Health & Safety Officer
Practical OHS Leadership in an Engineering Environment
Company: ACS Drives & Control Systems Ltd.
Location: ACS Drives, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, with customer-site visits as required.
Reporting to: Director responsible for Occupational Health & Safety.
Working closely with: Directors, Management Team, Service Department, Project Workshop Team, Engineers, Apprentices and Contractors.
Salary: DOE, pro-rata for 3–4 days per week.
The Opportunity
ACS Drives is seeking an experienced and suitably qualified Health & Safety Officer to lead the practical development, implementation and improvement of Occupational Health and Safety across the business.
This is a hands-on role in a real engineering environment. ACS supports critical Irish industry through Variable Speed Drives, motor control, Power Quality, Condition Based Monitoring, electrical panel builds, commissioning, maintenance, diagnostics, lifecycle support and 24/7 technical service.
Safety is central to how ACS operates. This role offers the right person a real opportunity to influence the next stage of how Occupational Health and Safety is understood, structured and lived across the business. We are looking for someone who can bring practical experience, fresh thinking, energy and professional judgement to help us strengthen our safe systems of work, improve consistency and shape positive safety behaviours across the workshop, office, service fleet, contractors and customer-site activities.
The successful candidate will have meaningful input into how ACS improves its safety systems, records, controls, communication and day-to-day safety culture. ISO 45001 will form part of the wider system, but the immediate opportunity is to make safety more visible, practical and effective for the people delivering critical engineering services across Irish industry.
Key Responsibilities
OHS System Development
- Lead the practical development, implementation and maintenance of ACS’s Occupational Health and Safety system.
- Review, update and maintain the Safety Statement, risk assessments, RAMS, method statements, safe systems of work and OHS procedures.
- Support directors and management in understanding and meeting their Health and Safety responsibilities.
- Support ISO 45001 readiness as part of ACS’s wider Integrated Management System, once the practical foundations are in place.
Practical Workplace Safety
- Develop practical controls for the workshop, test area, panel build, customer-site work, fleet, tools, lifting equipment, electrical work, contractors and general workplace safety.
- Review workshop standards, PPE arrangements, housekeeping, access routes and safe working practices.
- Support the development and review of Lockout/Tagout procedures, toolbox talks and the chemical register.
- Challenge unsafe practices constructively and escalate serious risks where required.
Inspections, Records and Corrective Actions
- Carry out inspections, audits, spot checks and follow-up reviews.
- Maintain OHS records, registers, training matrix, inspection records and corrective action trackers.
- Review statutory inspection requirements, including fire, first aid, emergency lighting, fire alarm checks, fire drills, RCD / electrical checks, PAT, lifting equipment and other recurring checks.
- Support management in identifying, prioritising and closing out Health and Safety corrective actions.
Contractor and Customer-Site Control
- Develop and manage contractor control processes, including an Approved Contractor Register.
- Review contractor Safety Statements / OHS Statements, OHS policies, insurances, training evidence, RAMS and customer-site requirements.
- Provide ACS input and sign-off on RAMS / method statements for contractor work carried out on behalf of ACS.
- Strengthen practical OHS controls for ACS work carried out at customer sites.
Training, Communication and Follow-Up
- Support accident, incident, near-miss and unsafe-condition reporting, investigation and follow-up.
- Identify training needs for directors, managers, engineers, apprentices, staff and contractors.
- Support toolbox talks, inductions, site rules and practical safety communication.
- Work with external auditors, consultants and training providers as required.
As the role develops, there may also be scope to support Environmental management requirements within the wider ISO system.
About You
We are looking for a capable Health and Safety professional who is confident working in an engineering, industrial or technical service environment.
The successful candidate must have:
- a recognised Occupational Health and Safety qualification appropriate to Health & Safety Officer level;
- minimum NFQ Level 7 or higher in Occupational Health & Safety, or equivalent recognised professional OHS qualification;
- the competence, qualification and experience required to advise and support ACS on practical Occupational Health and Safety matters;
- relevant experience in engineering, electrical, manufacturing, industrial services, utilities, construction, technical service or similar;
- strong knowledge of Irish Occupational Health and Safety legislation;
- practical experience with risk assessments, RAMS, contractor control, inspections, training records and corrective actions;
- experience with OHS management systems, ISO 45001 or external audit preparation;
- confidence to challenge unsafe practices constructively and professionally;
- strong organisation, documentation and follow-through skills;
- full, clean driving licence valid for use in Ireland and the EU.
Experience with electrical safety, contractor management, Arc Flash awareness, Lockout/Tagout, ISO 14001 or integrated management systems would be a strong advantage.
Benefits
ACS offers a competitive employment package, including:
- competitive salary package;
- pro-rata working arrangement based on the agreed 3–4 day pattern;
- mileage and approved travel expenses;
- ISO implementation support;
- supportive and family-friendly working environment;
- career progression and development opportunities;
- potential to develop into a broader OHS / ISO Management role over time.
Equal Opportunities
ACS Drives & Control Systems Ltd. is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates and assess applicants on relevant skills, qualifications, experience, capability and role fit.
Reasonable accommodations can be discussed as part of the recruitment process where required.
Role Details
Job Type: 3–4 days per week initially, with full-time option by agreement.
Contract Type: Permanent or contract arrangement considered.
Location: ACS Drives, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, with customer-site visits as required.
Salary: DOE, pro-rata for 3–4 days per week.
Reference ID: HSO 260703.
