Certified Occupational Safety Practitioner – Foundation

Holders can explain why health and safety matters morally, legally and financially, and describe the general duties placed on employers and workers by applicable national legislation, e.g. the UK Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. They can recognise common workplace hazards, contribute to a simple five-step risk assessment, apply the hierarchy of controls and report incidents and near misses correctly.

Who it is for: New safety representatives, supervisors, team leaders, HR and facilities staff, and anyone beginning a career in health and safety.

1. 01Foundations of Health and Safety15% of the exam

   • Explain the moral, legal and financial reasons for managing health and safety
   • Describe the general duties of employers, employees and others under typical national legislation
2. 02Hazards and Risk20% of the exam

   • Distinguish between a hazard, a risk and a risk rating
   • Identify common physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic and psychosocial hazards
3. 03Risk Assessment Fundamentals20% of the exam

   • Describe the five steps of risk assessment from hazard identification to review
   • Apply a simple likelihood–severity matrix to rate a risk
4. 04The Hierarchy of Controls20% of the exam

   • Explain elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls and PPE in order of effectiveness
   • Apply the hierarchy of controls to select measures for a common workplace hazard
5. 05Safe Systems of Work and Permits10% of the exam

   • Describe the elements of a safe system of work
   • Explain when a permit-to-work is required and how it controls high-risk tasks
6. 06Incident Reporting and Safety Culture15% of the exam

   • Explain the importance of reporting accidents, near misses and dangerous occurrences
   • Describe the characteristics of a positive safety culture

Question types

Single choice 100%

Delivery

Online (remote proctored), Test centre

Retakes

Up to three attempts within any 12-month period. A 14-day waiting period applies after a first unsuccessful attempt and 30 days after a second. Each retake requires a new booking and fee. Retakes draw a different randomised form from the question bank.

Provisional cut score — psychometric validation is required before live delivery. Blueprint v1.0.

1. 1

   Register

   Create a free account and start the programme.

2. 2

   Practice

   Online practice test, 8 questions.

3. 3

   Training

   Optional

   Online course or classroom — or skip it.

4. 4

   Certification

   Independent exam and certification decision.

• Practice test8 questions · 20 min · 70% to pass · free with the programme
• Occupational Safety Practitioner – Foundation — online course14 h self-paced€349
• Occupational Safety Practitioner – Foundation — classroom courseAtlas Test Centre (Demo), Berlin · 14 hDemo organisation€595
  • 27 Nov 2026 – 28 Nov 2026 · Atlas Test Centre (Demo), Berlin
  • 25 Dec 2026 – 26 Dec 2026 · Atlas Test Centre (Demo), Berlin

Training is optional and does not by itself confer certification. Find a training partner