This Dairy Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Manager job description sets out the main duties, qualifications, skills and measures of success for the role, which is also known as Health and Safety Manager, SHE Manager, EHS Manager or Safety Manager. Download it free as a Word or PDF template and adapt it for your own vacancy.
| Job title | Dairy Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Manager |
| Also known as | Health and Safety Manager, SHE Manager, EHS Manager, Safety Manager |
| Department | Health and safety |
| Reports to | Operations Director or Head of Health, Safety and Environment |
| Direct reports | Site health and safety advisers, environmental officers and HSE coordinators |
What does a Dairy Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Manager do?
Leads health, safety and environmental performance across dairy processing sites and farms. Makes sure risks are controlled, environmental permits are met, and incidents are prevented and learned from, building a culture where everyone goes home safe.
Dairy Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Manager duties and responsibilities
HSE management system
- Maintain the HSE management system and policies across sites and farms
- Align systems with ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 and lead certification audits
- Set HSE objectives and improvement plans with site and farm managers
- Maintain a register of legal requirements and track compliance
- Report HSE performance to the leadership team and Board
Risk assessment and process safety
- Make sure risk assessments and safe systems of work cover every task and site
- Control ammonia refrigeration risks through leak detection, inspection, competence and emergency plans
- Manage the safe storage and handling of cleaning chemicals, acids, caustic and laboratory reagents
- Control high-risk work such as confined spaces, work at height, hot work and isolation
- Manage farm risks such as livestock handling, machinery, slurry and vehicles
- Set and enforce safety standards for contractors
Environment
- Make sure sites meet environmental permits, consents and reporting deadlines
- Oversee effluent treatment and discharge quality with site engineering teams
- Manage waste, by-products, odour, noise and spill prevention
- Support water and energy reduction and emissions reporting
- Oversee manure and nutrient plans on farms to protect soil and water
Incidents and emergencies
- Make sure incidents and near misses are reported, investigated and learned from
- Lead investigations into serious incidents and environmental releases
- Report notifiable incidents to regulators on time
- Maintain emergency plans and run drills for ammonia leaks, fires and chemical spills
Audits, training and culture
- Run HSE audits and inspections across sites and farms and track actions to closure
- Plan HSE training and inductions and keep competence records
- Coach managers to lead safety on the shop floor and on farm
- Consult workers through safety committees and representatives
Dairy Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Manager qualifications and experience
Essential
- Recognised health and safety qualification at diploma level or above
- Substantial HSE experience in food, dairy, chemical or process manufacturing
- Experience of managing ammonia refrigeration or other process safety risks
- Knowledge of environmental permits, effluent and waste management
- Experience of leading incident investigations and root cause analysis
- Experience of ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 or similar management systems
Desirable
- Environmental management qualification
- Experience of HSE in agriculture or on livestock farms
- Chartered or professional membership of a health and safety body
- Lead auditor qualification
Skills and attributes
- Influence at all levels, from shop floor to Board
- Risk assessment and practical problem solving
- Investigation and report writing
- Coaching and training
- Calm handling of emergencies
- Data analysis and reporting
- Firm, fair enforcement of standards
How success is measured
- Lost-time and total recordable injury rates
- Process safety and environmental incidents
- Permit compliance and environmental exceedances
- Audit and inspection actions closed on time
- Near-miss reporting rate
- HSE training completed against plan
Working conditions and safety
Split between offices, production areas and farms, with PPE and hygiene rules in force. Regular travel between sites and on-call cover for serious incidents.
- Follow health and safety rules and safe systems of work, and wear the correct PPE
- Follow food safety, hygiene, HACCP and quality procedures at all times
- Report hazards, accidents, near misses and concerns promptly
Dairy Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Manager interview questions
Use these questions to assess candidates for a Dairy Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Manager role. Each one includes what a good answer shows.
- What are the main risks of ammonia refrigeration, and how do you control them?
What a good answer shows: Covers leaks, toxicity and pressure; uses detection, inspection, maintenance, competence, permits and tested emergency plans. - How do you control chemical risks from cleaning-in-place systems?
What a good answer shows: Uses safe storage, segregation, bunding, PPE, interlocks, training and safe delivery procedures for acids and caustic. - How do you make sure a dairy site meets its effluent discharge permit?
What a good answer shows: Monitors loads and limits, works with engineering on treatment and spill prevention, and acts quickly on exceedances. - What are the main safety risks on dairy farms, and how do you manage them?
What a good answer shows: Covers livestock, machinery, vehicles, slurry and lone working, with practical controls, training and supervision. - An ammonia leak is reported in the engine room. What happens next?
What a good answer shows: Follows the emergency plan, evacuates, isolates safely using trained responders, informs regulators as required and investigates. - A contractor is seriously injured on site. What do you do?
What a good answer shows: Ensures first aid, secures the scene, notifies regulators as required, supports those affected and leads the investigation. - How do you investigate an incident to find the real root cause?
What a good answer shows: Uses a structured method, looks beyond individual error to systems, and checks that actions prevent repeats. - Production wants to skip a permit to work to save time. How do you respond?
What a good answer shows: Stops the work, explains the risk, helps find a safe way to proceed and escalates if needed. - How do you build a strong safety culture among shop floor and farm teams?
What a good answer shows: Leads visibly, involves workers, acts on concerns, recognises good practice and holds managers accountable. - How do you get busy site managers to own health, safety and environment?
What a good answer shows: Sets clear expectations, gives useful data and coaching, includes HSE in targets and reviews progress together.
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Frequently asked questions
Leads health, safety and environmental performance across dairy processing sites and farms. Makes sure risks are controlled, environmental permits are met, and incidents are prevented and learned from, building a culture where everyone goes home safe.
Employers usually look for: recognised health and safety qualification at diploma level or above; substantial HSE experience in food, dairy, chemical or process manufacturing; experience of managing ammonia refrigeration or other process safety risks.
A Dairy Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Manager usually reports to the Operations Director or Head of Health, Safety and Environment. Direct reports typically include site health and safety advisers, environmental officers and HSE coordinators.
Yes. Download the free Word template, add your location, contract and salary details, and adapt the duties to your site. You can then advertise the role on Dairy Jobs.
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