The aim of the safety harness & arrest training course is to provide candidates with the necessary information in the safe use and inspection of safety harnesses.
Who should attend
Any person who, as part of their working duties are required to use and inspect safety harnesses.
Course Aims & Objectives
At the end of the instruction the candidates will be able to:
– Have an understanding of regulations
– Identify types of equipment
– Understand why fall arrest equipment is needed
– Appreciate when to be clipped on
– Inspect fall arrest equipment
– Understand how harnesses will affect working methods
Certification
“NPORS” National Plant Operators Registration Scheme, or our own in house certification and photo ID cards.
This course is for candidates who wish to learn the safe use of hand held grinders, bench mounted grinders and cut off saws. In addition to develop an understanding of the HSE approved code of practice for the safe use of abrasive wheels in accordance with HSG17.
Who should attend
Operatives, Supervisors & Managers of Abrasive Wheels & Users that find it will impact on their duties & responsibilities.
Course Aims & Objectives
To provide quality training in accordance with PUWER and HSG17 the approved code of practice for the safe use of abrasive wheels.
Certification
“NPORS” National Plant Operators Registration Scheme, or our own certification and photo ID cards.
This scaffold tower training course provides health & safety legal requirements and the knowledge to allow attendees to maximise the personal safety of their selves and co-workers.
Who should attend
Anyone whose duties include the need to assemble, use, inspect, alter and dismantle mobile access towers.
Course Aims & Objectives
As well as meeting health & safety requirements, the knowledge that the training gives you will allow you to maximise your personal safety and that of your co-workers.
The course will include a practical session followed by a practical assessment, and then a theory test. Upon completion of these, successful candidates will then be awarded a certificate of training in the safe use and pre-use of scaffold towers.
Certification
“NPORS” National Plant Operators Registration Scheme, own certification and photo ID cards.
Both the 360 and 180 excavator course will give a foundation training and assessment in operating & maintaining excavator 360 or excavator 180, either above or below 10 tonnes, safely and productively.
Who should attend
Individuals who operate & maintain excavator 360 & 180 either above or below 10 tonnes.
Course Aims & Objectives
Those who take and pass the training course for above 10 tonnes will be qualified to drive both machines, meaning this is the best course if you wish to drive both types of machine. Course options are available at both foundation and experienced worker levels; depending on your level of experience.
It is envisaged that by the end of this course of training the learner will be able to answer questions on and perform the following:
Have a basic understanding of the industry, the dangers of working in the industry and their responsibilities as a plant operator
Have a working knowledge of the manufacturer’s handbook for the particular machine to be used
Be able to locate and identify the major components of the machine and explain their functions
Be able to locate and identify steering, driving and braking controls and explain their functions
Identify and maintain PPE appropriate for excavator use
Conduct all pre-operational checks in accordance with manufacturer’s and legislative requirements
Safely mount and dismount the machine
Start and stop the engine and safely move the machine off and stop it safely
Configure the machine for travel and manoeuvre it safely across varying terrain in open and confined areas
Conduct all necessary safety checks at the work area
Manoeuvre the machine to the work area and correctly configure in readiness to carry out excavating tasks
Carry out excavating tasks
Load material onto transporting vehicles or into containers
Reinstate excavation, grade and level ground
Fit and remove attachments
Carry out all end of shift and shut down procedures
Certification
“NPORS” National Plant Operators Registration Scheme, own certification and photo ID cards.
Overview of our Emergency First Aid at Work course
This Emergency First Aid at Work course from Ardent Safety is ideal for smaller workplaces that present few health and safety risks, where a nominated or appointed person is required to take charge in the event of an illness or accident. It provides essential training for handling emergencies swiftly and effectively, ensuring that minor injuries and incidents are managed appropriately until professional medical help arrives. The course covers key topics such as basic life support, dealing with unconscious casualties, and managing common workplace injuries, equipping participants with the confidence and skills to act decisively in critical situations. Whether you are a small business owner, a team leader, or an employee designated as the first aider, this course offers invaluable knowledge to maintain a safe working environment.
Who should attend
This course is ideal for ‘nominated’ persons or for people who provide support to qualified first aiders in a low risk working environment with less than 50 people.
Course Content
Health & Safety introduction
Aims of First Aid
Roles and responsibilities as a first aider
Management of a first aid incident
Primary survey (initial care of conscious and unconscious casualty)
Recovery position
Cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
Secondary survey
Monitoring the casualty
Shock
Bleeding
Common workplace injuries
Course review
Certification
Successful candidates on this Emergency First Aid at Work course provided by Ardent Safety here in Cumbria are presented with a three year Emergency Aid in the Workplace certificate. This certificate is accredited by NUCO (an Ofqual recognised Awarding Organisation)
You can book this course by clicking here. While you’re here, why not take a look at some of the other First Aid courses on offer from Ardent Safety including First Aid at Work and Paediatric First Aid.
Fire safety is one of the most important parts of Health & Safety that workplaces need to consider. Workplace fire is a risk that we can’t ignore. Because workplaces often house highly flammable materials such as paper documents and chemicals, these fires can have devastating effects. Not only this, but workplaces usually have a high amount of traffic coming and going too, meaning many people’s safety is at risk. This is why it is so crucial for workplaces to have correct fire safety measures in place. This includes fire doors, extinguishers, risk assessments, and fire alarms. But, the question is, who is responsible for making sure these safety measures are in place? Let’s discuss this in detail below.
Why Is Fire Safety So Important In The Workplace?
The regulations surrounding fire safety can often change. This means workplaces may be breaking the law without realising it, putting staff and customers at risk. Workplace fires can be catastrophic if not controlled. Throughout one year in the UK, 22,200 fires were reported within non-dwelling properties; 3,700 of these fires were recorded in properties where fire alarms failed to sound! Working fire alarms can reduce the damage caused by fire significantly.
Workplaces have a high footfall. This large amount of traffic means many lives are at risk from workplace fires; employees need to ensure their staff and customers are safe at all times. Not only this, but fires can destroy property. If no fire safety measures are in place, a fire could quickly become out of hand and ruin a business premise. Insurance companies often don’t cover the cost of damage if these safety solutions aren’t in place. So, who’s responsible for this? Let’s find out.
Who Is Responsible for Fire Safety In The Workplace?
Historically the responsibility use to lie with Fire Service, but now as laid out in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005,the responsibility lies with whoever is in charge of the building. This can be any of the following;
Landlords
Owners
Occupiers
Employers
Anyone who has control of the premises
These people are known as the responsible person/people; because that’s what they are! These people need to ensure all appropriate fire safety solutions are in place and kept well maintained. Their duties to those under their provision include:
carrying out fire risk assessments of the premises with regular reviews
telling staff about the risks they’ve identified
putting in place appropriate fire safety measures
planning for emergencies
providing staff with fire safety information, instruction, and training
Fire Safety Solutions Required In The Workplace
Risk Assessments
This is the perfect first fire safety step for the responsible person to put in place. Completing a risk assessment makes you aware of vulnerable areas, allowing fire extinguishers and alarms to be located. Any hazards will become known, meaning the responsible person can then put measures in place to remove hazards where possible.
Regular fire risk assessments will highlight any threats to the safety of the building and its occupants. It is a legal requirement for workplaces with over five employees to have a risk assessment, and it must be written down. Trained professionals can help carry out risk assessments, ensuring nothing is missed, and regulations are met.
Fire Alarms
It is down to the responsible person to ensure the correct number of fire alarms are installed throughout the workplace. Rooms containing a fire risk, such as a kitchen with an oven, must have a fire alarm. All alarms should be marked with a BSI kitemark or a European safety mark. For ultimate safety, fire alarms should be installed and serviced by trained professionals. They’ll also check the correct number of fire alarms are situated throughout the premises.
Fire Doors
The responsible person must ensure all fire doors are always kept free from obstructions and remain in working condition. It is crucial for workplace premises to have the correct number of fire doors for the size of the property. Regular inspections also need to be carried out by a qualified professional. It is a legal requirement for fire doors to be installed correctly and maintained to a high standard.
Fire Drills
Fire drills are a crucial part of fire safety, required alongside physical forms! The purpose of a fire drill is to recreate the process that would take place should a fire break out. The fire alarm is manually set off, and then the building is evacuated following the already planned evacuation procedure. The process is monitored, and any findings are recorded. If risks or hazards are found, these need to be solved to ensure the process can run smoothly in the future.
The responsible person needs to make sure fire drills are carried out regularly; the process ensures the building can be evacuated safely in an emergency.
Fire Extinguishers
These are a crucial part of fire safety in the workplace! Fire extinguishers slow down the spread of fire, potentially saving lives and preventing properties from being destroyed. The liability for ensuring fire extinguishers are available lies with the responsible person. All fire extinguishers must be serviced by a qualified person (BAFE qualification or equivalent). All extinguishers should also be inspected regularly by the responsible person to check for any apparent damage.
Seek Out Professional Help
If the responsible person is unsure about the fire safety measures in their workplace, the best advice is to get in touch with a qualified, fully-trained professional! Experienced engineers ensure your fire safety solutions are kept up to scratch and that they meet safety regulations.
If you are the responsible person and want help keeping your employees and property safe, contact Ardent Safety. With years of experience in Fire Safety, including all the fire safety measures mentioned above, Ardent Safety will work with you to ensure your workplace is compliant and safe.
Depending on the size and nature of the business in question, employers will often assign a member of staff in the role of fire marshal/ warden to oversee all fire strategies. This could include conducting fire risk assessments and establishing evacuation procedure. These wardens usually report directly to the employer to ensure company-wide fire safety practise is being implemented.
What should fire safety training at work cover?
The Fire Safety Act 2005 states that all workers should have ‘training on the appropriate precautions and actions… to safeguard themselves and other relevant persons on the premises.’ Simply put, it’s the employer’s legal duty to ensure that workers receive fire safety training relevant to their working environment when they first start working there.
Workers will need further training if they are transferred to a new place of work, if they have a change of responsibilities, or if they are introduced to new equipment that may pose a fire risk. This training should inform learners as to potential fire risks, steps they can take to reduce the chances of fire, and how they should act in the event of fire.
“Course presenter was superb. Very knowledgeable and engaging with the group. The group had a good cross section of experience. A really enjoyable and informative two weeks”
“Very interesting subject matter and a fantastic course provider in Wendy. I do not currently work in Health & Safety, so it was an excellent insight into hopefully embarking on a career in this area”
Fire extinguishers are crucial in the workplace, not least because every business is required to be compliant with legislation. All employees and visitors to the building must have adequate means to protect themselves in the event of a fire. Fire safety in the workplace should be a top priority for any business owner.
The true value of fire extinguishers shouldn’t be underestimated. Here, we look at the vital role they play in a workplace setting.
What is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005?
Employers and property owners must take responsibility for and adopt the correct behaviours and procedures as outlined in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which covers general fire safety in England and Wales (Scotland’s equivalent is Fire (Scotland) Act 2005). They must take reasonable steps to reduce the risk of fire and ensure the necessary equipment is to hand to aid a safe escape. Local fire and rescue authorities are usually responsible for enforcing this safety legislation (although the Health and Safety Executive has enforcement responsibility on construction sites). Under the order, the person who has control of the premises must carry out a fire-risk assessment, get rid of or reduce the risk of fire as far as is possible and provide general fire precautions and other measures to ensure protection. The order requires that the premises are, to the extent that it is appropriate, equipped with appropriate firefighting equipment (as well as fire detectors and alarms).
Understanding the value of fire extinguishers
Fire extinguishers provide a first-aid response and help prevent devastating damage to property and even loss of life. However, this isn’t simply a one-size-fits-all approach. A fire can start in various scenarios and ignite from several sources, necessitating unique extinguishers to tackle each type of fire.
Fire-extinguisher type is specified according to fire risk (or ‘class’) in that environment. Water extinguishers are used on Class A fires (those with a solid source of wood, paper or textiles, for example), while foam extinguishers are suitable for Class A and B fires (flammable liquids). Though carrying a B classification, a CO2 unit is ideal for an electrical fire risk, leaving no residue nor carrying a risk of damage to associated equipment. Dry powder extinguishers can be used on Class A, B and C fires – so burning solids, liquids and gases.
The workplace should feature fire extinguishers according to the materials found there. Hospitals, schools and offices, for example, should feature CO2 extinguishers because of all the electrical equipment used. Construction sites and warehouses, however, are high risk for a number of types of fire as fuel sources are everywhere. Each year, there are a number of serious fires on construction sites and buildings undergoing refurbishment. From site workers’ cigarettes to waste materials and flammable gases and liquids, there are many risks on a construction site so it’s likely several types of extinguishers will be required. And with the project constantly evolving and hazards changing rapidly, it’s not always a simple task deciphering which extinguisher is required where. A fire-risk assessment is the starting point here.
Prioritising Fire Extinguisher protection
Whatever their setting, fire extinguishers can be vulnerable to vandalism, accidental damage and corrosion. In construction sites, there’s been a worrying rise in arson attacks (thanks to their being deserted in the evening). In any workplace, measures should be taken to protect vital firefighting equipment from these threats. And for extinguishers stored outdoors, BS 5306 requires them to be protected to withstand the elements. Cabinets and stands are recommended to protect fire extinguishers from damage and discourage misuse. Lockable or otherwise, cabinets protect against vandalism, dust, dirt and accidental discharge.
Easily located and identifiable fire extinguishers are a vital component of any workplace and are required to be legally compliant. When it comes to fire safety, overlooking them is a huge risk that no business should take.
Ardent Safety supplies and maintains renowned brands of fire extinguishers, as well as supporting fire-safety equipment including fire blankets and signage to both the commercial and domestic market.
This should be a main concern for any business, and it can be a team effort. Although the business owner is usually the main person responsible for ensuring that their workplace is fire safe, all employees should be knowledgeable about how they can help prevent a fire in their working environment.
Here’s some tips on how to prevent a workplace fire:
Turn off all electrical appliances at the end of the day – it goes without saying that electrical appliances can easily overheat or malfunction, and become a huge fire hazard in the workplace. So, at the end of each day, ensure that all appliances are turned off and help prevent a disastrous situation happening overnight.
Don’t overload circuits – overloading electrical circuits with more than the recommended capacity can cause the fuse to blow, overheat and become a huge fire hazard.
Report any electrical faults – electrical faults are one of the main causes of workplace fires, so it’s important that everyone in the environment keeps a lookout for any potential electrical faults, and immediately draws attention to them. If it’s noticed that any electrical cords have been damaged, they should be replaced straight away.
Free up the area of any clutter – ensure that anything that may easily catch fire, including waste paper or trash, are kept to a minimum and the area is free of clutter.
Smoke only in designated smoking areas – and be sure that smoking materials are always extinguished and exposed of safely, and never stored.
Stay on top of machine maintenance – ensure that machines are always properly and regularly checked and maintained, to avoid overheating and friction sparks.
Keep easy access to electrical control panels – always be sure that nothing is stored directly in front of electrical control panels, to allow easy access to shut the system down in case of an emergency.
Be aware of chemicals – if using chemicals in the workplace, always use and store them safely according to the labels, to prevent any potential ignitions.
Fire extinguishers – it’s important to ensure that the workplace has the appropriate type and number of fire extinguishers to account for the size and the company, and that everyone in the area knows how to operate them properly, in case of emergency.
Never block sprinkler systems or smoke detectors – nothing should be in the way of these potentially life-saving appliances, as they play a very important part in the event of a fire.
Making sure that you have the correct fire protection strategies in place is crucial to help minimize the risk of a fire. However, it’s also important to ensure that the correct fire safety and evacuation plans have been put in place, in the unfortunate event of a fire. These include clearly marked escape routes, exits and emergency doors for a seamless evacuation.
For help with any area for Fire Management please contact the office on 01229 808320.
Fire Safety is of the utmost importance in any building. As a business owner, you’re responsible for ensuring that your workplace meets all required health and safety standards.
It’s crucial that your working environment complies with all building regulations, to ensure the safety of your employees and the protection of your building. Fire safety should always be a main concern, no matter what type of business you run or how many people are employed.
A fire risk assessment must always be carried out, with a written record of it kept if the business employs five or more people. In order to carry out a fire risk assessment, the following steps must be taken:
Identify the potential fire hazards – make a note of anything that could start a fire or easily burn, if found during the assessment
Identify the people at risk – work out if the risk could be greater for some people (i.e., the disabled and elderly are especially vulnerable)
Act on the findings – Evaluate, reduce or remove the potential risks
Record – Keep a record of the findings, prepare an emergency plan and provide fire safety training
Review – A fire risk assessment must be carried out regularly, with all findings updated and recorded.
Who is responsible for carrying out the fire risk assessment?
The assigned person in your business in charge of fire risk assessments is referred to as a Responsible Person. The Responsible Person must complete if competent or designate this task to a competent person in the business (or hire a third party) who must carry out and regularly review a fire safety risk assessment of the premises. In writing a fire risk assessment, they will identify what you need to do to prevent a fire and keep people safe. A Responsible Person could be:
The employer if the premises is a workplace
The managing agent or owner for shared parts of premises or shared fire safety equipment such as fire-warning systems or sprinklers
The occupier, such as self-employed people or voluntary organisations if they have any control
Any other person who has some control over a part of the premises While it is possible to carry out your own FRA, you may not want to do so if you don’t have the expertise or time or confidence – in such cases it’s critical to appoint a third party ‘competent person’ to help.
SOA’s expert fire risk assessors have all the relevant industry accreditations and latest industry knowledge. We will provide professional advice and highlight any areas for improvement, and can then assist in writing a comprehensive fire risk assessment report which you can keep for your records (as required by law).
During a fire risk assessment, there’s a number of things that have to be taken into account to ensure that it’s properly and thoroughly completed. These include planning out emergency routes and exits, fire detection and warning systems, and the appropriate firefighting equipment. It’s also important to provide suitable information to employees and anyone else in the workplace, as well as providing the appropriate staff training.
Fire safety should always be taken seriously, and there’s plenty of ways to easily prevent the event of a fire as much as possible.
“A risk assessment is a systematic review of what might cause undesirable incidents and what consequences these may have for the working environment. A risk assessment must also identify measures that form a basis for reducing risk.” As defined by the HSE.
Employers are required by law to protect employees and others from harm.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 requires employers to:
Identify what could cause injury or illness in your business (hazards)
Decide how likely it is that someone could be harmed and how seriously (the risk)
Take action to eliminate the hazard, or if this isn’t possible, control the risk
Assessing risk is just one part of the overall process used to control risks in your workplace. Here are 5 steps to carrying out a risk assessment:
Identify hazards
Look around your workplace and think about what may cause harm (these are called hazards). Think about:
How people work and how plant and equipment are used
What chemicals and substances are used
What safe or unsafe work practices/procedures exist
The general state of the premises
Think about hazards to health, such as manual handling, use of chemicals and causes of work-related stress.
For each hazard, think about how employees, contractors, visitors or members of the public might be harmed.
Decide who might be harmed and how
Once you have identified the hazards, decide how likely it is that someone could be harmed and how serious it could be. This is assessing the level of risk.
Decide:
Who might be harmed and how
What you’re already doing to control the risks
What further action you need to take to control the risks
Who needs to carry out the action
When the action is needed by
Vulnerable workers – Some workers have particular requirements, for example young workers, migrant workers, new or expectant mothers and people with disabilities.
Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions
Look at what you’re already doing, and the controls you already have in place:
Can you eliminate the hazard altogether?
If not, how can I control the risks so that harm is unlikely?
If you need further controls, consider:
Redesigning the job
Replacing the materials, machinery or process
Organising your work to reduce exposure to the materials, machinery or process
Identifying and implementing practical measures needed to work safely
Providing personal protective equipment and making sure workers wear it
Employers are not expected to eliminate all risks but they need to do everything ‘reasonably practicable’ to protect people from harm. This means balancing the level of risk against the measures needed to control the real risk in terms of money, time or trouble.
Record your findings and implement them
If employers employ 5 or more people, they must record significant findings, including.
the hazards (things that may cause harm)
who might be harmed and how
what you are doing to control the risks
Reviewing risk assessments
You must review the controls you have put in place to make sure they are working. You should also review them if:
they may no longer be effective
there are changes in the workplace that could lead to new risks such as changes to:
staff
a process
the substances or equipment used
Changes in legislation
Also consider a review if your workers have spotted any problems or there have been any accidents or near misses.
Update your risk assessment record with any changes you make and circulate to employees.
People often ask us about the difference between IOSH and NEBOSH, is one better than the other? Which qualification should they go for? And, what are IOSH and NEBOSH? Hopefully, this article can shed some light, help you make a decision on the qualification best for you, and give you some helpful advice.
What does IOSH stand for?
IOSH stands for Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, the Chartered body for health and safety professionals. IOSH is a UK-based organisation offering professional qualifications in order to raise standards of health and safety in the workplace. IOSH is the world’s largest health and safety membership body. With 44,000 members in 99 countries,
IOSH Courses
IOSH training courses help people in all sectors stay healthy and safe at work. Two IOSH training courses that are available are : Working Safely and Managing Safely:
The Working Safely course is aimed at all employees and covers the essentials of health and safety in the workplace.
The Managing Safely course is aimed at managers, team leaders and supervisors, and gives them the knowledge and skills to manage health and safety within their teams.
IOSH training courses combine up-to-date theory and practice to enable around 100,000 people a year to earn qualifications. Earning an IOSH qualification will allow the holder to ensure that the health and safety practices in their workplace are current, effective and well managed.
What is IOSH Managing Safely?
IOSH Managing Safely is a three-day course that gives managers and supervisors the knowledge and skills they need to manage health and safety within their teams. IOSH Managing Safely covers responsibilities for health and safety, hazard identification, assessing and controlling risks, accident investigation and measuring performance. IOSH Managing Safely gives managers the confidence to drive health and safety performance within their teams and to improve the health and safety culture of their organisation as a whole.
What is IOSH Working Safely?
IOSH Working Safely is a one-day course covering the essentials of health and safety in the workplace. It is aimed at all employees in all types of organisation. IOSH Working Safely looks at people’s responsibilities for health and safety, workplace hazards and risks, and how to control them. IOSH Working Safely shows how everyone can make a difference to their own and others’ well being through everyday actions.
A quick note on IOSH membership
NEBOSH doesn’t offer membership, so if you’re looking to join a membership organisation where you can network, keep up to date with health and safety, and gain advice and expertise then IOSH is probably your best option. It brings with it plenty of benefits but how much you can benefit really depends on your situation and career goals, It’s also worth mentioning that, while anyone can become an IOSH member, to get higher levels of membership such as Associate or Technical membership you need to have a health and safety qualification. They accept quite a few different qualifications, The NEBOSH National General Certificate is one of them, and with 92% of job roles asking for either the NEBOSH qualification, IOSH membership or both, it could be worth using the NEBOSH for your membership.
What does NEBOSH stand for?
NEBOSH stands for National Examination Board in Occupational Health and Safety. NEBOSH is a UK-based independent examination board delivering vocational qualifications in health, safety & environmental practice and management. NEBOSH does not deliver courses. It develops syllabuses for its qualifications and sets methods of assessment, such as examinations and practical coursework. Courses are delivered by NEBOSH Accredited Course Providers like SOA Safety. NEBOSH is a globally recognized qualification in Health Safety and Environment. The course is intended to provide Managers, Supervisors and Employees who require a broader knowledge of risk management and understanding of health and safety principles and practices.
NEBOSH Qualifications
Each year over 30,000 candidates take a course that leads to a NEBOSH qualification, and courses are offered in 33 countries around the world – so if this is something that you are considering you’re not alone! NEBOSH qualifications range from introductory Health and Safety at Work Qualification to the professional safety practitioner level NEBOSH Diploma.
What is the NEBOSH Certificate?
The NEBOSH General Certificate is the UK’s most popular health and safety qualification. Because it’s so well known and highly regarded it’s ideal if you’re looking to launch a career in safety – and although it’s useful to have some prior knowledge there are no formal entry requirements. The course itself is divided into three units, the first two are assessed by exams and the third one by a practical assessment. Once successfully completed candidates meet the academic requirements for Technical Membership of IOSH (Tech IOSH) and associate membership of the IIRSM. For those working overseas, the increasingly popular NEBOSH International Certificate replaced UK based law with international standards and management systems.
What is the NEBOSH Diploma?
The NEBOSH Diploma is a prestigious and highly respected qualification, ultimately enabling Chartered (CMIOSH) status. Divided into four units (three assessed by exams and one by an assignment), it’s a rigorous and demanding course which never the less grows in popularity as safety professionals continue to recognise the benefits of holding such a qualification. There are alternative routes to CMIOSH status but arguably the diploma remains the most highly regarded and transferable across job role and sector and therefore stands candidates in good stead for the future. That said, the cost and time out of the workplace represent investments that inevitably not all workplaces will support, in which case the NVQ Level 5 may be worth considering.
Summary
IOSH and NEBOSH correspond on many levels but are ultimately doing different things. With more than 90% of health and safety jobs requiring licensed training from one of these bodies, however, a certification from either will be invaluable for the health and safety competence of you and/or your organisation.
There are few that will argue, that ears are an important body part, more often not they are not thought of as the most glamourous. While this may not be set to change, there is new evidence that the way your ear lobes are formed may prove to be useful in predicting your health.
In the image above, the lobe features a diagonal crease, this may tell-tale sign that you might be at increased risk of suffering from heart disease.
The first reference to this phenomenon was back in 1973, when a physician named S.T Frank wrote a letter to the New England Journal of Medicine, detailing his observation that a number of his patients with ear lobe creases suffered from angina and heart problems. However, this initial observation cannot distinguish between causation and correlation due to the sample size and measurement practices. This initial observation may however, prove true after a number of follow up studies (including data from Post Mortems) provided evidence. With Swedish and UK based studies presenting a finding of those with a crease in the ear lobe being twice as likely to have coronary disease. There are however, studies that show no correlation or hypothesis that earlobe creases tend to develop as people mature (they are very rarely seen in children). It could therefore, be proposed that old age is the real factor associated with the higher rate of coronary disease.
The theories behind why a crease may be a sign of possible heart disease, also tend to support the aging theory. As the body ages the body begins to slow down, with effects such as intercellular aging, general tissue degeneration and damage to micro vessels. This leads to the skin being less elastic and causing wrinkles, including the ears. Another effect is that the blood vessels in the body also become less robust, increasing the potential of heart disease. It has also been noted that the heart and earlobes are both supplied by a single set of arteries, which means that if they fail there is no way to get blood to the area. Which then ties into the theory that earlobes can act as early warning system for coronary problems.
While the evidence for the earlobe creases being a legitimate predictor of coronary disease, it can act as a great way to raise the conversation on heart health. Regardless if you have a diagonal crease in your lobe or not, its never to early to start taking steps to look after your heart. Visit the British Heart Foundation, for more information.
