Case Studies

There is a school of thought in business which suggests that micro-decisions lead to macro-impacts. In other words, small decisions made by individuals can have far reaching consequences, not just for the organisations they work for, but for society, the economy and so on.

When Vanraj Dave first entered the world of occupational safety and health his focus was on the micro implications of his role. “I saw things very much at a site level, rather than in any broader sense,” he told us. “So, my focus was on encouraging colleagues to stay safe purely to prevent injuries to them or those around them.

“What I didn’t have in mind at the time was the wider impact of Occupational Health and Safety. Changing this mindset has made a big difference in my career and my life.”

Vanraj grew up in the city of Navsari, in the Gujarat region of India, around 250km north of Mumbai. After leaving school in 2004 he first took a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, before achieving a master’s in Environmental Science and Technology, as well as a Diploma in Environmental Law. Seeing an opportunity to combine health and safety and environmental management as a career, he also took an Indian qualification in industrial safety.

“This safety qualification was helpful from a country specific perspective. A friend who was working for a European employer told me about NEBOSH and said it was a recognised gateway to the profession. After this advice I took the NEBOSH International General Certificate before going on to the International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety.

“My NEBOSH studies broadened my approach in ways I could never have imagined. I think most significantly, it opened my eyes to the wider implications of OSH violations in the workplace. Of course, there is a strong moral duty to keep people safe and this is primary. However, it is also vitally important to understand how OSH can protect an organisation from prosecution, reputational damage and play a fundamental part in winning business through the achievement of international standards.

“So, what NEBOSH did for me in particular, was give me the skills and confidence to influence top management and leaders by seeing and presenting the bigger picture whilst having the professional credentials to support my case.”

Vanraj is now an EHS Specialist for global speciality chemical supplier Solenis which employs over 5000 workers. Vanraj’s remit includes the South East Asia and India regions. “It’s an exciting role. Solenis is headquartered in the US but has operations across the world including manufacturing facilities and customer locations focused on chemical safety, sales and supply chain. Safety management is very important and plays vital role in all Solenis operations. My role has given me the opportunity to focus on areas like chemical safety, occupational hygiene and environmental safety, which I love.

“I always recommend NEBOSH to others. Quite a few of my friends have found good positions in the Middle East by following my lead. It was a simple decision for me to start my NEBOSH studies, but when I consider the impact, it has been far reaching.”