CMIOSH

[kngc]

Is CMIOSH overused and over relied on to validate knowledge?

Does it give a false sense of security around practical application of the legislation?

Just wondered what other Safety professionals views were in the subject.

K

[bernicarey]

Speaking as a CMIOSH for the past 6 years....

Overall, I would give qualified answers to your questions.

Is CMIOSH overused and over relied on to validate knowledge?

Depends on the perspective, are you asking if it is overused by the person seeking assistance, the person offering/providing it or both?

Does it give a false sense of security around practical application of the legislation?

Sometimes....

The point is that there are good, bad and indifferent at all levels of experience.
I am a product of the current system of Peer Review Interviews to attain CMIOSH, and I didn't pass the panel at the first attempt. My knowledge and experience wasn't particularly greater 12 months later, but my understanding of the process of Peer Review was and I approached the interview differently.

But when IOSH became a Chartered organisation, there were criteria set for who would get 'grandfathered' Chartered grade in the revamped membership. My Diploma Tutor in 2009 was one of those and quite frankly I have always stated that I passed my NEBOSH Diploma despite her tutoring, not because of it.

The thing is, it's down to due diligence of the person requiring the assistance, but overall, the CMIOSH has a far greater knowledge than the TechIOSH. It may not be that big a difference between Grad and CM, but the CM has usually been at it longer and so hopefully a greater breadth of experience/knowledge.

But we must remember that some people live in a stovepipe industry so may have a narrow breadth but great depth of knowledge. Myself, I specialise in SMEs and understanding how the little family run company works.

I've seen some right garbage produced by people who are out of their depth but don't know it. It ultimately comes down to the integrity of the individual and their adherence to the IOSH Code of Conduct, whatever their membership grade.

[ssmith65]

I think the same can be said for other chartered statuses. I have the Nebosh cert and I have been working in and around the FM market for the last 12 years. I could have gone down the CMIOSH route and took the health and safety path but I had the opportunity to pursue a slight change in profession recently and I am now studying to be a building surveyor that will ultimately lead to becoming a chartered member of the RICS.

The route to MIRCS seems to be someone challenging to complete with 2 years of work towards mapping evidence to differing levels of competence, and then the same case study and peer review. Is it possible to blag your way through this process? Also, within the MRICS people tend to specialise in particular areas, be that valuations, party wall agreements or building surveys. There are then different pathways for different professions as well, Quantity surveyors, Facilities managers and building surveyors will all take different routes to becoming chartered.

I`m not sure the same is true with becoming a member of CMIOSH?

[WillPool]

I think the same can be said for other chartered statuses. I have the Nebosh cert and I have been working in and around the FM market for the last 12 years. I could have gone down the CMIOSH route and took the health and safety path but I had the opportunity to pursue a slight change in profession recently and I am now studying to be a building surveyor that will ultimately lead to becoming a chartered member of the RICS.

The route to MIRCS seems to be someone challenging to complete with 2 years of work towards mapping evidence to differing levels of competence, and then the same case study and peer review. Is it possible to blag your way through this process? Also, within the MRICS people tend to specialise in particular areas, be that valuations, party wall agreements or building surveys. There are then different pathways for different professions as well, Quantity surveyors, Facilities managers and building surveyors will all take different routes to becoming chartered.

I`m not sure the same is true with becoming a member of CMIOSH?

Would say yes, its all about competency, how could a non HSE individual tell the difference between a Tech IOSH with 10 years construction experience and a CMIOSH who has only ever worked in Food processing??

So there are different routes/competencies involved.

can you blag CPD and Peer review, I dont think you can.

However as Berni states, CMIOSH is only as good as the individual and their competency.

Just my tuppence worth

Will