BSC offers organisations 100 free level1 examinations for employees

35% of employers are not meeting their statutory obligation to provide training and 39% of employees have not received any training in the past 12 months*. In an attempt to address this situation, the British Safety Council has launched a new initiative for 2007, offering organisations the opportunity to provide employees with a formal qualification in health and safety.

The work of the BSC is central to the government’s national skills strategy – 21st Century Skills, Realising Our Potential – which states that ultimately a skilled and personally fulfilled workforce is a more productive workforce.

As a result, the BSC is providing funding for up to 100 employees of an organisation to sit the examination leading to the BSC Awards Level 1 Certificate in Health and Safety at Work. This provides the organisation with a potential saving of up to £1,450 in training costs, whilst employees will receive a nationally recognised qualification.

Each participating business will be provided with a free BSC Awards training CD from which handouts, PowerPoint slides and lesson plans can be individually utilised to prepare candidates for the assessment. The one hour multiple choice examination, available in English or Polish, is invigilated in-company and then forwarded to BSC Awards for marking. Results and qualification certificates are issued within five working days rewarding the participants quickly for their efforts.