Health, safety, and environment (HSE) managers are responsible for ensuring their company follows all the necessary safety protocols to protect their employees, customers, and the environment. From developing and implementing health and safety plans to conducting safety audits and investigating accidents, HSE managers have a lot on their plate.
If you’re looking to become an HSE manager, you’ll need to be able to answer a range of questions in an interview. In this guide, we’ll provide you with some common HSE manager interview questions and answers to help you prepare.
1- Which skills do you have that are important to your work as a safety manager?
An interviewer might ask this question to learn about which skills you have and how they can relate to the work you might do at your new job. To answer this question, you can identify two or three key skills that you possess and explain how they inform your work as a safety manager.
Example answer: "My leadership skills and attention to detail are two of the skills that I've used most in my experience as a safety manager. Having strong leadership skills helps me to communicate with my team effectively and give clear directions on a construction site. Attention to detail is also important, as it allows me to consider every aspect of a project and find new places to implement safety procedures."
2- How do you educate your on-site employees about safety procedures?
This question can tell a potential employer about your management style, speaking skills and knowledge of safety protocol. To answer this question, you can describe how you typically convey information about new safety procedures to employees and might use a specific example to help illustrate your point.
Example answer: "My approach prioritizes transparency and direct communication. For example, I had to explain a new method for sanitizing some of our equipment at my last job as a safety manager, and I held a demonstration where I explained each new step and why the new process improved safety on-site. I also always leave time for my team to ask questions to make sure everyone has the same level of understanding."
3- What certifications do you have?
A potential employer can ask this question to learn about your commitment to the field as well as your professional credentials. Because certification is usually voluntary for safety managers, having certification can set you apart from other candidates. You can answer this question by listing any certifications you have.
Example answer: "I currently have two certifications. I've earned a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) certification from the Board of Certified Safety professionals and also have certification in Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)."
4- What is your process for investigating on-site accidents?
An interviewer might ask this question to gauge your experience level as a project manager, as most project managers likely have experience investigating on-site incidents. To answer this question, you can describe your standard procedure for investigating accidents on a construction site.
Example answer: "To prepare for investigations, I competed a training program at my first safety manager job and learned how to consider each aspect of an incident. My procedure for investigating an on-site incident involves gathering evidence, inspecting any equipment or conditions that could contribute to the incident, interviewing anyone involved and developing a report that contains all the information I collect."
5- Describe a time when you found a solution to a safety concern on-site.
This question can tell an interviewer about your specific experience as a safety manager and let them know about your working style. You can answer this question by giving a detailed account of how you responded to a safety concern in the past and highlight the expertise you used in the process.
Example answer: "On one site, there was no procedure in place for storing tools, and I noticed loose tools in various places on the site. I developed a system for storing and sorting tools after using them to establish a location for storage and avoid any safety concerns. Then, I explained the new system to the construction team and monitored how they used it to ensure the system was effective."
6- Are you familiar with the various types of occupational safety and health regulations that apply to our industry?
The interviewer may ask you this question to assess your knowledge of the regulations that apply to their industry and how you would implement them in your workplace. Use examples from your previous experience implementing safety regulations, or if you haven’t worked with these types of regulations before, explain what type of regulations are important to you and why.
Example: “Yes, I am very familiar with the various types of occupational safety and health regulations that apply to our industry. In my current role as an HSE Manager, I have been responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. I have a thorough understanding of OSHA standards, EPA requirements, and other relevant regulations. I also stay up-to-date on any changes or updates in these areas by regularly attending seminars and conferences related to workplace safety.
I believe that it is essential for employers to be aware of their legal obligations when it comes to protecting their employees’ health and safety. My experience has taught me how to effectively manage risk and ensure compliance with all relevant regulations. I am confident that I can bring this knowledge and expertise to your organization and help create a safe and healthy work environment.”
7- What are the most important elements of a successful health and safety program?
This question can help the interviewer determine your understanding of what it takes to create a successful health and safety program. Your answer should include several elements that you believe are important for creating a safe work environment, such as employee training, equipment maintenance and communication between management and employees.
Example: “The most important elements of a successful health and safety program are having an effective risk management system, clear communication between all stakeholders, and ongoing training and education.
An effective risk management system is essential to identify potential hazards and risks in the workplace. It should include assessments, audits, inspections, and reviews to ensure that any identified risks are addressed promptly and effectively. This helps to minimize the likelihood of accidents or incidents occurring in the workplace.
Clear communication between all stakeholders is also key for a successful health and safety program. All employees need to be aware of the policies, procedures, and protocols in place so they can work safely and efficiently. Regular meetings and updates should be held to ensure everyone is informed of any changes or developments.
Lastly, ongoing training and education is necessary to ensure that all staff members are up-to-date on the latest safety standards and regulations. This includes providing refresher courses and additional training when new processes or technologies are introduced. By investing in employee development, you can help create a safe and productive working environment.”
8- How would you rate our current health and safety program? What changes would you make if you were hired?
This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of the company’s current health and safety program. It also gives you a chance to demonstrate how you would improve it if hired. When answering this question, try to be as honest as possible while still being respectful.
Example: “I would rate your current health and safety program as solid, but with room for improvement. It appears that there are some gaps in the implementation of the program, which could be addressed to make it more effective.
If I were hired, I would work to ensure that all employees understand the importance of following safety protocols and procedures. I would also review existing policies to identify any areas where they can be improved or updated. Finally, I would look into implementing additional training programs to help educate employees on how to best protect themselves and their colleagues while at work. This could include topics such as proper lifting techniques, fire safety, and hazard identification. By taking these steps, we can reduce workplace accidents and create a safer environment for everyone.”
9- What is the first step you would take if an employee complained about a safety issue on the job?
An interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your conflict resolution skills. Your answer should include a specific example of how you would handle the situation and what steps you would take to resolve it.
Example: “If an employee complained about a safety issue on the job, my first step would be to listen carefully and take detailed notes of their concerns. I believe it is important to create a safe environment for employees to voice their opinions without fear of repercussions. After gathering all the necessary information, I would then assess the situation and determine the best course of action. This could include conducting a risk assessment or implementing additional safety protocols. Finally, I would communicate with the employee to ensure they feel heard and that their safety concerns are being taken seriously. My goal as a HSE Manager is to always prioritize the safety of my team and make sure any potential hazards are addressed in a timely manner.”
10-Provide an example of a time when you helped your previous employer reduce their OSHA recordable incident rate.
An employer may ask this question to learn more about your safety management skills. They want to know that you can help their company reduce its recordable incident rate, which is the number of workplace injuries and illnesses reported by employees each year. In your answer, explain how you helped your previous employer lower their recordable incident rate.
Example: “At my previous employer, I was responsible for implementing a comprehensive safety program to reduce the OSHA recordable incident rate. To achieve this goal, I developed and implemented a series of initiatives that included training sessions on proper safety protocols, regular safety inspections, and an incentive system for employees who followed safety guidelines.
I also worked closely with management to ensure that all safety policies were being adhered to, and any violations were addressed quickly and effectively. As a result, we saw a significant reduction in our OSHA recordable incident rate over the course of one year. This was due in large part to the hard work and dedication of both myself and the rest of the team.”
11- What Major Challenges Did You Face During Your Last Role? How Did You Manage?
Every job on this planet has its fair share of challenges. However, our strength lies in solving or overcoming them. The interviewer is testing your ability to solve problems.
Tip #1: Do not throw yourself under the bus.
Tip #2: The second part of the question is the most important; maximize on it.
Sample Answer
The biggest challenge while at my former work post was inadequate funding. It was a startup company with fewer resources. This hindered the conducting of safety compliance training, among others. I conducted these trainings myself and ensured that all employees went through the exercise. This earned me the best employee of the year.
12- Describe Your Daily Routine as a Safety Manager
Do you know how a typical safety manager’s day looks like? Well, tell the interviewer.
Tip #1: Avoid mentioning unrelated activities.
Tip #2: whatever you mention should help you convince the interviewer that you are a hard worker.
Sample Answer
My daily routine as a safety manager will revolve around creating and assessing safety plans, documenting work observations, analyzing safety data, and managing incidents before reporting. I may also provide ongoing training depending on the schedule of the day.
13- What would you do if an employee reportedly ignored your safety instructions?
Each job has some limits. Your duty is to prepare safety instructions, and to instruct employees on how they should follow them in work. And to inspect whether they actually do follow them.
But that’s the end. You can’t dismiss an employee–it’s someone else’s job.
I suggest you to say that you’d follow the following steps:
You’d repeatedly ensure that the employee understands the safety instructions.
You’d warn them about possible consequences of not obliging the rules, and ask them to remedy their behavior immediately.
If this didn’t work, you’d report their behavior to their supervisor or to one of the HR managers, and suggest a disciplinary measure (can be cutting their bonuses, penalizing them, or in more serious cases firing them).
14- Imagine that you propose a plan to improve safety conditions in a particular workplace. But one of the managers opposes it, saying it is expensive, or unnecessary. What would you do in this situation?
Once again, this job has some limits. You can propose whatever you want, but you do not control the budget. Having said that, you shouldn’t give up easily.
Say that you would have a one on one with the manager. You would explain them the benefits of the plan, and how a company can actually save money applying it, at least it in a long run (saving money in accident compensations, attracting better employees who seek safer conditions in the workplace, etc).
Of course, if you follow the latest update to the laws and regulations, and it is more a must than an option to move forward with the plan (unless the company wants to face a possibility of paying a hefty fee after the next safety audit), you should clearly explain this to the manager.
You would simply do your best to convince them, and then let them to have the final call–becasue that’s how it works in a corporate hierarchy.
15- How do you build trust in the teams you manage?
An interviewer can ask this question to learn about your management style and how you collaborate with others. To answer this question, you can refer to one or two methods that you use to establish trust between yourself and your team as well as among the team members themselves.
Example answer: "I like to establish an environment of trust at the beginning of any project I work on by holding a meeting with my entire team before construction starts. I give information about my background and invite my other team members to tell us about themselves. Being aware of each other's experience levels and qualifications helps to build trust by opening a dialogue between everyone on a site and establishing confidence in each other's abilities."
16- What safety measures do you recommend for high-voltage sites?
A potential employer might ask this question to learn about your specific experience with different types of construction protocol. To answer this question, you can confirm that you're familiar with OSHA regulations and emphasize that you put safety first.
Example answer: "At high-voltage sites, I always ensure our operations follow OSHA standards and that all workers are trained in how to work in a high-voltage environment. As a big risk is typically arc flash, I also emphasize the importance of wearing protective gear at all times."
17- How do you respond to potentially dangerous situations?
An interviewer might ask this question for insight into your processes and critical-thinking abilities. To answer this question, you can describe the procedure you use when you encounter a potential danger on a work site and explain how it's successful.
Example answer: "Any time I observe a potential hazard, I stop production in that area of the work site. Then, I conduct an investigation and take the necessary steps to minimize and remove the hazard. Once I'm confident the area is secure, I allow my team to continue working but ask that they look out for any potential danger I need to repeat my process."
18- What job titles have you held before?
This question can tell an interviewer about the extent of your experience in the construction field. You can answer this question by listing the job titles you've had in construction.
Example answer: "While I've worked as a safety manager for the past five years, I also held jobs as a safety technician, a construction worker and a forklift operator, all of which taught me different safety standards and procedures."
19- What would you do to improve the safety culture in our business?
In other words, what can you bring to the table without just emulating your predecessor?
In today’s environment, companies are expected to adopt regulations and comply with the myriad of rules imposed on the business by the federal, state/provincial, or municipal government. If not, massive fines and potential lawsuits could be in order for the company, which is why businesses — large and small — will hire a health and safety officer.
You could tackle this question by saying:
“I think that with my knowledge and experience, I can ensure that your company follows the required protocols so that everyone performs their job safely and responsibly.
That said, if I see an area that needs tremendous improvement or I think that certain staff members are not adhering to what we lay out, I will intervene and institute new measures.”
20- How Do You Stay Motivated at Work?
Even employers understand that doing the same thing five to six days a week can be tedious. Therefore, they have to know what keeps you going, to either make plans or improve on what they have.
Tip #1: Never mention things such as money.
Tip #2: This can also be a chance to sell yourself.
Sample Answer
Keeping everyone safe is enough motivation to me. I love my job, and therefore, have no problem coming to interact with fellow employees every day. Getting to meet new people with different experiences also keeps me going.
21- Describe a Time When You Failed in This Role and The Lesson You Learnt.
Failure is not the end of the road. This question does not have to be treated like a death sentence.
Tip #1: Convince the interviewer that you can learn from your mistakes.
Tip #2: Ensure that what you learned was positive.
Sample Answer
During my early employment stages, the overall manager directed me to teach a given department on safety. The classes went on well, and by the end, I assumed most of them knew all the safety requirements and how to handle emergencies. However, I failed to realize that people have different learning styles. I was shocked to find out that one elderly employee did not even know the basics of what we covered and had to redo the classes for a number of them. I learned that I should always be thorough in my job and not assume anything.
22- What Is Your Management Style?
Keep in mind that this is a managerial position, and therefore, the interviewer will be interested in finding out if your style fits the organization.
Tip #1: Avoid labels such as progressive, persuasive, or consultative.
Tip #2: Do not come off as authoritarian.
Sample Answer
I am a firm believer in teamwork, and therefore, I build teams to manage effectively. I ensure that every team member understands his/ her role and understand that they can depend on one another. I also appreciate feedback.
23- What Can We Expect from You In Your First 90 Days?
This is closely related to the previous question. However, you have been given a small span here.
Tip #1: Have a plan
Tip #2: Convince the interviewer that you will deliver.
Sample Answer
I will work hard to ensure that this job creates value in your organization. I will bring all the skills I have acquired over the years and create a difference within my first 90 days in office.