When I was a consultant it always made me laugh when I had to go on 'accredited' H&S courses before I was allowed on site. Sometimes to find that I ended uo correcting the 'misinformation' given on the course being run by an H&S EXPERT - (IOSH Managing Safety certificate holder) In the world of contracting, he who pays gets to say what he wants!!! - Even when wrong. Chartered Status is worth what we collectively make it - it is VERY worthwhile just look at the numbers striving to attain it.

I think you have made several points here. In respect of the construction industry, the industry itself has set goals and targets in relation to accredited training e.g. CITB; IOSH etc. This has been ongoing for many years although many SME’s have yet to get on board with it. This has resulted in most major contractors specifying what minimum standards they will accept for accredited health and safety training, as well as competent advice, within the construction industry within their procurement process. As Chartered Practitioners we are able to deliver these accredited courses, so this has no bearing on the practitioners themselves. The ‘Safe Contractor Scheme’ - Although this is quite often asked for these days by many PC’s from SME’s; it does not prove that the workforce used are suitably trained of which the training received has been accredited through a known body. As an industry ourselves Chartered Status is valuable however, we have the ability to undermine our own very fractured, in my opinion, industry by questioning the validity of our own profession. Many who have been in his industry 15, 20 plus years have seen our professional status slowly evolve to a much better place for new people starting their career in occupational health and safety. We can make what we want of this, but we should be very careful of how this is seen outside of this forum and any other public sphere. Your first responder was correct in that it is what ‘WE’ make of it.

John This is not a reflection on your status or training skills. I am in the same position even though I actually provide the CITB programmes! It is simply down to the attitudes of the construction industry who look for the easy fix and thus define certain courses only as being approved or recognised. We this reach the daft position that many good courses are not recognised. The HSE did not help the problem with their comments in the CDM acop on competency. They have merely spawned a new industry of pre-qualification organisations (all SSIP - HSE initiated of course) who in turn only look for certain types of course because these have been recognised. Answer " None I am afraid" The construction industry is desparate to pass th competency issue onto somebody else in the hope they will avoid responsibility. Bob

I do not believe your sentiments 'it is VERY worthwhile just look at the numbers striving to attain it. I see it more as a means to an end, IOSH have made themselves the name to be associated with and therefore every employer puts this in advertisements. They have an approved trainer list etc. which employers again think that as long as you have had someone with an OSH at the end then they must be worth having. I have come across a lot of companies who are actually unsure who IOSH are and only add it to adverts as they have heard or seen other employers using it. Unfortunately being a member of IOSH, passing NEBOSH, being with IIRSM will only impress it still does not give ant indication of how you actually do the job.

Sorry Chu, but I could not identify whether you are asking whether chartered status with IOSH is worthwhile or otherwise from your post. I will try to answer anyway. Chartered status regardless of the profession shows a certain level of qualifications, experience and therefore professional competence. It is in my personal opinion very worthwhile for gaining respect, applying for new jobs and as a matter of personal prestige. However, if it is not recognised in your part of the world, then clealrly many of those benefits will not readily apply. That said, it should not in itself prevent you obtaining good professional status for the future.