Health & Safety Engineer

As a Health & Safety Engineer you design, implement, and monitor safety systems to protect workers and the public in industrial, construction, and manufacturing environments across Ireland. You carry out risk assessments, inspect facilities for hazards such as dangerous substances, poor ergonomics, or structural risks, and advise management on how to reduce or eliminate those hazards. You develop health and safety programmes, review engineering designs for compliance with Irish and EU safety legislation, and liaise with the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) when required. On a typical day you might conduct a site audit at a pharmaceutical plant, prepare a safety case report, or brief a construction crew on new procedural controls. You collaborate closely with site managers, project engineers, occupational health professionals, and external regulatory inspectors.

A Level 8 Honours Bachelor degree in Safety Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering or science discipline is the most common route into this career. Useful Leaving Certificate subjects include Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Construction Studies, as these underpin both the technical and analytical demands of the role. Many graduates enter through CAO programmes at technological universities such as TU Dublin, ATU, SETU, or MTU, which offer dedicated programmes in Health, Safety and Environmental Engineering or equivalent. A Level 7 Ordinary Bachelor degree can provide entry to some positions, with top-up pathways available to Level 8. Postgraduate study at Level 9, such as an MSc in Occupational Health and Safety or Environmental Health, is increasingly valued for senior or specialist roles. Engineers Ireland membership and continuing professional development are important for career progression, and roles in regulated industries such as pharmaceuticals or construction may require additional site safety certifications such as a Safe Pass card and a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card issued through SOLAS.