Posted By stephen j mills Rachael, Apparently you are eligible to become an Associate of the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management and thereby able to append AIIRSM to your name. Hope this helps you! Steve

Posted By David S Burt Rachael, I find the view expressed by James about the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM) being Division 2 rather patronising and condescending. I have been within the field of Health & Safety for over 25 years and I am a member of that so called 2nd Division Institute as well as being a member of what some more snobby members believe is the Division 1 Institute of IOSH. My view is that both of these very well respected Institutes seek to promote the Health & Safety in a very professional way. Due to changes that have taken place in IOSH over recent years the grade of Associate within IOSH has been replaced by TecSP. These changes took place at a time when NEBOSH were restructuring their General Certificate syllabus which has since been changed again so that it aligns with the ENTO Level 3 Standard that was itself revised in January 2003. Now the revised ENTO Level 3 Standard is considered not to provide persons undertaking the award with the depth and breath of knowledge that is required to meet the criteria that has been established for TecSP. Hence even with your NEBOSH General Certificate, that I know you must have worked very hard for, there is no opportunity for you to become for IOSH member with actual letters after your name. My personal view is that this has been an opportunity lost by IOSH. The IIRSM have taken a different view on this matter and consider that there is the need for the position of Associate within their Institute. My feeling on letters after your name is that while they will not make you more competent, they may well assist you in gaining a position in Health & Safety that will allow you to gain the knowledge and experience that will allow you to become a competent Health & Safety professional. I have come across numerous holders of NVQ Level 4 and NEBOSH Diploma Part 2 Qualifications who I would not regard as being any more competent that a holder of a NEBOSH General Certificate. In the same vain I have also come across holders of the NEBOSH General Certificate and Level 4 Qualifications that are competent. By the way I have also come across numerous people with a string of letters after their name that I would regard as being incompetent rather than competent. Even without letter after your name you will find that there are a significant number of company’s out there that will give someone with a NEBOSH General Certificate the opportunity to work for them.

Posted By Dave Wilson Why are we still going on about this garbage IOSH v Nebosh v BSc v IIRSM Rachael, Hard facts IIRSM is a worthy organisation and associate membership will get u nowehere, save you cash. In this field AIIRSM is a joke if you want a job as a H&S person go the IOSH route, its better respect and the vast majority of employers ask for it. If you came to me for a job and your letters after your name were AIIRSM CV in file 13. better to highlight the NEBOSH Cert and get some other safety training.

Posted By Hazel Harvey Under the proposed membership structure voted in by the Members at the IOSH AGM on the 16th (subject to Privy Council approval), there will be a category of membership known as TechIOSH (Technician of IOSH). This will recognise qualifications that meet the underpinning knowledge requirements of the level 3 standards in health and safety. These are the standards that were introduced on 1st January 2003 and which underpin the current versions of the NEBOSH Certificate(s). So if you are able to demonstrate 5 years in a role in health and safety and hold a NEBOSH Cert. issued after December 2002 you will be able to enter this category and use the intials TechIOSH. This is expected to come into effect on July 1st 2005 (could be slightly later depending on the PC).