Seyi Weli
Chartered Engineer, Chair Elect and Council member, SaRS
Seyi Weli is a Chartered Engineer and active member of the Safety and Reliability Society (SaRS), serving as Chair Elect and Council member. With over ten years of involvement, she leads SaRS STEM outreach initiatives and collaborates with EngineeringUK while mentoring students at the University of Sheffield.
How safety and reliability engineers protect people and the systems we depend on
Every time we switch on a light, board a train, or heat our home with low-carbon energy, we trust that the system will work safely. Behind that trust lies a group of engineers whose names rarely make the headlines but whose work keeps society running, the safety and reliability engineers. They’re the people who make sure that complex technologies from oil and renewables to aircraft and data centres, are safe, dependable, and ready when needed. As we move toward a low-carbon future, their work has never been more important.
What is safety and reliability engineering?
Safety and reliability engineering are two closely connected disciplines that sit at the heart of modern industry:
Safety engineering is about preventing accidents and protecting people, property, and the environment. It asks what could go wrong? What happens if it does? How do we stop it or reduce the impact?
Reliability engineering ensures that systems and equipment keep working as intended. It’s about making sure something performs consistently, whether it’s a wind turbine, a chemical plant, or a hospital power system.
Together, these engineers help make risks visible and manageable. They ensure that every new idea, design, or invention is built with safety in mind, so technology can be ground-breaking but safe and trustworthy.
What do safety and reliability engineers actually do?
Their day-to-day work can be remarkably diverse and often involves collaboration between design engineers, operators, maintenance technicians, data scientists and project managers. They might:
- identify hazards through structured workshops such as HAZOP (Hazard and Operability Study), where engineers think through every possible 'what if' scenario
- analyse risks using methods that estimate the likelihood and potential impact of failures
- design protection systems such as emergency shutdowns or fire detection systems
- review data from equipment to find early signs of wear, faults, or patterns that could lead to breakdowns
- learn from incidents to ensure that lessons are shared and future designs continue to improve
- promote safety culture by helping teams understand that every decision, from maintenance to design, affects the overall risk
These engineers work across all major industries: energy, aerospace, manufacturing, defence, nuclear chemicals, FMCG, and even digital infrastructure.
In many organisations, they act as the 'conscience of engineering'. The people who ensure innovation doesn’t compromise safety.
Why it matters now more than ever
The need for safety and reliability engineers is growing rapidly. The UK’s transition to net zero energy brings new technologies that operate under different risks from traditional systems. The new technologies include hydrogen production, carbon capture, and large-scale battery storage.
At the same time, we face a critical shortage of skilled engineers. EngineeringUK estimates that hundreds of thousands of additional engineers and technicians will be needed in the coming decade to deliver the energy transition safely and sustainably. That means today’s students, especially those studying STEM subjects, have an exciting opportunity to be part of shaping a safer and greener world.
Routes into the profession
There’s no single route into safety and reliability engineering, which makes it a flexible and accessible career for young people with an interest in STEM.
- University pathways
Most engineers begin with a degree in chemical, process, mechanical or electrical engineering. Some universities offer specialist courses or postgraduate degrees in safety and reliability engineering, risk management, or process safety.
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Apprenticeships and technical routes
Engineering and manufacturing apprenticeships can lead to roles where practical experience develops into expertise in safety and reliability. Employers often support further study and professional registration later on.
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Graduate development and professional accreditation
After university or an apprenticeship, engineers can join structured training schemes with large organisations in energy, transport, or defence. Many go on to become Chartered Engineers through professional bodies such as:
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The Safety and Reliability Society (SaRS)
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The Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE)
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The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)
Skills that matter
Safety and reliability engineering needs more than just strong maths, chemistry and physics. The best engineers also demonstrate:
- curiosity – the ability to question assumptions and ask what if?
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logical thinking – breaking complex systems into understandable parts
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communication – explaining technical risk clearly to both experts and non-experts
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integrity – the courage to speak up if something doesn’t look right
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teamwork – collaborating across disciplines to solve shared challenges
These are the same skills developed through STEM subjects, project-based learning, and participation in STEM clubs or competitions. They are practical experiences that schools already do so well to encourage.
Inspiring the next generation
For students, safety and reliability engineering can be deeply rewarding. It offers:
- a sense of purpose – knowing your work keeps people safe
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global opportunities – industries around the world need these skills
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job security – every company values safe and dependable systems
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variety – from fieldwork and design to data analysis and leadership
Schools can help linking STEM learning to real-world examples by discussing how design thinking prevents accidents in daily life. They can also explore how reliability principles apply to renewable energy or electric vehicles and invite industry speakers who work in engineering safety roles.
Even simple classroom discussions such as 'What would happen if this system failed?' encourage students to think like safety engineers.
By introducing safety and reliability engineering, teachers can inspire the next generation who will keep the lights on, transport moving, and make the world safe.
The need for safety and reliability engineers is growing rapidly. The UK’s transition to net zero energy brings new technologies that operate under different risks from traditional systems.
— Seyi Weli, Chartered Engineer, Chair Elect and Council member, SaRS
