Rank: Forum user
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Can anyone suggest a suitable course for someone that has gained their NEBOSH General Cert many years ago and is working as a H&S Manager but appears to have forgotten some stuff and also got into some bad habits? It would be excessive to ask them to go through the entire NEBOSH Cert again but something like Managing Safely would be too general. Any thoughts?
Thanks
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Rank: Forum user
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Could you focus on the 'Bad Habits' ? ie: Risk Assessment Refresher course or is that still too general?
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Rank: Super forum user
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This is in a nutshell why H&S has such a bad name Someone does a 10 day course, blags a H&S job and then sits back. Whatever happened to continued professional development ?
You say he has forgotten some stuff; I'd suggest he never knew it in the first place. The certificate is a low (albeit necessary) rung on the journey to becoming competent in H&S, nothing more!
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Rank: Super forum user
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Certainly a concern, and the lack of H&S knowledge/management will likely become apparent only when the company has a serious incident.
:o) I suggest the management should consider getting OHSAS18001 (or the ISO soon replacing that) and then the H&S manager will find out from the ISO consultant or the auditor how much he knows about H&S.
I can't think of any other way to tell the man that he is not a competent H&S manager
JohnW
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Rank: Forum user
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Rob 35, thanks for the suggestion and it may be way to go but I suspect there may be other areas of weakness as well. I don't know of any course that meets the requirements, hence the question.
Walker, I'm not sure why you bother to comment if you don't have anything helpful to say. I suspect (from the evidence I've seen) that he did know his stuff but time and work overload and lack of management support has led him over many years to get in to bad habits and forget some stuff. The chap seems committed to getting it right, he's just not sure how to do so any longer.
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Rank: Super forum user
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I wonder how many more people there are out there in a similar position?
Without effective HR / management I imagine this could and does easily happen. We don't of course know the extent of the problem in this case
I good advert for IOSH membership though!
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Rank: Super forum user
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Certainly a concern, and the lack of H&S knowledge/management will likely become apparent only when the company has a serious incident.
:o) I suggest the management should consider getting OHSAS18001 (or the ISO soon replacing that) and then the H&S manager will find out from the ISO consultant or the auditor how much he knows about H&S.
I can't think of any other way to tell the man that he is not a competent H&S manager
JohnW
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Rank: Super forum user
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walker wrote:This is in a nutshell why H&S has such a bad name Someone does a 10 day course, blags a H&S job and then sits back. Whatever happened to continued professional development ?
I concur - gives those of us who do care a bad name, probably not a member of IOSH or other such body and as such no need to do IPD/CPD. I would also worry about what he/she has been doing in a H&S position and has 'forgotten' some stuff - do they not know how to go and research if they are unsure? Maybe we have not been given the full picture so I can only comment on what I have seen on here. Stu
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Rank: Super forum user
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"This is in a nutshell why H&S has such a bad name Someone does a 10 day course, blags a H&S job and then sits back."
No the continual rushing to judgement and air of smug superiority among some H&S "professionals" is what gives rise to a bad name.
I know nothing about this guy but his employers are obviously willing to invest in him so that's what matters.
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Rank: Forum user
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So swift to judge .. We don't know how long ago he obtained his NEBOSH Cert, what bad habits he has developed, what he seems to have forgotten, the size / nature / hazards associated with his employment, or even if the poor beggar is combining H&S with Quality, Facilities and Fleet Management (a bizarre combination I came across a while ago whilst looking for work)
All we know is the few lines in the original post - the rest is guess work.
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Rank: Super forum user
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PL53 wrote:"This is in a nutshell why H&S has such a bad name Someone does a 10 day course, blags a H&S job and then sits back."
No the continual rushing to judgement and air of smug superiority among some H&S "professionals" is what gives rise to a bad name.
I know nothing about this guy but his employers are obviously willing to invest in him so that's what matters. In this instance you might be right, I know nothing of the circumstances and was a bit quick off the mark. And maybe I worded it badly. I have mentored near 30 folks in my career and all agree with me (with hindsight) that the certificate is only the beginning to becoming H&S professionals. I insist all enroll with IOSH as they then have to maintain CPD.
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Rank: Super forum user
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I don't know what the OP's role is in this but surely this H&S manager's own line-manager needs to have a heart to heart discussion on what gaps there may be and how best to fill them.
If the OP is a consultant they may be a useful resource to offer guidance & suggestions if the line manager is not able to do what's needed on their own.
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Rank: Super forum user
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He could always get a job as a consultant?
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Rank: Forum user
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So, in order to answer the question posted at the outset, one should focus on his competence. HSE guidance has indicated that competence can be quite broad and in addition to comprising appropriate knowledge, skills, and experience, also requires health, strength, mental ability and physical stature suitable for the work.
In terms of knowledge, we know he has obtained the NEBOSH certificate. If he has more than 5 years experience, he might even qualify for Tech IOSH. Would this be good enough to fulfil his current role, which he might have appropriate experience for in addition to the other qualities outlined above.
So where to now? It might be that he has sufficient experience to complete the NVQ Level 5 and obtain Grad IOSH. That is certainly a better option than IOSH Managing Safely. It would also help establish whether he meets a now industry recognised standard for those who have the title H&S Manager.
My feeling though, is that his job description needs to be clearly outlined identifying what level of competence is required for the role. This might also help identify gaps in his competence, from which a plan for personal development / timeframe can be put together. There might come a point where he fails to meet the criteria and appropriate action needs to be taken which might include performance improvement, discipline and worst case dismissal.
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Rank: Forum user
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I only have the General and Construction Certificates. Did those back in 2001. I've gained more knowledge and experience through work than I ever could studying for a diploma or anything else.
There are other courses out there, but as mentioned by some I would say its just a case of support, sitting down with the person looking at their work and what you can do to help. Something like a fire risk assessment course might help just to get the old juices flowing.
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Rank: Super forum user
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walker wrote: The certificate is a low (albeit necessary) rung on the journey to becoming competent in H&S, nothing more!
Couldn't agree more. I remember obtaining my NGC many moons ago and thinking, I knew it all - now wrong was I. Point to note: NEBOSH do not recognise their own qualification if it is over 5 years old. To clarify if you have NGC1 and it is over 5 years old it cannot be used as a common core module for other certificates i.e. fire - construction. NEBOSH state that it would need to be done again.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Have you considered that it might be his state of mind rather than a lack of knowledge?
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Rank: Super forum user
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It might be the lowest rung but if your company doesn't invest in you then you will lose the skills, do people keep up with the changes if it is an additional to your role and your not supported.
Gramted in alot of industries H&S doesn't change that much but miss out on something and it's lost. I do believe the CPD is a good option.
Can he not sit the cert again and then build from there? I got stick for telling someone to look on the 'world wide web' prior to posting on here, but it seems acceptable to tell someone it's because he has sat on his lazy arse (well in so many words).
I am not against people saying it as they feel but we have to be open to others postings if we put it out there.
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Rank: Super forum user
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What no one seems to have grasped is that NEBOSH themselves state that the Cert is for people who do H&S as part of their role; BUT, for safety MANAGERS, the Dip or equivalent is the professional standard most accepted. https://www.nebosh.org.u...ult.asp?cref=51&ct=2So, I would advise - do the Dip, or NVQ level 5/6.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Pikeman wrote:What no one seems to have grasped is that NEBOSH themselves state that the Cert is for people who do H&S as part of their role; BUT, for safety MANAGERS, the Dip or equivalent is the professional standard most accepted. https://www.nebosh.org.u...ult.asp?cref=51&ct=2So, I would advise - do the Dip, or NVQ level 5/6. As the NVQ is based on work that you have completed evidence based then not sure that's the best way is you have already forgotten the cert, I would go back to the cert and then move forward.
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Rank: Super forum user
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I agree on the Cert, but why not a different one? NGC1 is common to all anyway (maybe not Environ) but why not the fire safety, construction or Environmental management?
At least this way they can build new skills, then move onto the Diploma
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Rank: Forum user
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Really not sure how having the Diploma would suddenly make someone a better safety manager?
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Rank: Super forum user
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Mr.Flibble2.0 wrote:I only have the General and Construction Certificates. Did those back in 2001. I've gained more knowledge and experience through work than I ever could studying for a diploma or anything else.
If you have not done the Diploma or the other higher level qualifications, how do you know ?
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Rank: Forum user
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Because I know plenty people who have. The Diploma is great if you want to increase your own understanding, but it wont give you the skills to be a Safety Manager.
It should be someone you do because of a personal choice, not because its what has become expected or because you cant be a Safety Manager unless you have it.
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Rank: Super forum user
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The OP is asking for suggestions on training for a H&S manager they are aware of, I would assume they will also provide support - otherwise, as you quite rightly say, there is not point putting them on any training.
The OP also mentioned gaps in knowledge. That in turn lends itself more to the Diploma than the NVQ. Granted there other courses out there but I cannot contribute with suggestions on them as I have not undertaken the training myself.
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Rank: Forum user
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Thanks for all the replies and although no-one has identified a specific course (As said, I wasn't aware of any) it has confirmed some ideas I'd had and helped clarify a way forward. Having visited the company again and spoken with the person concerned, I'm more convinced now that the company needs to re-define his role and then provide some support, either internal or external to help the chap develop further knowledge and understanding.
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Rank: Forum user
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I don't think there is a course; neither the Cert repeat or Diploma options would help, although the new kid on the block (NCRQ?) might be an alternative worth trying. The problem seems more about the person's habits / behaviours than actual knowledge, (which is the focus of courses).
I would recommend finding (and paying for) a 'mentor', to invest time on the individual's approach, which would also utilise directed reading / research etc. I have sourced a business coach in the past for an individual with similar challenges, although now I would seek a specifically H&S trained coach / critical friend, as you do cite some element of knowledge / application, which is beyond what 'coaching' provides.
Ideally someone located in your area, spending (say) half a day per week on a focused 'development' programme with a neutral outsider (calling it coaching also helps to offset the natural lack of self-esteem from having to be 're-trained').
Say where you are and ask for EOI? Is that allowed on this forum?
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Rank: Super forum user
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As I said earlier, he needs an auditor to come in and identify his areas of weakness - but would he or his boss be interested to do that? They should be, they need a competent source of H&S guidance or an inspector will discover this omission when investigating an incident.
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