Posted By Elizabeth Lithgow What should I be looking at as a follow-on for the TUC Certificate in Health and Safety?

Posted By Elizabeth Lithgow I'm currently a safety rep but want to move into full time health and safety

Posted By Jonathan Sandler Elizaberth. Employers are scared of employing the following types of safety advisors: Disabled, persons with ongoing medical conditions, Unioun Reps, nobody will be able to prove it. I would sit down, see how much each course costs, how long it will take, what you get out of it in the end. You might be supprised with the outcome. Regards

Posted By Elizabeth Lithgow Jonathan, You say employers are shy of staff reps wanting to enter full time H & S ? Why is that? I became a staff rep because I was concerned about the number o f people injured or killed at work. The training available to me was TUC. I now want to be fully involved with H&S. Is there anything wrong with that?

Posted By Chris Huckle Hi Elizabeth My interest in safety started as a TU safety rep. I was then offered to move to safety for a large part of my duties, I took this step a little reluctantly as I did not feel that I had enough knowledge, I said that I would not take on the role without additional training. I was told to go and find out about what courses there were available and what would be appropriate. I decided to go straight for the Dip 1 and then for the Dip 2 and have just achieved CMIOSH. It was hard work but well worth it, as the job has developed it has really led to a great deal more job satisfaction than I previously had (before moving to H&S). So please do not be put off as you have come from the TU side, decide what you think is appropriate and go for it. All the best for your future. Regards Chris Huckle

Posted By Brian Kane Hi Elizabeth, I too am a union rep trying to make my way in H/S. I have the same problem in deciding which qualification to go for after the TUC cert. I have also posted a thread on the subject but I believe that NVQ4 will be the route for me as it follows the same format of study that I am used to. That is, until someone tells me otherwise. Good luck in what ever route you take. Brian

Posted By Julian R Davis Hi Elizabeth I came into H&S through being a TU rep that took on the H&S rep as well. I worked my way up to the TUC certificate (NVQ3) and became a lay member of the union National Exec Committee for H&S. I was lucky in that I was then allowed to operate in my company like an assistant H&S officer and that allowed me to take an NVQ level 4 whilst working which gained me entry into MIOSH and a full time H&S job; I still work as a humble H&S rep as well, helping younger reps get started. If your heart is set on going along this route then best wishes - it's a decision I haven't regretted. The new structure means that if you follow the academic route you will need to do a portfolio to prove your practical competence; if you follow the NVQ route you will need to sit a test to show you understand the legislation etc. Try checking out whether your union and local authority supports Modern Apprenticeships - and go for the NVQ 4 H&S one (I am also a Union Learning Rep)- speak to your union learning reps and see what they can find for you. Julian Davis MIOSH, Prospect Union Learning Rep and Union H&S Rep