Awarding body launches language version of one of its qualifications

Health examinations body NEBOSH is celebrating the Chinese New Year today by launching a Mandarin language version of one of its most popular qualifications.

Today marks the beginning of the year of the dragon - a period of ambition, challenges, achievements and success in China and the entry level NEBOSH health and safety at work examination can now be taken in Mandarin Chinese, making it accessible to around a billion people who speak the language worldwide.

Trading between China and the rest of the world has grown twenty-fold in the last 10 years. As a result, many people from countries outside of the region are now also learning to speak Mandarin.

Staff at the NEBOSH headquarters in the UK will today be greeting each other with a traditional "gong xi fa cai" - a respectful wish for prosperity in the New Year. They will also be enjoying a Chinese banquet and joining in with a lion dance to mark the occasion.

NEBOSH chief executive, Teresa Budworth, said: "The countries where Mandarin is most commonly spoken - China, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia - are among the fastest growing and successful economies in the world.

"Health and safety is increasingly important to these economies. It helps demonstrate high standards of management and employee welfare. As a result, we've seen demand for our qualifications in the Far East grow rapidly in recent years. Ensuring our introductory health and safety at work qualification can be taken in Mandarin Chinese is a vital step in our international development."

The NEBOSH health and safety at work qualification covers topics such as risk assessment and control, work equipment, transport safety, electrical safety, fire safety, manual handling and hazardous substances.

For more information about NEBOSH qualifications, visit http://www.nebosh.org.uk/Qualifications/