Posted By Darren Briggs
I am attending a 4 day IOSH Managing Safely course next month. I started to do some research on other courses to supplement this and/or progress on to. This is where my confusion starts as there seems to be so many different courses available that my head is spinning.

I have 15 years commercial insurance experience and my job for several years has included a degree of H&S and Risk Management advice to corporate clients. I now want to gain formal awards/qualifications to support this element of my job and maybe change career paths.

Any advice appreciated............
Thanks

Posted By Ian P
Hi Darren

If you have enough H&S evidence of the work you have done another route is the NVQ 4

Posted By Darren Briggs
Thanks Chris
Its great to hear from someone with an insurance background and knowledge. I was'nt really expecting that posting on this site.

I did get the impression that the IOSH managing safely was more for people with H&S management responsibilities within their organisations but i did'nt want to discourage work from sending me (and paying for it of course) as i thought it would at least get the ball rolling if you know what i mean.

It would seem to me (please correct me if i am wrong) that NEBOSH certificate and diploma are very much 'the' thing to do as every job advert i have come across on H&S recruitment sites specifies NEBOSH as a requirement.

My difficulty is convincing work to pay for that at the moment becuase it is fairly expensive and what i was thinking is that i could do other courses that are more 'in budget' for my company that would build up my knowledge and in the long term, look good on my own cv. I am now beginning to wonder if this is not really an option and that the NEBOSH route is the only thing to push for and dive straight into - any thoughts?

I have not worked for an insurance company myself. I have always been on the broking side of the fence. I am an Account Director/Servicer i.e. i look after existing clients and make sure they get good service and renew with my firm. This involves attending insurer surveys, carrying out our own surveys of premises, giving general H&S, Risk Management, Disaster Recovery advise.

I have a fear that it will not be easy tranferring to general industry from insurance broking but did have in mind surveying, local authority jobs, consultancy in the longer term and a lot of the clients i look after now are construction firms and related contractors - any more thoughts?

If i want to join IOSH as an individual (away from doing it through work) where do i start?

Cheers
Darren

Posted By Darren Briggs
Thanks Mel

How did you find the general certificate course?

I agree that the Diploma seems something of a step up from the certificate.

Your comment has got me wondering if the 4 day IOSH course gets me any exemption from the first part of the certificate?

Darren

Posted By Melanie Fellows
I don't think you would get any exemptions by doing the IOSH - different examining bodies as far as I am aware - but it's always worth an ask.

I found the Certificate really good. I did it over two separate weeks (three week gap in the middle), then two written exams (think they were two hours long each), I do remember that they were very intense with so much writing involved I thought my arm was going to give up!

Then a project which had to be submitted about a week or two after the end of the course.

It's hard work, but really worth it.

Mel

Posted By Melanie Fellows
Hi Kelly,

If you don't mind me asking, how much did the Diploma cost (the one I'm looking at is just over £6K), and over how many installments did they let you pay?

Mel

Posted By Kelly-Anne Holifield
Hi,

From memory I think it was just under £3000. They are allowing me to pay about £200 per month. The prices should be on their website which is www.rrc.co.uk. They were recommended to me by a company who do the NEBOSH diploma as block release in a class room. They said that as far as distance learning goes, they are the one of the best for H&S. You still can't beat actually sitting in the classroom, but I just couldn't have afforded it.

Bye,

Kelly.

Posted By Christopher Kelly
Hi Darren, talk to Hazel Harvey at IOSH - they will be able to give you all the current information about the best way to go.

You will find it difficult to get a job as a H&S practitioner / professional with your NEBOSH Certificate, although if you go into construction the Construction Cert does hold more sway. The diploma is the key qualification. I did my cert at Bristol College and the course was really good. The old part 1 diploma was difficult (the part 2 enormously difficult) but I personally didn't find the part 1 significantly harder than the dip1 (if you have done A levels / insurance exams then you shouldn't find it too difficult). There is a new system now in place where the diploma is done in a modular form (no part 1 or 2) - in some respects this makes it easier.

I found both my cert and my diploma part 1 not too bad. I was used to dealing with many of the issues which came up due to engineering / risk management background and, having done A level chemistry helped (biology would also be good). However IOSH changed the system and the replacement does seem harder (I failed my best subject !) It is hard work but very enjoyable.

I did my diploma part 1 with all sorts of people (nurses to solicitors). Some did not have experience in my area but I was weak in their area (eg biology). We all helped each other.

I would recommend you enquire with universities / colleges as I found them to be cheaper and better courses. Also as the course is spread out (in time) it gives you more opportunity to get help from other people on the course and to do research gradually (important if you are finding it hard going). With a commercial organisation you may have an intensive week's module with people you won't see for another few months and who don't have time to get involved in syndicate type exercises.

You can become an Associate Member of IOSH without qualifications (or used to be able to - check with Hazel). Then get your NEBOSH Cert and apply for TechIOSH (Technician Status) or go straight onto your diploma if you feel confident enough. Post diploma you become GradIOSH then after 2 years can apply for Chartered status.

You might also want to try the 'International Institute of Risk & Safety Management' - there are a lot of insurance type people who are members and they have similar organisation - you can apply for Associate Membership status (AIIRSM) straight away. Member status (MIIRSM) is a recognised professional status - again you need your diploma to get this.

Membership of IOSH or IIRSM gives you access to loads of stuff, monthly magazines etc which will help you develop as a safety professional.

I have found applying for jobs through the magazines means you are competing against hundreds of people - there is a website which I have found very good which I can email to you.

The IOSH site used to be good for getting jobs (I got 2 from it) but unfortunately they stopped it.

Hope of help,
Regards,
Chris