Hi all, I'm hoping to start the IPD process this year with the aim of achieving Chartered status. The company I work for are keen to help out where possible but they have asked me what the benefits are for them. Any ideas? I had read an article about insurance discounts for organisations with CMIOSH staff employed but I cannot seem to find this now. Thank you, Pete

It's a bit of a double edge situation with CMIOSH. Some folks haven't found a benefit to having it, some have. I see a lot of adverts asking for those either GradIOSH or CMIOSH (or working towards it) and a lot that don't but ask for NEBOSH or NVQ Diploma standard. I have found just from my experience I have got a lot of credit from having it because for those in the H&S area, they understand the process of getting chartered status is not an easy one and it needs to be earned. For me it is a way of saying 'I have this which means you are aware that I must have a certain standard to have achieved it'. Equally you could argue however, that there are a lot of talented H&S people out there who don't have it perhaps because they either don't want it or don't see the value in it, or have very successful careers with which having CMIOSH has not held them back at all. I am glad to have it nd have gone thrrough the process, but we are all different so it's what value you see in having chartered status and if you feel it will benefit you.

Pete, The advantages to your organisation is that you will be looking to undertake a range of work to support the application process and the company will benefit from the work that you will have completed to the highest standard, maybe even exceeeding the high standards you already set for yourself. I am at the same staqe, although I initally registered for IPD many years ago but now have the incentive to do it in a new role, much of my previous work will be over two years old and not meet the criteria for submission, Best of Luck, John

Hi Pete, What are the benefits to your employer of you having CMIOSH status? Well, it is a guarantee that you will do CPD, even if IOSH aren't always as strict about that as some would like. GradIOSH would be the same, but it is a benefit. If you work for an organisation which takes on public contracts, particularly where there is a regulated activity such as the provision of care your employer might find the tendering process easier in some respects, and it might even give them a small but definite advantage. The get, in other words, a reasonable guarantee that you stay up to date and that you have a code of conduct, and they will find it easier to answer certain tender questions if that's part of their activity. They won't get an insurance discount, as that will depend above all else on your claims history, John

Consider why being Chartered Engineer or not being is different? consider the image however as always say CMIOSH is not a end. SHV

I still feel that people do not know enough about the occupation to understand the difference and unless somebody has been to university as well its even less recognised And if somebody says that they are a chartered accountant or chartered designer people take note but we in this country still do not take note of a chartered engineer as we should, never mind other charter areas so this occupation has a long long way to go especially so as the HSE even uses HR people in preference to H&S people! However I think that the status looks good in a court and on a CV* [*I have noted recently that most job advertisements/agencies etc. have been asking for people with lesser standing - probably because employers/clients want to pay less £!] Charter status must be something to aim for and achieve and hopefully employers/clients in the future will take more and more notice. However the occupation itself and especially chartered members must also think in a more business like fashion for progress to be achieved As for myself; my last full time employer did not even know nor care as to my chartered status. However my private clients did and do Best of luck to all that have achieved the status and are trying to achieve the status as in my view its eventually worth it

quote=bob youel] However I think that the status looks good in a court

I'm intrigued! How can IOSH sack someone? we don't work for IOSH, we're paid up members of a charity.

I am hoping to achieve CMIOSH soon, having completed my IPD and have a date for my Peer Review Interview. On a personal view I would say that you are doing this for yourself in the first instance. You are proving that you have the commitment to achieve Chartered status and that you can complete all the hurdles (extra work, IPD) that it entails. What that brings to you on achieving CMIOSH is a satisfaction that you are considered as a health and safety professional who has a professional standing, but still continues to want to expand their knowledge and understanding. The emphasis on the Code of Conduct is also important, because that is how we maintain our professionalism. As regards what benefits this brings to your company, I feel that there are many and that they should not be asking you, but recognising that they will have, when you achieve, CMIOSH a health and safety professional far more knowledgeable and giving greater input into the company, than they have at present, and probably for no extra cost to them. A win – win for them, for very little expenditure.

As far as I am aware, IOSH is not a govt QUANGO-it does not rely on any govt funding or inputs for its vision, strategy etc. on the govt. Also, it has continued maintaining its charitable status, depite being granted a Charter, which is not a simple/easy matter as the Charity Commission robustly monitors charities to maintain their charitable status.. http://apps.charitycommi...0&SubsidiaryNumber=0

That's a bit worrying! Please explain more on what they could not do with regards to carrying out a risk assessment. Regards

All professions may have a very small minority that may not be competent, but that does not mean one can stereotype it to the majority. Last, but not least, as the lot of those who automatically transferred to CMIOSH on the basis of specified criteria retire within a generation, all CMIOSH will be via the GradIOSH route etc. There is an interesting take on the "history" of IOSH as it celebrates 70 years in the latest issue of SHP http://www.shponline.co....ers-giants-lessons-iosh/

I work with 3 CMIOSH who got there chartered without paying the extra money and without doing further exams they got it handed to them by having the criteria after being members of IOSH for a certain time actually this is the reason i will never become chartered -- i simply cant afford it does anyone know if the new CMIOSH Route makes money for IOSH and was that a reason for bringing it in

Those who were nor RSP, but were what was designated as "Corporate Members" i.e. MIOSH had to demonstrate 2 years (or was it one year?) CPD before they were granted individual Chartered Status (CMIOSH)

I was a MIOSH at the time and had to undertake two years' IPD before becoming Chartered. As it happened, I was not eligible to undertake RSP for another 12 months or so as I believe there was a post qualification hiatus period before you could start RSP. My memory may not serve me well but I think this was the case. As for everyone being "GradIOSH", it would be wise to remember that in our day there was no degree in Health and Safety. There was the NEBOSH Diploma, the Nottingham Trent Diploma and the NVQ4 (and the latter two were very new) - that was it! This system where everyone goes to university and graduates in "media with macrame and tennis" or some equally useless subject, is a very new thing and most of us went through the hard graft of real life to get qualified. To summarily dismiss the generations that gave you the HSW Act, the Management Regs, PUWER, LOLER, etc because they didn't have degrees is somewhat harsh - we would not even be here having this discussion without those people.

"To summarily dismiss the generations that gave you the HSW Act, the Management Regs, PUWER, LOLER, etc because they didn't have degrees is somewhat harsh - we would not even be here having this discussion without those people. " Bit of a grandiose claim that one. HAWASA came about following the Robens Report into the poor safety record in industry, particularly mining and the inability of, the then prescriptive legislation, to do anything about it. The Management Regs, PUWER, LOLER, etc were all part of the "6 pack" which came into being as a result of European Directives The truth is all of the above happened not because of some golden generation of "selflessly dedicated health and safety professionals", they happened because that was what suited the politicians at the time Finally, GradIOSH is not only for university graduates. There are several routes to GradIOSH such as the NEBOSH diploma, NVQ. In fact it is probably true to say that most people who qualiy for GradIOSH do so through those 2 routes. In both cases the hard graft part has to be there as well.

In answer to the O.P. If I assume that a qualified chartered practitioner is recognised as being required by the company then the advantages are that they will be developing a known employee to the required standard rather than taking a chance of hiring an unknown. How would the direct costs of doing that stack up against your training costs? Are the business risks lower by developing you? If that is not the case then are you being asked to justify why CMIOSH level is necessary? Look for benchmarks in similar businesses? Identify what knowledge and skills you expect to gain from your study and progression. Outline how being able to apply those skills/knowledge will/should benefit the company. I suggest that is something only you can do for yourself. On the other point in the thread it is disappointing to see, yet again, that some members still want to moan about the transitional arrangements in 2005/2006 and suggest that it has left a significant issue with regard to competence. That is demonstrably not the case and I know many members who find it deeply hurtful for those who had been working hard for many years before the Charter was awarded. Training had to be paid for; exams cost money; time had to be invested in study and still hold down jobs that required just as much hard work as today; formal CPD was taken up as soon as it was available. So to say that they were gifted anything is a total misrepresentation of the facts. I will finish by posing a question. Assume that, in say 10 years, the standard for CMIOSH becomes a minimum of a degree plus post qual CPD (in line with many other organisations). Would anyone really expect all of you worthy holders of the current Diploma, which was your entry to CMIOSH, to gain a degree? Would it be needed to prove your competence, retain your membership and perhaps more importantly the respect of your colleagues? I think it most unlikely. Transitional arrangements are what they are. Given that they indicate a continued improvement over the years I suggest they are good indicator and should not be a source of division within the membership.

Dear all, Thank you very much for all your replies. I have used some of your responses to put forward a business case and am pleased that my employer has agreed to sponsor me through the process. Having looked at my membership category today it appears I have been accepted for graduate status so the hard work starts now. Thanks again, Pete