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#1 Posted : 19 March 2003 09:11:00(UTC)
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Posted By Alan
I am a 25 year old graduate and have 3 years experience working in the field of health and safety, 2 years of which in a position of responsibility (health and safety management). I currently have responsibility for our company's safety, health, environment and quality systems as well as having on-site safety and health authority.

I am now looking to develop my skills and competency in OHS with an aim to become an OHS professional, eventually starting my own consultancy firm (although this is still a few years down the line). I wish to be able to gain experience worldwide.

What steps should I be taking to achieve this competence? At present I do not possess any qualifications in OHS other than 1 or 2 day safety courses (such as the BSC's Safety for Supervisors courses).

I have a thorough understanding of UK safety legislation, codes of practice and best practice and am totally confident in being able to pass most, if not all, OHS related training courses out there.
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#2 Posted : 19 March 2003 18:03:00(UTC)
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Posted By Merv Newman
Alan,

Get qualified as high as you can. Then go for a new job, preferably in a different industry.

A consultant, in any field, needs to be able to draw on a wide variety of knowledge and experience. You must be ready to either answer the many different questions and challenges thrown at you by prospective clients, or to admit honestly to your lack of knowledge and competence to advice. The more you know and have experienced, the higher your value to your client.

I have a horror of "consultants" straight from university who believe they have the right to "consult" to experienced managers.

Bon courage

Merv Newman
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#3 Posted : 02 June 2003 08:25:00(UTC)
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Posted By Richard Spencer
Allan

I agree with Merv's advice, start making enquiries with those unversities that cater for specific OSH tertiary qualifications.

It can be done by distance with a long week end for on campus lab work.

If you have a first degree then you will be able to enrole directly into a Master's Degree program. If IOSH follow the pattern of many of the other institutions then the Master's degree will be needed for eventual chartered status in my opinion.

Because OSH covers such a vast sphere of human activity it is good advise to get plenty of experience of different industries.

Good Luck

Richard
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#4 Posted : 02 June 2003 09:59:00(UTC)
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Posted By Michael Spanczak
Alan,
the previous responses give you some very sound advice. Since you are quite young I stongly advise you to take a year out and do a full time MSc course. Personal experience of both full time and part time study tells me that it can be painful trying to get qualified at that level and hold down a day job. Aston University used to be the best course on the block but that is now gone and some good contenders now seem to be at Loughborough University and Nottingham Trent. If their courses are like the Aston one expect to work hard. The toughest thing that I found was coming up with a worthwhile project subject, it is best to start thinking about that now. I admire your vision and ambition but would remind you that OHS is a subject that has a pre-requisit for life experience so I suggest that you get as much exposure of the various aspects of the workplace as possible, you can do that by working for an established consultancy. Finally in lieu of age and grey hairs you need to develop another selling edge, find some areas that you can specialise in and sell that added value e.g CDM, Railway Safety Assurance Cases etc.
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#5 Posted : 02 June 2003 13:47:00(UTC)
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Posted By Dave Wilson
In light of the threads going on around here with regards to Chartered status and competency 25 year old graduate (in what subject) with NO H&S Qualifications responsible for HSE&Q on a site(what type?) wishes to be a consultant in H&S.

Want to know what qualifications to get in H&S. Now the best of luck to you Andy if you are sincere then get an MSC or NEBOSH Dip and experience of as many industries as possible.

Is this scenario real think about it!!!
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#6 Posted : 02 June 2003 16:17:00(UTC)
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Posted By Michael Miller
Ouch!
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#7 Posted : 02 June 2003 17:04:00(UTC)
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Posted By Dave Wilson
I think I will start a new thread on this as its not really fair on the originator.
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