NEBOSH: For Health Education
Established in 1979, the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) is a UK examination board. The responsibility of the NEBOSH is to set the syllabuses and methods of assessment for vocational qualifications. The institute was founded as an examining and awarding body with charitable status. The job profile of this institution is to provide certificates and diplomas in health, safety and environmental matters.
However, NEBOSH has not been given either the mandate or the responsibility to provide courses per se, as its job profile is to set examinations and accredit other organizations that provide teaching in these fields. Considering that the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health courses and examinations are provided in as many as 65 countries, the area of operation of this institute is really large. As it covers 65 countries, NEBOSH is inundated with lots of work as making syllabuses and methods of assessment for all these centers really consumes lots of its time and energy.
When it was set up in 1979, NEBOSH was known as the National Safety Examinations Board. Later on it changed to NEBOSH. Richard Booth was the board’s first chairman. A year later, in 1980 the first NEBOSH approved examination was held for modules that included the Ordinary Level and Higher Level Certificate. The institute expanded its Diploma qualification subsequently. Twelve years after its foundation the institute was recognized as a limited company and registered as charity in 1992 and in 2000 was accredited by the QCA. The post-nominal’s qualification was introduced in 2001. As many as 100,000 General Certificates were awarded in 2006.
NABOSH awards the Health and Safety at Work Qualification. The certificate it gives includes (a)National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety, (b)National Certificate in Construction Health and Safety, (c) National Certificate in Fire Safety and Risk Management, (d) International General Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health, (e) National Certificate in Environmental Management, (f) National Certificate in the Management of Health and Well-being at Work, (g) International Certificate in Construction Health and Safety, (h) International Technical Certificate in Oil and Gas Operational Safety.
NEBOSH diplomas include: (a) National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety, (b) International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety, (c)) Diploma in Environmental Management.
More than 30,000 people get the NEBOSH qualification each year. As it operates in 65 countries, its qualifications are recognized globally. People from all walks of life, working in different types of industries and national as well as state government institutions take its examination in various courses provided by it. The advantage of its certificate level qualification is that it gives you a good foundation in health and safety and makes you more efficient managers, supervisors of your organization when you are leading a team.
Tai Chi for Health and Balance
I’ll always remember my visits to San Francisco and passing groups of older adults in the parks, practicing Tai Chi. Just watching them brought peace, and you could tell they were entirely involved in their activity. It has always interested me, but I have to admit I have yet to experience it. However, just recently, at a Mindful Eating workshop, we did ‘purposeful walking’, taking very slow and controlled steps ‘with intention’. We could feel every single muscle working as we minutely and consciously lifted a foot, moved it forward, and placed it in front of the other one. This reminded me of what Tai Chi might be like.
But what is Tai Chi, why do people practice it, and can anyone do it?
Tai Chi was originally a deadly art, guarded by a few families and used for killing. Traditionalists believe that it is important for students of this ancient art to remember its roots, because the techniques of relaxation and breath control were developed for the express purpose of injuring the opponent in an efficient, scientific manner.
Today, of course, we no longer need to practice this martial art for the purpose of killing our enemy. However, some say that now we can use this practice to fight the enemy of fatigue, stress, overwork or lack of understanding of oneself and one’s body. Daily practice of Tai Chi promotes mental clarity and a healthy body, assists with balance and helps the circulation of the blood.
Someone doing Tai Chi (pronounced “tie chee”) will move slowly and gently, while breathing and meditating. This is why it is sometimes called “moving meditation”. Many practitioners believe that Tai Chi helps the flow throughout the body of a proposed vital energy called qi (pronounced “chee,” it means “air,” “puff,” or “power”). In the United States, Tai Chi for health purposes is part of complementary and alternative medicine, or CAM. People who practice Tai Chi do so to improve their health, yet it is not fully known what changes occur in the body during Tai Chi, and whether it does, in fact, influence health.
Over the years, several styles and variations have been developed. Taoist Tai Chi was introduced to the US by Master Moy Lin-shin, which emphasizes more elongating and stretching movements. Tai Chi Chuan is descended from the Lang family, but has several family variations. Someone doing Tai Chi for health moves in a slow and relaxed and graceful way, either on one’s own or in a group. These movements make up forms (or routines). Some movements are named for animals or birds. The simplest style of Tai Chi uses 13 movements, while more complex styles can use dozens – Taoist Tai Chi has 108 basic moves. Each of these movements flows into the next. The whole body is in motion, with movements performed gently and at the same speed. It is important to keep the body upright.
Like other CAM approaches, there are aspects of Tai Chi which everyone does not agree. Since there is little known scientifically about it, accepting its teachings is a matter of faith rather than evidence-based science. Also, in addition to more traditional styles, some blends of Tai Chi styles have evolved, such as those mentioned above. This creates a differing of opinion of which styles represent “true” Tai Chi.
Other important elements in Tai Chi are breathing and meditation. It is important to concentrate, breathe in a deep and relaxed manner. The benefits of this breathing and meditation include massaging the internal organs, helping with the exchange of gases in the lungs, helping the digestive system, increasing calmness and improving balance.
Health benefits of Tai Chi:
People practice Tai Chi for several health reasons, such as:
o To gain benefits from exercise. It is a low-impact form of exercise. It’s also weight-bearing, which is beneficial to the bones. Additionally, it is an aerobic form of exercise.
o To improve muscle strength, coordination, and flexibility.
o To improve balance. To have a lower risk for falls, beneficial for the elderly.
o To easy arthritis pain and stiffness.
o For health benefits from the meditation.
o To improve sleep and overall wellness.
Although Tai Chi for health is considered a safe practice, it is always recommended to check with your healthcare provider before beginning any type of exercise.
Here are some things to keep in mind:
o If your body is improperly positioned while doing Tai Chi, you could not only end up with sore muscles, but even sprains.
o Instructors recommend not practicing Tai Chi after eating, when tired, or when you are ill.
o Caution should be used if you have any of these conditions: Pregnancy, hernia, joint problems, back pain, sprains, fractures or osteoporosis.
In the US, people do not have to be health professionals or licensed to practice or teach Tai Chi. It is not regulated by state or Federal governments and there is no standard training for Tai Chi teachers. If you are considering learning Tai Chi, ask about your teacher’s training and experience. Learning Tai Chi from a teacher is encouraged over learning from videos or books. This will help you to know if you are practicing the movements safely and correctly.
The idea that sickness and disease arise out of imbalances in a vital energy field is part of some other CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) therapies, such as Reiki and homeopathy. Within CAM, Tai Chi is a type of mind-body medicine. Mind-body medicine focuses on the interactions among the brain, body, mind and behavior, and the ways in which emotional, mental, social, spiritual and behavioral factors affect health.
