Level 5 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety

This qualification comprises 10 units, each with a focused learning outcome and practical application:

1. Principles of Health and Safety Management
   Core management principles, strategic planning for safety, governance, policy development, and integration with organisational objectives.

2. Health and Safety Risk Assessment
   Advanced methods for hazard identification, quantitative and qualitative risk evaluation, risk prioritisation, and decision-making for control measures.

3. Control of Workplace Hazards
   Techniques for controlling physical, chemical, biological, electrical, mechanical, and ergonomic hazards, including hierarchy of control application.

4. Health and Safety Legislation
   In-depth study of national and international legal frameworks, duties of duty-holders, compliance strategies, and implications of non-compliance.

5. Workplace Health and Safety Culture
   Strategies to assess, develop, and sustain a positive safety culture, leadership influence, behavioural safety, and employee engagement.

6. Incident Investigation and Analysis
   Structured approaches to incident investigation, root cause analysis, data collection, incident reporting, and developing corrective and preventive actions.

7. Fire Safety Management
   Fire risk assessment, fire prevention strategies, detection and alarm systems, evacuation planning, and regulatory compliance for fire safety.

8. Environmental Protection in the Workplace
   Environmental risk identification, pollution prevention, waste management, sustainability practices, and aligning environmental controls with safety objectives.

9. Emergency Preparedness and Response
   Designing and testing emergency plans, command and control arrangements, business continuity considerations, drills and scenario-based evaluation.

10. Occupational Health and Wellbeing
    Management of occupational ill-health risks, health surveillance, wellbeing programmes, psychosocial risk controls, and promoting workforce resilience.

• Develops senior-level leadership and strategic planning skills in safety management

• Strengthens ability to design and oversee complex risk control systems

• Enhances credibility for consultancy, auditing, and governance roles

• Supports career progression to executive safety positions and professional body membership

• Senior safety officers, advisors, and managers

• Health and safety consultants and auditors

• Professionals preparing for strategic or corporate safety roles

• Individuals progressing to chartered or higher professional qualifications

• Assessment type, unit work and verification: written assignments, case studies, and a major practical project or portfolio

• Mode: online submissions and workplace-based evidence, with possible invigilated examinations for some units

• Passing criteria: minimum 60% overall per unit, plus satisfactory practical/project verification

• Certification: awarded on successful completion of all units and internal quality assurance

To deliver this Qualification, HiQual UK Approved ATPs must demonstrate the capability to deliver, assess, and internally quality assure qualifications in line with recognised regulatory principles and the expectations of the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF).

Approved centres must operate effective systems to ensure the validity, reliability, fairness, consistency, and security of assessment.

1. Centre Recognition and Legal Compliance

Centres must be formally recognised by HiQual UK prior to the delivery or assessment of any qualification. To maintain recognition, centres must: Be a legally constituted organisation operating in compliance with applicable legislation and regulatory requirements. Demonstrate effective governance, management oversight, and clear lines of accountability. Comply with all HiQual UK policies, procedures, and conditions of centre recognition. Notify HiQual UK promptly of any material changes that may affect delivery, assessment, or internal quality assurance arrangements.

2. Resources, Facilities, and Learning Environment

Centres must ensure that sufficient and appropriate resources are in place to support learning and assessment. This includes: Learning environments appropriate to the mode of delivery, including classrooms and, where applicable, specialist or practical facilities. Access to learning and assessment resources that enable learners to meet qualification outcomes. Secure systems for managing learner data, assessment records, and certification claims. Arrangements that support equality of access and reasonable adjustments for learners where required.

3. Staff Competence and Occupational Expertise

Centres must ensure that all staff involved in delivery, assessment, and internal quality assurance are competent and suitably qualified. Centres must: Appoint tutors with appropriate subject knowledge, teaching competence, and relevant occupational or professional experience. Ensure assessors are trained and competent in applying HiQual UK assessment requirements and standards. Appoint a qualified Internal Quality Assurer (IQA) responsible for monitoring assessment practice and decisions. Maintain records of staff qualifications, experience, training, and continuing professional development (CPD).

4. Assessment Practice and Internal Quality Assurance (IQA)

Centres must operate robust internal quality assurance systems to ensure assessment integrity. Centres must: Ensure assessment is valid, fit for purpose, and conducted in line with HiQual UK requirements. Implement effective IQA procedures to monitor assessor performance and confirm the consistency of assessment decisions. Maintain accurate, complete, and auditable records of learner registration, assessment evidence, and outcomes. Carry out regular internal reviews and standardisation activities to support continuous improvement.

5. Integrity, Risk Management, and Malpractice

Centres must take appropriate measures to protect the integrity of assessment. Centres must: Maintain policies and procedures for the prevention, identification, and management of malpractice and maladministration. Ensure secure handling, storage, and retention of assessment materials and learner evidence. Report any suspected or confirmed malpractice to HiQual UK in accordance with published procedures.

6. Health, Safety, Safeguarding, and Learner Protection

Centres must provide a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment. Centres must: Comply with applicable health and safety and safeguarding legislation. Conduct risk assessments for learning activities, particularly where practical or technical work is involved. Maintain procedures to safeguard learner welfare and wellbeing.

7. Learner Information, Support, and Fair Treatment

Centres must ensure learners are informed, supported, and treated fairly. Centres must: Provide clear and accurate information on programme requirements, assessment methods, and certification. Ensure learners receive timely and constructive feedback on assessment outcomes. Operate transparent complaints and appeals procedures aligned with HiQual UK requirements. Manage learner information securely in compliance with data protection legislation.