Day Three Questions (NIGC)

1. List work activities that may present a particular risk to pregnant women at work and give examples of each
type of activity. (6)

Hazards:

Certain chemicals, e.g. lead

Certain biological agents, e.g. rubella virus

Manual handling

Temperature extremes

Whole body vibration

Ionising radiation

Night shifts

Stress

Violence

2. List Eight sources of information that might usefully be consulted when developing a safe system of work. (8)

ANS: Factors to be considered when developing a safe system of work:

What is the task being undertaken? Analysis can be provided through job safety analysis (the SREDIM method
mentioned earlier).
What equipment and materials are required for the task? These will present their own hazards which need to be
controlled.
Who will be carrying out the work? How many people are working? What is their experience/knowledge level?
Are there vulnerable persons?
What are the hazards associated with the job?
What controls are recommended by the manufacturer?
What emergency provision is in place?
Are the control measures adequate or are additional controls needed?
How will the system of work be monitored?
3. Outline why PPE should be considered only after other control measure. (8)

Limitations:

Doesnt remove the hazard

Only protects the wearer
Requires good fit, can be affected by spectacles etc
Correct use relies on wearer
Requires training
Uncomfortable
May increase overall risk e.g. goggles mist up, ear defenders mask sound of fire alarms
Incompatibility
People dont like it so often unworn
Fails to danger
No good if wrong PPE selected
Becomes contaminated if stored incorrectly
Can prove more expensive long term than the engineered solution

4. Give the meaning of the term 'hierarchy of control'. (2)

ANS: There are some general principles of prevention that can be applied to hazards in the workplace. These principles
rely on the correct selection of technical, procedural and behavioral controls.
5. Outline , with examples, the general hierarchy that should be applied with respect to controlling health and
safety risks in the workplace. (6)

ANS:
Avoid risks - where possible.
Evaluate risks which cannot be avoided - through the risk assessment process.
Combat risks at source - by going to the source of the problem directly (e.g. if there is a noise hazard in the
workplace, tackle the source of the noise).
Adapt work to suit the individual - by applying good ergonomic principles to job and workplace design (e.g. if
people are becoming fatigued when carrying out repetitive work introduce job rotation).
Adapt to technical progress - by taking advantage of new technology as it becomes available (e.g. buy mobile
phones for lone workers).
Replace the dangerous with the non-dangerous or less dangerous - by substituting one hazard with something else
which is less hazardous (e.g. replace a corrosive chemical with one that does the same job but is classified as
irritant and therefore less harmful).
Develop a coherent overall prevention policy - by consistently using the same approach across the whole
organisation.
Give priority to collective protective measures over individual protective measures - by creating a workplace that
is safe for all rather than relying on measures that only protect one worker at a time (e.g. install a guard rail rather
than rely on PPE).
Give appropriate instructions to workers - workers must receive information on the correct systems of work to be
adopted, and the organisation must also ensure that these instructions are followed through provision of adequate
supervision.
6. Outline the key stages of Risk Assessment and identify the issues that need to be considered at each state;. (4)

ANS:
Identify the hazards.
Identify who could be harmed and how (including workers, visitors, contractors, vulnerable groups).
Evaluate risk and decide on precautions.
Record the significant findings and implement them.
Review and update as necessary.
7. Outline reasons for reviewing a risk assessment. (4)

ANS: There are a number of situations that might trigger a review of a risk assessment:
Significant change to a matter that the risk assessment relates to:
- Process
- Substances
- Equipment
- Workplace environment
- Personnel
- Legal standards.
There is reason to suspect that the assessment is not valid:
- Accident
- Near miss
- Ill-health.
It is also good practice to review risk assessments on a regular basis. This is often done by determining a
frequency of review based on the level of risk associated with the activity in question. An annual review of
risk assessments is common practice in many workplaces.
8. Outline the factors that the employer should take into account when selecting individuals to assist in carrying out
the required risk assessment. (6)

ANS: To manage the risks associated with lone working a risk assessment must be carried out and a safe system of work
developed. Various control measures may have to be implemented in the safe system of work:
No lone working for certain high risk activities (such as confined space entry).
Arrangements for remote supervision.
Procedures for logging workers locations when lone working.
The use of mobile phones or radios to ensure good communications.
 The issue of lone worker alarm systems to raise the alarm and pin-point the worker.
Procedures to be adopted by workers when lone working.
Emergency procedures.
Training for workers in those procedures.
9. Outline reasons why young workers could be at a greater risk of accidents at work and outline the measures that
could be taken to minimize risks to young workers. (8)

ANS:
For these reasons you often need to think more carefully about the work that a young person is doing. It may be necessary
to:

Carry out risk assessments specifically with young persons in mind.

Prohibit a young person from carrying out certain high risk activities (e.g. operating high risk machinery).
Restrict their work patterns and hours (no night shift work or overtime).
Train and supervise them to a greater degree than other workers.
Provide mentors to monitor and supervise young persons more closely than other workers and to provide clear
lines of communication.
Provide specific health surveillance.
10. Explain the meaning of the term ' safe system of work' and outline the factors that should be considered when
developing a safe system of work. (8)

ANS: Safe Systems of Work

A safe system of work is a formal procedure based on a systematic examination of work in order to identify the hazards. It
defines safe methods of working which eliminate those hazards or minimise the risks associated with them.

Developing a SSoF

People competence, ability

Equipment plant, equipment, PPE

Materials substances, articles, waste

Environment space, lighting, heating

11. List Four Internal and Four External sources of information that may be consulted when developing a safe
system of work. (6)

Internal

Accident records

Medical records

Risk assessments

Maintenance reports

Safety inspections

Audit reports

Safety committee minutes

External

National legislation

Safety data sheets

Codes of practice

Guidance notes
 Operating instructions

Trade associations

Safety publications

12. List hazards associated with Confined Space. (4)

Fire or explosion

Loss of consciousness from gas, fumes, vapour, lack of oxygen

Drowning

Asphyxiation from free flowing solid

Loss of consciousness from temperature

13. List Four types of equipment / activities that may require confined space permit. (4)

Do not work inside a confined space if it is possible to do the work in some other way.

If confined space entry is the only way to do the work then a competent person must carry out a risk assessment.

A safe system of work must be developed for the confined space entry.

Emergency arrangements must be put in place as a part of that safe system of work.

Confined space entry must be under permit-to-work control only.

All personnel must be trained.

14. Outline the factors that should be considered when developing a safe system of work for confined space. (4)

Supervision

Competency

Communication

Atmospheric testing/monitoring

Ventilation

Removal of residues

Isolation, lock off of in-feeds and out-feeds

Isolation, lock off of electrical/mechanical hazards

PPE

Access/egress

Fire prevention

Lighting

Suitability of individuals

Emergency/rescue procedures

15. Give the meaning of the term 'Permit to Work'. (2)

A permit-to-work (PTW) system is a formal, documented safety procedure, forming part of a safe system of work, which
ensures that all necessary actions are taken before, during and after particularly high risk work.
A permit-to-work usually has four main sections:
 - Issue.
- Receipt.
- Clearance.
- Cancellation.

16. Identify Four types of activity that may require a permit to work at work. (4)

The sort of high risk work that would normally be controlled by a permit system includes:

Hot work (involving naked flames or creation of ignition sources).

Work on high voltage electrical systems.

Confined space entry.

Work on operational pipelines.

Excavating near buried services.

Maintenance work on large, complex machinery.

17. List sources of health and safety information (internal , external). (8)

Internal

Accident records

Medical records

Risk assessments

Maintenance reports

Safety inspections

Audit reports

Safety committee minutes

External

National legislation

Safety data sheets

Codes of practice

Guidance notes

Operating instructions

Trade associations

Safety publications