A Day in the Life of Our Health and Safety Consultant: Megan Gray

Health and Safety isn’t just paperwork and policies. For Megan Gray, it’s a fast-moving role that blends problem-solving, site visits, and supporting businesses to keep their teams safe. Here’s a glimpse into a typical day in her world.

A day in the life of Megan Gray – Health and Safety Consultant

People often assume that working in Health and Safety means sitting behind a desk all day. In reality, the job is far more varied, practical, and people-focused than most realise. No two days are exactly the same, and that’s part of what makes the role so interesting.

My mornings usually start the same way though. Before emails, site visits, or risk assessments, I always start the day with a drink I look forward to. It’s almost always either an iced oat milk latte or an iced matcha. That small ritual has become my way of easing into the day and setting myself up before things get busy.

I usually spend a couple of days a week working from our lovely pod in Embsay, which is a great place to catch up with the team and collaborate. The rest of the week I tend to work from home, in between travelling out to visit clients. Having that flexibility works really well, as it means I can focus on writing reports and reviewing documentation when I’m working remotely, while also spending time out on site where the practical work happens.

Most mornings start by checking emails and reviewing the plan for the day. As a consultant, my work can involve supporting several different clients at once, so the day might include anything from reviewing risk assessments to preparing for a meeting or working on a project.

Of course, consulting rarely goes exactly to plan. I might start the day with a clear schedule, but by 10am that plan can completely change because a client has an urgent issue that needs immediate support. It might be an incident that needs investigating, an urgent document review, or a situation where a client needs quick advice.

When that happens, the day becomes a bit of a juggling act. Part of the role is learning how to prioritise what genuinely needs attention first. Some tasks can wait, others can’t. Earlier in my career I found that shift frustrating, but over time I’ve learnt that it’s part of the job and that it’s okay if some things have to be pushed back. The important thing is making sure the most urgent risks and issues are dealt with first.

During the day, my work can vary quite a lot depending on what my clients need. A big part of my role involves reviewing risk assessments, updating Health and Safety policies, and making sure businesses have the right procedures in place to manage risks properly. There is also a lot of last minute advice or help clients may need on any Health and Safety matters. I also support with incident investigations when they occur and help managers understand their legal responsibilities when it comes to keeping their teams safe.

Another important part of my role is making sure staff have the right training and knowledge to work safely. This might involve reviewing training records, advising businesses on what training is required, or helping them improve their overall safety culture so that Health and Safety becomes part of everyday working practices rather than just a document on a shelf.

Afternoons are often when I focus on the more detailed work. This can include writing reports following site visits or audits, updating risk assessments, reviewing documentation for clients, or preparing for upcoming meetings.

A lot of consultancy work is about problem solving. Every workplace is different, so the advice I give has to be practical and tailored to how that business actually operates. Alongside the technical side of Health and Safety, communication is a big part of the job too.

By the end of the workday, my brain is usually full of risk assessments, meetings, or COSHH. So switching off properly is important.

One of my favourite ways to unwind is by going for a run (when the weather is nice) around my hometown, Burley in Wharfedale. When the weather is good, it’s the perfect way to clear my head after a busy day. Being outdoors after spending hours focusing on work really helps reset things. And if running isn’t on the agenda, my other end-of-day ritual is a bath. It’s become my way of properly closing the workday.

What I enjoy most about being a Health and Safety consultant is the variety. One day I might be on a construction site, the next reviewing documentation, and another delivering advice to a business that genuinely wants to improve.

At its core, the role is about helping people go home safe at the end of the day. That might sound simple, but it’s a responsibility that carries real impact.

And even though the work can be busy and sometimes complex, it always comes back to that same goal: making workplaces safer, more organised, and better for the people who work in them.