Your NEBOSH environmental course options

Certificate 

The first NEBOSH environmental course option to consider is the certificate course. This course runs from 5 – 7 days, depending on the provider that you choose to go with and is split into two main units. The first unit known as EC1 or Management and control of environmental hazards takes around 35 hours of contact time, with a further 25 hours of personal study. 

The EC1 unit is mainly theory based and is broken down further into nine specific elements which address all the key areas of environmental management including a background to environmental management, instruction on environmental management systems, how to assess environmental impact, controlling emissions to air, water, energy emissions and usage, noise emissions and planning for environmental emergencies. 

The EC1 modules is assessed by a two hour written exam, performed in exam conditions. Each exam contains a single long answer or essay style questions and 10 short answer questions. 

The EC2 or Environmental practical application unit takes around 2 hours contact time and a further eight hours of personal study. It is an assessment in itself, designed for delegates to practically apply what they have learn in EC1. 

The EC2 takes the form of a report written in 3 hours and must be completed within 10 days of the EC1 examination to be valid. 

Diploma

The second option is the NEBOSH environmental course diploma. A longer and more advanced course that the certificate option, the diploma course is designed for those candidates that are looking to advance their career in environmental management to a high level, whilst contributing to a sustainable workplace. Like the NEBOSH environmental course certificate course the diploma course contain two units of learning (ED1 and ED2).  

Also like the NEBOSH environmental course certificate course the ED1 or Management of environmental risk unit contains all the theory content, while the ED2 unit is the practical assessment of this. 

However the first unit in the diploma NEBOSH environmental course is split into more elements than the certificate course, providing a greater depth of detail. These elements include: Principles of Environmental risk management, which addresses why and how risk management should be undertaken. Environmental risk evaluation, is the next element, which covers which type of evaluation process to use in certain situations and how to evaluate the risk of activities to the environment. Control strategies for environmental risk, addresses how to put in place an emergency plan, how to control environment hazards and how to do this in a systematic way. The next element is Monitor, Review and Audit which concerns how to monitor environmental performance in reactive and active ways and also how to recognise indications of a companies environmental performance. Developments in environmental legislation is the next element, and this makes sure that all delegates are up to date with the legal responsibilities in environmental management.

Other elements addressed in the ED1 unit are: Environmental, legislative framework and methods of enforcement, Public access to environmental information, Civil liability in relation to environmental pollution, Solid and liquid waste, Gaseous and particulate releases into the atmosphere, Water resources management, control of environmental nuisance, Hazardous substances, environmental implications of development and land use and finally energy use and efficiency.