When did your health and safety career begin, and what attracted you to the profession?

I was working as a field technician for an international oilfield service company based in Aberdeen. At the time, the company was in the process of gaining ISO certification for its Safety, Quality and Environmental Management Systems, and I was given the opportunity to support this work, specialising in health and safety.

What initially attracted me to the profession was how vital it is, particularly in high-risk industries such as oil and gas. In this sector, health and safety is rightly a core consideration because of the nature of the work involved and the inherent risks. I found that health and safety complemented the technical skills I had already developed, allowing me to contribute to effective operational procedures and risk assessments for staff working out in the field.

By choosing to specialise in safety, I felt I was also building resilience into my career, as it opened opportunities to work across a range of industries. When I later switched sectors, I found that most of the health and safety knowledge and skills I had gained in oil and gas were readily transferable to light rail.

Can you tell us about Edinburgh Trams?

We operate a fleet of 27 CAF trams across an 18.4 km network with 23 stops. Services run from Edinburgh Airport through the heart of the city and down Leith Walk, one of the most densely populated areas in the United Kingdom, before reaching the terminus at Newhaven. Our trams pass some of the city’s most popular destinations, including Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh Castle, the Scott Monument, St James Quarter and The Royal Yacht Britannia.

Safety is fundamental to everything we do and is always our foremost consideration. We hold ourselves to the highest possible standards and align our business with the Office of Rail and Road’s Risk Maturity Framework. This ensures we remain committed to delivering a safe, reliable and efficient mode of transport for the city of Edinburgh.

You have been the organisation’s Safety Manager (Environment) since July 2021. Please tell us about your role and responsibilities.

I work as part of the Safety and Standards department, which provides safety, security and environmental support and advice across the organisation. To ensure the organisation operates a safe and environmentally friendly service, we work closely with colleagues from the Operations, Engineering, Projects and Business Support departments, as well as our core infrastructure and tram maintainers.

Within our team, I lead on areas such as internal audit, environmental management, civil claims handling and work environment safety. However, my role also extends across all aspects of safety within the company.

How have NEBOSH qualifications supported your development?

When I completed the NEBOSH National General Certificate, it felt like a natural first step towards fulfilling my aspiration to specialise in health and safety. The qualification is globally recognised and highly regarded, as it provides a sound foundation on which to build. I then chose to complete the NEBOSH Fire Certificate to gain more specialist fire safety knowledge as part of my continued professional development.

You were amongst the first people to complete one of NEBOSH’s newest qualifications, the NEBOSH National Certificate in Protecting Enhanced Duty Premises and Events from Terrorism. What was your motivation for choosing this?

In light rail, we must comply with specific legislation relating to the management of security across our networks. We also work closely with other transport providers and the city’s emergency services to ensure the safety of passengers and staff on or near the tram network.

This new course appealed to me because it provided the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of the security requirements that our interfacing organisations across Edinburgh will need to adhere to in the future.

Neil Booth is safety manager (environment) at Edinburgh Trams. Read Neil’s extended interview here: www.nebosh.org.uk/neil-booth