What is an IOSH certificate?

 IOSH stands for the Institute of Occupations Safety and Health, the worlds leading body for health and safety professionals.  IOSH are the first European safety body to be awarded NGO status by the International Labour Organisation.  

 
There are four types of IOSH certificates – IOSH Working Safely, IOSH Managing Safely, IOSH Safety for Senior Executives  and IOSH Directing Safely - all of which are recognised across the UK and overseas.  All of the IOSH certificates are aimed at professionals in all business sectors and organisation, although some industries, such as construction have other health and safety certificates. 
 
The IOSH Working Safely course is intended for any professional, whatever their level within the organisation. The IOSH Managing Safely is aimed at managers and supervisors, providing more detailed information than the first course.  The IOSH Safety for Senior Executives course is aimed at people with strategic responsibility for implementing health and safety within the office.  This course gives more information about legislations and employers responsibilities.  IOSH Directing Safely is created for top level decision makers.  This course involves looking at financial and legal issues as well as a wide range of other topics. 
 
So why do you need an IOSH qualification? Last year alone there were 26,000 major workplace injuries reported in the UK.  The most frequent causes of injury were manual handling, trips and falling from heights.  Most of these cases could be prevented with the correct health and safety training.  As well as major injuries there were 118,000 minor injuries reported within the workplace. Injuries within the workplace cost the UK economy £14billion last year.  Again, this cost may have been dramatically reduced if all workers had appropriate training.  
 
The IOSH Working Safely course is open to all workers, across any industry and of any level.  The course meets the Governments guidelines for introductory health and safety training.  This course covers all of the health and safety basics as well as environmental issues.  Everyone in any work place should have a basic understanding of health and safety which is exactly what this course offers.  
 
Health and safety is a vitally important aspect of everyday life. It doesn't matter how knowledgeable about health and safety an employer is, accidents still happen.  This is why all employees should be trained in basic health and safety.  Added to this changes in legislation and new technologies, there is always more to learn, making IOSH a important qualification in the workplace.