How Health and Safety can be your Passport to International Success

Health and safety can be a challenging career, but an extremely rewarding one. You know the work that you do is helping to keep staff, visitors and customers safe and well.

However, did you know that a job in health and safety has a lot of other advantages too? The right qualification means that you get to travel the world… or even possibly work in another country!

Join us as we take a look at how health and safety is the ideal career for someone who loves to travel and experience different cultures.

How health and safety can open doors to other countries

The world is becoming more and more connected than ever before.

Global trade deals make it easier to import and export to other countries, and the rise of technology means we can talk and videoconference to people across the world.

Globalisation also makes it easier for businesses to set up to sell their products and services in brand new countries.

However, different countries have different health and safety legislation, and this is something businesses need to bear in mind if they want to have more of a global presence.

International health and safety versus UK health and safety

What’s the difference between a UK and international health and safety (sometimes referred to as QHSE) qualification?

If you study for a UK-specific health and safety qualification, your learning will be guided by a UK framework.

You will learn about health and safety in accordance with laws like the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999).

However, if you study international health and safety, you will learn about best practice and international standards. For example, the International Labour Organisation’s code of practice when it comes to protecting workers from unsafe working conditions.

This means that you will be able to apply what you learn from an international qualification to any country you choose to work in.

What does an international QHSE qualification mean for me?

An international health and safety qualification means that you have the skills and knowledge to make workplaces safe, regardless of what country they are based in.

What does this mean if your business is looking to expand to other countries? It means that you will be able to apply what you have learned to ensure compliance in not only the UK, but any other countries too.

Similarly, if you are looking to move to another country, an international qualification will increase the chances of you getting successfully hired.

A recruiter will view your CV and see that you are well-placed to look after a company’s health and safety processes, even if you did not study in the country.

It will also show that you are dedicated to continuous professional development and willing to study for further qualifications if needed.

Which health and safety qualification should I go for?

If you have decided that an international QHSE qualification is suitable for you and your needs, the next step is to determine which is the right one to take.

If you want to study international health and safety, we would recommend NEBOSH. Over 90,000 people across 167 different countries hold a NEBOSH International General Certificate.

Let’s look at NEBOSH and the options available to you.

National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH)

With NEBOSH, you can choose to qualify in either national (i.e. UK) or international health and safety. This gives you flexibility and allows you to customise your learning to your own specific requirements.

With the international qualification, the syllabus is the same as the national syllabus. You’re just referring to international standards and regulations rather than UK ones and applying this knowledge to your learning.

The first step on the NEBOSH ladder is the General Certificate. Alternatively, you can study for the Diploma if you want to expand your QHSE knowledge even further.

If you work or would like to work in a specific industry, there are specialist NEBOSH qualifications available. Both their Fire Safety and Risk Management and Construction Safety and Health certificates are available as international qualifications.

ITonlinelearning is a NEBOSH Silver Learning Partner. This means that we excel in providing the training and mentorship that is needed to help you pass your course.

Find out more about the NEBOSH General Certificate

Find out more about the NEBOSH International Diploma

Find out more about the NEBOSH Fire Safety and Risk Management Certificate

Find out more about the NEBOSH Construction Safety and Health Certificate

What if I want to specialise in UK health and safety?

If you want to focus on QHSE in the UK, there are still plenty of specialist qualifications you can take.

You can take the NEBOSH qualification of your choice and qualify in national health and safety regulations instead.

There are other qualifications available too. For example, the IOSH Managing Safely qualification was designed in conjunction with the British Safety Council, and focuses on UK legislation.

IOSH is recognised in over 200 countries worldwide. This means that businesses in other countries will still recognise your hard work and dedication towards health and safety concerns.

Find out more about IOSH Managing Safely

Check out our blog: What is the best health and safety qualification to have?

Want to take the next step in your health and safety career? Contact ITonlinelearning today

If you are dreaming of a career overseas, then a qualification in health and safety could be the ideal choice. The right qualification will open the door to working in the country of your choice.

We offer a wide range of NEBOSH and IOSH accreditations, all of which can be taken online from the comfort of your home or workplace. Our 0% finance scheme means that you can start learning today too!

Find out more about the QHSE qualifications we offer, or reach out to our specialists to see which course is the right choice for you.