NVQ/SVQ for Occupational Health and Safety Practice levels 3 & 4
 

NVQ's and SVQ's are awarded to candidates who reach an agreed standard of theoretical knowledge and who have been able to demonstrate the ability to put that knowledge into practice. This process is assessed using a portfolio of evidence, which the candidate completes and is then assessed by an independent qualified assessor. There are no examinations at the end of the VQ process.

Examples of evidence that may be used in a portfolio include the following:

  • Review and implementation of health and safety policies.
  • Review of safety management systems.
  • Review and implementation of emergency procedures.
  • Training in relation to health and safety, e.g. induction training.
  • Incident and accident investigation.
  • Active monitoring, e.g. inspections, safety tours and surveys.
  • Data analysis, e.g. near-miss analysis.
  • Safety meetings and the decision making process.
  • Tool box talks.
  • Risk assessments, both qualitative and quantitative.

NVQ's and SVQ's demonstrate that a certain level of competence has been achieved by the candidate. Such competence is measured against a set of national standards in occupational health and safety. NVQ's and SVQ's are internationally recognised by employers and professional institutions. There are two levels of award for Occupational Health and Safety Practice. Level 3 applies to all working environments, while level 4 applies to those who are working in high-risk environments. An assessment will be carried out by the assessor to establish exactly which level is appropriate for each candidate.

The following units make up the NVQ/SVQ in Occupational Health and Safety Practice:

Level 3

Level 4

Seek, evaluate and organise information for action.

Maintain and enhance health and safety systems for complex risks.

Exchange information to solve problems and make decisions

Seek, evaluate and organise information for action.

Maintain and enhance health and safety systems.

Contribute to, and keep pace with, improvements in health and safety practice.

Promote a positive culture of health and safety.

Promote a positive culture of health and safety for complex risks.

Create, develop and maintain effective working relationships.

Exchange information to solve problems and make decisions.

Determine requirements for improved control of health and safety risks.

Establish and maintain productive working relationships.

Contribute to improved control of health and safety risks.

Determine requirements for improved control of complex health and safety risks.

Maintain the health and safety policy.

Contribute to improved control of complex health and safety risks.
 

Maintain the health and safety policy for complex risks.
 

Contribute to the maintenance and development of emergency procedures.

Enrolling onto our VQ process is simple. Candidates complete a pre-assessment questionnaire about his or her current job and about their involvement in occupational health and safety. This is to confirm which level the candidate is suitable for. A one-day workshop is then arranged, whereby the candidate and assessor go through the VQ process and start to identify evidence that will have to be generated. During this first session, candidates are shown how to construct a portfolio of evidence, how to index it properly and what type of information needs to be included.

The candidate then starts to build their portfolio of evidence. Once each unit has been completed, it is sent to the assessor for formal assessment. The assessor and the candidate will then meet to discuss progress and to discuss the next unit. After all the units have been completed by the candidate and assessed by the assessor, a final verification of the portfolio is carried out by the assessment centre. Once this has been done, the candidate is awarded an NVQ/SVQ certificate of achievement.

If you would like further information and costs of the VQ's, please contact us.

 

TO FIND OUT MORE: Norman Thomson