Case Studies

Dr Emad, you have worked in health and safety since you completed a Marine Engineering degree in 2004. Did you always know this was what you wanted to do?

Although it may not seem clear at first, life has a remarkable ability to lead us towards our true purpose. When I finished my degree in 2004, I was eager to enter the world of work. I applied to join the Egyptian Drilling Company's young engineers' programme and was delighted to secure a place. A key part of the hiring process was a personality assessment, which was designed to highlight each candidate's strengths and suitability for different roles in the organisation. My assessment indicated that I would be a good match for health and safety. After successfully completing my probation, I started my journey as a QHSE Engineer in 2005.

Can you tell us a little more about the programme and what convinced you that health and safety was your vocation?

I was very fortunate to participate in this Egyptian Drilling Company programme. The initiative aims to empower young Egyptian engineers to succeed and make a difference in the oil and gas sector. As a QHSE Engineer, I was fully engaged in implementing HSE systems. I enjoyed the work I was doing and discovered the essential connection between technical operations and safety. Experiencing the profound influence that strong safety practices can have on individuals' lives was truly life changing. Within my first two years with the organisation, I realised with absolute certainty that health and safety was my calling. I felt I had discovered my true purpose and made it my mission to make workplaces safer places. For me, health and safety was so much more than mere employment. It gave me a chance to have a meaningful impact on the lives of others. A passion had been sparked in me, and I have wholeheartedly committed myself to this journey ever since.

In 2009 you completed the NEBOSH International General Certificate (IGC).

• Why did you choose this qualification?  

I chose to take the NEBOSH IGC because I felt it would open doors for me in the global health and safety job market. Looking at job adverts, I could see that many employers sought the IGC when recruiting. I felt that achieving this qualification was a way to evidence my knowledge in the form of a globally recognised credential.

• What did you gain from taking this qualification?

Achieving this qualification paved the way for me to take on more complex and exciting opportunities. It gave me a comprehensive understanding of risk management and hazard control and enabled me to make more meaningful contributions to the implementation of safety management systems. When I look back, gaining this qualification helped me build the knowledge and confidence I needed to excel as a health and safety professional in any environment.

In 2016 you took your NEBOSH studies one step further and completed your NEBOSH International Diploma: 

• Why did you choose this qualification?

As I stepped into more senior managerial roles, I felt the time was right to take my studies to the next level. The NEBOSH International Diploma was a natural choice for me because it built on what I had learnt from the IGC. 

• How did your NEBOSH Diploma studies help you?

It deepened my expertise, equipping me with the skills to design HSE management systems, lead audits, and drive cultural change across organisations. Writing detailed assessment reports sharpened my ability to present cases to management and sharpened my writing skills. This qualification was instrumental in shaping me into a leader who could inspire safety excellence.

You clearly love to learn, as since achieving your NEBOSH Diploma, you have gone on to complete an MBA and a PhD! Do you have any advice for other safety professionals who are trying to balance work and studies?

I have five pieces of advice I would share which have helped me to make time for my studies:

• Embrace the mindset that learning is a lifelong journey. The more you learn, the more you empower yourself, not just financially but also intellectually. If you keep learning, it will become part of your daily routine, which will make it easier to balance work, study, and personal commitments.
• See challenges as opportunities to grow. Keep your goals in sight and let them motivate you to overcome obstacles.
• Break your studies into short-term goals. Adopting this approach will help you maintain momentum. It is also important to celebrate small victories.
• Manage your time. Plan so that you don't put yourself under undue pressure when you have a deadline. Block out time in your diary for your studies, factoring in your other commitments.
• Harmonise your studies with your work. Seek out opportunities to apply what you learn each day. Not only will this reinforce your knowledge, helping it stick, but it will also give you the opportunity to make a meaningful difference to the world around you.

You have over 20 years of health and safety experience working in a range of sectors, including construction, shipbuilding, and oil and gas. How easy do you find it to transition between sectors and do you have any tips you could share?

Shifting between sectors has presented its challenges, but I find my qualifications and ability to adapt have paved the way for success. The fundamental principles of health and safety are timeless, while the risks associated with different sectors may evolve. I have always embraced the journey of diving deep into new sectors, gaining insight into their distinct challenges, and preparing with great care for interviews. This proactive approach has empowered me to leverage my expertise across various industries with great effectiveness.

During your career, you have had training, consultancy, and operational safety roles. What kind of work do you prefer?

My heart lies in encouraging and guiding employees through training and coaching. There's immense fulfilment in delivering messages that help workers perform their jobs safely and effectively. My passion lies in creating effective and practical HSE management systems that have the power to save lives. My PhD in strategic safety management embodies this passion, concentrating on harmonising safety systems with business strategy and leadership, merging system development with the transformative impact of training and coaching.

What do you enjoy most about being a health and safety professional?

When you work in health and safety you are presented with a fresh challenge every day. I love the opportunity to find a solution by blending tenacity, technical expertise, managerial insight, and behavioural strategies. Every challenge gives me a chance to evolve and expand my horizons.

What brings me the greatest joy is being able to instil a commitment to health and safety in others whether that is by motivating workers to adopt safe practices or encouraging leadership to prioritise impactful health and safety strategies. Health and safety is about people. It’s about building a culture where safety is a shared value, not just a rule. 

When you look back at your career so far, what are you most proud of?

Among my many accomplishments, the one that fills me with the greatest pride is achieving zero fatalities in every project I have managed or been a part of. Realising that my efforts have helped to protect lives is the greatest reward and a powerful affirmation of the significance of committed health and safety work.

What would your advice be to anyone who wants to work in health and safety?

Given my personal journey in health and safety, my advice to others would be:

• Read voraciously. Knowledge is your foundation so stay updated on evolving standards, technologies, and methodologies. 
• Cultivate a positive attitude. Safety starts with you. Through your actions and enthusiasm, you should lead by example and inspire others.
• Master communication. Active listening and consistent messaging are key to influencing behaviour. 
• Find your motivation. Enthusiasm is the driving force behind success so fuel it with purpose and passion. 
• Lead with empathy. Safety is about engaging people, not enforcing rules. Build trust and inspire change. Speak to workers with empathy, not criticism.
• Pursue credentials. Certifications like the NEBOSH IGC and International Diploma build credibility and open doors to impactful roles.

I have found that health and safety is more than a job. It has become my mission to protect lives and create a better world. Embrace this career with passion, and you will find endless opportunities to make a difference.