I teach the IOSH Managing Safely because I believe it’s one of the most practical, impactful training courses for health and safety. It’s for those in leadership positions like supervisors or line managers or directors.
This course is not just about understanding occupational health and safety regulations– it is about understanding how one can work towards making the workplace safer for everyone.
Having worked with many organizations, I can easily say that this course is game changing for every person who is responsible for team safety.
What is IOSH course really about?
When I first started teaching the IOSH Managing Safely course, I was always struck by how accessible it was for managers who didn’t have a background in health and safety.
I’ve had managers come to my sessions who were great at their jobs but had no idea how to identify potential risks in the workplace.
That’s where the IOSH course comes in. It is structured for managers so that they can learn on how to control and mitigate risks, be aware of the risks that usually peep out, and, strengthen safety culture within the team.
For those in charge of groups between 5 or 50, IOSH Managing Safely is a guide to ensuring the safety and security of both the employees and the organization itself.
At its core, IOSH Managing Safely empowers managers to:
- Recognize any workplace risks and hazards in advance in order to avert the dangers
- Understand how to investigate and take measures to avert accidents
- Implement effective control measures to reduce and prevent accidents
- Understanding your legal and moral responsibilities
- Create a genuine culture of safety within an organization
I’ll give you an example from my own experience. Some time ago, I worked with a manufacturing company where safety wasn’t being taken seriously enough.
A manager attended one of my courses, and something clicked for him during the session on identifying hazards. He realized that the machinery in the factory wasn’t being maintained as it should be, which created a serious risk of injuries.
After the training, he initiated a safety audit and found several issues that had gone unnoticed for years. The results were immediate: they fixed the machinery, introduced proper training for employees, and avoided what could have been a major accident.
That’s the kind of real-world impact IOSH Managing Safely can have.
What the Course Covers
The IOSH Managing Safely course is packed with practical, actionable content that you can immediately apply to your workplace. It’s divided into eight core modules, each focused on a specific area of health and safety:
- Introducing Managing Safely: This module sets the stage by explaining the importance of health and safety in the workplace and the manager’s role in it.
- Investigating Accidents and Incidents: I’ve worked with many managers who thought a small accident wasn’t a big deal. But once you start investigating, you realize that small accidents often indicate bigger problems.
In one instance, a near miss in a warehouse led to an investigation that uncovered a much larger issue with the warehouse layout. The result? Major redesigns and a safer working environment.
- Evaluating Risks: In this module you will be trained about what a risk is, how to find risks in a certain working environment and how to perform a risk assessment.
- Control Risk: This is where things get real. I teach managers how to assess ricks, and implement control measures. It’s not just about knowing the rules; it’s about applying them in ways that make a tangible difference.
- Understanding Managerial Responsibilities: Understanding the legalities around health and safety can be overwhelming, but I break it down in a way that’s easy to understand. I always remind my students: if you don’t know your responsibilities, you can’t protect your team.
- Common Hazards: This module covers everything from slips, trips, and falls to fire hazards. It’s surprising how many accidents can be prevented with a little attention to detail.
- Measuring Performance: You can’t improve what you don’t measure. I teach managers how to monitor safety performance to ensure their control measures are effective.
- Human Factors: This is one of my favorite modules. It’s about understanding how human behavior affects safety. You can have all the procedures in place, but if your team doesn’t follow them, it’s not going to matter.
I remember a time when a manager realized that their workers weren’t wearing safety gear because they didn’t feel like it was necessary. A few simple conversations and some leadership by example made a huge difference in compliance.
How the IOSH Managing Safely Course Works
I’m passionate about making sure my students get the most out of this training. That’s why the course is structured to be flexible and engaging.
Whether you choose online, in-person, or in-company training, you’ll have interactive modules, quizzes, and a real-world project to apply your learning. This mean that even if you’re a night shift supervisor or corporate manager, you can easily take our courses.
The course also includes a practical risk assessment project, which I find really valuable. It’s about being able to apply what you’ve learned.
I remember one manager who did her project on a construction site. She identified a series of potential risks—things no one had noticed before—and implemented measures that prevented injuries down the line.
Why is IOSH Managing Safely Important?
I’ve taught countless managers, and one thing I’ve noticed time and time again is that once they complete the IOSH Managing Safely course, their mindset about health and safety changes.
They stop seeing safety as a “box to tick” and start seeing it as an ongoing commitment to their team’s well-being.
Here’s why that’s important:
For Managers
- Improved workplace safety: By learning to identify and control risks, managers can ensure their team stays safe. I’ve seen managers make decisions that reduce accidents and save lives.
- Enhanced leadership: Effective safety management makes you a better leader. I had one manager tell me after completing the course that he felt more confident leading his team because he knew he could keep them safe.
- Risk management skills: I’ve worked in environments where risk wasn’t taken seriously until something went wrong. After the course, managers understand how to assess, mitigate, and prevent risks, ensuring everyone returns home safely.
For Organizations
- Better reputation for you business: Safety isn’t just a legal issue—it’s a moral one. Companies with strong safety practices earn the trust of their clients and employees. I’ve seen businesses thrive because they made safety a priority.
- Compliance and legal requirements: As much as safety is about caring for your team, it’s also about complying with laws. I always tell my students: if you don’t know the law, you can’t follow it. This course helps you stay compliant and avoid costly penalties.
- Reduced incidents and increased productivity: Fewer accidents mean fewer disruptions, less downtime, and more productivity. I’ve worked with a number of organizations where, after implementing what they learned in the course, they saw an immediate improvement in performance.
Who Should Take This Course?
If you’re responsible for others, especially in industries with significant hazards, IOSH Managing Safely is for you. Specifically:
- Line managers
- Supervisors
- Team leaders
- Anyone with health and safety responsibilities
IOSH Assessment Method
To pass the course, you’ll need to complete two assessments:
- A 45-minute multiple-choice exam to test your understanding of the material.
- A practical risk assessment project in your actual workplace, where you’ll assess real risks in your workplace.
The assessment is to show how well you understand safety and how to apply what you’ve learned.
You can take the course online over 16-32 hours or in a classroom over 16-32 hours or a three intensive days in-person. After this, you get an internationally recognized qualification from IOSH.
Register for the IOSH Managing Safely Course with THS Today
Over the years, I’ve seen how IOSH Managing Safely can transform managers and workplaces.
Whether it’s through preventing a major accident or improving team morale, this course helps managers take control of health and safety in a way that’s practical and impactful.
I’ve trained everyone from small business owners to managers in large corporations, and the principles are universal.
A safe workplace isn’t just a requirement; it’s a foundation for success.
If you’re ready to make your workplace safer, I’d love to help you take that next step. THS has over a decade of experience in health and safety training, with an excellent track record and reviews from satisfied learners.
Call me, Sam, at +44(0)20 8059 3633 or email me at [email protected] to get started today.