Posted By srd
I would imagine that the Practitioner advises on health and safety, while the Manager manages a team that advises on health and safety.

Stephen.

Posted By Crim
I use the term Safety and Health Practitioner because I am CMIOSH and self employed. I used to, and still do use the term advisor as I advise Clients on health and safety and it is up to them whether they take my advice or not.

I was Health and Safety Manager in my last full time employed role, I did not manage a team but did manage the company's health and safety. When the Company refused to follow my advice I found the need to follow up and be more determined to make them see the need to adhere to the rules and regs. because I was actually employed for that reason.

If a Client fails to follow my advice as an advisor I don't do any further work for them.

Posted By Raymond Rapp
As some have already indicated, a manager is term that distinguishes both rank and accountability or anything in between. In hierarchy terms you could have; Senior Manager, Manager, Senior Advisor and Advisor. Take your pick.

No semantics here...lol

Ray

Posted By Hasitha Ratnayake
hmmm...... gentlemen, I am still confused...

Posted By Ken Taylor
But what law can prevent someone that is not chartered from calling themselves a health and safety practitioner - particularly if they are in the H&S profession? Can you assume that someone is chartered if they call themselves a H&S practitioner? If they are chartered, they are told by IOSH that they may call themselves a chartered S&H practitioner - so why omit the word 'chartered'? If employers and clients want to find a chartered person they should look for the word 'chartered' and/or the postnominals 'CMIOSH'.

Posted By Merv Newman
Anyone, just anyone, can call themselves a H&S practitioner or manager. There is no legally defined definition or restriction.

My first job title (in this trade) was Risk Management Coordinator. No qualifications or postnominals. But responsible for HSE on a chemical site (right next door to Buncefield and currently still looking a bit bent) I argued to be called a manager but they would not have it.

Later I become head of the HSE department. But that was just me and the nurse. (and a shared secretary. Oh Jocelyne, where art thou now ?)(probably about 50 with 4 kids)(and maybe grandchildren)

There are approximately 30 known titles for H&S people.

Manager/practitioner ? I might put it down to the "hands" policy. If you never go out, squat in front of or under a machine and get your hands dirty then you are a manager.

Hands-on, you are a practitioner.

Today I'm a consultant. But I just love practising.

Merv

Posted By Pete48
This thread has developed since my first comment and on reflection I probably responded as if the term chartered practitioner was in the original question. I would like to add further thoughts. I hope they are still on subject?

I see the challenge arising from such questions as getting the term “S&H Practitioner” accepted into common usage alongside terms like engineer or accountant or doctor or estate agent or builder or electrician. These words only mean the picture that we get when we hear them; they do not really define competence or expertise. It will not be easy, for a start it is much more difficult to both say and spell than any of those! However, once achieved it will give the proper place for a “chartered ……..” to exist in the public mind.

I agree with the comment that to be a practitioner you must be practising in the subject area, whatever it is and at whatever level. That is ACTIVELY involved at an identifiable level. Also that to be a manager you should be personally responsible for managing some asset(s).

You need qualifications/experience to be recognised by a learned or professional body and to be allowed or registered to use the identified title or descriptions. These standards are regulated by the professional body and, as Adrian pointed out, it is unlawful to use the terms until granted by the professional body to that individual. Thus the term "Chartered S&H Practitioner" is both protected and defined but the term S&H practitioner along with H&S Manager is not.

An employer, or you, can use any job title you wish(exemptions as above) and you may be any, none or all of the above and still be called “the safety bod”. All the law requires is that if you are identified as the competent person, for reg 7 of MHSW Regs, that you “ …have sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other qualities to enable him properly to assist in undertaking the measures referred to….”
That could be anything from basic H&S training for simple undertakings up to membership of other recognised professional bodies for specialist or complex undertakings.