Is IOSH Managing Safely Difficult? What Should Managers Expect?

Being booked onto a health and safety course can feel daunting, especially if it is your first formal training in the subject. You may be asking whether IOSH Managing Safely is difficult, whether you need prior knowledge or what the assessment involves.

Do you need previous health and safety experience?

No. IOSH describes Managing Safely as suitable for managers and supervisors with no prior safety experience. The training introduces the key principles step by step and applies them to normal workplace decisions.

What does the course cover?

The course builds an understanding of assessing risks, choosing suitable controls, recognising hazards, understanding management responsibilities, investigating incidents and measuring safety performance. These are subjects that managers can relate directly to their daily work.

Is there an assessment?

Yes. IOSH Managing Safely includes assessment to check understanding and practical application. Exact arrangements should be confirmed with your training provider before the course, including any knowledge questions and workplace-based risk assessment activity.

What tends to be challenging?

For many delegates, the hardest part is not technical language. It is moving from simply spotting a hazard to explaining who could be harmed, how likely serious harm is, and which control measures would actually reduce risk.

How can you prepare?

• Think of two or three common hazards in your workplace.
• Look at an existing risk assessment and ask whether the controls are working.
• Consider who makes safety decisions in your department.
• Bring examples of near misses or awkward safety problems to discuss.
• Ask questions whenever a term or concept is unclear.

Training should build confidence, not cause anxiety

At Jewel Safety, the emphasis is on useful discussion and real examples. A good course should help someone return to work better able to recognise poor controls, challenge unsafe arrangements and make sensible decisions.

Book Managing Safely training for your team

Find out about Jewel Safety’s IOSH Managing Safely course for in-company training in Hull and East Yorkshire.