I've come across brilliant H&S professionals without NEBOSH but loads of experience in their field and poor ones that are MIOSH'ed CMIOSH'ed up to eyeballs.

I've also come across well certified and IOSH'ed professionals that are brilliant!

Before getting involved in this debate, it is worth going onto the NEBOSH web-site and examining the scope of this qualification. See: www.nebosh.org.uk/qualif...ult.asp?cref=26&ct=2

Which stated "What kind of people take the NEBOSH National General Certificate?

Managers, supervisors and staff from all types of organisations who need a broad understanding of health and safety issues. The certificate helps them manage risks effectively. Many people take the NEBOSH National General Certificate as a first step in a career in health and safety. It provides a valuable overview, and is a sound basis for further professional study".


"What kind of people take the NEBOSH National Construction Certificate?

The NEBOSH National Construction Certificate is aimed at Supervisors, Managers and those with a role under the Construction Design and Management regulations 2015 within the construction industry who are required to ensure that activities under their control are undertaken safely. It is likely to prove useful for those concerned with the management of buildings who may need to ensure that contractors are working safely. The qualification is also appropriate for supervisors and managers working in other industries such as utilities, and even broadcasting, where temporary workplaces are a feature of their activities".

I worked in a large distribution centre and was very heavily involved in health and safety with the General cert and that I was my first safety role. It depends more on the person and how they approach it. I didn't say I knew everything, if I felt or thought something I would check it out first- exactly the same as I do now and will do for the rest of my working life. We all have to start somewhere, and just because you might not continue academically doesn't mean you stop learning. I honestly don't understand why people feel the need to rile others up

I think it depends on what you want it for, if it is for your own workplace the certificate would be fine. You would be competent in your role. I think you would struggle to get work outside of that role.

Like Colossians 1:14 I have met some people who with the certificate who were great practitioners and supposedly competent CMIOSH who would struggle with the concept of what end to hold a hammer to knock a nail in.

This is an interesting subject, in my experience employers don't know what the difference is, broadly speaking. You see jobs advertised that requires Diplomas, CMIOSH etc that have a job spec and remuneration package that would not attract someone this qualified. There is similarly employers who look for the cert as the benchmark and have a job spec and remuneration package that should really be for the diploma.

Experience is also a key factor though and no amount of letter after your name can make up for it.

I have never done the NEBOSH Cert but I believe it is a good course for someone starting out their career. This debate about qualifications v experience has been going on for yonks. There is much more to this industry than just qualifications. I am also aware of comments like he had CMIOSH but was useless. I think there is a perception that those with good qualifications should know everything, which is simply not how it works. There are so many specialist areas of health and safety. Being able to research and learn is far more important.

Ironically I interviewed four candidates today for a specialist role. It was not necessarily the candidate with the most qualifications or experience who got the role. Rightly or wrongly what I was looking for was enthusiasm and the right attitude. Bells and whistles are good but they do not maketh the man.

Unfortunately a continued evolution of bunkerism - many years ago graduates hired graduates regardless of how relevant the degree was to the working environment (I recalled the graffiti above the toilet roll holder at what was then Preston Polytechnic free sociology degrees... please take one" as I was introduced to my newly appointed manager at my second employment not in social care provision).

These attitudes are unfortunately becoming more pervasive - ISO 9001:2015 placing more emphasis on demonstrable competence by certification (NVQ's etc) rather than the allowance of traditional "grandfather skills" and its associated real world experience.

As with PQQ's having the NEBOSH Certificate certainly ticks the box to pass to the next stage of recruitment but without the relevant industry experience, or the potential to develop within the business in the eyes of the interviewer(s), as with all qualifications gained or claimed it neither guarantees competence nor gains the candidate the position.

Regarding Tech IOSH I seem to recall limitations with the General Certificate being passed within recent time (3 years?) of application.