Chris Gearren, General Manager at Groundforce Training Services has been awarded Chartered Member (CMIOSH) within The Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), internationally recognised and a highly valued health and safety qualification.
Gaining CMIOSH status is a great achievement and involves a long process of study and practical assignments. It also demonstrates significant experience, and that the member has undertaken a rigorous process of selection to achieve this membership level. The standard also requires chartered members to maintain a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) record.
Chris, who recently joined Groundforce Training Services to further develop the business, achieved CMIOSH following several years of studying, including an Msc in Safety, Health and Environment (Distinction) at the Greenwich University school of Architecture, Design and Construction. Following on from this he became GradIOSH and undertook the Skills Development Portfolio process (SPD), typically a two year process, to prove practical knowledge via work based health and safety assignments. Once fully completed, Chris, as all members wishing to become CMIOSH, undertook a professional peer review where he was asked health and safety questions in order to judge his knowledge and skill.
“I am very proud to have had the opportunity to work as a health and safety practitioner, within the training industry, for the past six years. Since there are no short cuts or ‘fast track’ ways to CMIOSH status, employers are able to trust they are dealing with someone at the top of their profession. Fundamentally, it’s a declaration that you are committed to helping to ensure the workplace is safe, healthy, and sustainable”. said Chris.
Simon Littlewood, Managing Director of Groundforce said: “We are committed to improving and raising standards of health and safety within the excavation support sector. Having people within our organisation with high level qualifications in health and safety will give further confidence to our customers that we can deliver the highest standards of training both externally and internally across all our businesses.”