Meet Jonathan, Health and Safety Specialist and DIY enthusiast

I joined Axis as a health and safety specialist in September last year. Before that, my career path was not exactly traditional. My bachelor’s degree was in nautical science and I spent many years working at sea as a navigation officer, where health and safety are naturally a major part of the role. 

After that, I moved into another safety-critical industry: offshore oil and gas in Africa. While at that company, I stepped in to cover a sick-leave position for a safety officer. I really enjoyed the role and had the opportunity to apply many of the practical skills and experiences I’d gained. What started as temporary cover eventually became a full-time position working many different offshore companies across the world. When I later moved back to Sweden, I continued working in health and safety and I’ve been in the field ever since. My journey to working within safety might seem a bit unconventional, but it has all contributed to where I am today and given me hands-on experience. 

No two days really look the same, since my role is primarily advisory. I spend a lot of time talking with managers to understand their needs, identify areas for improvement, and support them in creating safe and healthy work environments as efficiently as possible. 

My work covers a wide range of areas, including risk assessments, safety inspections, chemical management, accident investigations, and safety communication. At the core of it all is making sure we maintain a thriving safety culture that continues to improve. 

I’m part of the HR team, which is small but highly specialized. While my colleague focuses on the psychological and social aspects of the work environment, I’m responsible for the physical safety side. Together, we complement each other well and collaborate whenever needed to ensure we cover the full picture. 

What I enjoy most is that the role is very exploratory. It gives me the opportunity to identify gaps, build relationships across the organization, and strengthen our systems. I get a lot of satisfaction from increasing awareness and encouraging small behavioural changes that can make a real difference. 

I’m also fortunate to have an open and supportive manager, which makes the work even more rewarding. If I come up with an idea for a new project or approach, he’s always encouraging and willing to explore it. That level of trust and openness makes the role really exciting and rewarding. 

The culture at Axis also plays a huge part in why I enjoy my day-to-day work so much. It’s a kind, collaborative, and caring environment where people are approachable and genuinely willing to help each other. Axis truly cares about its people and about social sustainability. It’s not just something that’s talked about externally; they walk the talk.