Evolving Landscape of Health and Safety Qualifications in the UK and Ireland

The occupational health and safety landscape in the UK and Ireland is continuously adapting to new legislation, emerging workplace risks, and best practices. Leading awarding bodies, including the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH), and Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), have announced significant updates to their qualifications for 2024 and 2025. These revisions aim to ensure professionals are equipped with the most current knowledge and skills to safeguard workplaces effectively.

These ongoing developments highlight a commitment to maintaining the relevance and robustness of health and safety training, ensuring that practitioners can address modern challenges such as mental health, environmental sustainability, and technological advancements. Employers and professionals alike are urged to stay informed about these changes to ensure compliance and foster a proactive safety culture.

IOSH: Enhanced Focus on Mental Health and Sustainability

IOSH continues to be a prominent force in practical health and safety training. While its flagship 'Managing Safely' course remains a cornerstone for managers and supervisors, recent updates signify an increased emphasis on specialist areas and digital delivery.

  • Managing Safely Refreshes: The core content of 'Managing Safely' is regularly reviewed to incorporate current best practices and minor legislative changes. IOSH has heavily invested in the digital delivery and interactive elements of the course to boost engagement and retention. The updated syllabus places a greater emphasis on contemporary issues such as mental health and wellbeing, exploring topics like work-related stress, promoting positive mental health, and understanding employer responsibilities under regulations like the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (UK) and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 (Ireland). Furthermore, the course will delve into environmental sustainability and the safety implications of emerging technologies like automation and artificial intelligence. The updated IOSH Managing Safely is expected to be fully implemented by late 2024.
  • Specialist Pathways and CPD: IOSH is developing and promoting specialist qualifications, such as 'IOSH Working Safely for Construction' and 'IOSH Managing Safely in Construction,' which are tailored to sector-specific hazards and regulatory requirements like the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) in Great Britain. IOSH also places significant emphasis on Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for its members, requiring active engagement to maintain professional status and ensure practitioners remain current with legislative updates from bodies such as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the UK and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) in Ireland.

NEBOSH: General Certificate Revisions and Digital Assessments

NEBOSH qualifications, particularly the National General Certificate (NGC) and International General Certificate (IGC), are highly regarded in the health and safety profession. NEBOSH regularly updates its content to reflect current legislation and emerging hazards.

Related training: If you are looking to qualify as a trainer in this area, see manual handling trainer courses or explore DSE assessor training for nationally recognised UK and Ireland qualifications.

  • General Certificate Updates for 2026: Both the NEBOSH National and International General Certificates in Occupational Health and Safety have undergone a review and update for 2026. Teaching of the revised syllabus will commence on 2 February 2026, with the first assessments scheduled for 4 March 2026. While the fundamental principles remain, the changes primarily focus on how the General Certificate is assessed.
  • Assessment Structure Changes: The qualification will continue to be assessed through two units, but these will be renamed. NG1/IG1 will become GNC1/GIC1 and will remain a 24-hour scenario-based assessment. NG2/IG2 will be renamed GNC2/GIC2 and will continue as a practical risk assessment. Significant changes to the practical risk assessment include submission via the online NEBOSH Assessment Platform, a move from a 'met/not met' marking system to a points-based system with a 60% pass mark, and the simultaneous release of results for both units 60 working days after the scenario-based assessment. The final assessment date for the current (2018 specification) syllabus for NG1/IG1 is 5 August 2026, and for NG2/IG2 is 6 August 2026.
  • Specialist Qualifications: NEBOSH has also revised its Health and Safety Management for Construction qualification for 2025, addressing key industry risks and aligning the UK variant with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations.

QQI: Quality Assurance and First Aid Standards in Ireland

Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and integrity of qualifications in Ireland, including those related to health and safety. While QQI does not directly develop health and safety curricula in the same way as IOSH or NEBOSH, it validates and awards qualifications offered by various education and training providers across the country.

  • Quality Assurance and Standards: QQI's updates primarily focus on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) and the standards required for programmes to be validated and recognised. This ensures that health and safety courses delivered by Irish training providers meet rigorous national standards and align with the requirements set out by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA).
  • Occupational First Aid Transition: A significant change in Irish first aid provision saw the QQI Occupational First Aid (OFA) 5N1207 award deactivated after the June 2019 certification period. This followed the Health and Safety Authority's (HSA) decision to no longer recognise the OFA award as meeting the requirements for occupational first aid in all workplaces. Instead, the HSA now recognises the Prehospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) First Aid Response Education and Training standard (FAR) as the sole national standard for occupational first aid. This transition was fully implemented by May 31, 2018, after a period of dual recognition.

These updates underscore the dynamic nature of occupational health and safety. Professionals are encouraged to engage in continuous professional development to ensure their qualifications and knowledge remain current and effective in promoting safer and healthier workplaces. For comprehensive health and safety training solutions, including a range of IOSH and NEBOSH courses, individuals and organisations can explore the offerings at Abertay Training.