Case Studies

Fatema, you are currently the Head of HSE at an International School in Jeddah, KSA. Can you tell us what this involves and what you do day-to-day?

In my role as HSE Head, I prioritise the health and safety of the children. To ensure this, I've implemented strategies including maintaining a safe physical environment, providing thorough staff training, promoting health and hygiene practices, establishing emergency preparedness, and maintaining open communication with parents. These efforts have created a safe and secure environment for the children to learn and grow.

What would you say is the best thing about the job?

The best thing about being an HSE professional is the opportunity to make a real difference in people's lives by ensuring their safety and well-being in the workplace.
It is immensely rewarding to contribute to creating a safe work environment where individuals can thrive without fearing accidents or health hazards. As an HSE professional, I have the chance to prevent injuries, illnesses, and even fatalities through my expertise and proactive measures. This sense of purpose and impact on others' lives brings a deep level of job satisfaction beyond monetary rewards.

When did you decide to make H&S your career, and how did you make it a reality?

I have a background in computers. While working in this area, I was assigned a few HSE tasks, which is when I enrolled in an introducing health and safety course, which I found very interesting. After completing the course, I was given more HSE-related tasks at work, which motivated me to pursue further qualifications in this field.

 

 

So, the first NEBOSH qualification you completed was the International General Certificate in Occupational Health. Why did you choose to study this qualification?

Working in the field for a few years and taking advice from my mentor, backed by my own research, led me to pursue the NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety. This learning journey involved climbing stairs one by one.

I researched the Internet, using Google to find top institutes offering this qualification and found QHSE International on the list. Even though I was in KSA, I was willing to attend the 10-day classes in the UAE. To avoid a long wait for the next exam date, I chose to take the exam within less than a month. This left me around three weeks to prepare for the exam through self-study.

In my exam preparation journey, I reached out to individuals on LinkedIn who had already obtained this qualification for guidance. Fortunately, most were willing to help and provided me with hints, tips and resources to help me prepare. Many of them warned me that the exam would be difficult and that they hadn't passed it on their first attempt. With this information and limited time, I embarked on a challenging three-week study journey. When I went to the exam hall, I noticed many test-takers, with around 100 men and only two women, including myself. At that moment, I wondered about the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated industry, whether my voice would be heard, and if I could succeed. Fortunately, the result was positive, and I passed on my first attempt. It was a proud moment for me, and my family celebrated my achievement.

During the pandemic, You studied for your NEBOSH International Diploma for Occupational Health and Safety Management Professionals. What was the motivator for this? Can you tell us about your studies?

When the pandemic was at its peak, and everyone was at home, I took the opportunity to focus on my professional development. I enrolled in several short certifications and courses. Due to the pandemic, NEBOSH introduced a new system of open-book exams for the NEBOSH Diploma. This allowed me to pursue the NEBOSH International Diploma for Occupational Health and Safety Management Professionals, which I might not have been able to achieve otherwise.

A few months before enrolling, I began networking with people to gather more information about the NEBOSH International Diploma to be as prepared as possible. Since I was in the first batch to undergo the open-book exam, and NEBOSH had a new setup, the experience was new for everyone. I approached one unit at a time based on various individuals' advice.

The open-book exam was quite challenging, and being part of the first batch with limited guidance took a lot of work. Exam techniques for this setup were not readily available. Although I completed the exam, I didn't pass it. However, I didn't let this setback discourage me from moving on to the next unit and the subsequent one. I didn't pass any of the three units on my first attempt and was almost on the verge of giving up. I felt like I had wasted an entire year without achieving anything.

However, someone pointed out that the experience from the previous attempts would help me in future exams, and I realised the truth in this statement. I want to emphasise that more than my successes, the failures in my life have taught me and shaped where I am today. Ultimately, with perseverance, I managed to pass all three units on my second attempt and had the opportunity to attend the graduation ceremony in the UK last year, fulfilling my biggest dream and providing significant motivation for my future endeavours.

How did achieving your NEBOSH Diploma benefit you?

The NEBOSH Diploma provided me with a comprehensive understanding of health and safety management, allowing me to safeguard lives and ensure workers return home safely and in good health. Obtaining the NEBOSH Diploma positioned me as a qualified health and safety professional, creating career growth and advancement opportunities, including IOSH membership and meeting the criteria to become a NEBOSH examiner.

This certification allowed me to aspire to become a health and safety leader in the future. Pursuing the NEBOSH Diploma improved my professional skills and influenced my decision-making outside of work, helping me make safer choices in my personal life. The NEBOSH Diploma is a widely recognised and prestigious qualification in the field of health and safety management, providing credibility to my expertise and positioning me as an industry expert.

Others have mentored you throughout your career. Can you tell me more about this and how it benefitted you?

My family provided me with immense support throughout my journey, but I also had three incredible mentors who played a pivotal role in my growth.

My manager was one of them, and his life experiences and stories always served as a source of encouragement. He pushed me out of my comfort zone by assigning challenging tasks, which helped me to learn new things by researching diverse subjects and topics.

Another mentor gave me valuable professional advice on the steps I should take to thrive in my field. 

The third mentor guided me and taught me the content by linking it to real-life situations, helping me understand the material much better. Thanks to these mentors, I could confidently navigate my journey and achieve my goals.

You are a member of the NEBOSH Alumni She in SHE group recently created for women working in HSE to support each other in their professional roles. What would you say about working in HSE as a female professional?

Working in the field of HSE as a female professional is a rewarding and impactful career choice. Women bring unique skills, perspectives, and strengths to the HSE field that can significantly contribute to the success of safety programs and initiatives. Gender diversity is crucial for achieving optimal business outcomes as it brings varied perspectives and ways of thinking to the table.

Despite being a minority in the HSE sector, women professionals have made significant strides in overcoming challenges such as lack of mentorship opportunities and breaking into traditionally male-dominated fields like construction and mining. By advocating for mentorship programs and supporting younger women entering the profession, experienced female safety professionals can pave the way for future generations.

Women working in HSE roles should embrace opportunities for growth, continuous learning, and career advancement. By staying humble, asking questions, and offering fresh perspectives based on their unique experiences, female professionals can meaningfully contribute to workplace health and safety initiatives.

What advice would you give someone pursuing a health and safety career?

Pursuing a career in health and safety requires dedication, continuous learning, and a solid commitment to ensuring the well-being of individuals in different work environments. It's essential to familiarise yourself with relevant regulations, guidelines, and best practices in health and safety to ensure you are up to date with the latest industry standards.

Building relationships within the health and safety community can help you learn from others' experiences and open doors to new opportunities. As the health and safety field constantly evolves, keeping up with new research, technologies, and trends is crucial. Ongoing education through courses, webinars, or workshops offered by professional organisations or universities can help you stay informed. It's also important to stay updated with emerging hazards in your industry by reading industry publications or subscribing to newsletters.

Effective communication is essential for successfully implementing health and safety policies. Ensure you can clearly convey important information to employees at all organisational levels.