What is IOSH?
IOSH is the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health. IOSH is a global chartered organisation for health and safety which regulates professionals all around the world. IOSH was founded in 1945 and in the 1960’s became an officially recognised registered charity. The institution has over 40,000 members across the world and is at the forefront of international health and safety. IOSH is on a mission to make the world safer and more sustainable for everyone.
What Does IOSH do?
IOSH aims to improve health and safety standards worldwide by raising awareness of health and safety issues through publicity campaigns, debates, demonstrations and online media. Offers health and safety training for a wide range of sectors including business, health and education. Lobbying governments across the world for improvements to health and safety policy and regulation. Providing expert guidance on the latest developments in health and safety to businesses, educational boards, governments and the general public.
The Worlds Leading Health & Safety Accreditation Body
The world’s leading health and safety accreditation body, IOSH, offers a range of health and safety courses and exams suitable for all industries at a number of levels of management. IOSH is also the only professional chartered body for health and safety professionals, including those working in human resources (HR) roles. The organisation provides a range of qualifications which are recognised as the leading standard in health and safety qualifications. Each IOSH exam is designed to reflect the specific needs and challenges of individual roles within any organisation and there is a strong mix of both examination and practical assessment. The practical assessments are a key element of the qualification and are designed to assess candidates in the most appropriate setting – their own workplace.
IOSH Courses Are Available in Multiple Learning Formats
Many IOSH training providers have developed their course offerings so that they can be delivered and studied in at least one of four learning formats including:
- In Person (classroom)
- Online (instructor-led)
- E-learning
- Distance Learning
Levels of IOSH Qualifications & Training
There are levels of IOSH qualifications for general workplace health and safety. These IOSH courses are suitable for small firms with possibly only one or two employees requiring training. IOSH training can also be delivered in-house.
Training for workers and operators
Training for managers
- IOSH Managing Safely
- IOSH Managing Safely Refresher
- IOSH Managing Safely in Social Housing
- IOSH Managing Environmental Responsibilities
- IOSH Managing Occupational Health and Wellbeing
- IOSH Managing Safely in Airports and Aviation
Training for senior executives and directors
- IOSH Safety for Senior Executives and Directors
- IOSH Leading Safely
- IOSH Approved Behavioural Science for Leadership in Safety
The senior executives course and the leading safely course are aimed at broader strategic safety management and cover relevant legislation in more depth.
IOSH Test
The type of IOSH exam involved in the course depends on the level taken. All IOSH courses include short examinations, taken during the course. In the case of the executive and director courses, the examination is taken in the form of a short test paper only – with no practical workplace assessment.
Practical Assessment
For the management level courses the IOSH exam reflects the practical application of Health and Safety in specific roles with a workplace based assessment. This is completed by each candidate in their own workplace and is then returned for assessment. It’s possibly this aspect of IOSH exam assessment that gives the qualifications their real value. The focussed IOSH training provides an excellent grounding in the subjects and by placing the practical assessment in the candidates own, real-life work place is an ideal way to turn the theory into truly practical skill.
The IOSH test/exam and practical assessment process is considered one of the best, most robust form of health and safety training available.
The Need for Adequate Training
Although Health and Safety regulations have been altered in recent years to cut the level of ‘red-tape’ – especially for small firms – other legislation has been introduced. New laws relating to corporate manslaughter and homicide have seen increasing levels of prosecutions being brought to court and fine levels for health and safety breaches are on an upward trend. In this environment, for small firms in particular, the need for IOSH training and qualifications remains imperative.
Benefits of an IOSH Course
Accidents can not only cause injuries and fatalities but they can also cost businesses financially. Millions of pounds every year are lost in the UK economy due to accidents at work. Many of these accidents can be avoided with the right management and implementation of health and safety legislation. IOSH courses can show businesses ways to improve health and safety standards and reduce the risks of costly accidents happening in the work place. Many companies are already seeing the returns on their health and safety investments. By protecting your workforce you can improve working standards, increase productivity and reduce the risks of losing money through accidents at work.
Commit to safety
A strong commitment to safety is major selling point for a company. Taking an IOSH course will give your employees the training and skills to keep the job site safe and protect fellow associates. A company that encourages and supports its employees in their pursuit of safety knowledge will be a respected and desirable employer. There is no more valuable resource to an organisation than its people and a commitment to safety is a key part of a successful business.
Investing in educating employees about safety will more than pay for itself and create a happier safer work force. Empowering staff with knowledge is a powerful motivator and should be used often.