IOSH Managing Safely: what the course covers, who it is for and how it works

The short answer

Managing Safely is an awareness course from IOSH, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, for line managers and team leaders. It gives people who are not safety specialists the basics of managing health and safety in their own area. You do not need any earlier safety experience. Training providers approved by IOSH deliver it in person, online or in a mix of both.

Who it is for

• Managers, supervisors and team leaders who are responsible for the day to day safety of a team.
• Organisations of any size and in any sector, since the course is built on general principles that apply worldwide.
• People who want to understand their duties, such as accountability for the safety of the people they manage.

What the course covers

The workbook that learners use is divided into seven modules. The first is an introduction, and the next six are the topics that IOSH names for the course.

• Introducing Managing Safely: why safety matters and what your role is.
• Assessing risks: what risk is and how risk assessments are carried out.
• Controlling risks: how to choose and apply controls.
• Understanding your responsibilities: law, duty holders and accountability.
• Identifying hazards: the common hazards at work, from slips and manual handling to chemicals, noise, fire and electricity.
• Investigating accidents and incidents: why to investigate and how.
• Measuring performance: how to tell whether safety management is working.

Length, assessment and certificate

• The full course is run over three days, or the equivalent in a different delivery pattern. A one day refresher is also available.
• IOSH states that delegates who complete the assessments successfully receive an IOSH Managing Safely certificate. Ask your training provider exactly how the assessment is run, because the format can change between versions of the course.
• IOSH says that the certificate does not expire. It recommends the refresher so that your knowledge stays current with good practice and changes in regulation.
• The certificate can be checked on the IOSH website.

How to choose a training provider

1. Check that the provider is approved by IOSH for Managing Safely. IOSH lists approved providers.
2. Ask about the version of the course, the length, the trainer's experience and what the fee covers.
3. Ask how the assessment is done and what happens if you do not pass first time.
4. Ask whether the examples are relevant to your sector and your country.

How this site helps

The study book on this site follows the structure of the Managing Safely modules, with short pages and diagrams. Use it before the course for a first look at the topics, and after the course for revision. It is a study aid and is not published or endorsed by IOSH.

Common questions

• Is Managing Safely a qualification like the NEBOSH IGC? It is an awareness course for managers, and it is shorter and less detailed. The NEBOSH International General Certificate is a qualification for people who want safety to be part of their job, with a deeper syllabus.
• Do I need to take a test? The course has assessment. Ask the provider for the current format.
• Is it valid in every country? The course is designed to be relevant worldwide, but legal rules differ by country, so use your own national law for decisions at work.

Where this comes from

• IOSH Managing Safely awareness course page and the IOSH Managing Safely trainer brochure (iosh.com, read in November 2026).
• Course length, assessment and fees depend on the provider and the version of the course. Check the current IOSH page and ask your provider.