Level 3 Diploma in Health, Safety and Environmental – One Year (120 Credits)

This qualification includes seven key topics designed to develop practical competence in workplace health, safety, environmental management, and compliance:

1. Health, Safety and Environmental Principles: Understanding fundamental HSE concepts, workplace responsibilities, safety culture, environmental awareness, and the role of effective HSE management.

2. Legal and Regulatory Frameworks for HSE: Understanding UK workplace health and safety duties, environmental responsibilities, organisational procedures, regulatory expectations, and compliance requirements.

3. Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment: Identifying workplace hazards, evaluating risks, applying control measures, and using the hierarchy of controls to reduce exposure to workplace risks.

4. Occupational Health and Environmental Management: Understanding occupational health hazards, workplace hygiene, environmental impacts, pollution prevention, waste management, and sustainable environmental practices.

5. Incident Investigation and Emergency Management: Applying procedures for accident and near-miss reporting, incident investigation, emergency preparedness, response arrangements, and corrective actions.

6. Workplace Inspection, Auditing and Safety Control: Conducting workplace inspections, monitoring safety controls, identifying non-conformities, maintaining records, and supporting HSE improvement.

7. HSE Management Systems and Workplace Practice: Applying structured HSE management processes, communication, worker participation, performance monitoring, documentation, and continual improvement within the workplace.

• Develops practical competence in hazard identification, risk assessment, workplace safety, and environmental protection.

• Strengthens skills in incident investigation, emergency response, inspections, auditing, and HSE documentation.

• Enhances employability across construction, engineering, manufacturing, energy, oil and gas, logistics, and industrial sectors.

• Builds awareness of UK regulatory responsibilities and internationally recognised HSE management principles.

• Provides a foundation for progression into higher-level health, safety, environmental, and risk-management qualifications.

• Individuals seeking entry-level professional roles in health, safety, and environmental management.

• Supervisors, technicians, and workplace personnel responsible for day-to-day HSE procedures and hazard control.

• Construction, engineering, manufacturing, oil and gas, energy, logistics, and facilities personnel seeking formal HSE qualifications.

• Learners preparing for progression to higher-level qualifications in occupational health and safety, environmental management, or HSE management.

• Assessment Format: Written examinations, case studies, workplace risk assessments, practical HSE exercises, inspection assignments, incident-investigation reports, and portfolio-based assessment.

• Total Questions: 80

• Passing Score: 60%

• Duration: 2 Hours for written examinations, with practical and portfolio assessments completed according to the assessment schedule.

• Certification: HiQual UK Level 3 Diploma in Health, Safety and Environmental

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.

Successful learners who achieve the HiQual UK Level 3 Diploma in Health, Safety and Environmental may progress to:

HiQual UK Level 4 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety, Environmental Management, Health and Safety Management, or another related Level 4 qualification.

Higher-level qualifications in occupational health and safety, environmental management, risk management, process safety, construction safety, fire safety, or HSE management, subject to the entry requirements of the receiving organisation.

Professional qualifications and specialist training in areas such as risk assessment, incident investigation, environmental management, fire safety, workplace inspection, emergency management, auditing, and occupational hygiene.

Further professional development with organisations such as IOSH, NEBOSH, and other relevant professional or awarding organisations, subject to their individual qualification and eligibility requirements. The OTHM Level 3 Technical Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety, for example, identifies progression toward Level 6 occupational health and safety study and IOSH-related professional progression.

Employment or career advancement in roles including HSE Assistant, Safety Assistant, Environmental Assistant, HSE Coordinator, Safety Officer, Environmental Health and Safety Assistant, Workplace Safety Technician, or Junior HSE Advisor, depending on employer requirements and relevant practical experience.

Continuing professional development and advanced study leading toward supervisory, HSE coordination, environmental-management, compliance, auditing, and occupational safety positions