rewarding and challenging, offering the opportunity to work in some of the world's most complex and high-hazard environments.
While there is no single route into the sector, employers typically look for professionals who combine strong knowledge with practical experience, recognised qualifications and the ability to influence and engage others.
If you are considering a move offshore, focus on building relevant experience, developing your professional credentials and demonstrating the impact you have delivered throughout your career. With the right combination of skills, experience and determination, an offshore HSE role can be an achievable next step.
For support with your HSE career, you can contact us at info@irwinandcolton.com, call 01923 937 150, or visit www.irwinandcolton.com.