by Brianna Crandall — January 16, 2012—U.K.-based international safety, health and environmental examination board NEBOSH (The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health) has developed a new vocational qualification to help safety practitioners, managers and other professionals reduce the loss of life and health and the annual worldwide cost of fire damage of around $630 billion. The International Certificate in Fire Safety and Risk Management was officially launched at the Intersec trade fair in Dubai on January 15, 2012.
According to NEBOSH, thousands of people die and many more are injured throughout the world as a result of fires each year, and a large number of these deaths and injuries occur in workplaces and often result from failure to manage the risks of fire. As well as the cost in terms of lives, fires also have a huge economic impact. According to the World Fire Statistics Centre, the annual worldwide cost of fire is around 1% of global GDP (Gross Domestic Product), or around $630 billion. A large proportion of businesses never recover following a fire, adds NEBOSH.
“This latest qualification will help raise standards of fire risk management in workplaces across the world,” said NEBOSH Chief Executive, Teresa Budworth. “Our qualification will provide safety practitioners, managers and others with the know-how and skills to significantly improve fire safety where they work.”
The qualification covers the causes of fire in workplaces, fire prevention and protection techniques. To achieve the qualification, participants will need to carry out a fire risk assessment in their own workplace.
The International Certificate in Fire Safety and Risk Management is based on international standards and good practice from organizations such as the International Labour Organization (ILO), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), International Code Council (ICC) and the Confederation of Fire Protection Association Europe (CFPA-Europe).
Courses leading to NEBOSH qualifications draw around 35,000 candidates annually and are offered by over 450 providers, with exams taken in over 90 countries around the globe. NEBOSH qualifications are recognized by professional membership bodies such as the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM) and the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA).
