Which Health & Safety Qualification's Right for you?
Continuing professional development (CPD) is crucial for health and safety professionals to stay updated with changes in health and safety legislation, standards, best practices, and technologies.
But which Health and Safety qualifications are right for you?
Whether you are just starting off in a health and safety career, are a seasoned professional or just someone who has a keen interest in health and safety culture, this is the age old question. The truth is, it’s not really that difficult to answer, so sit back and let us help with this quick guide.
Which Health & Safety Qualification's Right For My Company?
As we all know it is a legal requirement for all UK organisations of any size to obtain “competent” Health & Safety advice from somewhere. This can of course be from a suitably competent member of staff or an external provider.
But what health and safety skills or qualifications do they need to be competent? Well, very simply, it’s about organisational size & risk level. The bigger you are &/or the more hazards there are to control, the more competent you need to be.
Okay but there's so many safety courses out there! How do I pick between IOSH or NEBOSH qualifications?
The table below highlights how both health and safety courses align with varying levels of organisational risk and size.
| Risk Level | Small Business | Large site | Multi-site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low | IOSH Managing Safely | NEBOSH Certificate | NEBOSH Certificate |
| Medium | NEBOSH Certificate | NEBOSH Diploma | NEBOSH Diploma |
| High | NEBOSH Diploma | NEBOSH Diploma | NEBOSH Diploma |
Both NEBOSH courses and IOSH courses will give you health and safety qualifications that hold high recognition.
For small businesses with low health and safety risks, the IOSH Managing Safely course is recommended.
As the risk level or business size increases, organisations need more advanced qualifications. Medium risk levels in small businesses, and low risk in large or multi-site organisations, suggest a NEBOSH Certificate. This NEBOSH qualification provides a solid foundation in occupational safety and health management.
For higher health and safety risks, whether in a small sized businesses, large site or multi-site operation, the NEBOSH diploma is essential. This advanced NEBOSH course ensures that students undergo competent health and safety training and can confidently manage complex health safety and environmental challenges.
Whether you decide to choose IOSH or NEBOSH qualifications, the key is to ensure that it aligns with your organisations size and level of health and safety risk present.
How do I know what level of health and safety risk my organisation is?
To determine the level of risk in your organisation, consider factors such as the nature of your work, the number of employees and the potential hazards present. If you're unsure on this contact someone from our team at [email protected] and we will give you personal guidance on whether you should be choosing IOSH or NEBOSH qualifications.
Delivery Methods
Classroom
Taught with delegates from other organisations at one of our training centres, this rich learning experience allows you to get away from the distractions of the workplace, learn from your peers and focus on your qualification.
Online
E-learning programmes that can studied at any time, from anywhere, from any device. This method provides the flexibility for you to study at your own pace and in your own learning style.
OnlinePlus +
Provides all the features and flexibility of an online course, but with the structured support of that a tutor provides via a series of scheduled webinars.
In-Company
The training course is delivered specifically for a group of people at your company - either face-to-face at a time and place to suit you, or via Virtual Classroom. We’ll tailor your course content to your business, bringing it to life.
Which sort of Learner am I?
“I feel like my qualifications aren’t at the right level for my current role & I need to take action quickly”
It sounds like either face to face or virtual classroom is best for you. Our Managing Safely & NEBOSH Certificate courses run every month of the year. This route requires more of your time, but it is the quickest route to qualification.
“Great, I need my qualification quickly, but I can’t be away from work or home for week-long blocks”
No problem, our Virtual courses could be for you. You still need to attend scheduled classes, but the days are much shorter and the out of class work can be done at your pace. There’s also no need to travel. You can attend from anywhere, even your kitchen table.
“I’m not in a rush at all, this is part of my long-term development. I want to be able to pick it up & put it down depending what else is going on in my life.”
OK, so either Online elearning or OnlinePlus+ elearning extra is the way to go. You have access for 6, 12 or 24 months depending on the course.
“Sounds OK, but, to be honest, I’m going to struggle to motivate myself without a gentle push every now & again.”
I think we’ve found the right course for you. Our OnlinePlus+ elearning extra courses all have scheduled live sessions that we will invite you to encourage you to attend. These sessions not only provide interaction with your expert tutor, but with other students as well.
If you want to find out more, speak to one of our helpful team:
0808 168 5874 / [email protected]