Health and Safety Blog

OSHAD vs IOSH Registration is one of the important question being asked by OHS professionals working within UAE, or planning to relocate to Abu Dhabi, from other states and countries. This article will brief you about OSHAD vs IOSH registration.

“Out of this nettle, Danger, we pluck this flower, Safety.”

—-William Shakespeare

Occupational health and safety is a growing concern and of paramount importance in today’s work laden horrendous times. Occupational Safety and Health, commonly referred to as OSH, is a multidisciplinary approach towards safety, health, and welfare of people at work.

Since 1950, the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have developed an elaborate definition of occupational health:

“The main focus in occupational health is on three different objectives: (i) the maintenance and promotion of workers’ health and working capacity;

(ii) the improvement of the working environment and work to become conducive to safety and health and

(iii) development of work organizations and working cultures in a direction which supports health and safety at work and in doing so also promotes a positive social climate and smooth operation and may enhance the productivity of the undertakings.

The concept of working culture is intended in this context to mean a reflection of the essential value systems adopted by the undertaking concerned. Such a culture is reflected in practice in the managerial systems, personnel policy, principles for participation, training policies and quality management of the undertaking.”

— Joint ILO/WHO Committee on Occupational Health

 

OSHAD – SF

is another milestone in this arena. OSHAD stands for Abu Dhabi Occupational Safety and Health System Framework.

It is an applaudable undertaking by Abu Dhabi Government that is committed to safeguarding the mental, physical and social health of all its workers. This strategy, in turn, improves performance and outcome at a workplace to the maximum level.

For the sole purpose of Occupational safety, “Abu Dhabi Occupational Safety and Health System Framework” (OSHAD SF) was introduced, levelled on the management of performance and risk assessment. The system also defines the roles and responsibilities of all concerned stakeholders. It also earmarks the base-minimum standards required in UAE to formulate the internal OSH management systems by governing bodies and ensure adequate implementation.

Effective application of the integrated elements of OSHAD – SF leads down the lane of accomplishment of work objectives with potency. It eliminates the negative impacts of work-related activities and minimizes occupational hazards.

It caters to the need for adherence to safety regulations at work site.

Its aim is to:

1.To make sure that OSH roles, responsibilities and regulations in an entity are earmarked and communicated, to management as well as staff members.

2.To clearly define roles and responsibilities of all the stakeholders under OSHAD – SF

OSHAD – SF is based on the following principles:

• Roles, Responsibilities (of employers) and self-regulation (by employees). It includes assessing and eliminating workplace-related structural risks.
• Risk Management.
• Management of Contractors.
• Communication and Consultation.
• Awareness, training and competence.
• Emergency management (development of functional EOC i.e. Emergency operations centre).
• Monitoring, reporting and Investigating work-related hazardous incidents.
• Audit and Inspection.

Following are different grades of OSHAD – SF certification:

Category	Type	Grade
Occupational Health and Safety Management (OHS) Systems	Generalist	A, B, C
	Auditor	Lead, Certified, Provisional
Occupational Health, Safety and Environment Management (OHSEMS) Systems	Generalist	A, B, C
	Auditor	Lead, Certified, Provisional
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Specialized	Technical Specialist	A, B

The IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health) is similar to OSHAD – SF. It is a UK based non-profit organization, founded in 1945, for occupational health and safety. It has its Headquarters in “The Grange”.

IOSH has around 46,000 members worldwide. It comprises a comprehensive training program in OSH.

IOSH’s has put in a tremendous effort for the cause. It’s “No Time to Lose” 2014 campaign focused on the causes and management of occupational cancer.  It has also designed

The Occupational Health Toolkit (OH Toolkit)^, which is free of cost information pool to manage occupational health problems such as disorders of the skin, work-induced stress and non-work-related diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

IOSH offers a wide range of courses intended for various aspects of OSH. These IOSH tailored courses are delivered by licensed trainers in the following fields

• Leading Safely
• Managing Safely and Managing Safely Refresher
• Working Safely
• Environment for Business
• Fire Safety for Business and Fire Safety for Managers.

OSHAD vs IOSH Registration:

 IOSH has 6 Membership categories:

 

1. Affiliate member

Everyone who joins IOSH is an affiliate member first, regardless of experience or qualification.

2. Associate Member (AIOSH)

A person with an accredited IOSH qualification can get associate membership. Associate Members need the training required to work safely, but they are not health and safety professionals

3. Technical Member (Tech IOSH)

A Technical Member has got an accredited qualification and experience in OSH.

4. Graduate Member (Grad IOSH)

Graduate membership is offered to those who have completed an IOSH degree.

5. Chartered Member (CMIOSH)

Chartered Members hold the highest echelons of IOSH in regards to qualification

6. Chartered Fellow (CFIOSH)

Those Chartered Members who have five years of experience and are exceptionally committed to IOSH are awarded the fellowship.

Level of proficiency of IOSH members is assessed according to Qudorat program. (“Qudorat” is a national program in UAE that assesses the proficiency of establishments and personnel working in the arena of Occupational Health and safety system in Abu Dhabi).

The assessment  scale is as follows:

IOSH Membership Grade	Qudorat Equivalency
	Category	Type	Class
Chartered Member (CMIOSH)	OHSMS or OHSEMS	OHSMS Generalist or OHSEMS Generalist	A
Graduate Member (Grad IOSH)	OHSMS or OHSEMS	OHSMS Generalist or OHSEMS Generalist	B
Technical Member (Tech IOSH)	OHSMS or OHSEMS	OHSMS Generalist or OHSEMS Generalist	C

 

ORDOSAFE offers consultancy in Occupational health and safety. It entails a competent and lucrative consultancy in providing pragmatic solutions, effective training and customer satisfaction in OSH. It is basically a UAE based company but offers consultancy in many Middle Eastern countries including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman.

ORDOSAFE consultants are affiliated with internationally accredited OSH courses such as City & Guilds and IOSH.

OSHAD vs IOSH Registration:

Moreover, ORDOSAFE offers qualifications which help you get eligible for the application of IOSH and OSHAD membership.

The City & Guilds NVQ Level 3 Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety enables you to apply to the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health for a membership at the level of a Technician or an Associate and also OSHAD membership of category C.

The new City and Guilds NVQ Level 5 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Practice enables you to apply to the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health for a membership at the Graduate Level and also OSHAD membership of category B.

ORDOSAFE

is a safe haven for business groups and provides quality advice on matters regarding Occupational Health and Safety. If we turn a blind eye to OSH training matters, it will lead to loss of precious manpower, work hours, escalating insurance claims, litigation and compensation, hence loss of “man, money, material”.

ORDOSAFE acts as a connecting bridge between administration, management, and employees in matters pertaining to Occupational Safety and Health. ORDOSAFE offers consultancy and ruminative training programs in OSH. It has made working in a safe, healthy and productive environment, possible.

In a nutshell, Occupational Health is an important matter which has been duly acknowledged in UAE and being effectively implemented by OSHAD -SF, IOSH training courses, and ORDOSAFE consultancy.

It goes without saying, “Better a thousand times careful than once dead “