Will an OHSAS & EHS Lead Auditor Certification Boost My HR Career Growth?

Dear Experts,

I would like to know whether doing a lead auditor certification in OHSAS & EHS will help add weightage to an HR profile. As a professional with more than 8 years of experience in Plant HR and Admin, can I benefit from it in terms of career growth? I am expecting your input in this regard because if this course is truly worth pursuing, then I may consider enrolling.

Is it suitable for an HR Professional to take this course? Please advise.

Thanks & Regards, Sridharan.K

Dear Sridharan K,

Doing a Lead Auditor course in OHSAS and EHS will specialize your profile. Continuing in HR may not be of much avail. Once you clear the Lead Auditor exam, the best way forward would be to become a consultant in the respective fields. You can do freelancing or join some certifying agency company.

V. Raghunathan

Thank you for your reply, sir. I would like to know going forward whether this certification will add weightage or strength to the HR profile. Your inputs please.

Thanks & Regards,
Sridharan.K

I feel it may not add weight to your profile if you qualify for OHSAS 18000 and get certified as an auditor while continuing to do HR work at your current workplace. Let's assume your company is OHSAS certified, and you need to go for renewal every year or couple of years. Your role from the company's side would mainly involve coordinating, as the renewal certification will be conducted by a visiting assessment agency. You can oversee the process and train your employees to enhance their performance with your knowledge. Even without an OHSAS certification, with some training, you can still excel as an internal auditor to support your employees.

On the other hand, if you transition to working as an OHSAS auditor, you can explore consultancy opportunities with assessment firms. While HR offers a broader scope, OHSAS is a specialized field with potentially limited openings. It is essential to thoroughly research the prospects in each area before making any decisions.

Regards, V. Raghunathan

HR is vast and encompasses many areas within Operations. You have to decide whether you want to climb the ladder in HR or pursue consultancy. Nevertheless, pursuing further studies or courses is not a bad idea. Just like tasting a dish without finishing it, expanding your knowledge horizons is always beneficial.