Simon Thorburn awarded NGC Occupational Health & Safety Certificate

A member of the Maintenance Department of St John’s College has just been awarded a highly regarded health and safety qualification by the National Examination Board in Occupational Health and Safety (NEBOSH).

Simon Thorburn, Maintenance Supervisor, gained the NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety, one of the most widely held health and safety qualifications in the world. Over 165,000 people have received the award since it was launched in 1989. NEBOSH qualifications are designed to meet the health, safety and environmental management needs of all work places, and are recognised by the relevant professional membership bodies.

The qualification comprises three NGC units which must all be successfully completed in order to receive the award, with the certificate taking up to 13 weeks to complete. Simon, however, took the certificate in just two weeks to become qualified as quickly as possible. During this period of intensive study, Simon completed NGC1 and NGC2  – taught units covering health and safety management and controlling workplace hazards, assessed by two two-hour written examinations – followed by unit NGC 3, a two-hour practical workplace assessment.

Simon has worked at St John’s for five years, and four years ago received his IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health) qualification, for which he recently completed a refresher course. The NGC Certificate, considered an important qualification by the College and which Simon passed with a credit, was an opportunity for him to learn new practical skills and techniques to build on his existing knowledge, providing him with a deeper understanding of health and safety issues and enabling him to manage risks even more effectively.

“The course was interesting, enlightening, and very full on - it was an intense two weeks!” said Simon. “I learnt a lot; whatever you do, you always learn something new”.