What is the Best Health and Safety Qualification to Have?
- December 16, 2020
- Posted by: Jade Scammells
- Category: Career Advice Health and Safety
All businesses need a solid health and safety plan in place to ensure that staff, visitors and customers are kept safe. This makes health and safety a fantastic career to get into.
There are a wide range of health and safety regulations and laws that need to be adhered to, and not being able to comply may result in a prosecution or fine for the duty holder of a business or property.
As health and safety managers are in high demand, you can earn a high salary. Starting salaries for health and safety officers average at £32k, with highly experienced managers and department heads earning up to £47k. Plus, you are working with the knowledge that you are keeping your fellow employees safe from hazards.
A health and safety certificate can also be a valuable addition to other career paths too. For example, if you work in facilities management or manage a team, a H&S qualification can increase the likelihood of promotion and show a prospective employee that you are willing to enhance your knowledge and grow your skillset.
Which health and safety courses are the best ones to take? Here are our suggestions as to which are the best certifications to have on your CV, and how ITonlinelearning can help you achieve them.
The advantage of these courses is that you can do them all online. This means that you do not have to attend a college or university to complete them, and you can fit them around your job and other commitments.
NEBOSH General Certificate
Over 35,000 people across the world have achieved the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) General Certificate, making it one of the best health and safety accreditations you can get.
This qualification is a fantastic one to have as it gives a great introduction to a wide range of issues, including managing health and safety and identifying hazards in the workplace. If you’re just beginning your H&S career, we’d recommend starting with this accreditation.
Here at ITonlinelearning, we’re a NEBOSH Silver Learning Partner, meaning that we provide high-quality training that exceeds the stringent standards set by NEBOSH.
You can opt to qualify in national (i.e. the UK) or international health and safety. This means that this qualification has a lot of flexibility, especially if you work for a company with offices in different countries.
Find out more about the NEBOSH General Certificate.
NEBOSH Diploma
Once you have completed your NEBOSH General Certificate, you can extend on your knowledge and experience by studying for the NEBOSH Diploma.
This qualification expands on the topics learned in the General Certificate, not only looking at physical, but physiological hazards too.
Like the General Certificate, you can study either national or international health and safety. Once you have achieved your diploma, the door will open for you to join professional bodies, including the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).
Find out more about the NEBOSH General Diploma.
NEBOSH Fire Safety and Risk Management
While the General Certificate and Diploma give more of a comprehensive overview of H&S issues and concerns, there are also certifications that will provide you with a more specialist knowledge.
If you have responsibility for fire assessments at work or are employed in an industry where there is an increased likelihood of fire, the NEBOSH Fire Safety and Risk Management qualification is a great option.
After this course, you will be able to assess fire risks in your organisation and take action to ensure the safety of staff and customers.
Find out more about NEBOSH Fire Safety and Risk Management
NEBOSH Diploma in Environmental Management
As well as identifying risks in the workplace, health and safety advisors also need to be concerned with monitoring and reviewing environmental issues. Not adhering to environmental regulations can not only make an organisation liable to fines, but can also lead to negative publicity and customer sentiment.
The NEBOSH Environmental Management course will give you the information you need to carry out audits and set goals to help your business become more environmentally aware.
With this qualification, you need to complete a project assignment in your workplace, meaning that you can gather practical information that you can apply to your company.
Find out more about NEBOSH Diploma in Environmental Management
IOSH Managing Safely
Blog post: What is the difference between NEBOSH and IOSH?
IOSH is the chartered body for health and safety professionals, meaning that the qualifications it provides are of an exceptionally high standard. This certification was designed in conjunction with the British Safety Council, which is dedicated to making sure nobody is injured or made ill in the workplace.
Everyone must be responsible for health and safety in an organisation, and not just those working in QHSE. The IOSH Managing Safely is targeted towards managers, supervisors and team leaders to help them understand the purpose of health and safety in an organisation, and how to keep their teams safe.
Find out more about IOSH Managing Safely
Take the next step in your health and safety career with ITonlinelearning
A career in health and safety is a challenging one, but it can be extremely rewarding.
If any of the qualifications above have piqued your interest in health and safety, then talk with us today to see how we can help you progress in your career.
We are specialists in online learning, meaning that you can learn in the workplace or at home, all at your own pace. Plus, with 0% finance, you can achieve that all-important qualification without having to save for it first.