Posted By Nina Hi everyone, My story is a bit strange! I started level 3 back in February of this year and have been working hard on my course, my tutor and internal assessor had a meeting after I left College on Saturday and have now told me that they want to put me in for level 4 instead as it appears I'm working at that level anyway! it's a bit daunting really as I only started H&S to make sure that I could cope with everything my job as Office Manager threw at me! So if I pass this, what qualification can I hope to get from it? I've been told many different things so thought I'd ask here. Also what sort of position within Health and Safety could I apply for and hope to get with this kind of qualification? I was also told that I'd have letters after my name too, I'm finding this all a bit daunting to be honest, and am doubting myself that I'm good enough to pass this course :O( any help or advice would be gratefully received! thanks

Posted By Nina thank you for your input. Unfortunately it's not as simple as cross ref the 2, if I did that I'd have to pay to enter twice and as my boss is paying for it, I have to go with the level 4, he wouldn't pay for one then the other. when I started I had interviews with the internal assessors and it was discussed then that he thought I may be more than capable of doing level 4 but wanted to see my portfolio, having seen this he has said that with the information I had already in my file, and with some extra work I could gain level 4, please remember here I'm only going on what i'm being told by someone who is qualified and has been an assessor for years and so am not able to argue the point. I hope this makes it clearer thanks again

Posted By J Knight As well as the letters Linda mentions you can also apply for IOSH membership as a Graduate member with an NVQ4; this would entitle you to use the letters GradIOSH. Two year's post qualification CPD and a peer review would then entitle you to Chartered Status as CMIOSH. There is information about the membership structure of IOSH on this page. You could also join the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management; I think NVQ4 would entitle you to full membership with the designation MIIRSM, John

Posted By Nina thanks everyone for the advice, this is the best information I've had so far! can you imagine how scary i'm finding all of this? I guess not! I basically came into my current job which is not totally H&S, did a Government funded H&S course, and the next minute i'm doing an NVQ at quite a high level! Ok so next question!! when I pass, what sort of job could I hope to obtain and with what salary?

Posted By J Knight Also on jobs and salary take a look at http://www.shpmags.com/jobs.asp John

Posted By Kev S Sorry Nina, I called you Linda!

Posted By Kev S Hi Nina, I know exactly how you feel I have the same problems implementing new policies and procedures as the director and the contracts manager often looks upon them as an unnecessary extra burdon of work. This often up until recently really got me down, all the hard work you put in being rejected. Often work, because, of their disapproval you had conducted at home in an evening. The way I now look upon things is "it is my job to inform the director of health & safety legislation, recommend changes and improvements " so I do in writing whether it be in memo form, formal letter, or report, I always keep a copy for myself. If the director then chooses to ignore my advice and an incident occures then at least I have some paperwork that identifies the fact that I informed him prior to the incident. Should you feel that you are being ignored on a serious issue then a call (anonymus if you like) to the HSE may be an option. I have fellow health and safety colleauges who have been in the same position, and changed companies because of directors failing to take on board recommendations. I was defending our company against a claim in court "that was quite an experience" I learned from it that you really do need to tell your employees everything, example if you have HGV drivers tell them how they must access and egress their lorries, you can't fail to give them enough information, because you can rest-assure that the smallest detail that you miss will be picked up on in court. A point to remember is most directors have had health and safety pushed upon them in the form of demands from insurers and legislations and a number of them would place health and safety second to profitering. Health & Safety will eventually weed out companies (cowboys outfits) that fail to comply. And remember each day that you are doing this job you are gaining experience to take with you to that company that will recognise your professional qualification, respect your advice and pay you accordingly. Does anyone know of such a company?

Posted By Nina well I have written a policy that I know my boss didn't really want to have! I have emailed it to him and in a very polite way have said I know you're not happy but the law says we have to have it! I have done what is expected of me the rest is up to you......... :) College on Saturday we'll see what my new tutor thinks of my file so far!!!