Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety

The specification for this award sets out its units; the version we consulted does not publish a unit list in a form we can reproduce here, so we have not guessed.² See specification for the unit titles and credit values.

The unit sequence for this award will be published here once the specification's unit list has been confirmed. Practitioner-level safety programmes are usually taught by beginning with law and management principles, taking risk and hazard control units in the middle, and ending with culture, leadership and any research or project element, so that learners arrive at the strategic units with the technical ones behind them. Whether LSPM follows that pattern for this award is for LSPM to confirm.

OTHM sets the entry criteria; LSPM applies them. As published:²

• Relevant NQF/QCF/RQF certificate or diploma or equivalent recognised qualification that covers the following basic concepts within Occupational Health & Safety: Science and Technology Legal and regulatory systems Workplace safety and health Definitions of risk and risk management principles Principles and theories of safety and health management Occupational health and hygiene Occupational psychology Information technology, literacy and numeracy Qualifications that fulfil this requirement include: British Safety Council Level 3 Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health British Safety Council International Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health NCFE IOSH Level 3 Certificate in Safety and Health for Business NCRQ Level 6 Certificate in Applied Health and Safety NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety
• Mature learners (over 21) with practical experience at least 2 years
• Learner must be 18 years or older at the beginning of the course

LSPM applies OTHM's requirements as published. Applicants holding a NEBOSH General Certificate or one of the other named awards are admitted on the certificate. Applicants relying on the mature-learner route need at least two years' practical safety experience and must be able to show that they have covered the basic concepts the specification lists, which in practice means having worked with risk assessment, safety law and health and safety management systems in a real role, not merely having attended inductions. Applicants with a safety qualification not on OTHM's list should send its syllabus with their enquiry; many are acceptable as equivalents, and we can give an initial view before LSPM decides.

If you are unsure which route applies to you, enquire and say so; working that out is what the advice call is for.

As with all OTHM diplomas at this level, assessment is by written assignment against the awarding body's criteria, with no examinations. Assignments in practitioner-level safety programmes are built on the learner's own organisation where possible: a review of its safety management system against a recognised standard, a legal compliance analysis, a risk assessment programme for a defined hazard set, an incident investigation report and learning review, and a culture or leadership case with recommendations. Anonymisation of incident data is expected and enforced.

The general arrangements for marking, moderation, feedback and resubmission are described on the how LSPM teaches page.

Time, honestly estimated

OTHM does not publish a Total Qualification Time for this award; the figures below use the -credit convention of ten hours per credit as a planning guide, not a promise.

See specification for the hours; a planning table will be added once the credit value is confirmed.

Holders of this diploma most commonly seek two things: a membership grade of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, and a more senior safety role. IOSH decides its own accreditation of qualifications for membership grades and its experience requirements, and its list changes; this page does not restate it, and applicants should confirm with IOSH, quoting the Ofqual number, before enrolling on the strength of a membership outcome. Employers in construction, manufacturing, energy, logistics and facilities widely recognise a Level 6 safety diploma as the practitioner threshold.

A bachelor's top-up in occupational safety and health, or in a related environmental or risk field, is available at a number of universities and is a realistic destination for holders who want the degree; the subject match is exact and the Level 6 credit is what such programmes look for. The credit volume of this award, once confirmed, will bear on how a university maps it.

The mechanics of advanced standing, and the questions admissions tutors ask, are on the top-up degrees page.⁴ Slot: universities holding a current progression agreement for this award, verified before publication.

Not everyone wants the bachelor's. The other direction from here is a Level 7 diploma, at master's level, described on the companion site for Level 7 diplomas.