IOSH Managing Safely vs IOSH Working Safely: Which Course Does Your Team Need?

As QHSE consultants here in Lincolnshire, we have realised businesses struggle to know which IOSH course they need. Business owners know training is important, but making the right investment can feel confusing. Choosing the right IOSH course is the key to building a safety culture that really works.

This guide will help in choosing the right IOSH course and for you to understand the crucial differences between IOSH Managing Safely and IOSH Working Safely, so you can make a decision that is confident for your business.

The Difference in Choosing the Right IOSH Course - Who Has the Responsibility?

When you’re deciding on an IOSH course, the main difference is that IOSH Managing Safely is for people who are responsible for the safety of others. Alternatively, IOSH Working Safely is for every employee, to ensure they can take responsibility for their own safety.

A Closer Look at IOSH Managing Safely

Who is this course for? 

Think of your managers, supervisors and team leaders. The IOSH managing safely course is designed specifically for them. It is for anyone who has people reporting to them and is accountable for their team’s safety.

What is the focus? 

The goal is to move your managers from simply following rules to proactively managing risk. The course gives them the knowledge they need to handle their duties for health and safety, such as conducting risk assessments that are effective, as explained by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). 

The course gives your managers the skills they need to lead on health and safety instead of just following procedures.

A Closer Look at IOSH Working Safely

Who is this course for?

The IOSH Working Safely course is for everyone in your organisation at any level in any industry sector. It provides the essential knowledge that every single employee should have.

What is the focus? 

The focus ensures every team member understands the part they play in keeping the workplace safe. It is about defining hazards and risks in a way that is easy to understand, giving your employees the confidence to contribute to a safety culture.

This course provides the essential foundation for every employee, making safety a shared responsibility for the entire team.

How This Works for a Business in Lincolnshire

For example, imagine you run a manufacturing company in Grimsby. When choosing the right IOSH course for your team, you could send your five shift supervisors on the IOSH Managing Safely course to empower them to manage their production lines. As well as this, you might have the entire workforce complete the IOSH Working Safely course, which ensures a consistent level of safety awareness across the whole site.

This blended approach is often the most effective, but it all depends on the unique needs of your business, which is something we can help you with as part of our wider health and safety consultancy services.

Final Decision - Choosing the Right IOSH Course

Your decision is about which IOSH course is right for the role and not because one of the courses is better. A workplace that is truly safe needs managers who can lead on safety and employees that understand their personal responsibilities.

Here at Graham Cowan QHSE Consultancy, our role is to help you make the right investment. As Chartered Fellows of IOSH with decades of experience in Lincolnshire, we provide a full health and safety consultancy service to help you assess your exact needs and build a resilient organisation that is safe and productive.

Ready to take the next step?

View the full details of all our IOSH courses and book your place on our dedicated training page.