NEBOSH General Certificate NGC2

Analysis of questions September 2009 onwards ...

NGC1 examiners reports are available through the shop on

the NEBOSH web-site:
www.nebosh.org.uk

This first page pre-amble

is exactly as we used for
the companion NGC1
analyses from 2009 -

Ideally, you should conduct your own

paper by paper analyses, but we know
that the reality is that you probably wont
and so we have undertaken this task for
you; we would still ask you to look in detail through at least four
or five of the examiners reports in conjunction with our analysis.
The document you are now reading starts with the NGC2 paper
of September 2009; our analyses of questions before this date
are contained in separate documents.
Virtually every question in the present document could still be
found in an examination.

You will see that NEBOSH sometimes re-use or recycle questions; quite frequently in fact.
NEBOSH appear never to ask questions which require the use of mathematics.
I dont look at past questions - I want to come to the examination fresh.
Not very convincing. The suggestion that money is tight and further expenditure on examiners reports is unwelcome sounds more logical but it is surely a false economy, because,
as we always point out, familiarity with past questions may well make the difference between a fail and a pass.
The best way to
You could go into your examination with prepared answers for
prepare for examination
every one of the questions in four recent past papers, thats
questions is by attempting
a total of 44 prepared answers ... actually, its quite a bit less
examination questions.
than 44, for the reasons we have just given.
Im not yet ready to investigate previous examination
papers - Ive got more studying to do before I have a bash at a few past questions and
submit them to my tutor ...
... this comment might be reasonable in the first couple of weeks of study, but after month
or so in, past questions must be at the forefront of any study programme.

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24 Stirling Road, Chichester, PO19 7DS

01243 776394 www.praa.org.uk

NEBOSH NGC2
- analysis of past papers

our comments ...

We havent made a point of recording each time
a question is repeated - we dont want NEBOSH
to realise that we have noticed.
But you should notice and find a way that suits
you of recording these recurring questions - the
subject matter, their frequency.
You might like to categorise the questions, not
by syllabus section - that doesnt work - but by
subject:
characteristics of (non)-ionising radiation
assessment of DSE worksations
etc etc
As the questions says, dust lamps
can give indications of airborne dust
levels; they do not provide quantitative
measurements which have to be
obtained by the use of personal
sampling etc. This is a good example of
NEBOSH being at the same time helpful
as well as tempting you down a false
trail - the sort of question with which the
examiners probably feel rather pleased.
Of course many of the precautions taken
will be for the protection of workers as well
as members of the public, but do make sure
that it is the latter which is at the focus of
your answer - thats what the question asks.
A typical NEBOSH scenario question where
you need to think through all the hazards
that the groundsman might encounter during
his work - not just the obvious physical
hazards but hazards associated with use
of internal combustion engines in confined
spaces, noise etc etc. The fact that it is a
major tournament may be worth a mention
- perhaps the implication that this is a bigger
event than usual for the club and perhaps
this might mean that casual labour needs to
be employed ... or perhaps Im reading too
much into the words.

NGC2 examination September 2009

1 Four ways people can be injured by vehicles;
inadequate driver training and safety of employees;
issues to be addressed in training programme.
(20)

2 Two ways of raising alarm in event of fire. Selection

and siting of fire extinguishers.
(8)
3 Portable electrical appliances; eight examples of faults
and bad practice that could lead to accidents.
(8)
4 Monitoring dust in workplace to assess compliance with
WELs. Use of dust lamp. Personal dust sampling. (8)
5 Safe use of equipment - information, instruction,
training; categories of employee who should receive iit;
issues to be included.
(8)
6 Assessment of DSE workstation.

(8)

7 Independent tied scaffold in busy location; precautions to

reduce risk of injury to public during erection and use. (8)
8 Petrol-powered cylinder mower; tennis club.
Mechanical and non-mechanical hazards.

(8)

9 Control measures to minimise health risks from

hazardous substances.

(8)

10 Three types of injury caused by incorrect manual

handling of loads; appropriate handling techniques. (8)
11 Vibrating hand-held tools; health effects; control
measures.
(8)

The key to the second part of this question

is that the weight, size and intended
destination of the load should first be
assessed.

24 Stirling Road, Chichester, PO19 7DS

01243 776394 www.praa.org.uk

NEBOSH NGC2
- analysis of past papers

our comments ...

Not absolutely clear but the

implication is that part b) of the
question refers to the safety of
workers on the roof in general,
not just on the occasion of the lift.

NGC2 examination December 2009

1 Mobile crane to lift air-conditioning units on to roof of
two-storey building by mobile crane. Control measures
for safe lifting / to protect workers on roof.

2 Pedestrians in vehicle manoeuvring area. Rules for

drivers, pedestrians.
3 Chemical agents; four forms; acute and chronic effects.

Environmental matters
have been down-graded in
recent NGC revisions but this
question, or at least a close
variant of it, could well still be
found in examinations.

4 Eight ways of reducing risk of fire in workplace.

5 Safe collection and disposal of waste; issues to be
addressed.
6 Reduced low voltage; double insulation - operation and
examples of use.
7 Whole body vibration - explanation, effects, controls.

Note: not just keeping children

out but also making sure they
dont get hurt in the process.

Even without looking at the

examiners comments, we suspect
that many candidates will have
prove to have ignored the confined
space aspects of this question:
alarms for trapped workers;
permits-to-work, air monitoring
equipment, leakage of refrigerant
vapours / gases ...

24 Stirling Road, Chichester, PO19 7DS

01243 776394 www.praa.org.uk

8 Factors that may affect risk from manual handling in

relation to load, individual.
9 Construction sites; precautions to prevent accidents to
children attempting to gain access.
10 Factors to be considered before new machinery is put
into use.
11 Precautions to minimise risk to persons working in cold
environments.

NEBOSH NGC2
- analysis of past papers

our comments ...

NGC2 examination March 2010

1 Mains-powered brushcutter to clear undergrowth.
Safety features to reduce risk of electric shock; other
(non-electrical) hazards and control measures. Control
measures for other employees in vicinity.

2 WELs: control measures to ensure that WELs are not

exceeded; Two classes of hazardous substance that
require exposure to be reduced alarp.
3 External storage area - pedestrian hazards.
4 Non-powered hand tools; defective conditions that could
cause risk to user. Requirements for safe us of such tools.

I can understand why this last part of

this question was poorly answered - I
wasnt sure just what was wanted, but
apparently candidate responses were
poor throughout; surprising, I would have
thought that the first six marks really were
not too difficult to gather. All you have to
do is remember three definitions.

5 Main hazards present during building demolition.

6 Requirements for adequate means of escape to final
exit door. Assembly point - issues to consider.
7 Frequency, dB, A weighting - meaning. Two types of
noise measurement techniques.
8 Electrical cause of fires.
9 WRULDs - signs and symptoms; factors increasing risk.
10 LEV - factors that may reduce system effectiveness.
11 Eight ways in which fork-lift truck may become
unstable.

24 Stirling Road, Chichester, PO19 7DS

01243 776394 www.praa.org.uk

NEBOSH NGC2
- analysis of past papers

our comments ...

Certain aspects of CDM are now to be
found in element NGC1/1
Just what do NEBOSH classify as
non-mechanical hazards - study the
examiners comments to this question
and you will know and youll never have
to wonder whether or not you are able
to include electricity, noise, vibration,
radiation and working at height amongst
your selection of non-mechanical
hazards.
I would have thought that a mention
of the particular carcinogenic
hazards of hard wood dust were
worth a mention in the answer.
If you see the word control in a
question, you can almost certainly
use the phrase: hierarchy of
control, together with a brief
explanation of same.

Of course, failure to wear protection

will indeed be a factor affecting
the performance; the way the
examiners report is worded (in the
last sentence) is a bit confusing
but rest assured, NEBOSH are
agreeing that the wearing of the
protection is a factor.
This is a really meaty NGC
question - in my view it is really
moving on to Diploma level.
As well as enquiring about the
effectiveness of the guard it is
also asking about the impacts
that the guard might have on
working practice etc.

24 Stirling Road, Chichester, PO19 7DS

01243 776394 www.praa.org.uk

NGC2 examination June 2010

1 Demolition of disused building; factors that would make
project notifiable under CDM. Requirements under CDM
that must be fulfilled prior to work. Control measures to
reduce risk during demolition.

2 Three types of non-mechanical hazard that could lead

to injury / ill-health. Control measures to reduce risk.
3 Defence mechanisms against inhalable wood dust.
Control measures to reduce risk to employees.
4 Mobile crane lifting operations - precautions to reduce
risk of injury.
5 Measures to reduce risk of violence in busy A and E
department.
6 Frequency of inspection and testing of electrical
equipment - factors to consider.
7 Legionella - health risks; circumstances leading to
presence of legionella in a water system; exposure
routes.
8 Procedural measures to reduce risks to pedestrians in
warehouse when separation is not possible.
9 Possible effects on hearing of noise exposure. Factors
affecting performance of personal hearing protection.
10 Fire risk assessment - factors to consider.
11 Fixed guard as an appropriate means of providing
protection against mechanical hazards. Features of
fixed guards designed to minimise injury and ill-health
from mechanical and non-mechanical hazards.

NEBOSH NGC2
- analysis of past papers

NGC2 examination September 2010

our comments ...

1 Solvent use in a cleaning process. Forms taken by

solvent; routes of entry into body. Obtaining information
from safety data sheet; control measures.

Remember, when you see

the word control you think
hierarchy of control.
You are tempted to write down can cause
fire / explosion as one of the effects of
electricity; you know this is not an effect
on the body but you think its worth
putting down in case it gains you a mark.
It wont, the marking scheme for each
question will be very clearly defined.

2 Contribution of workplace layout to fork lift truck

accidents.
3 Effects of electricity on the body; factors that may effect
severity of injury.
4 Prevention of access to dangerous parts of machinery
... describe operation of: trip, two-handed controls,
interlocked guard, protective appliances.

Protective appliance is not a general

term for guards, light curtains etc - in our
subject it has a well-defined meaning:
push-stick, jig and so on. If necessary,
look back to PUWER regulation 11 in your
study notes (NGC2/4)

5 Main requirements for safe means of escape in the

event of fire.

Although it will take a few seconds and

will not gain you marks, it is probably
worthwhile starting your answer with ... in
addition to stable, level ground, factors to be
considered include ..; this may help the flow
of your answer.

6 Mobile tower scaffolds - factors for safe use.

7 Health effects associated with exposure to X-rays;
precautions to reduce exposure.

The question specifies a dental surgery but

the examinerss remarks do not focus in on
this particular environment. Normally when
NEBOSH set a scene in this way, they do
expect you to tailor your answer accordingly,
but it is hard to imagine that the average
NGC candidate could have enough local
knowledge to do this hence, presumably, the
general answer.
Even if you dont know just what a pillar
drill is, the words drill and workshop
provide the information you need to create
a satisfactory answer - there are general
requirements which you must address in
your answer.
80 dB(A) 85 dB(A) 2.5 m/s2 0.5 m/s2
... you need to remember these values.
The last part of this question is clever - it
requires you to think in general terms
about the simultaneous control of these
two hazards. (Think: control at source.)
Some sarcasm from the examiners here.

8 Manual handling injuries; load factors that will affect risk.

9 Health risks from hazardous substance - assessment
factors.
10 New pillar drill in workshop. Factors to be considered
to reduce risk of injury, ill-health.
11 Motor mower; action values for noise, vibration.
Measures to reduce risks from exposure to both.

of
analyses
r
u
o
s
w
o
nt sh
pers
le docume
NGC2 pa
f
o
ts
e
s
This samp
e
fiv
10.
ons in the
tember 20
p
e
S
the questi
to
9
mber 200
the NGC
from Septe are available for all
m
ses
NGC2) fro
d
n
a
1
C
Full analy
G
N
ons (both
examinati
.
to date
early 2003

24 Stirling Road, Chichester, PO19 7DS

01243 776394 www.praa.org.uk

NEBOSH NGC2
- analysis of past papers