NEBOSH Helpful Information for Starter Students

WEB SITE ADDRESS:

www.hse.gov.org.uk
www.craneaccidents.com
www.ilo.org

DEFINITION OF A HAZARD:
Anything with the potential to cause harm (e.g. injury, ill health)
DEFINITION OF RISK:
Risk is the likelihood that the harm from one or more particular hazards is
realized/ or occurs
DEFINITION OF ACCIDENT:
An unplanned, unwanted sequence of events which results in loss of some
kind
DEFINITION OF INCIDENT:
An unplanned, unwanted sequence of events which had the potential to result
in loss of some kind
ALARP:

As Low As Reasonably Practicable.

SFAIRP:

So Far As Is Reasonably Practicable.

ILO:

International Labor Organization

ELI:

Employers Liability Insurance.

HSE in UK:

Health and Safety Executive

IT IS:

Information Training Instruction Supervising.

COMPETENT:

Skill

Knowledge

Experience

AUDIT:

Systematic

Formal

Independent

JSA:

Job Safety Analysis

MSDS:

Materials Safety Data Sheet

ERGONOMIC:

The relationship between human and machine.

The study of peoples efficiency in their working environment

MATHAMATICAL FORMULA OF RISK / HAZARD:

Risk

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Severity

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FIVE STEPS OF RISK ASSESSMENT:
1. Identify the Hazard
2. Identify Those at Risk
3. Evaluate the Risk
4. Record
5. Review
LEV :

Local Exhaust Ventilation

HAZOP :

HAZard and Operability Study

ROPS :

Roll Over Protective - Structure

M.E.E.P. (Safe System of Work SSW):

M
E
E
P

Materials
Equipment and Plant
Environment
People

BSAFE (Common Hazards from Electricity):

B
S
A
F
E

Burns
Shock
Arcing
Fires
Explosions

SREDIM (Job Safety Analysis):

S
R
E
D
I
M

Select
Record
Evaluate
Develop
Implement
Maintain

ERIC PD (Risk Control Hierarchy):

E
R
I
C
P
D

Eliminate
Reduce
Isolate
Contain
PPE
Discipline (IT IS)

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ENITICE (Machinery Hazards Mechanical):
E
Entanglement
N
Nips
T
Trapping
I
Impact
C
Contact
E
Eject
FIAT (Remember the hierarchy of machine control):
F
I
A
T

Fixed
Interlocked
Adjustable
Trip Devices

PPE : Personal Protective Equipment

RPE : Respiratory Protective Equipment
RCD in UK (Circuit Breaker):

Residual Current Device

The Spread of Fire : Conduction

Convention

Radiation Direct Contact

Details of Signage Color:

Yellow
Blue
Green
Red

:
:
:
:

Warning
Mandatory
Safe Condition
Danger

4Cs The activities necessary to promote a health and safety culture are divided
into the 4Cs
Control
Co-operation
Communication
Competence
MUSCULOSKELETAL:

Relating to the Musculature and Skeleton

together. (Name of the Decease)

HEALTH & SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

HS (G) 65:

Successful Health & Safety Systems

OHSAS 18001:

Occupational Health and Safety Management

Systems Specifications

ILO / OSH 2001:

ILO Guidelines on Occupational Safety & Health

Management systems.

HS (G) 65 ALL ELEMENTS:

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Students Areas to concentrate on for the written Examination:
It is important that you read the questions very carefully, answer the questions you
feel comfortable with first and leave the other until you can formulate your thoughts.
Remember the rules answer the question that is asked: e.g.
Outline Give the most important features of (less in depth than Explain or
Describe, but more in depth than List.
Define Provide an generally recognized or accepted definition
Describe Give a word picture
Explain Give a clear account or reasons for
Give Provide without explanation (used normally to give an example)
Identify Select and Name
List Provide a list without explanation
Sketch Provide a simple line drawing using labels to identify specific
features
State A less demanding form of define or where there is no generally
recognized definition.
NOTE:
Do not use word like Proper Use Sufficient / Suitable / Adequate.
Do not use word like Capable Person Use Competent Person
Some Simple examples are:
Q:

List six items of PPE required on a construction site?

A:

Hearing Protection
Respiratory Protection
Eye Protection
Protective Clothing
Skin Protection
Safety Belts and Harness

Q:

Define the acronym ALARP and give an example where you would use
it?

A:

The acronym ALARP is As Low As Reasonably Practicable and an example

of usage would be After completing the quantified risk assessment the team
looked at extra control measure to ensure the risk was as low as reasonably
practicable (ALARP)

POLICY :

STATEMENT OF INTENT

The Statement of intent is intended to communicate to all employees

the importance of, and the commitment to health and safety.

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The statement should bear the signature of the owner, managing
director, chief executive or other most senior person to give weight to the
commitment being shown in what is a very important feature of the policy.
Q:

Outline the three main reasons why manage health and safety and
explain which is the most important of those reasons (6).

A:

The Moral, Legal and Financial are three main reasons for promoting good
standards of health and safety within an organization. The most important
reason is MORAL because, we all have moral obligation not to cause harm to
others. Employers have a moral obligation toward, their employees and
others. Managing health and safety is an integral part of any management of
business.

Q:

Explain the difference between Pro-active and Re-active monitoring and

give and example of each (8).

A:

Proactive monitoring which monitors the achievement of plans and the

degree of compliance with standards before an Accident, Incident on Ill
Health.
Reactive monitoring which monitors after accidents, ill health and incidents.
Examples for Proactive Monitoring: Performance Reviews, Review of Training
assessments, Records and needs, Workplace Inspections, Management
system audits & Safety Survey.
Examples for Reactive Monitoring: Accident Investigation, Accident /
Incidence Rates, Ill Health Incident rates, Accident frequency rates, Accident
severity rates & Sickness absence.

Q:

Name the three spheres of influence related to Safety Culture and

explain how these three spheres of influence interact to ensure safety at
work (8)

A:

The three spheres of influence related to Safety Culture are

The Organization (The Organizational controls from management)
The People (Employees / Contractors etc)
The Job (Tasks)
The three spheres if influences are known to work together to influence and
foster a positive safety culture. The organization that ensure a safe place of
work, information, training, instruction, and supervision, together with good
risk controls sets the scene for employees to work in a secure and well
motivated environment. With this the people within the organization and those
connected to it should be competent and believe in the goals and
preventative measures set by management, this forms a team of wellmotivated employees. The third sphere of influence is essential to complete
the interrelation of the three spheres of influence. This is the ongoing tasks /
jobs, which if well organized and controlled by management with good
communication, consultation and supervision will go a long way to ensuring
and reinforcing a positive safety culture.

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Q:
An employee has been seriously injured after being struck by a
reversing vehicle in a loading bay.
I. Give four reasons why we should investigate accidents? (6)
The reason this accidents should be investigated are numerous and they
include
Examining the direct cause of the accidents and the root cause of the
accident to try to prevent future accidents by identifying and
eliminating or reducing the causes.
Accidents also give use valuable information in relation to hazards that
may exist in the workplace that have not been identified by a proactive approach.
To ensure compliance with legislation and accident reporting internally
To ensure training and information can be targeted in the areas of
concern and management controls can be strengthened.
II. Outline the information that should be included in an accident report (6)
An accident report should be comprehensive to enable the direct and indirect
(root causes) to be identified.
The report should ideally contain the events preceding the accident, the date
and time of the accident, the precise location information on person(s)
involved. A clear account of what was found at the accident scene with the
possible direct causes, together with witness statements.
Initial injuries of person(s) if medical personnel are at the scene their initial
findings should be included.
Other information as required, e.g. weather conditions, road or ground
conditions etc.
If root cause analysis has been carried out this information should be
included. A conclusion by the accident investigation team is important for
clarity.
III. Give four possible immediate causes of accidents and underlying (root
causes). (8)
Four possible causes of immediate caused of the above accidents may be
slips on workplace surface on the level, employee not paying attention, no
reversing alarm on the vehicle, fork lift truck operator not be attentive and
looking around for pedestrians.
The route causes for the above accidents could be:

Slips on the workplace level may have a root causes of oil being split
and not cleaned up immediately
The root cause of a Fork Lift truck could be attributed to the driver
being not properly trained and inadequate training in reversing
techniques.
The root cause of the employee slipping may be that the
housekeeping regime is in adequate and not monitored.

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Q:

The fork lift truck may not be well maintained to check the reversing
alarm is working.

2.
Outline the factors you should consider when developing a safe
system of work (8)
When developing a safe system of work you should consider the following,
Materials how and what we will use and under what circumstances.
Environment will the environment in which the work is being carried out
have sufficient heating, ventilation, lighting etc. will the activity or process
have an impact on the environment?
People are people competent trained to conduct the specific work / task
Equipment is the machinery / equipment to specification for the work and is
it is good condition, with guards where necessary
Within the consideration risk assessments, inspection and accident reports
should be consulted to ensure the safe system of work addresses all hazards
and risk which are likely to arise. Also manufactures instruction and
information and equipment, machinery and chemicals etc should also be
consulted. Safe Systems of Work should be easily understood by all workers
at every level.

Q:

3.
Explain why PPE should be considered as the last resort in the
control of occupational hazards? (8)
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is considered the last resort in the
hierarchy of control measures / precautions, as hazards should be assessed
by the risk assessment process and all hazards where possible should be
eliminated or controlled at their source e.g. reduce the noise of a
compressor by engineering controls by making it quieter with insulation etc,
this will help reduce the level of noise at source prior to issuing PPE (ear
protection). If PPE is given without trying to eliminate or reduce the hazard (s)
we are not using a systematic method of permanent controls. PPE is a good
method of control for various hazards, however, if we use PPE without first
trying to eliminate or reduce the hazard, the hazard may still exist in its full
form and PPE may not be sufficient means of safe control, also different types
and ranges of PPE protect at varying levels so health may be compromised,
more importantly PPE depends on the user to wear it and this is practice is
difficult to ensure to enforce with consistent supervision and regular
inspections etc.

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Q:
4.
Describe the
management system (10)

main

components

of a health and safety

The main components of a management system are: Policy, Organization,

Planning and Implementation, Measuring Performance, Reviewing
Performance, Audit and Continuous Improvement.
The components are explained as follows:
Policy should contain

Protecting the safety and health of all members of the organization by

preventing work related injuries, ill health, diseases and incidents.
Complying with relevant OSH national laws and regulations, voluntary
programmes, collective agreements on OSH and other requirements
to which the organization subscribes.
Ensuring the workers and their representatives are consulted and
encouraged to participate actively in all elements of the OSH
management system: and
Continually improving the performance of the OSH management
system.
Signed / endorsed by senior management and cascaded to all
employees.

Organization Section should ideally contain: a chart illustrating the

management structure so far as health and safety is concerned. The section
should also show details of employees from the lowest levels to the highest
with key personnel identified by name as well as by job title. Also
arrangements, procedures, instructions or other internal documents used
within the framework of the OSH management system.
Planning and Implementation An effective planning system for health and
safety requires organizations to establish and operate a health and safety
management system that, Controls Risk Reacts to changing demands,
Sustains a positive health and safety.
Measuring Health and Safety performance must be monitored at all levels
of the organization from day to day monitoring by line managers and
supervisors to periodic audits of management systems. Performance
measurement techniques fall into two broad categories: Reactive monitoring
which monitor accidents, ill health and incidents Active monitoring which
measure the effectiveness of management systems and the extent of
compliance with standards and the achievement of plans.
Reviewing Performance Annual or periodic review of the performance to
ensure the system is working on the ground and assess if any of the
components need more attention.
Audit An audit is not intended to identify all of the hazards, it is intended as
an evaluation of health and safety management systems, and is often
independent.

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Q:
5.
Outline the topics that may be typically included on the
agenda of a safety committee meeting (6)
A safety committee would normally include subjects which were of concern to
employees on various health and safety issues. The agenda would be made
up of suggestions and issues which may have been brought up by
employees, contractors and others. The agenda items that may be typically
included are any recent accidents, incidents and near misses, any problems
arising from workplace inspections, e.g. housekeeping, blocked fire exits etc.
Also areas such as the identification of unsafe acts, conditions and hazards
that have been reported and perhaps not suitably rectified.
Other topics may include, stress at work, due to long hours, or environmental
conditions, manual handling issues, worker dissatisfaction with welfare
arrangements, food and catering contractors etc.
Q:

6 (a). Explain the reasons why young persons may be at a greater risk
of accidents at work. (4)
Young persons at work are more prone to risk due to various factors. They
include their age and physical capability, their lack of knowledge and
experience of the workplace. Also the young persons perception of risk has
not developed in the workplace setting. The general move from home/school
and a tendency of young persons to take risks to respond to peer group
pressures is also a factor.
6 (b). Outline the measures that could be taken to minimize the risks to
young employees. (4)
It is mandatory to conduct a risk assessment of the areas of work and
activities where a young person is required to work. This should ensure that
all hazards are controlled to as low as reasonably practicable. Young people
should not be subject to excessive hours of work, exposed to risks (such as
dangerous machinery, heavy lifting manual handling excessive heat or cold
etc.). Other control measure should include comprehensive safety orientation
(which should include emergency procedures), PPE where required and
competent supervision and monitoring.

Q:

7.
Outline the practical means by which a manager could involve
employees in the improvement of health & safety (8)
Management can involve employees in many projects and schemes which
will enhance and improve health and safety in the workplace.
Some of the methods for involving employees in the improvement of health
and safety include, active involvement in reporting of near misses, unsafe
acts and conditions this could be accompanied by and incentive scheme to
encourage participation. Also the involvement of employees in Town Hall
meetings and with safety committee is a way of ensuring participation in
health and safety improvements. Other methods include; training which
outline the results of poor health and safety practices, involvement in the
selection of PPE and other safety equipment and materials. Active
participation in monthly campaigns such as the health hazards of smoking,
and the benefits of wearing PPE are all helpful tools in improving employee
involvement in health and safety.

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Q:

8.
Outline four active monitoring methods that can be used when
assessing health & safety (8)
Active (Proactive) Monitoring is intended to reveal hazards that are not
controlled to a standard. Reveal visible non compliance with standards relies
heavily on visible evidence only
When assessing health and safety in the workplace proactive (active)
monitoring can be achieved by various methods. Those methods include:
Documented workplace inspections which are conducted on a regular basis
to spot immediate hazards, unsafe acts and conditions and ensure action is
taken for remedial measure as soon as possible. Checklists are often used for
inspections, but care should be taken not to miss other hazards that are not
part of the generic checklist.
Risk assessments is a major active monitoring tool as this systematic method
highlights hazards and risks and eliminates of or reduce them to ALARP.
Auditing is also a voluble monitoring tool as this method examines the health
and safety management systems and outlines areas for improvement.
Reporting near misses / incidents is very important as this can lead to
prevention of major accident in the future.

Q:

9 (a). Explain the purpose of the Statement of Intent of a health &

Safety Policy (2)
The statement of intent is intended to communicate to all employees the
importance of, and the commitment to health and safety. The statement
should bear the signature of the owner, managing director, chief executive or
other most senior person to give weight to the commitment being shown in
what is a very important feature of the policy.

Q:

9 (b). Outline the circumstances which would require a health and

safety policy to be reviewed. (4)
A health and safety policy is not a static document and should be reviewed at
regular intervals, those intervals can be determined by certain factors and
they include:
The circumstance that may lead to a need to review the health and safety
policy:

Passage of time at least annually is there have not been

organizational changes.
Technological, organizational or legal changes when new
technology has been introduced into the workplace that may pose
further hazards, the workface or management has been reduced or
increased or new legislation required that changes is area of health
and do safety be reflected in the policy e.g. if a pattern accidents in
a certain area have been highlighted.

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Q:
10.
Giving reason in each case, identify FOUR categories of persons
who may be considered a useful member of an accident investigation team. (6)
Accident team members must be chosen for their knowledge, skill and
experience in certain areas. Four members who could be useful are:
Health & Safety Manager the individual would bring the skills and
knowledge of a health and safety professional and have in depth knowledge
of accident investigation.
Supervisor this individual would have first hand knowledge of the workers
task and activities and the on the job hazards.
Worker Representative this individual would bring the experience of the
work and have information gained via interaction with colleagues on a range
of issues in the workplace. Worker and the
Site Engineer This person would probably be the most senior to lead the
investigation, the professional engineering background would bring a
systematic methodology of examining any mechanical failures etc.
Q:

11.
Identify the factors to be considered to ensure the health and
safety of persons who are required to work on their own away from the
work place. (8)
Risk assessment is essential to examine the hazards and potential risks of
lone workers who are more vulnerable. Control measure include
Procedures will need to be put in place to: monitor lone workers to see they
remain safe.
These may include supervisors periodically visiting and observing people
working alone; regular contact between the lone worker and supervision using
either a telephone or radio.
Automatic warning device which operate if specific signals are not received
periodically from the lone worker, e.g. systems for security staff;
Other devices designed to raise the alarm in the event of an emergency and
which are operated manually or automatically by the absence of activity.
Checks that a lone worker has returned to their base or home on completion
of a task.
Lone workers should be capable of responding correctly to emergencies.
Lone workers should have access to adequate first aid facilities and mobile
workers should carry a first aid kit suitable for treating minor injuries.

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