Experience

The training syllabus varies depending on the course, but both include the following common key aspects:

Identifying hazards

The Working Safely course considers a range of hazards that could potentially cause harm including mechanical, physical, chemical, environmental, biological and organisational hazards. The Managing Safely course looks at hazards from a specific industry perspective including location, activity, substance and equipment.

Defining and assessing risks

Both courses guide learners through the risk assessment process and use a simple scoring system to use during assessments. Both also seek to underline that even simple, repetitive tasks can result in serious risks.

Improving health and safety performance

Looking at systems and processes, this topic investigates a wide range of workplace safety issues including inspections, permits, protective equipment, signage and emergency procedures to demonstrate how checking performance across these aspects can help to reduce risk.

IOSH vs. NEBOSH: which should you choose?

Both IOSH and NEBOSH courses are highly regarded and either type of certification will enable the holder to use their skills to improve health and safety standards across their company.

The main difference between IOSH and NEBOSH is who the courses are targeted at:

• IOSH courses are aimed at employees and managers who don’t have specific responsibility for health and safety or are working in a lower-risk industry.
• NEBOSH courses are aimed at people who are seeking a career in health and safety management. They lead to nationally-recognised qualifications.