Examiners Report

NEBOSH INTERNATIONAL GENERAL CERTIFICATE IN OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY UNIT IGC1: MANAGEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY SEPTEMBER 2008

CONTENTS

Introduction

General Comments

Comments on individual questions

2008 NEBOSH, Dominus Way, Meridian Business Park, Leicester LE19 1QW
tel: 0116 263 4700 fax: 0116 282 4000 email: info@nebosh.org.uk website: www.nebosh.org.uk

The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health is a registered charity, number 1010444
T(s):exrpts/I/IGC10809 DW/DA/REW

Introduction

NEBOSH (The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health) was formed in 1979 as an independent examining board and awarding body with charitable status. We offer a comprehensive range of globally-recognised, vocationally-related qualifications designed to meet the health, safety, environmental and risk management needs of all places of work in both the private and public sectors. Courses leading to NEBOSH qualifications attract over 25,000 candidates annually and are offered by over 400 course providers in 65 countries around the world. Our qualifications are recognised by the relevant professional membership bodies including the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) and the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM). NEBOSH is an awarding body to be recognised and regulated by the UK regulatory authorities: The Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator (Ofqual) in England The Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (DCELLS) in Wales The Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) in Northern Ireland

NEBOSH follows the GCSE, GCE, VCE, GNVQ and AEA Code of Practice 2007/8 published by the regulatory authorities in relation to examination setting and marking (available at the Ofqual website www.ofqual.gov.uk). While not obliged to adhere to this code, NEBOSH regards it as best practice to do so. Candidates scripts are marked by a team of Examiners appointed by NEBOSH on the basis of their qualifications and experience. The standard of the qualification is determined by NEBOSH, which is overseen by the NEBOSH Council comprising nominees from, amongst others, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Department for Education and Skills (Df ES), the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). Representatives of course providers, from both the public and private sectors, are elected to the NEBOSH Council. This report on the Examination provides information on the performance of candidates which it is hoped will be useful to candidates and tutors in preparation for future examinations. It is intended to be constructive and informative and to promote better understanding of the syllabus content and the application of assessment criteria. NEBOSH 2008 Any enquiries about this report publication should be addressed to: NEBOSH Dominus Way Meridian Business Park Leicester LE10 1QW Tel: 0116 263 4700 Fax: 0116 282 4000 Email: info@nebosh.org.uk

General comments

Many candidates are well prepared for this unit assessment and provide comprehensive and relevant answers in response to the demands of the question paper. This includes the ability to demonstrate understanding of knowledge by applying it to workplace situations. There are always some candidates, however, who appear to be unprepared for the unit assessment and who show both a lack of knowledge of the syllabus content and a lack of understanding of how key concepts should be applied to workplace situations. In order to meet the pass standard for this assessment, acquisition of knowledge and understanding across the syllabus are prerequisites. However, candidates need to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding in answering the questions set. Referral of candidates in this unit is invariably because they are unable to write a full, well-informed answer to the question asked. Some candidates find it difficult to relate their learning to the questions and as a result offer responses reliant on recalled knowledge and conjecture and fail to demonstrate any degree of understanding. Candidates should prepare themselves for this vocational examination by ensuring their understanding, not rote-learning pre-prepared answers. Recurrent Problems It is recognised that many candidates are well prepared for their assessments. However, recurrent issues, as outlined below, continue to prevent some candidates reaching their full potential in the assessment. Many candidates fail to apply the basic principles of examination technique and for some candidates this means the difference between a pass and a referral. In some instances, candidates are failing because they do not attempt all the required questions or are failing to provide complete answers. Candidates are advised to always attempt an answer to a compulsory question, even when the mind goes blank. Applying basic health and safety management principles can generate credit worthy points. Some candidates fail to answer the question set and instead provide information that may be relevant to the topic but is irrelevant to the question and cannot therefore be awarded marks. Many candidates fail to apply the command words (also known as action verbs, eg describe, outline, etc). Command words are the instructions that guide the candidate on the depth of answer required. If, for instance, a question asks the candidate to describe something, then few marks will be awarded to an answer that is an outline. Some candidates fail to separate their answers into the different sub-sections of the questions. These candidates could gain marks for the different sections if they clearly indicated which part of the question they were answering (by using the numbering from the question in their answer, for example). Structuring their answers to address the different parts of the question can also help in logically drawing out the points to be made in response. Candidates need to plan their time effectively. Some candidates fail to make good use of their time and give excessive detail in some answers leaving insufficient time to address all of the questions. Candidates should also be aware that Examiners cannot award marks if handwriting is illegible.

Paper IGC1 Management of international safety and health

Question 1 (a) (b) Outline the importance of monitoring as part of a health and safety management system. Identify the: (i) (ii) active (proactive), and reactive measures (5) (5)

(6)

by which an organisation can monitor its health and safety performance. (c) Explain why monitoring reports should be submitted to the Chief Executive or Managing Director of the organisation. (4)

Apart from the fact that it may be a legal requirement and could well form part of the organisations quality assurance systems, the importance of monitoring as part of a health and safety management system is that it provides assurance of compliance with set standards, identifies areas of non-compliance, enables decisions to be made on appropriate remedial measures for any deficiencies that are identified and assists in setting targets for a future improvement in performance. It is also important in that it demonstrates the commitment of the organisation to health and safety and is a source of motivation for both managers and employees. In answering part (b)(i) of the question, candidates could have selected from a number of active monitoring methods including safety inspections, surveys, audits and sampling, environmental monitoring, health surveillance, behavioural observation such as by carrying out safety observation tours and benchmarking against the performance of other like organisations. For part (b)(ii), reactive monitoring methods which might be used include accident and ill-health statistics; incidents of reported near-misses and dangerous occurrences; property damage; actions taken by the enforcement authorities; the number of civil claims; an analysis of absences and lost time and the costs involved in all the above. For part (c), candidates should have explained that there a number of reasons why copies of the monitoring reports should be submitted to the Chief Executive or the Managing Director of the organisation. These include the fact that because of his/her position he/she has ultimate responsibility for health and safety and may wish to contribute to the review process; has the authority to require appropriate action to be taken and to authorise the resources that might be necessary and is in a position to take disciplinary action against employees in cases where this is thought to be necessary. Additionally his/her involvement may be written into the organisations quality assurance systems and is normally required by ILO and international standards. Many candidates confused active and reactive measures and provided superficial explanations in response to part (c).

Question 2

An organisation has been found to have inadequate standards of workplace health and safety. Identify the costs that the organisation may incur as a result.

(8)

The results of providing inadequate standards of workplace health and safety are normally an increase in accidents and incidents and cases of ill-health amongst the employees. These result in direct costs such as those arising from lost production and time dealing with the subsequent investigations; those arising from plant damage and replacement and clean up activities; paying those involved during absences as a result of accident or ill-health, having to recruit and train replacement labour and redeployment and/or rehabilitation costs on return to work; costs arising from the possibility of action by the enforcement authorities or by a civil claim from the injured parties and the inevitable rise in insurance premiums. There are also indirect costs related to poor staff morale which could lead to industrial unrest and high staff turnover and the damage done to the organisations reputation which could lead to a loss of orders and a subsequent decrease in its profitability. Answers to this question were generally to a reasonable standard

Question 3

Identify possible influences on an organisations health and safety management standards.

(8)

In answering this question on possible influences on an organisations health and safety management standards, candidates might have referred initially to those arising from bodies that are involved in framing legislation such as EU organisations and individual governments, as well as from those bodies that are charged with its enforcement. Other influences include industry based standards of good/safe practice; shareholder demands and expectations; that exerted by trade unions in seeking acceptable standards for their members; those exerted by insurance companies by placing requirements on employers as a condition of insurance; those from production demands and the pressure to cut costs in times of economic down turn; the need to maintain the organisations reputation to meet the expectations of society in general and its customers in particular; the competence and experience of the workforce and its involvement and cooperation in setting and complying with the standards and finally the commitment of members of senior management themselves in setting and enforcing high standards for their company.

Question 4

An organisation is introducing a new work activity that requires a safe system of work. Explain: (a) (b) why it is important to involve workers in the development of a safe system of work; why it is important for safe systems of work to have written procedures. (4) (4)

It is important to involve workers in the development of a safe system of work because of their knowledge of the particular working environment involved and what will work in practice. Additionally, their involvement will establish their ownership of the system and will encourage them to use and follow it once it has been finalised

and introduced. Finally their involvement will emphasise managements commitment to health and safety and help to raise its profile within the organisation. Once a safe system of work is developed, it is imperative that a clear method of communicating its procedures to the workforce is used and this would be better achieved in writing rather than orally. The procedures may contain complex information that will need to be consulted on more than one occasion to ensure the correct sequence of operations is followed. Additionally, different people will need to be aware of the procedures and it is preferable to have them written down rather than pass them on by word of mouth, a method that may not always guarantee consistency in their presentation. A written document will also be needed for audit purposes and could be used as evidence in defending an enforcement action or a civil claim. Finally, the use of written procedures may well be a requirement of the organisations quality assurance procedures. Many candidates seemed unsure as to the purposes of a safe system of work. Some attempted to define it, which was not, of course, what was required by the question.

Question 5

An organisation has had an increase in the number of manual handling accidents and associated ill-health. Identify sources of information that may be available to help reduce the risks to the workers.

(8)

Sources of information that may be available to an organisation in their quest to reduce the number of manual handling accidents to members of their workforce include international agencies such as the ILO; national enforcement agencies such as the Health and Safety Executive in the United Kingdom; employers organisations and Trade Unions; national and international standards making bodies such as ISO; information from manufacturers and also from other organisations carrying out work of a similar nature; professional health and safety bodies such as IOSH in the United Kingdom; occupational health services; and consultation with the workers themselves who from their experience could be in a position to offer information on procedures that could be followed to reduce the risks. Candidates experienced problems in answering this question. Many produced short lists which contained insufficient information to obtain the marks available.

Question 6

(a) (b)

Outline why it is important for an organisation to set health and safety targets. Identify health and safety targets that an organisation could set.

(2) (6)

In answering part (a) of this question, not many candidates appeared to understand the importance of setting targets in terms of health and safety performance. Some did suggest that it gave evidence of management commitment, but few were then able to highlight the importance of targets in motivating staff by providing them with something tangible to aim for; the important part they can play in facilitating the measurement and review of performance and for benchmarking against other like organisations. Candidates had a little more success in answering part (b) and identified targets such as reductions in the number of accidents and defined incidents; an improvement in the reporting of near miss incidents or minor accidents and an improvement in inspection and audit scores; a reduction in actions taken by the enforcement authorities and in the number of civil claims; a reduction in sickness absence and

absenteeism; an improvement in the outcome of benchmarking of performance against like organisations; reduced insurance costs; an increase in the degree of worker involvement and additionally in the number of workers trained in health and safety.

Question 7

Outline the factors that should be considered when assessing the health and safety competence of contractors.

(8)

This was one of the better answered questions on the paper with most candidates able to outline a good range of factors that included: the contractors previous experience with the type of work to be carried out; the reputation of the contractor amongst previous or current clients; the quality and content of the health and safety policy and the systems in place for its implementation including the preparation of risk assessments, monitoring and consultation with the workforce; the arrangements in place for the management of sub-contractors; the level of training and qualifications of staff (including those with health and safety responsibilities); the contractors accident and enforcement history; membership of professional bodies; equipment maintenance and statutory examination records; and the detailed proposals, for example method statements, for the proposed work.

Question 8

(a) (b)

Identify the key stages of a workplace risk assessment. Outline THREE reasons for reviewing a risk assessment.

(5) (3)

A good answer to part (a) of the question, and there were many, would have identified the key stages involved in carrying out a risk assessment as identifying the hazards associated with the activities and tasks performed at the workplace; identifying who might be harmed including operators, maintenance staff, cleaners, visitors etc; evaluating the likelihood and probable severity of the harm that might be caused; assessing the adequacy of existing control measures and deciding whether additional measures were required; recording the significant findings of the assessment and carrying out a review at a later date and revising the findings when necessary. For part (b), candidates were expected to outline reasons such as changes in the processes, work methods or materials used; the introduction of new or the modification of existing plant; the availability of new information on hazards and risks; the availability of new or improved control measures or techniques; a change in legislation; changes in personnel, for example the employment of young or disabled persons; when the results of monitoring of accidents, ill-health and the workplace environment are not as expected and finally after the passage of time.

Question 9

Outline the benefits to an employer of conducting accident investigations.

(9)

In answering this question, Examiners were looking to candidates to outline benefits such as the prevention of similar accidents occurring in the future; facilitating compliance with legal requirements and obligations; an improvement in the health and safety performance of the organisation; an improvement in the morale of the workforce and its attitude towards health and safety; the prevention of business loss and the provision of evidence to support a defence in the event of enforcement action or a civil claim being brought against the employer.

Answers provided by candidates were generally lacking in depth. Some may not have read the question with sufficient care and were content to outline a procedure for the investigation of accidents which was not what was required.

Question 10

(a) (b) (c)

Define the term hazard. Define the term risk. Identify FOUR means of hazard identification that may be used in the workplace.

(2) (2) (4)

Answers to this question were generally to a satisfactory standard. For part (a) candidates should have defined hazard as something with the potential to cause harm and for part (b), an acceptable definition of risk would have been the probability/likelihood that the potential would be realised and its possible consequence and severity in terms of injury, damage or harm. Means that may be used to identify hazards in the workplace include carrying out inspections, observations and safety audits; completing task and/or job analyses and risk assessments; the study of data on accidents and near miss incidents including the investigation reports; reference to legislation and its accompanying guidance and manufacturers documents such as safety data sheets; carrying out health surveillance and consulting with members of the workforce.

Question 11

(a) (b)

Identify FOUR types of health and safety information that could be displayed on a notice board in a workplace. Identify how the effectiveness of notice boards as a method of communicating health and safety information can be increased.

(4) (4)

In answering part (a) of the question, the types of information that could have been identified include: the health and safety policy of the organisation; the Information for Employees poster; information regarding health and safety representatives such as their names and contact details; targets set for the reduction of accidents and illhealth and information showing the current level of performance against the targets; forthcoming health and safety events including information on training courses available; identification of first aid arrangements and procedures for evacuation in the event of a fire; health and safety posters specific to current campaigns being run; information on current issues affecting health and safety such as contract work, no go areas and diversions; and a copy of the Employers liability insurance certificate. In general, most candidates provided answers to an acceptable standard. They were less successful with part (b), however, which did seem to cause them problems. Candidates could have identified ways of increasing the effectiveness of notice boards such as ensuring they were located in a common and prominent area of the workplace such as the staff room or canteen; dedicating the boards to health and safety matters; ensuring the information displayed was relevant and current and kept up to date; giving consideration to all ethnic groups and employees with special needs; displaying the information in a neat and orderly fashion and making the notice board eye-catching by the use of colour and graphics and, where possible, allocating responsibility for the up-keep of the board to a named member of the workforce.