About Us Current Opportunities Recruitment - About Us       The Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) is an Agency of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and is known internationally as a centre of excellence for health and safety research and incident investigations. The scope of HSL's work requires a diverse range of talents. The majority of the 350 people employed by HSL are scientists or technical specialists across a wide range of disciplines. These disciplines include chemistry, physics, engineering and materials science, occupational psychology, risk assessment, ergonomics, biomedical sciences and specialist photography. HSL's scientists often work in multi-disciplinary teams to carry out research and investigations in areas such as fire, explosions and process safety, chemical hazards and exposure, engineering control, work environment, air quality, occupational health, behavioural and social sciences and risk assessment. As a centre of excellence, HSL also has numerous collaborative links and opportunities for exchanging information with other research establishments, professional institutions and universities in the UK and abroad. Benefits Salary The salary is paid monthly by credit transfer. Hours of Work Full-time staff normally work a 5-day week of 42 hours, including lunch intervals. However, where appropriate, it is HSL's policy to support a flexible approach to working arrangements, such as part-time working, flexible working hours and other alternative working patterns. Pensions Permanent and Fixed Term Appointments are pensionable. Your pension, together with your salary, forms part of your total remuneration package. The Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS) is non-contributory and significantly enhances the salary package. Nationality Most HSL posts are open to UK nationals, Commonwealth citizens (which include British citizens, British Dependent Territories citizens, and British Overseas citizens), British Protected Persons, EEA nationals of other member states, and certain non-EEA family members. Annual Leave The annual leave allowance begins at 25 days per year, rising to 30 days after a number of years which varies depending on your job band. In addition, all staff receive 8 days bank and public holidays and 2½ privilege days taken at fixed times of the year. Staff employed part-time have annual leave calculated on a pro-rata basis. Travel and Transport Information After you have completed 2 months service you may apply for an interest free loan towards the purchase of an annual travel season ticket or for the purchase of a bicycle. Mobility Depending on the terms of your appointment, you may be required to work anywhere in the United Kingdom. Conflicting Interest It is a condition of appointment that you shall not have any interest (whether financial or of any other kind) which is likely to affect the exercise and performance of your powers and duties. Equal Opportunities The Health and Safety Laboratory is committed to equal opportunities. All eligible applicants will be considered on the basis of merit irrespective of gender, ethnic origin, marital status, religious belief, sexual orientation, age and disability. Applications from ethnic minorities and women are particularly welcome as they are currently under-represented in this area of work. HSL is willing to accommodate, wherever possible, staff who wish to work in a pattern other than full-time attendance, such as job-sharing or part-time work. We encourage disabled candidates to disclose any relevant information about their disabilities in order to accommodate any needs that may arise in making reasonable adjustments to the workplace in order to assist in recruiting and retaining disabled candidates. Such information will be treated with the strictest of confidence and will not be used for any adverse purpose in making either any recruitment decision or any employment decision concerning the termination of employment. Smoking Policy There is a smoking policy in operation in all HSL offices which restricts smoking to designated areas away from the workplace. Please make sure you understand this policy and would be able to work within it before making an application.