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Strong health and safety management is essential on any construction site. With high-risk activities taking place daily, protecting workers and the public must always come first.
Contractors, employers, and site managers all have legal duties when it comes to health and safety. Whether you’re overseeing operations, managing subcontractors, or implementing procedures, you’re expected to lead by example and follow the law.
That’s why demonstrating competence is so important. The NVQ Level 6 in Occupational Health and Safety gives you the opportunity to prove your capability in a recognised, practical way while continuing to work.
Explore the NVQ Level 6 Occupational Health and Safety Qualification ›
Construction remains one of the most hazardous sectors in the UK. Workers are exposed to risks from working at height, operating heavy machinery, and handling hazardous materials.
According to HSE data, the construction industry consistently records one of the highest rates of fatal and non-fatal injuries each year. These incidents often stem from poor planning, lack of training, or failure to follow procedures.
Effective safety leadership helps reduce accidents and creates a safer working environment for everyone involved.
Under UK law, employers and contractors must protect the health, safety and welfare of their workforce. This includes providing safe systems of work, appropriate training, and proper supervision.
Contractors have a duty to assess risks, communicate responsibilities, and ensure that everyone on site follows safe practices. Employers must also provide the right equipment and ensure it’s maintained.
Understanding the split between employer duties and contractor obligations is vital for staying compliant and reducing risk.
As a construction contracting manager, you’re expected to plan, manage, and monitor health and safety across the site. This includes reviewing risk assessments, overseeing safe working practices, and making sure all legal requirements are met.
Under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM), you have a legal obligation to manage site safety throughout a project’s lifecycle. From pre-construction planning to day-to-day operations, your leadership plays a direct role in keeping people safe.
A recognised qualification, like the NVQ Level 6 in Occupational Health and Safety, shows that you have the skills and experience to take that responsibility seriously.
Carrying out risk assessments is one of the most important tasks for a contracting manager. We identify potential hazards before work begins and put control measures in place to reduce the chance of harm.
We also make sure safety inspections happen regularly. These construction safety inspections help us spot changes on site that could introduce new risks. Reviewing assessments often, especially when conditions or work activities change, keeps everyone safer.
As managers, we’re responsible for making sure the people on site are trained, supervised, and competent in their roles. That includes in-house teams and any subcontractors brought onto the project.
We work closely with health and safety advisors to ensure best practices are being followed. It’s also our job to check that anyone working under our control has the right qualifications and understands the safety standards expected of them.
We don’t just enforce rules, we set the tone for how safety is seen and followed on site. When we prioritise safety, others do too.
By encouraging open communication and promoting incident reporting, we help build a culture where people feel confident raising concerns. That culture is key to reducing accidents and making improvements over time.
When something goes wrong, we act fast. Whether it’s an accident or a near miss, we review what happened, update risk assessments, and introduce new controls where needed.
We also make sure emergency response plans are clear, practiced, and available to everyone on site. That way, if the unexpected happens, we’re ready to act.
Experience is essential, but it’s not enough on its own. Clients, employers, and regulators increasingly want to see formal proof of your capability.
Holding a recognised qualification shows that you understand the legal, technical, and practical side of health and safety. It also helps you meet requirements for site access, leadership roles, and professional memberships.
At 3B, we offer the NVQ Level 6 in Occupational Health and Safety for professionals who manage safety at a senior level. It’s ideal for contracting managers, site leads, and advisors who want to formalise their experience.
You complete the qualification while you work, using real evidence from your role. Our assessors support you throughout, helping you build a strong portfolio and gain a lifelong, accredited qualification.
Learn more about the NVQ Level 6 in Occupational Health and Safety ›
This NVQ helps you strengthen your approach to managing health and safety in a real-world setting.
You’ll cover essential topics like developing and implementing health and safety policies, proactive and reactive monitoring, emergency response planning, and promoting a strong safety culture.
You apply what you learn directly to your current job. The course is designed to enhance the way you already manage safety on site, giving you the tools and confidence to meet industry standards.
We assess your competence through real evidence from your day-to-day role. That might include site documentation, photos, witness statements or professional discussions with your assessor.
You don’t need to take time off work to complete this NVQ. You can gather evidence during normal working hours and fit your progress around your schedule.
Most learners complete the NVQ in around four to six months. We offer regular monthly progress check-ins to keep things on track.
Your assessor will work with you from start to finish, offering guidance and feedback to help you meet the criteria at a steady pace. You can also contact us anytime if you need extra support.
Once you’ve passed the NVQ, you can apply for your CSCS Black Card. You’ll also need to pass the CITB Health, Safety and Environment Test to complete the application.
The Black Card is recognised across the construction industry as proof of senior-level competence.
Completing this NVQ allows you to apply for Graduate Membership of IOSH. This can support your long-term professional development and open the door to higher-level roles in health and safety.
The NVQ helps you build credibility in your current role and gives you a qualification that lasts for life. Many of our learners go on to become health and safety advisors, senior site leads, or take on regional management responsibilities.
You won’t need to attend a classroom or press pause on your career. This is a flexible, work-based route to a respected health and safety qualification — with full support from our expert team along the way.
This qualification suits anyone responsible for health and safety in the workplace. Most of our learners work as site managers, health and safety advisors, workplace safety inspectors or senior supervisors. If you oversee teams, manage safety systems, or carry out inspections, this course gives you the credibility to match your responsibilities.
To enrol, you’ll need at least two years of experience in a relevant role. You must also be aged 16 or above. We recommend speaking to our team before enrolling to make sure the course fits your current position and goals.
Once you’ve completed your NVQ, you can apply for the CSCS Black Card. You’ll need your certificate and proof of passing the CITB Health, Safety and Environment Test.
Once you’ve got both, you can apply directly through the CSCS website. We can guide you through this process if you need support.
Health and safety is always evolving. After completing the NVQ, we recommend staying up to date with legislation through CPD and further training.
Many of our learners use the qualification as a launchpad into advisory or consultancy roles, where keeping your knowledge current is key to staying effective.
Most learners finish in 4 to 6 months, depending on how quickly they gather evidence.
Yes. You complete the course using evidence from your current job.
Get in touch for the latest pricing. We also offer interest-free payment plans.
No. You complete the NVQ remotely or through site visits, using our digital portfolio system.
This NVQ is widely accepted by employers as proof of competency for health and safety roles.
Yes. It’s accredited by ProQual or GQA and accepted across the UK construction industry.
Yes. The qualification makes you eligible for Graduate IOSH membership.
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