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Key Facts: IOSH Managing Safely Exam

30 questions

Typical written paper length (not published by IOSH)

IOSH-approved training providers

45 minutes

Typical written time limit (not published by IOSH)

IOSH-approved training providers

36 / 60

Approximate written pass mark

IOSH-approved training providers

23 / 38

Risk assessment project pass mark

IOSH Managing Safely project guidance

7 modules

Course syllabus

IOSH Managing Safely syllabus

About 2 weeks

Typical project submission window

IOSH-approved training providers

3 years

Recommended refresher interval

IOSH

IOSH Managing Safely is the standard safety certificate for line managers, supervisors, and team leaders across all sectors, taught over about three days by IOSH-approved providers, with pricing set by each provider (typically about GBP 125-450 + VAT - IOSH publishes no fee). IOSH describes the assessment only as multi-format questions plus a workplace risk assessment project, and both parts must be passed. Part 1's format is not published by IOSH: approved providers commonly describe a 45-minute written paper of 30 questions mixing multiple-choice, true/false, and one-word answers, with around 36 of 60 marks to pass. Part 2, the risk assessment project (pass mark 23 of 38, per IOSH's project guidance), identifies four hazards from the syllabus categories and is typically submitted within about two weeks. The seven modules cover the moral/legal/financial reasons for managing safely, the five-step risk assessment with the 5x5 likelihood-x-consequence matrix, the ERICPD control hierarchy (Eliminate, Reduce, Isolate, Control, PPE, Discipline), legal responsibilities and 'reasonably practicable', the six hazard categories (including noise action values of 80/85 dB(A) and hand-arm vibration limits of 2.5/5.0 m/s2), immediate/underlying/root incident causes, and active vs reactive performance indicators with auditing. The certificate does not expire, though IOSH's training brochure says learning must be updated within a three-year window via the one-day Managing Safely Refresher.

Sample IOSH Managing Safely Practice Questions

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1The IOSH Managing Safely course identifies three key reasons why organisations should manage safety and health. What are they?

A.Financial, technical, and environmental reasons

B.Moral, legal, and financial reasons

C.Legal, political, and social reasons

D.Moral, environmental, and economic reasons

Explanation: Module 1 of Managing Safely teaches three reasons for managing safely: moral (no one should be harmed by work), legal (duties enforced through criminal and civil law), and financial (accidents and ill health cost money).

2In the 'accident iceberg' cost model taught in Managing Safely, what does the larger hidden part of the iceberg below the waterline represent?

A.Insured costs such as employers' liability claims

B.The cost of running safety training programmes

C.Uninsured costs (lost production, damage, overtime)

D.Criminal fines that insurers always pay in full

Explanation: The hidden bulk of the iceberg represents uninsured costs. HSE research found uninsured costs can be many times greater (commonly cited as 8 to 36 times) than the visible insured costs above the waterline.

3Following a workplace accident, which of these costs would an organisation usually have to bear itself because it is an UNINSURED cost?

A.Hiring and training temporary replacement staff

B.An employers' liability compensation payment to the injured worker

C.Repair of a company vehicle covered by motor insurance

D.Rebuilding costs paid out under a buildings insurance policy

Explanation: Costs such as recruiting and training replacements, lost time, overtime, and damaged morale are typically uninsured and must be absorbed by the business directly.

4IOSH Managing Safely is primarily designed for which group of people?

A.Full-time health and safety professionals seeking degree-level qualifications

B.New starters in any role who need basic safety awareness

C.Company directors and board members only

D.Line managers, supervisors, and team leaders with safety duties

Explanation: Managing Safely is IOSH's market-leading course (typically around three days) for line managers, supervisors, and team leaders in any sector, giving them practical tools to manage the safety of their teams.

5Which statement best expresses the MORAL reason for managing safely?

A.Accidents increase an organisation's insurance premiums

B.Regulators can issue enforcement notices against unsafe employers

C.No one should be harmed simply because they came to work

D.Customers prefer suppliers that hold safety certifications

Explanation: The moral argument is the ethical duty of care: people are entitled to go home from work unharmed, so harming workers' health or safety is morally unacceptable regardless of cost or law.

6Which of the following is a LEGAL consequence an organisation may face if it fails to manage safety and health?

A.Higher staff turnover and recruitment difficulty

B.Prosecution, fines, and imprisonment in the criminal courts

C.Increased production costs from inefficient working

D.Damage to brand image in the marketplace

Explanation: The legal reason for managing safely includes criminal prosecution of organisations and individuals, fines, imprisonment, and enforcement action such as improvement and prohibition notices.

7A manager asks a team member to carry out the weekly workplace safety inspection. Which statement about responsibility and accountability is correct?

A.The manager can delegate the task but stays accountable

B.Delegating transfers all responsibility to the team member

C.Health and safety tasks can never be delegated at all

D.Only the health and safety department is accountable

Explanation: Managing Safely stresses that while tasks can be delegated, accountability cannot: the manager remains accountable for the health and safety of the people and activities under their control.

8Why is it misleading for a manager to assume that 'insurance will cover the cost of any accident'?

A.Insurance policies only cover injuries to members of the public

B.Insurance premiums are fixed by law and never change

C.Insurers automatically refuse all workplace accident claims

D.Many costs (lost time, morale, reputation) are uninsured

Explanation: The cost iceberg shows that uninsured losses (production delays, management time, temporary labour, reputational damage) usually dwarf insured costs, and premiums typically rise after claims.

9Which pairing of definitions used in Managing Safely is correct?

A.'Welfare' means protection of the body from physical harm

B.'Health' means toilets, washing facilities, and rest areas

C.'Health' protects bodies and minds from work illness; 'safety' from injury

D.'Safety' refers only to fire precautions and emergencies

Explanation: Health concerns protecting the body and mind from work-related illness (including stress); safety concerns protection from physical injury; welfare covers facilities such as washing, toilets, and rest areas.

10Which of the following is a realistic business benefit of effectively managing safety and health?

A.Reduced sickness absence, morale, and productivity

B.A guaranteed exemption from visits by enforcement inspectors

C.Removal of the legal duty to carry out risk assessments

D.Elimination of the need for employers' liability insurance

Explanation: Good safety and health management reduces absence and accident losses, improves morale and retention, and supports productivity and reputation - core financial-reason benefits taught in Module 1.

About the IOSH Managing Safely Exam

IOSH Managing Safely is the market-leading health and safety course for line managers, supervisors, and team leaders, delivered over roughly three days by IOSH-approved training providers in any sector. It covers seven modules: introducing managing safely, assessing risks, controlling risks, understanding responsibilities, understanding hazards, investigating incidents, and measuring performance. Certification requires passing two assessments: a written paper of multi-format questions - IOSH publishes no item count or time limit, though approved providers commonly describe a 45-minute, 30-question paper of multiple-choice, true/false, and one-word answers - and a practical workplace risk assessment project, typically submitted within about two weeks of the course. The certificate does not expire, though IOSH's training brochure says learning must be updated within a three-year window, which the one-day Managing Safely Refresher covers.

Exam sponsor: IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health), delivered through approved training providers. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Question count not published by the exam provider

Time Limit

Not published by IOSH; providers typically allow 45 minutes for the written paper

Passing Score

23 of 38 on the risk assessment project (IOSH project guidance); the written-paper pass mark is not published by IOSH - approved providers commonly require about 36 of 60

Exam / Certification Fees

Set by the approved training provider - IOSH publishes no fee; typically about GBP 125-450 + VAT depending on delivery format

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Official sources

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

Module 1

Introducing Managing Safely

The moral, legal, and financial reasons for managing safely; manager responsibility and accountability (tasks can be delegated, accountability cannot); the accident cost iceberg with insured costs as the visible tip and uninsured costs (lost time, investigation, reputation) hidden below

Module 2

Assessing Risks

Hazard (potential to cause harm) vs risk (likelihood x consequence); the five steps of risk assessment; the 5x5 matrix with likelihood from very unlikely (1) to very likely (5) and consequence from insignificant (1) to catastrophic (5); higher scores demanding stronger and faster action; residual risk; suitable and sufficient; review after incidents or significant change

Module 3

Controlling Risks

The ERICPD hierarchy - Eliminate, Reduce (substitution), Isolate (enclosures and barriers), Control (safe systems of work, training, exposure time), PPE as last resort, and Discipline (monitoring and enforcement); 'so far as is reasonably practicable' and gross disproportion; permits to work for hot work, confined spaces, and live electrical work

Module 4

Understanding Responsibilities

Criminal law (punishment, enforcement notices, prosecution) vs civil law (negligence and compensation); employer duties (safe plant, systems, substances, training, workplace, welfare) and employee duties; written policy at five or more employees; improvement vs prohibition notices; the common/industry/expert knowledge tests; Plan-Do-Check-Act (HSG65) and ISO 45001

Module 5

Understanding Hazards

Six hazard categories (physical, chemical, biological, mechanical, environmental, organisational); noise exposure action values of 80 and 85 dB(A) with the 87 dB(A) limit; hand-arm vibration EAV 2.5 and ELV 5.0 m/s2; routes of entry led by inhalation; work-at-height avoid-prevent-minimise hierarchy and ladder rules; manual handling TILE; fire triangle and extinguisher selection; electricity (110 V CTE, RCDs); the six stress management standards; asbestos and LEV

Module 6

Investigating Incidents

Definitions of accident, incident, and near miss; immediate causes (the agent of harm), underlying causes (workplace failures behind it), and root causes (management-system failings); the four-step process - gather information, analyse, identify controls, plan remedial action; no-blame witness interviews; RIDDOR-style reporting of deaths, specified injuries, over-7-day absences, diseases, and dangerous occurrences

Module 7

Measuring Performance

Active/proactive indicators (inspections completed, training delivered, assessments current) vs reactive indicators (injury rates, ill-health absence, near misses); characteristics of good KPIs; auditing the management system using documents, interviews, and observation; internal vs external auditors; inspections vs audits; benchmarking against peers

Preparing for the IOSH Managing Safely Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 23 of 38 on the risk assessment project (IOSH project guidance); the written-paper pass mark is not published by IOSH - approved providers commonly require about 36 of 60
Assessment: Question count not published by the exam provider
Time limit: Not published by IOSH; providers typically allow 45 minutes for the written paper
Exam / certification fees: Set by the approved training provider - IOSH publishes no fee; typically about GBP 125-450 + VAT depending on delivery format Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

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IOSH Managing Safely: Suggested Study Strategy

1Memorise the 5x5 matrix mechanics: risk rating = likelihood (1-5) x consequence (1-5), with descriptors from 'very unlikely' to 'very likely' and 'insignificant' to 'catastrophic', and be ready to explain why higher scores demand stronger and more urgent controls

2Learn ERICPD in order - Eliminate, Reduce, Isolate, Control, PPE, Discipline - and be able to classify examples: substitution is Reduce, an acoustic enclosure is Isolate, a safe system of work is Control

3Know the key UK numbers the course references: noise action values 80 and 85 dB(A) (limit 87), hand-arm vibration EAV 2.5 and ELV 5.0 m/s2, written policy and recorded risk-assessment findings at 5+ employees, and ladders for short-duration work of up to about 30 minutes at a 1-in-4 angle

4Practise separating immediate causes (the oil on the floor), underlying causes (the unrepaired leak), and root causes (no planned maintenance system) - cause-classification questions are a staple of the written paper

5Be precise on definitions: a hazard has the potential to cause harm, risk combines likelihood and consequence, a near miss causes no harm but had the potential to, and residual risk is what remains after controls

6For the project, choose a workplace you know well and cover four hazards from different syllabus categories, scoring each before and after your proposed controls with the 5x5 matrix

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the format of the IOSH Managing Safely assessment?

There are two parts, and both must be passed. IOSH itself says only that delegates are evaluated using multi-format questions plus a workplace risk assessment project; it publishes no question count, timing, or written pass mark. Approved training providers commonly describe Part 1 as a 45-minute written paper of 30 questions mixing multiple-choice, true/false, and one-word answers, marked out of about 60 with around 36 to pass. Part 2, the risk assessment project, is marked out of 38 with 23 needed to pass per IOSH's project guidance.

What is the IOSH Managing Safely risk assessment project?

You carry out a real risk assessment of a workplace of your choice, identifying four hazards drawn from the hazard categories in the syllabus, rating each with the 5x5 likelihood-x-consequence matrix, and proposing further controls. It is marked out of 38 (pass mark 23), and providers typically allow about two weeks after the course to submit it.

How much does IOSH Managing Safely cost?

IOSH publishes no fee - its course page says only that the cost varies by training provider. Prices are set by approved training providers and typically range from about GBP 125 + VAT for self-paced e-learning to GBP 450 + VAT for tutor-led classroom or virtual courses. The assessment and certificate are included in the course fee.

How hard is the IOSH Managing Safely exam?

It is an introductory management-level test, and pass rates are high for those who attend the full course and revise. The questions reward precise knowledge - for example the 5x5 likelihood-x-consequence matrix, the ERICPD order, noise action values of 80 and 85 dB(A), and the difference between immediate, underlying, and root causes.

Does the IOSH Managing Safely certificate expire?

No - the certificate itself does not expire, and IOSH recommends the one-day Managing Safely Refresher course to keep knowledge current. Note that IOSH's own training brochure goes further, stating that managers must update their learning within a three-year window to maintain their certification, and some employers and clients require the refresher.

What are the seven modules of IOSH Managing Safely?

Introducing managing safely; assessing risks; controlling risks; understanding responsibilities; understanding hazards; investigating incidents; and measuring performance. The written assessment samples questions from across all seven modules.

Who should take IOSH Managing Safely?

Managers, supervisors, and team leaders in any sector who have responsibility for the safety of others. It requires no prior health and safety knowledge. Frontline workers usually take IOSH Working Safely instead, while senior executives can take IOSH Leading Safely.