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how do I as an employer know you're trained to the correct standard to be my health and safety consu
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Posted By MS
With health and safety in the national media spotlight every week isn't it about time that we did ourselves a favour and made it clear to everyone what we need to have to demonstrate our level of training.
Examples are already in the CDM 2007 ACOP for a CDM coordinator, he should have a NEBOSH construction certificate or equivalent. A site manager SMSTS 5 day course or equivalent, site supervisor CITB 2 day supervisors course.
I believe that when legislation is reviewed that training levels for health and safety professionals should be included to give employers a national Approved Code of Practice.
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Posted By Pete Longworth
For which industry? Construction? Petrochemicals? Nuclear? Engineering? Services? NHS? Local Government? Fire Services?
And what qualifications are we talking about? A separate one for each industry or will a generic qualification do the trick?
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Posted By NickyG
Might upset a few here but in my opinion SMSTS or 2 day supervisor courses are not adequate to go giving health and safety consultancy, particularly the 2 day supervisors course.
A consultant should surely be of NEBOSH standard and above.
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Posted By Chris Packham
For "general" health and safety consultancy a "standard" qualification might be useful, but would it show competency or experience? I know people with an engineering degree who I would not trust to check the oil on my car! I also know those who I would trust to rebuild the engine, but who have no formal qualification whatsoever.
And what about those people who are not "general" health and safety consultants, but have a special knowledge and expertise in one specific aspect of what is, after all, a very wide subject? May I suggest that even a CMIOSH cannot be an expert in all areas of health and safety.
I am often asked about my own expertise. Operating in one special aspect of health and safety, where there is no recognised qualification, I rely upon a statement of my experience and activities to date and on referrals from satisfied clients. It seems to me that this could well be the more satisfactory approach, i.e. to request sight of a portfolio from the prospective consultant and take up references.
Chris
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Posted By PH
Well said Chris. A sensible solution to the problem of how do you prove competency. Surely any prospective client should vet a prospective H&S consultant in exactly the same way they would any other contractor and not just rely on letters after the name.
Cheers, P.
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Posted By Ron Hunter
I suggest the free pdf publications available from this website would be a good starting point, MS.
May I commend to you "Consultancy -good practice guide" and the guidance "Getting Help with Health and Safety".
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Posted By GeoffB4
I think in a lot of cases qualifications and experience don't come that much into it.
Now if you want a quote guv - that's what counts.
I had severa meetings with potential clients over the years where all they were bothered about was putting down our details on their paperwork and at the cheapest price. Once we'd learnt that lesson we stopped providing quotes for that type of client (mostly builders).
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Posted By MS
NickyG
the standards mentioned are for health and safety training for others such as a site manager or supervisor with health and safety responsibilities.
Did the HSC/HSE miss a trick when compiling the CDM 2007 ACOP by not including the expected training standards for a health and safety professional in construction?
Should they do so when they review other regulations?
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Posted By Alan Nicholls
In my opinion the employer gets exactly what he asks for, CMIOS MecEng NVQ4/5 etc it's simple enough to check these claims. Its slightly more difficult to check skills learnt over time with no formal paper trail.
I have found with my certificates and experience doing the job it's still hard getting that next one. Simply because the ad says Degree/Dip etc. Cert 1996 used for 12years in engineering manufacturing also a trainer.
So much for the level playing field.
Regards Alan
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Posted By Raymond Rapp
Building on what Chris has said, what form of health, safety, welfare, fire etc should this training or qualification be?
My role, for example, is typical of a general practitioner, in that I deal with everything including quality management. However, I work in the railway industry and whilst I feel competent in most areas of rail work, there are still some areas that I might consider outside my remit.
I think that any good safety practitioner would be aware of their limitations and whilst we all use reference and guidance material to refer to, experience is also an important factor. You can't gain experience without doing!
Ray
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