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• NVQ Level 3 – Occupational Health & Safety Practice
• NVQ Level 4 – Occupational Health & Safety Practice
• NVQ Level 5 – Occupational Health & Safety Practice
• OCR NVQ Brochure

An NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) is a qualification that recognises someone’s competence (the skills, knowledge and understanding they have in a work situation). NVQ’s are based on national occupational standards. These standards describe the level and breadth of performance that is expected of anyone working in the sector that the standards cover. These qualifications consist mainly of units from the health and safety standards developed by the Employment NTO, the government-approved standard setting body for the health and safety sector at the time.

The OCR (Oxford and Cambridge RSA Examinations) health and safety NVQ’s are work-oriented and are suitable for those who have real work experience. They are open to candidates of any age, or gender and there are no entry barriers on grounds of race, creed or previous academic attainment or learning. Candidates are expected to have sufficient standards of communication and numeracy skills to carry out the work described in the standards.

These qualifications are designed to reflect the work of candidates with health and safety responsibilities. They recognise the candidate’s competence in the area of Health and Safety practice to national standards.

The standards not only provide the way towards a better practical understanding of health and safety practice but also a benchmark for good practice in this field. Both employers and practitioners can use these qualifications to improve health and safety practice within their organisation. This can be achieved by reviewing current practice against the standards, planning for improvement at individual and organisational levels, and then implementing the appropriate policies for better health and safety. The results will be seen in:

• Improved organisational image
• Safer working conditions
• Increased staff motivation and morale
• Raised standards of work

You cannot fail an NVQ.
We do not grade your results.
You are either competent or not yet competent.

As a SHEilds NVQ candidate, you are provided with a Portfolio Manager and an Assessor, who will guide you through your NVQ, SHEilds aim to get each candidate through their NVQ within 9 Months however you have up-to 24 Months to complete it.

To gain a full NVQ you must collate enough evidence to prove you are competent in the required units. You can then claim a full certificate. If you cannot finish all of the units for the full qualification, you may claim a ‘unit certificate’ that lists the unit or units that have been signed off by your assessor. You may do more than the necessary number of units in which case the additional units will be shown on your unit certificate.

Some of the units in these NVQs appear in other NVQs (such as B5 and C13). If you have already achieved any of the units through another awarding body, please tell your assessor and they will arrange for this to count towards your full NVQ. You will need to present to your assessor your original unit certificate issued by the other awarding body.

You may find that a unit or part of a unit matches something you did some time ago, perhaps in a previous job. Tell your assessor about this. While past achievements may only be acceptable if they reflect what you can do now, you may be able to use your past achievements as evidence for your NVQ.

The awarding body for these NVQs is Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations (OCR) and the regulatory body is the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA).

OCR Level 3 NVQ in Occupational Health and Safety

The OCR scheme code for this qualification is 3943

OCR Level 4 NVQ in Occupational Health and Safety Practice

The OCR scheme code for this qualification is 3944

OCR Level 5 NVQ in Occupational Health and Safety Practice

The OCR scheme code for this qualification is 3942

The OCR Level 3 NVQ in Occupational Health and Safety is suitable for those whose role includes the area of general health and safety practice. All such practitioners are involved in the assessment of risks, the identification of hazards and determining strategies for control. There are a number of skills that they would all need and use, such as:

• raising awareness about health and safety within the organisation
• using information to promote good practice
• maintaining and enhancing health and safety systems
• Promoting good relationships to enhance health and safety practice

OCR Level 3 NVQ in Occupational Health and Safety – Mandatory units reference

• HSS1 — Make sure your own actions reduce risks to health and safety
• HSS2 — Develop procedures to safety control work operations
• HSS3 — Monitor procedures to safety control work operations
• HSS4 — Promote a health and safety culture within the workplace
• HSS6 — Conduct a health and safety assessment of a workplace

Optional Units

(2 optional units of the candidates choice are required)

• HSS5 — Investigate and evaluate incidents and complaints in the workplace
• HSS7 — Make sure your own actions within the workplace aim to protect the environment
• HSS8 — Review health and safety procedures in workplaces
• HSS9 — Supervise the health, safety and welfare of a learner in the workplace

£1,800 +VAT

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• NVQ Level 4 – Occupational Health & Safety Practice
• NVQ Level 5 – Occupational Health & Safety Practice

The OCR Level 5 NVQ in Occupational Health and Safety Practice is suitable for those who have strategic management responsibility for the health and safety function.

OCR Level 5 NVQ in Occupational Health and Safety – Mandatory units reference

(all 9 units required)

• B3 (MSC) – Manage the use of financial resources
• B5 (MSC) – Secure financial resources for your organisation’s plans
• HSP1 – Develop and review the organisation’s health and safety strategy
• HSP13 – Influence and keep pace with improvements in health and safety practice
• HSP2 – Promote a positive health and safety culture
• HSP3 – Develop and implement the health and safety policy
• L2 – Identify the learning and development needs of the organization
• P11 – Develop a strategy and plan for managing changes in people resourcing
• G3 – Evaluate and develop own practice

Optional Units

3 optional units of the candidates choice are required

• A2 (MSC) – Manage activities to meet requirements
• A4 (MSC) – Contribute to improvements at work
• C13 (MSC) – Manage the performance of teams and individuals
• G2 – Contribute to the development of learning within the organisation
• HSP14 – Develop and implement systems and procedures within the workplace to minimise environmental impact of the organisation
• HSP 4 – Develop and implement effective communication systems for health and safety information
• L4 – Design learning programmes
• L8 – Manage the contribution of other people to the learning process
• P13 – Design, deliver and evaluate changes to organisational structure
• P14 – Contribute to the design, delivery and evaluation of work procedures

For the OCR NVQ level 5 in Occupational Health and Safety Practice, completion of the 9 mandatory units is required, as is the completion of 3 optional units to gain the full qualification. The candidate must choose which 3 optional units would be best suited to their own working environment. In total 12 units are required.

£2,500 +VAT

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• NVQ Level 3 – Occupational Health & Safety Practice
• NVQ Level 4 – Occupational Health & Safety Practice

* Upon successful completion of the OCR NVQ level 4 in Occupational Health and Safety Practice candidates may use the letters Dip.RSA after their name.

The OCR Level 4 NVQ in Occupational Health and Safety Practice is suitable for those who are working in the area of general health and safety practice or managing the health and safety function.

(all 10 units required)

• HSP2 — Promote a positive health and safety culture
• HSP3 — Develop and implement the health and safety policy
• HSP4 — Develop and implement effective communication systems for health and safety information
• HSP5 — Develop and maintain individual and organisational competence in health and safety matters
• HSP6 — Identify and control health and safety risks
• HSP7 — Develop and implement proactive monitoring systems for health and safety
• HSP8 — Develop and implement reactive monitoring systems for health and safety
• HSP10 — Develop and implement health and safety emergency response systems and procedures
• HSP11 — Develop and implement health and safety review systems
• HSP13 — Influence and keep pace with improvements in health and safety practice

£2,200 +VAT

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• NVQ Level 3 – Occupational Health & Safety Practice
• NVQ Level 5 – Occupational Health & Safety Practice

* Upon successful completion of the OCR NVQ level 4 in Occupational Health and Safety Practice candidates may use the letters Dip.RSA after their name.

* The Institution of Occupational Safety & Health (IOSH) accept this qualification for candidates to apply for membership at Graduate level membership (GradIOSH) and upon completion of an open book assessment and a minimum of 2 years Initial professional Development (IPD), candidates can achieve Chartered level membership (CMIOSH).