Guide to the NEBOSH International Diploma in Occupational Safety & Health

A Guide to the NEBOSH International Diploma

If you’re interested in completing the NEBOSH International Diploma in Occupational Safety & Health with SHEilds, but want to know more about it before you sign up, take a look at the following guide. It should help you to decide whether this highly regarded and thorough study programme is right for you.

What exactly is it?

Looking at the International NEBOSH Diploma, your first question may well be; what exactly is it?

Recognised as a leading qualification, the International Diploma provides candidates with the specialist knowledge and understanding needed to undertake a career as an occupational health and safety practitioner (OHASP).

Although it is a vocationally related qualification, the National Qualifications Framework permits comparison with academic awards and it is considered to be broadly equivalent to an honours degree-level qualification under the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications.

The NEBOSH International Diploma in Occupational Safety & Health is modelled on the NEBOSH National Diploma in Occupational Safety & Health, but it has key differences in the applicability of legal requirements.

Instead of being based on a framework that specifically relates to the UK, its approach to risk management is premised on best practice and international standards, such as the International Labour Organisation (ILO) code of practice. It makes specific reference to models like the ILO’s Guidelines on Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems. Meanwhile, local laws and cultural factors are included in the study programme where this is relevant.

The core of knowledge acquired on these courses must be transferable between the different sectors in which OHASPs may work, spanning all parts of the private and public sectors.

Meanwhile, the diploma provides a sound basis to progress to more specialist study, such as an MSc or a NEBOSH Diploma in Environmental Management.

Who is the NEBOSH International Diploma aimed at?

Who is the NEBOSH International Diploma aimed at? Typically it is intended for aspiring health and safety professionals who want to increase their knowledge and skills in order to become international SHE practitioners. There are no prerequisite entry requirements to start the course. However, it is important to note that the qualification is demanding. It is roughly equivalent to third year degree level, and this is something you should be prepared for before you embark on the training programme.

Although it is not necessary, it’s helpful if you have completed the NEBOSH International General Certificate before you embark on the diploma. This will give you a higher level of background knowledge that should make the content of the diploma easier to get to grips with. Ultimately, this could boost your chances of getting the exam and assessment results you need.

Minimum Required Standard of English

In order to study for the qualification, it is important that you meet the minimum required standard of English.

To do this, you should be able to both understand and clearly express theories that are contained within the course syllabus. NEBOSH recommends that candidates should have English language skills equivalent to an International English Language Testing System score of 7.0 or higher. Having sufficient command of the language is vital if you are to grasp the course content.

What topics does the Diploma cover?

The NEBOSH International Diploma is divided into four units, each of which is subject to a separate assessment. During your studies, you will cover the following units:

• Unit A: International management of health and safety
• Unit B: International control of hazardous agents in the workplace
• Unit C: International workplace and work equipment safety
• Unit D: International application of health and safety theory and practice

How is the Diploma assessed?

How is the Diploma assessed? Exams for the NEBOSH International Diploma are held in January and July and they consist of one three-hour written paper for each of the core units (A, B and C). This means there are a total of three exams. Unit D is assessed with a workplace-based assignment.

Bear in mind that you are only eligible to register for the exams if you have enrolled with NEBOSH through an accredited centre.

What accreditations will you get?

Once you have successfully completed the course, you may apply for Graduate Membership (CertIOSH) of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). This represents the first step to becoming a Chartered Safety and Health Practitioner as a Chartered Member of (CMIOSH) of IOSH.

In addition, the diploma meets the requirements for member status of the Institute of Risk and Safety Management. It also fulfils the entrance criteria stipulations for Registered Construction Safety Practitioner membership of the Association for Project Safety.

It’s also worth noting that once you have your NEBOSH International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety, you may use the letters IDipNEBOSH after your name.

Benefits for Employers

The benefits of the NEBOSH International Diploma for candidates are obvious. They boost knowledge, skills and confidence, and can significantly enhance career prospects.

However, it is not only candidates who gain. The qualifications and related expertise also offer benefits for employers. After all, effective risk management is now a crucial issue for all organisations. As well as being a legal obligation, maintaining high standards of health and safety makes good business sense. If risks are not properly controlled, organisations can face potentially significant fines and reputational damage. Meanwhile, they may also have to cope with protracted worker absences.

Highlighting this fact, figures provided by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)^*1 for 2017/2018 reveal 30.7 million working days were lost in the UK alone as a result of work-related injuries and/or illness. On an even more serious note 144 employees were killed at work across the same time period.

All this comes with the addition of consequent costs to the businesses affected; a staggering loss of £15 billion occurred as a result of injures and ill health in the UK between 2016 and 2017*1. The human cost is serious enough and the fact it makes for poor business sense is even more reason to take SHE management seriously.

By making sure their personnel have benefited from the appropriate training, employers can reduce the chances that they will end up contributing to statistics like these.

How can you find out more?

If after reading this guide, you think that the NEBOSH International Diploma could be the ideal qualification for you, simply take a look around our website for further information. You can also get in touch with our friendly and professional team if you have any questions about the course. We’re on hand to answer all of your queries.

Interested? Click this link to see more details about this NEBOSH International Diploma

Mike Shields

Sources:

• ^*1 https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/