NEBOSH, the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health, has recently partnered with eight prominent safety and health organizations in the UK to create the Occupational Safety and Health Stakeholder Alliance. This alliance aims to offer a comprehensive perspective on critical safety and health issues, uniting the OSH industry’s collective expertise to inform and support decision-making at various levels, including government policy-makers, corporations, and professionals.
The alliance includes organizations such as the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS), British Safety Council, British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF), Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM), Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).
As part of this collaboration, NEBOSH and the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors (CIEHF) have also joined by signing a Memorandum of Understanding. With the combined competencies of the alliance members, spanning education, regulation, policy creation, professional standards, and thought leadership, the OSH industry will have a unified voice, aiming to make a positive impact on occupational safety and health management in the UK.
The alliance’s initial focus will be on mental health issues associated with the workplace, which currently account for more than 50% of all workplace incidents according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) statistics. This area is particularly significant as the UK lags behind many of its EU counterparts in mitigating mental health issues.
Founded in 1979, NEBOSH is an examination board based in the UK that offers qualifications in health, safety, environment, and wellbeing management. Accredited by the UK government’s awarding body, Ofqual, NEBOSH qualifications are recognized and respected globally. The most popular qualification offered by NEBOSH is the NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety, suitable for managers, supervisors, and individuals with health and safety responsibilities.
NEBOSH provides a range of qualifications, from introductory to professional levels, and offers various study methods, including distance learning, classroom-based learning, and blended learning. The qualifications can help individuals gain a better understanding of workplace health and safety risks, develop effective management skills, demonstrate commitment to employers and clients, and advance their careers in health and safety.
For those interested in NEBOSH qualifications, the NEBOSH website (https://www.nebosh.org.uk/) provides more information. Learners are recommended to have a minimum English language standard equivalent to an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 5.0 or higher, and there are no specific age requirements for NEBOSH qualifications. However, some qualifications may have entry requirements related to education or experience in health and safety.