SQT Blog

With September coming and children returning to school and students starting or returning to college, many people begin to think of their own training needs. There has never been as much emphasis on upskilling for all of us.

Here in SQT we find a big increase in course bookings at this time of year. I just want to draw your attention to some of the longer courses commencing shortly. Here’s a quick list and I’ve inserted a link back to the course page, where further details can be found. I’ve included public courses of four days or more duration.

Black Belt – HETAC level 8, commencing 12th October Dublin

Green Belt – HETAC level 7, commencing 22nd September Dublin and 19th October in Cork

Green Belt – HETAC level 6, commencing 22nd September Dublin and 19th October in Cork

NEBOSH International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety, commencing 23rd September Dublin

NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety, commencing 28th September Dublin

Certified Energy Management – AEE, commencing 21st September Dublin

Train the Trainer, National Register of Trainers – FETAC level 6, commencing 12th October Dublin and 16th November Limerick

Quality Management Systems Auditor/Lead Auditor – IRCA, commencing various dates in the Autumn in Dublin and Limerick

Lean Manufacturing Tools – FETAC level 5, commencing 14th September Dublin

IEMA Approved Foundation Course in Environmental Auditing (Ireland), commencing 11th October Dublin

IEMA Approved Advanced EMS Auditing Course (Ireland), commencing 22nd November Dublin

Occupational Health & Safety Management System Lead Auditor, commencing 8th November Dublin

Good luck to all.

Photo owned by Abulic Monkey (cc)

The results of the March NEBOSH International Certificate exams have just been released by NEBOSH and once again we’re delighted to congratulate our students on another great set of results. The exams for this award consist of two written papers (IG1 and IG2) and one work-place assignment (IG3).

NEBOSH exams are challlenging. The overall NEBOSH pass rates for the three exams at all centres were 58%, 58% and 89% respectively.

The pass rates for our students were 93%, 94% and 100%, well in excess of NEBOSH averages. Well done to all students.

If you or any of your colleagues have a NEBOSH qualification, I can definitely say you have earned it.

We run the International Certificate course which covers International legislation but we also cover Irish legislation. Other centres run the National Certificate which is based on UK legislation. If you are considering embarking on this course, make sure you check out what legislation is covered. It is also worth enquiring about the centre’s previous results.

Health and Safety Review by accident got the details of our course incorrect in their latest publication. The International Certificate equates to Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), Level 5.

A NEBOSH qualification is very worthwhile for anyone considering embarking on a career in Health and Safety. We run both the NEBOSH Certificate and the Diploma courses. The next intake of people for both courses will be in September.

Please contact akelly@sqt.ie if you require any further information.

I know we’ve only just celebrated the first of May and here I am talking about courses in the Autumn. Really I just want to get people thinking ahead for the longer courses which will commence in the Autumn. I have three courses specifically in mind and will give a little information on each:

1 NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety

This NEBOSH accredited course is designed for managers, supervisors and employee representatives. It focuses on international standards and management systems to provide a broad understanding of health and safety principles and practices, enabling candidates to effectively discharge workplace health and safety responsibilities.

The course is suitable for those embarking on a career in health and safety, but also provides a valuable foundation for further professional study. According to NEBOSH this course is at Level 3 in the UK, equivalent to Level 5 on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications. (Page 2 of the following document compares qualifications in the UK and Ireland.)

On successful completion, a Certificate holder with five years experience in a Health and Safety role may apply for Technician membership (Tech IOSH) of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), the largest UK professional body in the field. The Certificate also satisfies the academic requirements for Associate membership (AIIRSM) of the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management.

The Certificate is a 12-day taught course commencing this September, preparing candidates for exams in March 2011.

2 NEBOSH International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety

The International Diploma, also accredited by NEBOSH, is designed for health and safety professionals who require a high degree of managerial and technical competence to advise on effective management of risk across the range of employment sectors. According to NEBOSH this course is Level 6 in the UK, equivalent to Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications.

On successful completion, the Diploma holder may apply for Graduate membership of IOSH, (Grad IOSH). This is the first step to becoming a Chartered Member of IOSH (CMIOSH). This qualification is also accepted by the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management as meeting the academic requirements for full membership (MIIRSM).

The International Diploma is a blended learning course with 14 workshop days commencing this October, preparing candidates for examinations in January 2011 and July 2011.

3 Six Sigma Black Belt, HETAC accredited

Six Sigma is a comprehensive and highly effective strategy for achieving and sustaining business success. Six Sigma delivers bottom line savings, project by project, in an organised, proactive and highly transparent manner. Six Sigma is driven by a close understanding of customer needs, disciplined use of knowledge, facts and statistical analysis and diligent attention to a methodology to improve or reinvent business processes.

Our Black Belt 20 day programme consists of 4 days training per month, over 5 months. The unique feature of this Black Belt programme is that HETAC certification is only achieved on completion of a major project, documenting application of the learning tools and evidence of the savings generated. Typical Black Belt projects are yielding savings of €250,000 per project. The course is at Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications.

Our autumn Black Belt course is commencing in October. Training will finish in March 2011 with project completion due within 12 months.

We will have a wide range of shorter courses on offer over the coming months. Since these three courses are longer and thus the decision is bigger in terms of time/cost, I thought it was worthwhile to write separately about them. The three titles above are links to the relevant web page giving more detail on each course.

Please contact me, lcollison@sqt.ie if you have any queries.

Congratulations to all on the excellent results in the January exams for the NEBOSH International Diploma in Occupational Health & Safety.

This is a supported distance learning course. Generally two courses commence each year in September and January. Each student takes three examinations, (Units A, B and C), and then completes an assignment (Unit D). Exams are held twice per year (January and July), at centres throughout the world. Successful completion of all four Units leads to being awarded a NEBOSH Diploma. The award is at Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications.

The NEBOSH Diploma exams are challenging exams. The overall NEBOSH pass rates for January for all exam centres were as follows:
Unit A 39%
Unit B 51%
Unit C 45%

I’m delighted that the pass rates for SQT candidates for each Unit exceeded the NEBOSH average:
Unit A 53%
Unit B 71%
Unit C 54%

In fact, the latest cohort of students who commenced in September 2009 and sat the Unit A exam in January, achieved an overall pass rate of 64%. When one compares this to the NEBOSH average pass rate of 39%, one sees what a good result they achieved.

Well done to everyone, all the hard work paid off. Well done also to the tutor for this course, Finbarr Stapleton.

At the recent launch of the HSA three year strategy, the Minister for Labour Affairs, Dara Calleary stated: ‘Last year (2009) saw the lowest level of workplace deaths on record … Huge improvements have undoubtedly been made and the challenge now is not just to maintain those gains, but to build on them.’

That prompted me to look up statistics on fatal accidents in the workplace here. The following tables from the HSA website show the number of fatal accidents at work for the years 2002 – 2009. The statistics are shown in two tables as the classification system changed after 2007.

Two areas of economic activity, one, construction and two, agriculture, hunting and forestry accounted for a significant proportion of workplace fatalities. These two areas accounted for between 43% and 63% annually. We are almost a quarter ways through 2010 and thankfully there has been no contruction related death to date.

Whilst a reduction in the number of fatalities for whatever reason has to be widely welcomed, to some extent though we probably have the recession and the resultant decline in constuction activity, to thank for this improvement.

A poignant reminder – Last week, the total number of fatalities for 2010 to date, was 10. Today that figure is 11. Today yet another family is in mourning.

We all need to actively play our part to promote and maintain health and safety in the workplace.

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is the state sponsored body in Ireland with responsibility for securing safety, health and welfare at work. Working in partnership with employers and employees, its responsibility is to ensure that safety and health in the workplace is a key priority for everyone.

The whole area of Health and Safety is very relevant to us here at SQT as we have thirty three training courses in this area.

Yesterday, the Minister for Labour Affairs, Mr. Dara Calleary TD, launched the Health and Safety Authority’s new three year strategy.

Speaking at the launch, the Minister said “This new strategy builds on the significant progress made in relation to worker safety, health and welfare in recent years. It takes account of the realities of running a business during very difficult economic circumstances while ensuring that the safety, health and welfare of all workers is given the priority it deserves”.

The Minister added, “Huge improvements have undoubtedly been made and the challenge now is not just to maintain those gains, but to build on them. There are still important concerns to address at a time of unprecedented pressures on practically every business in the country. Working in close partnership and cooperation with key stakeholders, I’m confident that the Health and Safety Authority will be successful in achieving its vision of a national culture where all commit to safe and healthy workplaces”.

The Chief Executive of the HSA, Martin O’Halloran, placed emphasis on the fact that safe and healthy workplaces go hand in hand with commercial success. “From a financial perspective, conservative estimates put the cost of workplace accidents to the economy at well in excess of €3 billion annually. At an organisational level, business owners and managers must realise that a systemic approach to worker safety, health and welfare is not just a legal requirement, but an investment in the future success of the business.”

He further reminded people that, “So far this year 10 workers have lost their lives in work related accidents and every day an estimated 150 workers suffer an injury or illness due to their work. The real tragedy is that these accidents are foreseeable and preventable”.

The full strategy document is available from the HSA website.

It’s lovely to have a good news story on a Monday. And a very miserable, wet Monday at that.

Congratulations to all our students on their recent excellent results in the NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health & Safety. Our students achieved a 100% pass rates in two papers and 75% in the third.

The overall pass rate for the three exams internationally averaged 65%.

Our students did really well. Well done to everyone, all the hard work paid off. Well done also to the tutor for this course, Finbarr Stapleton.

NEBOSH, The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health, is an independent examining board and awarding body with charitable status. It offers a comprehensive range of globally-recognised qualifications designed to meet the health, safety, environmental and risk management needs of all places of work in both the private and public sectors.

Here at SQT we offer the two NEBOSH accredited courses in Occupational Health & Safety, namely the

NEBOSH International General Certificate
and the
NEBOSH International Diploma.

Details on both courses are here.

As I said it’s great to have some good news when the national news is of incessant rain and flood damage!

Here at SQT we run a number of Occupational Health & Safety courses accredited by NEBOSH, the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health. NEBOSH is based in Leicester in the UK.

This year NEBOSH is celebrating its 30 year anniversary.

NEBOSH was formed in 1979 as an independent examining board and awarding body with charitable status. It offers a comprehensive range of globally-recognised, vocationally-related qualifications designed to meet the health, safety, environmental and risk management needs of all places of work in both the private and public sectors.

We provide the NEBOSH International Certificate and Diploma in Occupational Health & Safety. Both courses, though demanding, have proven to be very popular here in Ireland. NEBOSH qualifications are recognised by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM) and the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA).

According to the NEBOSH website, courses leading to NEBOSH qualifications attract around 30,000 candidates annually and are offered by over 400 course providers in 80 countries around the world.

Being one of their course providers, SQT was invited to their 30 year celebration at the House of Lords this evening. Unfortunately due to work commitments here, we wont be able to attend.

Wishing NEBOSH many more years of successful operation.

It appears that distraction is very much a Health & Safety at work issue. Quoting from a recent Times article

Pilots of a Northwest Airlines jetliner that overshot its destination by 240km (150 miles) last week told US investigators they became distracted during an extended discussion of crew scheduling that included their use of personal laptops, officials said yesterday.

“The pilots said there was a concentrated period of discussion where they did not monitor the plane or calls from [air-traffic controllers] even though both stated they heard conversation on the radio,” the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said after interviewing the pair.

“Both said they lost track of time,” the safety board said in a report on their investigation …

Whilst we’re not all pilots and we’re not all in charge of critical machines, I wonder how often is plain distraction, a cause of accidents at work?