If you are pursuing a career in the health and safety industry or you would like to know how become a health and safety officer, these two courses would both be very advantageous for you. They offer important health and safety instruction which can help to improve your skills and gain you the employment you seek. However, although these courses are somewhat similar they are also slightly different in their content. Let’s examine these courses a little more closely so that we can highlight the differences and similarities between them.
Who Are the Courses Designed For?
These two courses are both higher level health and safety courses designed for those who operate at a certain level within the industry. The IOSH Safety for Senior Executives and Directors course is designed for anyone who is in a senior management position or similar and no previous qualifications are required for the course. The CITB Directors Role for Health and Safety course (as the name implies) has been designed for anyone who is employed as a director. Also, the course is relevant to senior managers and business owners. This course focuses on the importance of health and safety at the highest levels of the organisation.
One difference is that the IOSH Safety for Senior Executives and Directors course is designed for businesses that employ more than 250 employees. The material within this course is designed to give managers and senior executives the skills that they need to manage a workplace of this scale and enforce health and safety rules within the working environment. The Directors Role for Health and Safety course does not specify the number of employees recommended for taking the course.
What do the Training Courses Cover?
These two training courses cover similar material, with a slight variation. The IOSH course focuses on the current legislation around health and safety at work and the penalties involved for violating these. Also, it teaches delegates to know the documents and procedures required and how to instil health and safety practices from the top-down.
The CITB course will focus more on the principles of risk assessment and how unsafe working environments will affect the organisation. Both courses will instruct delegates on how to create a health and safety culture within the workplace.
Similarities in the Courses
When we look at the similarities between these two courses, we can see that they can both be completed within one day of training. This can be done at one of the many different locations where the course is provided throughout the country. Also, your company can choose to receive in-house training for the IOSH Safety for Senior Executives and Directors course if this is more convenient.
The reason why these courses are so short in duration is because many senior personnel and directors have very little time to dedicate to their training. A short one day course will allow them to complete their required training and still be able to get back to work as quickly as possible.
How the Courses are Assessed
When completing the IOSH course, you will need to show that you have understood the elements taught within the course materials by sitting a short assessment. If you are successful in passing this, you will be awarded with the IOSH Safety for Senior Executives and Directors certificate.
When taking the CITB Directors Role for Health and Safety course assessment will be by an exam paper and a trainer review. The examination demonstrates to external bodies that the certificate is only awarded to successful delegates following both an assessment and examination.