All the team at Woodward are really excited to have been awarded the below LINC challenge to deliver NEBOSH training courses for Sellafield Ltd.

LINC with Sellafield
Opportunity 99
Work Package 10/2023 – Provision of NEBOSH Safety Training

We delivered our first closed / in-house training course for Sellafield [then BNFL] delegates at Summergrove in 1995 and we have worked closely with Sellafield ever since.

We are looking forward to being able to continue this excellent relationship through the LINC with Sellafield scheme.

Image is the LINC Award Notice, published on page 6 of the Sellafield Supply Chain Bulletin – May 2023.

NEBOSH prides itself on rigorous and respected qualifications that prepare learners for the workplace and support their continued professional development. Key to maintaining these standards is regular review process of all NEBOSH qualifications. The most recent has resulted in some positive changes for the NEBOSH National Diploma for Occupational Health and Safety Management Professionals.

This article by NEBOSH provides an overview of the changes they have made and the impact on learners at different stages of their qualification journey.

*Please note, NEBOSH have not made any changes to syllabus content and the learning outcomes remain unchanged.

Change of regulator from SQA Accreditation to Ofqual

The NEBOSH National Diploma for Occupational Health and Safety Management Professionals is moving to Ofqual regulation. This will take effect from the July Diploma assessments.

Ofqual (The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation) regulates qualifications, examinations and assessments, and offers regulatory protection for NEBOSH Diplomas taken internationally and in the UK.
These qualifications were previously regulated by SQA Accreditation. Even though SQA Accreditation do not regulate overseas, NEBOSH has always required all of its Learning Partners to adhere to the same high standards in relation to processes and quality checks regardless of location.

Because of the change in regulator, the Diplomas will be classed as new specifications (May 2023) and will have new qualification titles in line with Ofqual requirements. These are:

• NEBOSH Level 6 National Diploma for Occupational Health and Safety Management Professionals
• NEBOSH Level 6 International Diploma for Occupational Health and Safety Management Professionals
• These will be in effect from the Diploma assessments commencing 19 July 2023.

As we move to Ofqual regulation, some of our policies and processes will change for Diploma learners only. These will be signposted alongside relevant information on our website.

Moving to Ofqual means that we will regain IOSH membership recognition for our overseas learners (see following section for further details).

IOSH membership recognition

As part of the changes to its accreditation processes in 2022, IOSH announced it will no longer accredit qualifications that are not regulated. SQA Accreditation does not currently regulate outside of the UK and therefore does not permit use of its logo on parchments where learners took their assessments outside of the UK. This change meant that any NEBOSH learner who took their Diploma assessments outside of the UK would not be eligible to use their NEBOSH qualification towards IOSH membership unless they had registered/enrolled with NEBOSH by 31 August 2022.

By moving to Ofqual regulation, we are able to fulfil IOSH’s accreditation requirement for regulation in any country that a learner takes their Diploma assessments. We therefore re-applied for IOSH recognition and can confirm that the NEBOSH National and International Diplomas meet the academic requirements to apply for IOSH membership at the appropriate grade*^

Recognition by BCSP, BCRSP and IIRSM remain unaffected.

*IOSH retains the right to change its membership standards, recognition, and grade entry requirements. Please check the latest IOSH membership eligibility criteria at the time of applying.
^Please refer to the learner scenarios at the end of this article for details related to learners at different stages of their qualification journey.

Assessment changes

Applies to Diploma assessments taking place on or after 19 July 2023.

New unit codes

National Diploma ND unit codes will change to DN (e.g. unit DN1), and International Diploma ID unit codes will change to DI (e.g. unit DI1). This is to help distinguish between the qualification specifications.

The unit titles will remain the same as the July 2020 specifications.

Mark changes

The total marks per unit assessment will be reduced as follows:

• DN1/DI1 will reduce from 550 to 300 total marks
• DN2/DI2 will reduce from 300 to 175 total marks
• DN3/DI3 will reduce from 230 to 175 total marks.

DN1/DI1 will still consist of two papers; the second paper will have one ‘combined part’ (instead of being split into parts 2, 3 and 4). Paper 1 will be 100 marks (reduced from 150 marks) and Paper 2 will be 200 marks (instead of 400 marks).

Reduced assessment hours

Due to the reduced total marks for each Diploma unit assessment, it will not take learners as long to complete and submit their assessments. Therefore, the expected total hours to complete and submission windows will change as follows:

• DN1/DI1 will reduce from 60 to 40 hours completion time. The submission window will be reduced from 6 weeks to 4 weeks from the assessment release date.
• DN2/DI2 will reduce from 40 to 20 hours completion time. The submission window will be reduced from 4 weeks to 2 weeks from the assessment release date.
• DN3/DI3 will reduce from 40 hours to 20 hours completion time. The submission window will be reduced from 4 weeks to 2 weeks from the assessment release date.

Due to the change in assessment duration, the submission dates have changed. The submission deadline will also be listed on a learner’s individual Assessment Registration Confirmation email at the time of registration for an assessment: Diploma assessment window and submission dates.

Sample assessment papers are available to download from our website: Diploma assessment recourses.

Reduced total qualification time and credits

Due to the assessment hours being reduced, the total qualification time and credits has reduced accordingly. Please note that there are no changes to the taught or private study hours, as the syllabus content has not been changed from the July 2020 specification.

• National Diploma – total qualification time reduced to 415 hours (43 credits)
• International Diploma – total qualification time reduced to 409 hours (42 credits)

Learner scenarios for IOSH membership applications

Learners who achieved their Diploma qualification before August 2024 and were registered with NEBOSH before August 2022

Learners who achieved either a Diploma for Occupational Health and Safety Management Professionals (2020 specification) or a Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety (2015) can apply for IOSH membership at the appropriate grade, irrespective of the country they took their qualification or whether their Diploma parchment features a regulator logo.

Learners who are studying for a NEBOSH Diploma but have not yet achieved all units

Learners who are still studying their NEBOSH Diploma (not yet achieved all three units of the Diploma qualification) will move to the Ofqual regulated version of the qualification. Any units already achieved under the July 2020 specification will be automatically transferred across as recognised prior learning towards the Ofqual regulated version.

This means that, when learners achieve their qualification, it will be under Ofqual regulation. The learner’s final parchment will feature an Ofqual logo, enabling them to use their qualification towards IOSH membership.

Learners do not have to do anything, NEBOSH will transfer studying learners to the new specification automatically.

Please note, that any remaining unit(s) will be assessed under the amended assessment structure outlined in the previous Assessment Changes section. Please also note the change in assessment window and submission dates. The submission deadline will also be listed on a learner’s individual Assessment Registration Confirmation email at the time of registration for an assessment: Diploma assessment window and submission dates.

*UK learners only. Where learners have not yet passed all three units, but are awaiting results for a final unit assessment which was taken before July 2023, the parchment will still contain the SQA Accreditation regulator logo. This is because learners will need to pass at least one Ofqual-regulated unit assessment in order to achieve the Ofqual logo on their parchment. Please see section below for what this means if a learner registered after August 2022

Learners who enrolled on the NEBOSH Diploma after August 2022 and passed all units before the July 2023 DN3/DI3 assessment

Learners who enrolled after August 2022 and passed all their Diploma assessments in the UK before the July 2023 DN3/DI3 assessment will have gained their qualification under SQA Accreditation regulation and their parchment will feature the SQA Accreditation Logo. These learners can use their qualification towards IOSH membership applications.

Learners outside of the UK who enrolled after August 2022 and passed all their Diploma assessments before the July 2023 DN3/DI3 assessment will have gained a qualification that does not include a regulator logo on their final parchment. Unfortunately, this means that a small number of learners may be unable to use their qualification towards IOSH membership.

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Article adapted from original posted on the NEBOSH website here: https://www.nebosh.org.uk/our-news-and-events/our-news/nebosh-national-and-international-diploma-update-a-new/

UK Easter Bank Holiday – Office Closure

Our team will be taking a break over Easter and our office will be closed during this time.

• Our offices will close at 1.30pm on Thursday 06 April 2023.
• Our offices open again at 8.30am on Wednesday 12 April 2023.

While we will not be able to answer the phone while the office is closed, we can still be contacted by e-mail on info@woodwardgroup.co.uk over this period.

Holiday Office Closure

Our team will be taking an extended break over the festive season and our office will be closed during this time.

• Our offices will close at 1.30pm on Thursday 22 December 2022.
• Our offices open again at 8.30am on Wednesday 04 January 2023.

While we will not be able to answer the phone while the office is closed, we can still be contacted by e-mail on info@woodwardgroup.co.uk over this period.

We would like to wish everyone a very happy Christmas and safe and healthy New Year!

NEBOSH, one of the world’s leading health and safety awarding bodies, has secured recognition from the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) for its UK construction qualification holders.

CSCS is the leading skills certification scheme within the UK construction industry. It has recently updated its Academically Qualified Person (AQP) card scheme criteria, including the list of qualifications it would recognise; AQP card applicants must now be qualified in a relevant subject to SCQF Level 7 to be eligible.

The NEBOSH Health and Safety Management for Construction (UK) qualification is currently mapped to Level 6 on the SCQF framework but will be updated to a Level 7 qualification from February 2023 to ensure future learners gain a qualification that gives them recognition from CSCS.

The updated course specification will include additional learning on lung disease in construction workers, managing health and safety performance data and using technology in construction project lifecycles.

CSCS will continue to recognise people who have already achieved the old Level 6 NEBOSH UK construction qualification until 2024. People who hold a NEBOSH National Diploma for Occupational Health and Safety Management Professionals or NEBOSH National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety – both as Level 10 on the SCQF – are also able to use their qualification towards applications for the AQP card.

Angeleen Hill, CSCS Scheme Manager, said: “CSCS fully endorses the revised NEBOSH Certificate in Health and Safety Management for Construction (UK). The qualification continues to fully meet Construction Leadership Council requirements and remains a vital resource for the industry as we continue collectively to raise standards and aim towards achieving a fully qualified workforce.”

About the NEBOSH Health and Safety Management for Construction (UK)

The UK version is closely aligned to Construction (Design & Management) (CDM) Regulations whilst the international option references ILO guidance. Whichever option is chosen, the qualification goes beyond legislation to focus on best practice so that learners can develop great health and safety practices.

Designed to reflect the highly practical nature of construction, learners will cover a broad range of topics from excavation, demolition and fire to culture, change and psychological health. Everything they need to make a construction site healthier and safer. Everything people will learn is geared towards practical application back on a construction project. It’s not just for site workers moving into a safety role either – our use of case studies and scenario assessments mean that people looking to move into the construction sector can take the qualification too.

This practical emphasis is continued in the assessment. Learners are required to complete a 48-hour assessment based on a real-life scenario to really reflect the requirements of a construction health and safety professional.

You can find our more about the course here: https://www.woodward-group.co.uk/courses/nebosh-health-and-safety-management-for-construction-uk/

Is your organisation prioritising work-related stress?

NEBOSH and the Health and Safety Executive collaborate on new qualification.

Half of all work-related ill health in Great Britain is caused by stress, depression or anxiety (HSE Labour Force Survey (LFS)). Similar statistics reverberate around the world; 68% of UAE workers report work-related stress (Cigna), there is an estimated $50bn economic cost to Canada from poor mental health in the workplace (Deloitte) and 55% of professionals in India (Times of India) feel stressed at work.

NEBOSH and Great Britain’s health and safety regulator, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), have collaborated to develop a new qualification that gives people the tools to manage and prevent stress in the workplace.

The NEBOSH HSE Certificate in Managing Stress at Work has been developed with the expertise of HSE’s organisational psychologists. The syllabus covers six key areas of work design – demands, control, support, relationships, role and change – to help learners proactively assess and manage work-related stress.

Chris Austin, HSE’s Head of Training and Events says, “It gives a great opportunity for employers and managers to gain a greater understanding of the challenges and requirements associated with workplace stress, and the confidence to proactively support the wellbeing of their employees.”

2019-20 Labour Force Survey data from Great Britain showed that stress, depression or anxiety results in an average of 21.6 days off work, longer than any other reason for absence. By developing this new qualification, NEBOSH and the HSE want to help organisations adopt strategic interventions that address the root causes of stress, supporting employees to remain healthy, happy and present.

Matt Powell-Howard, NEBOSH Head of Product Development, says: “Stress, anxiety and depression are not left in the workplace – they go home with workers every day, affecting their quality of life in all areas.

 “Employers are in a powerful position to positively influence the mental wellbeing of their employees and the benefits of doing that are numerous, at both the individual and organisational level. Research from Deloitte earlier this year revealed that the UK employer cost of poor mental health is increasing. Yet, for those that are proactive and invest in interventions there is an average return of £5.30 for every £1 spent.”

The NEBOSH HSE Certificate in Managing Stress at Work is now available to study. For further information please visit: https://www.woodward-group.co.uk/courses/nebosh-hse-certificate-in-managing-stress-at-work/