NEBOSH

NEBOSH (National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health) is a UK-based independent examination board delivering vocational qualifications in health, safety & environmental practice and management.

It was founded in 1979 and has charitable status. NEBOSH offers a range of qualifications from introductory to professional level. Around 180,000 people worldwide hold a NEBOSH qualification.^[1]

NEBOSH does not deliver courses. It develops syllabuses for its qualifications and sets methods of assessment, such as examinations and practical coursework. Courses are delivered by NEBOSH Accredited Course Providers.

Courses leading to NEBOSH qualifications attract over 30,000 candidates annually and are offered by over 400 Course Providers in 33 countries around the world. NEBOSH qualifications are recognised by relevant professional membership bodies including the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH)], the International Institute of Risk & Safety Management (IIRSM) and the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA).

NEBOSH maintains Investors in People (IIP) status and is also ISO 9001 certified. ^[2]

Background

In 1974, the Health and Safety at Work Act laid down general principles for the management of health and safety at work in Britain.^[3] This legislation, together with the establishment of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Health and Safety Commission (HSC) (now merged), led to more emphasis being placed on occupational safety and health by UK employers from the mid-1970s onwards.^[4] As a result, the role of health and safety officer and health and safety manager became more widespread in British workplaces.

To meet a need for the provision of vocational qualifications in the area of occupational safety and health, NEBOSH was established in September 1979, operating from the offices of IOSH in Leicester.

At the time, the NEBOSH Board, led by founding Chairman, Professor Richard Booth, set out its primary objective: "To improve the quality & quantity of people with vocational qualifications in Occupational Safety and Health.”

NEBOSH is based in Leicestershire in the borough of Blaby, south-west of Leicester, off the A563 Leicester ring road.

History

The first NEBOSH Associate level and Member level examinations took place in June 1980. Candidates sat five papers; Law; Behavioural Science; Techniques of Safety Management; Occupational Health & Hygiene and General Science. By October 1981 membership of the NEBOSH Board had grown and included representatives from IOSH UK government departments, various teaching establishments and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). Recognition of NEBOSH qualifications also began to grow around this time. In June 1982, 140 people registered for their NEBOSH Ordinary level certificate and 84 for the Higher level certificate. By 1986, NEBOSH had increased the number of annual examination sessions from two to three. In February 1987 NEBOSH introduced a new qualification structure, which included a Certificate and a Diploma. In 1988 the Diploma level qualification was changed to feature four 3 hour exams and completion of a case study. Candidates scoring over 75% achieved a distinction.

In the early 1990s, NEBOSH began to formally separate itself from IOSH. In March 1992, NEBOSH incorporated as a limited company with Companies House. In April 1992, NEBOSH registered as a charity with the Charity Commission and then appointed its first Chief Executive, Martin Shuttleworth, two months later. In December 1992 the NEBOSH Specialist Environmental Diploma was launched, followed shortly by the NEBOSH Construction Certificate. In June 1997 NEBOSH introduced a "credit mark" to demonstrate a high score in an exam - sitting just below a "distinction." The two part Diploma was introduced in June 1998. NEBOSH moved offices to Meridian Business Park, Leicester in 1999.

Stephen Vickers took up the position of NEBOSH Chief Executive in April 2000. Six months later the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) - now The Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator (Ofqual) accredited NEBOSH as an awarding body. In March 2001, designatory letters were introduced for holders of NEBOSH higher level awards. In September 2001, almost 22 years after the formation of NEBOSH, Dolores Lavander of West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) became the 50,000th NEBOSH examination candidate. A presentation to mark the occasion was held at WMFS headquarters. Two new qualifications, the NEBOSH Fire Certificate and NEBOSH International General Certificate were launched in March 2005. Current NEBOSH Chief Executive, Teresa Budworth, took up her role in March 2006. Two months later the first ever NEBOSH Graduation Ceremony took place at the University of Warwick. A further landmark was achieved in June 2006 when the 100,000th NEBOSH General Certificate was awarded to David Marsh. In October 2006, NEBOSH moved offices to its current location of 5 Dominus Way, Meridian Business Park, Leicester. The new building was formally opened by the then Secretary of State for Health, Patricia Hewitt). The NEBOSH Specialist Environmental Diploma was revised and renamed the NEBOSH Diploma in Environmental Management in September 2008. Those holding this qualification could now apply for membership of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA). In 2009, NEBOSH introduced two new qualifications - the NEBOSH International Diploma and the NEBOSH Environmental Certificate. In 2010, four more qualifications were launched - the NEBOSH Award in Health and Safety at Work, the NEBOSH Health and Well-being Certificate, the NEBOSH International Construction Certificate and the NEBOSH International Technical Certificate in Oil and Gas Operational Safety. Also in 2010, NEBOSH redrafted its Vision and Mission Statements (see below). ^[5]

In 2011 NEBOSH as well as other UK and international professional bodies developed the scheme for the Occupational Safety & Health Consultants Register (OSHCR),^[6] a scheme which provides a centrally held register of qualified health and safety consultants for businesses and employers to easily find and hire for their own places of work.

Endorsed Course Books

For the NEBOSH Certificates in Environmental Management-Introduction to Environmental Management by Walters-ISBN-9780415534413.

For the NEBOSH National General Certificate-Introduction to Health and Safety at Work by Hughes-ISBN-9780080970707

For the NEBOSH Certificates in Construction Health and Safety-Introduction to Health and Safety in Construction by Hughes-ISBN-9780080970684

For the NEBOSH International General Certificate (NEBOSH IGC) -International Health and Safety at Work by Hughes-ISBN-9780415535113

For the NEBOSH Oil and Gas Certificate-The Management of International Oil and Gas Health and Safety

For more details visit www.nebosh.org.uk/course_books/

Qualifications

There are three categories of NEBOSH qualification - Award, Certificate and Diploma.

• An Award demonstrates basic understanding of the subject covered and may be used as an introduction to other higher level NEBOSH qualifications.
• Certificate level qualifications demonstrate broad knowledge of the subject covered.
• Diploma level qualifications demonstrate professional knowledge of the subject covered.

Awards

• Health and Safety at Work Qualification

Certificates

• National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety
• National Certificate in Construction Health and Safety
• National Certificate in Fire Safety and Risk Management
• International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety
• National Certificate in Environmental Management
• National Certificate in the Management of Health and Well-being at Work
• International Certificate in Construction Health and Safety
• International Technical Certificate in Oil and Gas Operational Safety

Diplomas

• National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety
• International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety
• Diploma in Environmental Management

Accredited Course Providers

There are more than 400 organisations worldwide delivering NEBOSH courses which lead to NEBOSH qualifications.

NEBOSH Course Providers must be accredited by NEBOSH. Accreditation is required for each separate qualification. The accreditation process ensures Course Providers have procedures and resources in place to deliver training programmes of a standard required by NEBOSH and to maintain the integrity of the assessment process.^[7]

Accredited NEBOSH Course Providers not only deliver courses, but organise exam sittings for candidates. Accredited Course Providers include educational establishments, commercial training and consultancy providers and large employers.

d in the UK, NEBOSH is now recognised for its qualifications, which have been taken in more than 82 countries, throughout the world. It has developed four International qualifications - Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety, Certificate in Construction Health and Safety, Technical Certificate in Oil and Gas Operational Safety and Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety.

There are 84 NEBOSH Accredited Course Providers permanently based outside of the UK in 32 countries around the world.

In 2006, the NEBOSH International Certificate was made available in Russian.

In 2009, the number of overseas NEBOSH candidates rose by 17% and growth was particularly strong in Asia, up 76%, and Africa, up 63%. More than a third of all NEBOSH examinations are now taken outside of the UK. In 2010 the NEBOSH Award in Health and Safety at Work was made available in both Russian and Arabic and will be available in Mandarin Chinese in 2011. ^[8]

Graduation Ceremony and Annual Awards

Since 2006, Candidates achieving a NEBOSH Diploma level qualification have been invited to attend an annual Graduation Ceremony, which has traditionally been held at the University of Warwick. In June 2010, more than 1,200 attended this event to see over 350 people receive their Diplomas.^[9]

Best Candidate Awards are also presented at the Annual Ceremony to candidates achieving highest marks in the year for all Certificate level qualifications, Diploma qualifications and for each separate Unit (A, B, C and D) of the NEBOSH National Diploma.

See also

• Occupational safety and health
• Institution of Occupational Safety and Health
• National Qualifications Framework

References

External links

• Official website
• History of NEBOSH