Construction or General? Which NEBOSH course is right for you
Without a doubt, gaining a NEBOSH qualification is a great step forward for aspiring Health and Safety professionals to secure future employment, or for those working within the profession and are looking to consolidate their experience with formal qualifications. With so many options to choose from, one of the most common questions is ‘Which should I choose, construction or general? In this short insight, we aim to provide some supporting information so you can simplify your decision to select the right course that suits you.
What is a NEBOSH certificate?
The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) is a UK based examination board that provides a wide range of qualifications in occupational health and safety. Obtaining a NEBOSH qualification has a huge number of benefits such as employment opportunities, lifetime qualifications and professional membership potential within the Health and Safety sector. NEBOSH offers a variety of qualifications including awards, certificates and diplomas. An award is aimed at beginners or is aimed at a specific topic, such as risk assessment of accident investigation. A certificate is a higher level qualification, and is typically thought of as a level 3 comparable qualification (Not including Scotland). Certificates are managerial or supervisory level and there are several certifications including general, fire and construction.
What is The NEBOSH National General Certificate?
The NEBOSH general certificate is a great starting point for anyone looking to gain a holistic understanding of Health and Safety across varying sectors. The NEBOSH National General Certificate will give you invaluable knowledge and skills and a globally respected qualification that supports your current role and your long-term career and is relevant to all workplaces.
The Certificate is equivalent to an UK A-Level, and therefore it is considered to be a managerial level qualification. With over 220,000 people already holding this qualification, you’ll be in good company. If you decide to embark on this course, you can choose from various modes of study including face-to-face, distance learning or eLearning. During the course, which involves a minimum of 68 taught hours and approximately 40 hours of private study and background reading, you’ll learn:
- How to effectively manage health and safety
- How to identify and control common workplace hazards
- How to measure if you’ve been successful
- The UK’s key legal requirements
The qualification comprises two units:
- Unit NG1 covers the management of health and safety and is assessed via an open-book exam completed online.
- Unit NG2 covers hazards and risk assessment and is assessed via a practical risk assessment based on a workplace.
There are no entry requirements for this qualification, however it is important that learners have a suitable standard of English language in order to understand and articulate the concepts contained in the syllabus.
What is the Construction NEBOSH course?
The NEBOSH Health and Safety Management for Construction is a leading risk and safety management qualification for the construction industry. It will give you the skill, knowledge and confidence to manage and reduce risk on a construction site and is ideal for any Individuals working within construction or looking to forge a career within this sector. The qualification has also secured recognition from the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) for its UK construction qualification holders.
The course is made up of one central unit CN1: Managing Construction Health and Safety.
The unit covers 13 elements and covers critical construction health and safety issues, including CDM regulation, risk assessment and management, safety culture, and hazard control.
If you decide to embark on this certificate, you can choose from various modes of study including face-to-face, distance learning or eLearning. The NEBOSH Health and Safety Management for Construction (UK) will involve a minimum of 70 taught hours, and approximately 40 hours of private study and background reading to prepare for the 48 hours open book examination.
The takeaways
So, which one is for you? If you’re working in, or aspiring to work in Construction as a Health and Safety professional, or you would like to gain more knowledge within this sector then the construction certificate is the obvious choice.
For everyone else, selecting the general certification will provide you with a greater understanding across a variety of workplaces.
