June 2010

Examiners Report
NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety IGC1
Question 1
a. Give the meaning of the term permit-to-work. (2)
When work has to be carried out involving hazardous or high risk activities, a permit to
work is normally used. This is a formal document, signed by an authorised person and
intended to control the activities by ensuring set procedures are followed and by
recording the control measures that should be taken.
b. Identify THREE types of work activity that may require a permit-to-work. (3)

Entry into confined spaces,

Hot work for example welding and cutting,
Working at height,
Work on high voltage electrical equipment.

c. Outline the general details that should be included in a permit-to-work. (8)

Description and assessment of the work to be performed including the plant involved,
its location and the possible hazards associated with the task.
This will determine the need for, and nature of, other relevant contents of the permit
For example, the isolation of sources of energy and product inlets,
Additional precautions required such as atmospheric monitoring,
The provision and use of personal protective equipment,
The emergency procedures to be followed
The duration of the permit.
An essential element of a permit to work system is, of course, the operation of the
permit itself.
By means of signatures, the permit should be issued by an authorized person,
Accepted by the competent person responsible for the work.
On completion of the work, the competent person would need to indicate on the
permit that the area had been made safe in order for the permit to be cancelled by the
authorised person, after which isolations could be removed.

d. Identify the factors which may influence the effectiveness of a permit-to-work system.
(7)

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The information provided on the permit should be based on a full recognition of the
hazards associated with the work that is to be carried out.
The system will not be effective if there is a failure by those carrying out the work to
comply with the terms of the permit,

For example by failing to isolate plant or drain lines containing hazardous substances
Controlling ignition sources in a flameproof area.
Competency of staff performing the task,
The standard of the management and monitoring of the system,
The complexity of the system that has been introduced,
Environmental considerations and human factors such as stress or fatigue
Acceptance of the system by those involved.

Question 2
Identify the possible costs that an organisation may incur as a result of inadequate standards of
workplace health and safety.

Increase in accidents and ill-health of the workers. Consequently the organisation

suffers 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;
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
Damage done to the organisations reputation which could lead to a loss of orders and
a subsequent decrease in its profitability.

Question 3
Contractors are carrying out a major building project for an organisation.
Outline how this organisation could reduce the risks to contractors both before and during the
building project. (8)

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Select a competent contractor taking into account previous involvement in similar

types of work, references provided by former clients and the quality of the risk
assessments and method statements produced.
The organisation should also ensure that the contractor has adequate resources and
has allowed sufficient time to enable the work to be completed safely.
Once the contractor is selected, it would be necessary to share information on the
particular risks in the working area for instance the presence of vehicles including
fork lift trucks and the danger of falling materials;
The presence of hazardous materials such as asbestos and the location of services
such as electricity, water and gas;
General site safety rules such as a smoking policy and reference to the host
employers safety policy;

Requirements for permits to work for certain work activities;

Accident reporting procedures;
emergency procedures;
Location of welfare facilities including first aid.
A period of induction training for the contractors workers would be a useful method
for alerting them to these matters.
Finally, whilst the building work is in progress, there would have to be ongoing
cooperation and coordination with the contractor, with regular monitoring of
performance in ensuring the health and safety of both the contractors and the
organisations workers and this can best be done by the appointment of a responsible
contact person.

Question 4
a. Give the meaning of the term risk AND give a workplace example. (3)
The probability/likelihood of an occurrence and its possible consequences and severity in
terms of injury, damage or harm.
b. Identify the key stages of a risk assessment. (5)

Identifying the hazards associated with a particular activity or task performed at the
workplace;
Deciding who might be harmed including operators, maintenance staff and cleaners
and groups especially at risk including young workers and the disabled;
Evaluating the likelihood and probable severity of the harm that might be caused;
Assessing the adequacy of existing control measures and deciding whether additional
controls should be introduced;
Recording the significant findings of the assessment and reviewing it at a later date
and revising the findings when necessary.

Question 5
a. Outline what is meant by the terms (within an organisation):
(i)

active (proactive) monitoring; (2)

Active (proactive) monitoring involves taking the initiative before things go
wrong within an organisation in respect of health and safety issues and ensuring
appropriate health and safety systems and procedures are in place.

(ii)

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reactive monitoring (2)

Reactive monitoring is concerned with looking at events that have occurred in

order to learn from mistakes and establishing what systems and procedures can
and should be put in place to prevent a recurrence.

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b. Explain TWO active (proactive) monitoring methods that can be used when assessing an
organisations health and safety performance. (4)

Inspections - regular scheduled activities identifying existing conditions and

comparing them with agreed performance objectives;
Surveys - which focus on a particular activity such as manual handling or workers
attitudes towards safety;
Audits - involving a comprehensive examination of all aspects of an organisations
health and safety performance against stated objectives;
Sampling - which targets specific areas of occupational health and safety such as
unsafe work practices;
Tours - unscheduled workplace checks on issues such as housekeeping or the use of
personal protective equipment;
Health surveillance - involving health screening by the use of techniques such as
audiometry;
Benchmarking - where the performance of an organisation in certain areas of health
and safety is compared with that of other organisations with similar processes and
risks.

Question 6
a. Identify reasons why young workers could be at a greater risk of accidents at work. (4)

Lack of knowledge, experience or training;

The individuals stage of physical development coupled with immaturity;
Underdeveloped communication skills;
Over enthusiasm
The tendency for young workers to take more risks and to respond more readily to
peer group influences.

b. Outline control measures that could be taken to minimise risks to young workers. (4)

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Control measures that might minimise the risk include a programme of induction
training, careful supervision and mentoring by an experienced fellow worker;
The completion of risk assessments with young persons specifically in mind;
The provision of clear lines of communication with young workers;
Placing restrictions on the types of work and the number of hours to be worked and
introducing a programme of specific health surveillance for young workers.

Question 7
Outline the main health and safety responsibilities of:
a. employers; (4)

To provide and maintain a safe workplace including access and egress together with
safe plant and equipment;
To carry out risk assessments and to introduce safe systems of work;
To ensure the safe use, storage, handling and transport of articles and substances;
To provide a safe working environment with adequate welfare facilities including first
aid;
To provide information, instruction, training and supervision for workers.
To prepare and when necessary to revise a health and safety policy;
To cooperate with and consult with workers;
To secure competent health and safety advice and to cooperate with other employers
at the workplace.

b. workers. (4)

To cooperate with their employer,

To take reasonable care for their own safety and that of their fellow workers
To report accidents and any dangerous situations at the workplace.
Should not misuse any equipment provided for them,
Should follow site rules and should not take alcohol or drugs during their working
time.

Question 8
The number of absences due to work-related upper limb disorders in an organisation is
increasing.
Identify the possible sources of information that could be used when
investigating this problem. (8)

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Risk assessments and job safety analyses where the need for repetitive action has
been identified;
Accident and ill-health reports together with an analysis of records of absenteeism;
Worker records which would provide information on age and any reported disability;
Relevant information from safety committee meetings and from supervisors
particularly of the complaints they have received;
The results of surveys, questionnaires and interviews with workers;
Published information such as guidance from the enforcing authority and/or
manufacturers and that available from trade bodies and other employers.

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Question 9
Identify documents that may be examined when reviewing an organisations health and safety
management system. (8)

Health and safety policy together with completed risk assessments and safe systems
of work;
Health and safety monitoring records such as of inspections, audits and surveys that
have been carried out;
Accident and incident data including accident investigation reports and reports on
near misses;
Health surveillance records;
Any communications received following visits from the enforcement authorities;
Insurance company reports;
Results and measurements from environmental surveys;
Records of the maintenance of equipment together with information on any failures
that have occurred;
Details of the emergency procedures in place and records of any complaints made by
workers.

Question 10
A workplace accident has occurred and an investigation is to take place.
a. Give the meaning of the term immediate causes. (2)
Immediate cause: the most obvious reason why an adverse event happens. Physical
symptoms which can be seen or sensed such as unsafe acts by individuals or unsafe
conditions in the workplace.
b. Give TWO examples of immediate causes that could have contributed to a workplace
accident. (2)

The failure or breakdown of equipment or the use of incorrect tools;

The involvement of incompetent or unauthorised personnel;
The failure to replace guards on machinery;
Failure to wear personal protective equipment
Poor standard of housekeeping.

c. Give the meaning of the term underlying (root) causes. (2)

Underlying cause: the less obvious system or organisational reason for an adverse
event
happening.

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d. Give TWO examples of root causes that could have contributed to a workplace accident.
(2)
Failure to complete risk assessments and introduce safe systems of work;
Inadequate procedures for routine maintenance operations;
Poor standard of supervision;
Failure to provide an acceptable level of training for operations where competence
was required;
Failure to recognize and manage the presence of stress in operatives arising from
production issues.
Question 11
a. Identify a range of health and safety targets that may be included in the statement of
intent section of a health and safety policy. (4)

compliance by the organisation with the requirements of relevant legislation;

a reduction in the number of accidents and cases of ill-health;
the completion of an assessment of all risks in the workplace and its review within a
defined time scale;
the provision to all workers of the necessary information, instruction and training to
ensure their competence;
the maintenance of exposure levels below defined limits;
full consultation with the workforce on health and safety issues and the provision of
sufficient resources to secure the above targets.

b. Describe the purpose of:

(i) the organisation section of a health and safety policy; (2)
To show a clear allocation of health and safety responsibilities, including specialised
Responsibilities, for all levels of management and workers in the organisation with the
Aim of ensuring that the health and safety policy is implemented.
(ii) the arrangements section of a health and safety policy. (2)
The arrangements section of the policy details the practical arrangements made for
implementing the aims of the health and safety policy in relation to specified identified
hazards.

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