A guide to choosing the correct NEBOSH environmental course for your business.

Rather than focusing on the lowest price, NEBOSH training courses aim to provide depth and value for money leading to recognized qualifications in occupational health and safety, which should be a bigger factor for businesses. When it comes to health and safety, the lowest option is not necessarily the right option, rather the option that ensures everyone within your company can carry out their work safely should be the top priority.

NEBOSH environmental courses are not directed at any particular industry or commercial sector. Instead, they are designed for professionals in all sectors that are specifically concerned with managing environmental impact of their business. As they are national courses,candidates can expect to cover UK specific working practices and legislation relating to environmental management. 

There are 2 NEBOSH environmental courses to choose between; the NEBOSH Environmental Certificate and the NEBOSH Environmental Diploma. They both cover two modules of learning and are assessed with an exam and practical assessment in line with the NEBOSH specification. 

NEBOSH Environmental Certificate

This is offered at National Qualification Framework (NQF) level three, which is on the same level as an A-level course. 

This course consists of 2 modules:

·        NCEM1 - Management and control of environmental hazards. This module covers topics such as coping with environmental emergencies, controlling noise, waste, air emissions and water contamination and using energy efficiently, as well as the basics in environmental managements and procedures to deal with this.

·        NCEM2 – NCEM2 Environmental management and practical application. This is the practical assessment module and provides candidates with the opportunity to put their learning from the previous module into practice in a real-world situation.

The NCEM1 module is assessed by written exam and the NCEM2 modules through a practical exam. NEBOSH recommend that the course take 38 hours of taught study and 25 of private study. 

NEBOSH Environmental Diploma

This diploma is the most advanced level of the NEBOSH environmental courses available.  It is rated at level 6 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), which is within the same level as a bachelors’ degree.

This consists of 2 modules:

·        ED1- The management of environmental risk.This covers 16 different units. Some of these modules are concerned with environmental legislation, responsibilities and processes such as risk assessment, auditing and control, whereas others are concerned with specific environmental hazards such as waste – solid, liquid, gas, water and how to deal with them correctly. Together these units produce a detailed review of the knowledge environmental management professionals will need.

·        ED2 – Application of environmental risk theory and practice. Assessed via a written exam and the successful completion of a practical project.

NEBOSH recommend that it consist of 119 hours of taught study and71 hours of private study. On successful completion of the course, candidates gain associate membership of The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (AIEMA) and associate membership of the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (AIIRMS). Successful candidates can also use the post nominal: EnvDipNEBOSH after their name. 

While most national and international NEBOSH courses are now available in distance learning format, the NEBOSH environmental courses, being fairly new additions to the NEBOSH family are rarely offered in this way.

One of the great things about NEBOSH training courses is that they are taught by tutors with a wealth of experience in the industries and sectors that you are involved in. This should improve the learning process as it will be relevant to your work. There is nothing worse than having a training course being undertaken by a generic instructor reading from pre-prepared notes.Undertaking these courses is a great way to learn about what is required from people who have actual experience and could give you some further insight or anew perspective into your working life.