Case Studies

It was this desire to be different which initially led Kishen Iqbal to choose a career in civil engineering rather than heeding the advice of his father, who had been a health and safety professional for many years. “Health and safety took my father from India to Dubai quite a few years ago and so as a family we all came to the Middle East. He’s always had a strong passion for safety and he wanted me to follow the same career.

 “After graduating with a degree in civil engineering, I found work in that field, but my father didn’t give up hope of a switch in focus. He would tell me how health and safety was a hugely important and valuable role because it protected colleagues from harm. He kept on at me as he knew how rewarding his career in health and safety had been and wanted the same for me.”

When his father suggested he should take a NEBOSH qualification to see what health and safety was about, Kishen agreed recognising it had relevance to his civil engineering role too. He chose to study the NEBOSH International General Certificate. “In many ways it was a revelation. I came to understand how health and safety challenges could be overcome, but perhaps more importantly I found myself smiling at the end of each day if I’d done something that would send someone home safe to their families without injury. I guess I started to feel the same passion as my father and that’s why I decided he was right to encourage me to make health and safety my career too.”

Kishen achieved a distinction with his NEBOSH International General Certificate and soon found a position as a HSE Engineer. Since then his career has flourished and he is now QHSE Engineer with Parsons International in Dubai, a consultant business working on major infrastructure projects.“Of course, my civil engineering background is a big help in my current role, especially when it comes to fostering a strong health and safety culture on site. It helps having technical knowledge around operations. I’m thankful to my father and of course to NEBOSH for setting me off on this path as I am so happy with the role I have now.”

Kishen’s success has meant he has been able to support his father in his retirement and is also now seeing family life from a different perspective. He has a four year-old daughter, and while she is of course far too young to consider a future career, Kishen admits he has already given it some thought. “I’d be immensely proud if she carried on with what I guess has become a family tradition. I share my father’s belief that a career in health and safety is one of the most rewarding you can have. This is a life-saving role, so I would be delighted to see her follow in our footsteps too, but of course it will be her decision.”