There are no easy routes to a NEBOSH qualification. Learners have to study hard and complete rigorous assessments, demonstrating their knowledge and understanding. That’s why NEBOSH qualifications are valued by professionals and organisations around the world.

Unfortunately, some people try to cheat to gain a NEBOSH qualification. NEBOSH therefore has strict processes and dedicated experts to prevent and detect malpractice.

Cheats do not have a place in the health and safety profession.

This new edition of the NEBOSH quarterly Ethical Practice Report (July – September 2025) gave the following overview of recent malpractice cases and the penalties and sanctions given:

Together we can stamp out malpractice and protect the integrity of the health and safety profession.

Malpractice concerns

If you have any evidence about possible malpractice, please report it to NEBOSH’s dedicated team of experts at postassessment@nebosh.org.uk.

NEBOSH review every piece of information and intelligence that is sent to them. The information you provide could also support and existing investigation. However, for privacy reasons, NEBOSH cannot provide an update on individual cases or investigations.

Fraudulent online content

NEBOSH have dedicated Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) experts and lawyers who find and remove fraudulent activity such as fake certificates, assessment writing services, guarantees of 100% pass rates or claiming to have access to NEBOSH’s systems to change grades. Although it only takes minutes to post something online it can take days or weeks for NEBOSH to have it removed by the relevant platform.

If you see a fraudulent social media post or website you can help by:

• Reporting it to NEBOSH at ipr@nebosh.org.uk; and
• Reporting posts to the relevant social media platform.

Further information can be found on the NEBOSH website here: https://www.nebosh.org.uk/guidance/ethical-practice-report/

BREAKING NEWS ~ Woodward Safety Health and Environment Ltd are delighted to be able to announce that NEBOSH have chosen ourselves as the Learning Partner to deliver the prestigious L’Oréal International Bursary 2026 training courses. We look forward to welcoming the twenty successful applicants onto the course this summer.

NEBOSH, the National Examination Board for Occupational Safety and Health, has partnered with global beauty brand L’Oréal for the fourth year running to encourage and enable greater diversity within the health and safety profession.

The ‘NEBOSH L’Oréal International Bursary: Enabling women in health and safety’ is back to offer learning opportunities for women who want to enter or progress within the profession. Twenty women, based internationally, will be chosen to receive paid-for study and assessment fees for the NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety.

Sarah Abdalwhab QHSE Consultant and a member of the Bursary judging panel, says: “I am proud to support the NEBOSH L’Oréal International Bursary: Enabling women in health and safety. This initiative empowers women to learn, develop professionally, and build stronger representation in the global health and safety field. I have always believed that strengthening women not only supports individual careers, but is also an investment in positive change across workplaces and communities alike.”

Applications for the ‘NEBOSH L’Oréal International Bursary: Enabling women in health and safety’ are open from 22 January to 20 February 2026. Applicants will be asked to submit a short video which demonstrates why they aspire to work within the profession and how they feel their studies will benefit their professional development. Bursary recipients will be chosen by a judging panel who work in the profession.

For more information about the bursary and the application process, and to submit an application, please visit: www.nebosh.org.uk/igcbursary

ACCIDENTS ARE the sixth leading cause of death worldwide, claiming over 3 million lives a year, and people in developing countries are far more likely to be killed in an accident than those in richer nations. That’s the shocking truth exposed by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents’ (RoSPA)’s new report Accidental deaths and life-changing injuries: A global tragedy, in partnership with L’Oréal and Xylem.

This groundbreaking study of international accident rates, based on analysis of data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and other sources, reveals that: 

• Accidents are now the sixth biggest cause of death worldwide.
• 3.1 million people lost their lives in accidents in 2021 alone: over 8,000 every single day.
• 1 in 20 deaths worldwide is the result of an accident.

In addition, RoSPA’s research reveals enormous inequalities across the globe:

• 1.2 million people are killed in road collisions every year.
• 92% of road deaths happen in low- or middle-income countries – even though they have only 60% of the world’s vehicles.
• 315,000 people are killed at work.
• 94% of workplace deaths occur in lower- and middle- income countries.
• Workplace deaths are highest in Africa and Asia.
• Workers are almost three times more likely to die of a workplace accident in Asia than in Europe, and nearly four times more likely in Africa.
• Agriculture has the highest number of deaths of any sector.

Many of these inequalities may be explained by poor infrastructure, weaker regulations and inconsistent enforcement in developing nations. RoSPA has also found that 80% of deaths in working age adults take place outside of work, with road traffic collisions, falls, drownings and fires being particularly deadly.

Together with the tragic human toll, with millions left unable to work or having to financially manage after a loved one has passed away, accidents also put an immense burden on economies, through a combination of lower productivity and the cost of medical care. In developing countries in particular, accidents can create a vicious cycle of lower growth leading to lower incomes and thus lower investment in accident prevention.

With over 100 years of experience developing evidence-based solutions that have saved millions of lives on roads, in work and at home, RoSPA is campaigning for much greater investment in accident prevention across the world to drive growth, improve productivity, foster social justice and – most importantly – save lives.

You can download the full study here: https://www.rospa.com/safety-campaigns/accidents-a-global-tragedy

EDIT – This issue has now been resovled and our telephones are working again.
We apologise for any inconvenience the disruption today may have caused.

————- ————- ————- ————- ————- ————- ————- ————-

Telephone Disruption ~ Monday 19 January 2026.

The ENERGUS phone line is currently down, which means that our office telephone system is also not working.

While we may not be able to answer the phone, we can still be contacted by e-mail on info@woodwardgroup.co.uk today.

We apologise for any inconvenience this disruption may cause.

Why Face-to-Face Training Still Matters – Especially with Woodward !

In a world full of online learning and AI chat-bots, we are continuing to deliver the same excellent classroom based training courses that we started delivering back in 1994.

In recent times, the Virtual / Online Training has been the go-to for learning and development, but is that always a good thing? Teams/Zoom Fatigue is now is a well-documented phenomenon, referring to the exhaustion, stress, and burnout users experience after prolonged use of video conferencing platform.

At Woodward, our classroom-based NEBOSH and IOSH training courses go beyond the screen to deliver real results in your workplace.

Here’s what sets them apart:

✅ Live interaction with expert trainers – ask, discuss, and deep-dive into real-world scenarios.

✅ Hands-on learning – from risk assessments to hazard-spotting exercises.

✅ Engaged learning environment – less distraction, more focus.

✅ Peer networking – connect, share insights, and grow professionally.

✅ Tailored feedback – our trainers adapt to your needs and industry.

✅ Better retention, better pass rates – and ultimately, a safer workplace.

Whether you’re in construction, manufacturing, logistics, or any sector where safety is critical – face-to-face learning delivers impact you can feel.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information, either by telephone on (01900) 609175 or by e-mail on  info@woodwardgroup.co.uk

---

NEBOSH conducts an in-depth audit every two years of each NEBOSH Learning Partner and assesses them based on their performance against the Learning Partner Programme’s 6 Principles, which are:

– Ensure all learners understand what is expected of them and what they can expect from their Learning Provider.
– Create a learning environment that is engaging and encourages interaction that is appropriate for the course and type of delivery.
– Provide accurate course materials and continually update and improve them.
– Ensure tutors are qualified, knowledgeable, competent and engaging.
– Give learners feedback on their progress and provide appropriate support.
– Review course delivery and learner feedback and action as necessary.

Learning Partners are then allocated Gold, Silver or Bronze status under the scheme.

Gold status is only awarded to those Learning Partners who greatly exceed in delivering against these 6 principles. It highlights Learning Partners that provide their learners with the best possible training experience.

Needless to say all of our staff and tutors are very proud that we are recognised as a GOLD Learning Partner !

Every year, families across Great Britain face the devastating loss of a loved one killed by a reversing vehicle at work. These are not just statistics. They are family members, friends and colleagues whose lives were cut short by entirely preventable accidents.

The stark reality is that being struck by a moving vehicle accounts for 16% of all fatal work-related injuries, claiming an average of 21 lives annually over the past 5 years, making it one of the leading causes of work-related fatalities in Great Britain.

Looking at these incidents we see that many feature the same pattern – reversing vehicles.

Recent months have brought this issue into sharp focus, with fines reaching £2.5 million as case after case reveals the same preventable failures.

“What strikes me most about these cases is not the complexity of the failures, but their simplicity,” says John Rowe, Deputy Director for Technical Support and Engagement at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). “Time and again, we see deaths that could have been prevented by basic measures that cost far less than the fines that are ultimately imposed.”

The pattern is clear across multiple industries including agriculture (27% of vehicle deaths), construction, and transportation and storage (17% each). But the solutions are equally clear, if employers are willing to implement them properly.

Why these incidents happen

Workplace transport fatalities follow predictable patterns. Workers are struck by reversing vehicles in yards where pedestrians and vehicles share space. Drivers cannot see properly because reversing aids are broken or missing. Sites lack traffic management. There are no designated safe routes for people on foot.

These incidents occur when safety is treated as optional. Delivery schedules take priority over having a banksman present. Reversing cameras stay broken because fixing them seems expensive. Pedestrian walkways are never created because “we’ve always managed without them.” Or they are created but their use is not enforced – potentially creating an even more dangerous situation on site.

Preventing vehicle-related deaths means making safety fundamental to how sites operate. This must happen before any vehicle moves. It requires understanding risks and committing to control them properly.

How to prevent these incidents

Safe site design separates people from vehicles wherever possible. This means creating dedicated walkways with physical barriers, using one-way traffic systems to reduce reversing, and designating loading areas away from where people work. Sites need proper lighting so drivers can see clearly throughout the day. Pedestrian routes must be visible and obvious to everyone.

Vehicles must be maintained and fit for purpose. Reversing aids are essential safety equipment, not extras. CCTV systems, audible alarms and sensors help drivers detect hazards they cannot see directly. These systems only protect workers when they are working properly. Regular vehicle checks must be standard practice. Any vehicle with defects must be taken out of service until repairs are completed.

People remain central to safe operations. Sites need drivers who understand the specific risks they face, know when to request a banksman, and feel able to stop work if conditions become unsafe. This applies to regular staff, visiting drivers and contractors who may not be familiar with the site. Training must go beyond basic vehicle operation to cover the realities of working safely in each specific environment.

It is not enough to just implement the necessary precautions, it is just as important to ensure that employees, and drivers, maintain standards or follow safe working practices.  Managers and supervisors should routinely challenge and investigate unsafe behaviours they come across.

Moving forward

The £1 million and £2.5 million fines making headlines represent more than financial penalties. They mark families destroyed by entirely preventable failures. Agriculture, forestry and fishing loses six workers annually to vehicle strikes, construction, and transportation and storage each lose four, but every sector sees deaths that proper management could eliminate.

Preventing workplace transport deaths requires organisations to implement proven control measures consistently. This means conducting thorough risk assessments, maintaining equipment rigorously, and empowering workers to identify hazards before incidents occur.

You can find comprehensive guidance on workplace transport on the HSE website here: https://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/

Notes to editors

• The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety, dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
• Recent prosecutions:
  • Company fined after much loved family man killed by reversing HGV – HSE Media Centre
  • Biffa fined almost £2.5 million after worker crushed by skip wagon – HSE Media Centre
  • Grocery wholesaler fined £1 million after worker killed by reversing HGV – HSE Media Centre
  • Textile company fined after director killed by reversing HGV – HSE Media Centre

---

Article adapted from original posted on HSE website here in October 2025: https://press.hse.gov.uk/2025/10/23/protecting-workers-from-workplace-transport-getting-the-basics-right/

Short videos from IOSH explaining the foundations of good occupational safety and health practice

Build your occupational safety and health knowledge and competence with the IOSH health and safety fundamentals video series. Duncan Spencer CFIOSH, Head of Advice and Practice at IOSH, guides you through the foundations of the profession in five short chapters.

You’ll learn how to think like a professional and avoid common mistakes when managing safety and health risks in the workplace.

---

Episode 1 – What is competency

What competency means in occupational safety and health and how you can develop it.

Episode 2 – Reasonable judgement

How competency helps you create the arguments and reasons needed to support your decision making.

Episode 3 – Reasonable foresight

Using competency to predict future risks and how to test your decision making.

Episode 4 – Reasonable practicability

How far you should go to control a safety and health risks and when to stop introducing further controls.

Episode 5 – More on reasonable practicability

Relating this concept to ideas of zero harm and continuous improvement, including common mistakes.

---

“I recommend these videos for anyone wishing to learn or revise the basics in occupational safety and health management. We cover the concepts that underpin the everyday concerns and actions of a competent professional.”

Duncan Spencer CFIOSH • Head of Advice and Practice • IOSH

---

Adapted from article on IOSH website here: https://iosh.com/guidance-and-resources/professionals/health-and-safety-fundamentals