Posted By Marc Miles just so you don't feel left out Lee, i'm having a struggle getting anyone to take me seriously and i've just done my Dip 1. but i don't feel so bad now.

Posted By Paul Craythorne Guys, Whilst I can understand your frustration, the employer is also in an awkward situation when it comes to employing a health and safety practitioner. I carry out a lot of insurance survey work and quite often one of the risk improvements I make is to appoint 'Competent Assistance' as per MHSWR 1999. The requirement is qualified with a supporting statement which I have provided below: 'You are required to comply with the legal requirement to appoint one or more competent persons to assist you in undertaking the measures needed to comply with the requirements and prohibitions imposed on you by health and safety law. The company must ensure that any person appointed from within the company to provide competent assistance is provided with adequate training and resources in respect of time, finances and expertise to ensure that he/she can discharge their legal obligations effectively. Competence is a measure of the level of training, experience and knowledge an individual possesses'. To comply with this requirement you would need to have some experience so therefore the employer is not likely to employ someone who has just completed their training but has no practical experience of implementation. Have you considered applying to HSE or Environmental Health? Another option is to offer your services in a free capacity for a limited time period to gain experience and show what you are capable of (perhaps in a supporting role to an existing HS&E practitioner). I know working for nothing is not very appealing but I have known people to do this in HS&E and it has worked. Keep trying and good luck. Something will eventually turn up. Regards, Paul Craythorne

Posted By Mark Talbot We are in a strange profession where the vast majority of us work alone ... but there are opportunities to become assistants, and this is where your fire will be most appreciated. Keep going, it is worth it when you get there.

Posted By lee jon gibson hi jim thanks for your reply to my letter but i can say when you have your IOSH thats more better than the NEBOSH in ways everyone goes on about it when its just the same if you a Full IOSH (MIOSH) ECT you have a Better chance than NEBOSH. because you have a more particlue experance