IOSH
From compliance to culture
How the IOSH Level 6 Diploma helped Iqbal drive real change in workplace safety
Iqbal Mahmud Foysal has built a career in occupational safety and health spanning more than 13 years, primarily within Bangladesh’s ready-made garments sector, alongside experience in leather, plastics and metal-based industries.
In his role as a Safety Consultant under the Nirapon initiative with BRAC, he supports factories operating across complex global supply chains. Over the course of his career, he has visited more than 600 factories, an experience that has shaped both his technical knowledge and his perspective on effective safety leadership.
Early in his career, Iqbal’s work was driven largely by compliance. Inspections, audits and formal requirements defined much of his day-to-day activity, and success was measured by whether standards were being met. However, repeated exposure to similar incidents and unsafe practices raised important questions. Despite procedures being in place, meaningful improvement was often limited and short-lived.
Through this experience, Iqbal began to recognise that safety outcomes are influenced as much by organisational culture as by rules and regulations.
“Compliance may satisfy standards, but culture determines behaviour.”
Iqbal Mahmud Foysal
- Job role
- Safety Consultant
This realisation marked a turning point and prompted him to look for learning that would help him move beyond compliance-focused thinking and develop the ability to influence lasting change.
Developing strategic safety capability
Iqbal chose the IOSH Level 6 Diploma because it reflected the evolving expectations placed on safety professionals within global supply chains. Increasingly, organisations require OSH practitioners who can contribute to business decisions, support sustainability goals and embed safety into organisational strategy, rather than simply managing hazards in isolation.
The diploma provided a structured framework that aligned closely with these demands.
Through its unit-based approach, Iqbal progressed from core safety principles to leadership, governance and organisational integration. He explored areas such as risk management, incident investigation, stakeholder engagement, management of change and OSH integration across the value chain.
A key strength of the course was its emphasis on understanding and application rather than memorisation, encouraging Iqbal to apply theory directly to real workplace contexts.
“The diploma moved me from carrying out operational safety tasks to understanding how safety leadership works at an organisational and strategic level.”
Iqbal Mahmud Foysal
- Job role
- Safety Consultant
Balancing learning with professional responsibilities
Completing the IOSH Level 6 Diploma alongside a full-time role in a demanding environment required commitment and discipline. Iqbal balanced factory visits, reporting deadlines and personal commitments with study, often during periods of high operational pressure.
To manage this workload, he established a consistent routine around his learning, dedicating weekends to study and making use of IOSH learning resources and peer discussions to stay motivated.
A professional transformation
For Iqbal, the IOSH Level 6 Diploma represented far more than an academic achievement. It marked a shift in how he sees himself as a safety professional and how he engages with organisations.
“This was not just an academic journey, but a professional transformation.”
Iqbal Mahmud Foysal
- Job role
- Safety Consultant
The skills and insight gained through the diploma now enable him to better support organisations as they move away from compliance-driven systems towards proactive, people-centred safety cultures.
Looking ahead
The IOSH Level 6 Diploma has provided a strong foundation for the next stage of Iqbal’s career. His ambition is to continue developing as a strategic OSH professional, with a focus on global standards and international consultancy within manufacturing sectors.
Ultimately, Iqbal’s goal remains clear: to make a meaningful contribution to creating safer, healthier and more sustainable workplaces.
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