Sample Practical application (IGC3)

NEBOSH INTERNATIONAL GENERAL CERTIFICATE

IGC3 – THE HEALTH AND SAFETY PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Candidate’s observation sheet
Sheet number 1 of 5
Student name: G Gardner Student number: ********
Place inspected: Education Development Date of Inspection 26/08/20**
centre
Observation Risk Control measures Timescale
Hazards and Consequences Immediate and longer – term actions
1. Risk of vehicles speeding and H I Inform school workers and parents Immediately
causing road traffic accidents of speed limits on access roads. Fix
due to poor signage on access temporary speed limit signs.
roads to school and main
buildings. Re-paint speed signs on road.
M 1 month
Monitor the wear and damage to
L painted signs during site inspection Yearly

2. Risk of traffic accident due to H I Email all school workers to increase Immediately
narrow sharp bend on access awareness. Get the school
road to rear car park. managers to contact parents.

Change observation mirror to large

M one. Erect signs warning of sharp 1 – 2 months
bends.

Monitor effects of measures. Look

L into feasibility of installing traffic Every 6 months
light system.

3. Risk of traffic accident due to
undesignated car parking in
several areas that prevent
vision of road and cause driving
over footpaths to reach these
areas.
H I Inform school workers by email not Immediately
to park in undesignated areas.
Erect bollards where possible. Erect
M no parking signs. 2 months
Site maintenance team to monitor
L and issue warning letter to On – going
offenders. Discuss with Human
Resources manager.

4. Risk of trip due to potholes in L I Barrier off around affected area. Immediately
surface of footpath Erect warning sign.

M Repair / resurface footpath. 1 -2 months

L Monitor the surface condition of all

footpaths on site during site Yearly
inspection
Key: Risk: H=High, M=Medium, L=Low. Actions: I= Immediate, M=Medium, L=Long term. N/a= Not applicable.
NEBOSH INTERNATIONAL GENERAL CERTIFICATE
IGC3 – THE HEALTH AND SAFETY PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Candidate’s observation sheet
Sheet number 2 of 5
Student name: G Gardner Student number: ********
Place inspected: Education Development Date of Inspection 26/08/20**
centre
Observation Risk Control measures Timescale
Hazards and Consequences Immediate and longer – term actions
5. Risk of electric shock from H I Lock gates, fit temporary electrical Immediately
active communication mast due hazard sign.
to missing padlock from gates
and electrical hazard warning M Fit permanent electrical hazard 3 month /
signs at the access gates. signs. Monitor to ensure gates are Continual
padlocked, particularly after
maintenance worker visits.

L Arrange on – going inspection of 6 months

6. Risk of tripping due to
damaged concrete step leading
to reception and school
pathway.
mast security and that warning
signs stay in good condition
M I Apply hazard tape to worn parts of Immediately
step.
M Concrete repairs to steps. 2 – 3 months

L Monitor all access steps for damage Yearly

during site inspection
7. Risk to personal safety of M I Review security in reception area. Immediately
receptionist due to lone
working. M Install panic alarm. Attend training. 2 months

L Review work patterns causing lone Every 6 months

working. Initiate test protocols for
security
8. Risk of Electrocution or fire _ I N/a N/a
controlled by main fuse board
in small hall corridor being M Ensure fuse board is closed and On-going
located in secure cupboard and locked. Accessed by competent
having 5 yearly inspections and workers only.
testing.
L Maintenance team to monitor 5 5 Years
yearly inspections and testing.
9. Risk of trip due to worn tape L I Barrier off with warning sign. Immediately
around access hatch in floor in
main corridor M Replace tape. Same day

L Administration manager to monitor On-going

10. Risk to health by exposure
to asbestos by report showing
location of asbestos in stair
nosing and floor tiles plus
regular inspection.
tape for wear.
_ I Ensure locations of asbestos are Immediately
also recorded in asbestos risk
register.
M Inspection of area for damage. Monthly
L Keep asbestos report for reference On-going
and provide details in asbestos risk
register to contractors.
NEBOSH INTERNATIONAL GENERAL CERTIFICATE
IGC3 – THE HEALTH AND SAFETY PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Candidate’s observation sheet
Sheet number 3 of 5
Student name: G Gardner Student number: ********
Place inspected: Education Development Date of Inspection 26/08/20**
centre
Observation Risk Control measures Timescale
Hazards and Consequences Immediate and longer – term actions
11. Risk of upper limb injury / M I Ensure workstations are assessed 3 weeks
eye strain due to unsuitable, for suitability for all new workers
non-adjustable chair for display and carry out online risk awareness
screen equipment (DSE) user in training.
general office.
M Ensure workers are complying with On-going
your display screen equipment use
policy.

L Carry out regular reassessments of Yearly

display screen equipment
workstations and workers.
12. Risk of trip due to trailing L I Tape down cables Immediately
cables of many portable
appliances in general office i.e. M Provide portable rubber covers for 1 month
fans, electric heaters and paper cables. Consider relocating sockets
shredders. to avoid need to trail cable.

L Relocate sockets where possible. 3 – 6 months

13. Risk to fire due to many
document folders stored under
desks in education workers
office, next to electrical sockets
and cables.
Continue to monitor where cables Every 6 months.
are situated and monitor for
damage. Ensure training is carried
out with workers.
H I Email workers to warn of the fire Immediately
risk, look for temporary storage for
document folders.
M Erect suitable shelving to store files 1 months
on. Ensure workers undertake fire
awareness training.

L Monitor on-going for correct Yearly

14. Risk of falling due to
working on an insecure short
ladder during lone working in
store cupboard.
storage and fire risks. Ensure
workers have annual updates
M I Email workers to warn them of the Immediately
potential hazards. Carry out risk
assessment for working on ladders.
M ‘Use of ladders’ training to be 1 month
carried out.

L Continue to monitor work practices On-going

with ladders.
NEBOSH INTERNATIONAL GENERAL CERTIFICATE
IGC3 – THE HEALTH AND SAFETY PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Candidate’s observation sheet
Sheet number 4 of 5
Student name: G Gardner Student number: ********
Place inspected: Education Development Date of Inspection 26/08/20**
centre
Observation Risk Control measures Timescale
Hazards and Consequences Immediate and longer – term actions
15. Risk of back injury due to H I Email staff to warn of the manual Immediately
place heavy files under desks handling hazard, look for temporary
(with poor access) in education storage for document folders.
workers office.
M Erect suitable shelving to store files 1 month
on. Ensure workers undertake
manual handling awareness
training.

L Monitor correct storage of folders On-going

and manual handling awareness
training.
16. Risk of eye strain and trips _ I N/a N/a
controlled by good lighting in
main corridor. M Regular lighting unit maintenance On-going
by competent person.

L Light level checks carried out and 2 years

17. Risk of electric shock due to
several electrical items having
out of date portable appliance
testing (PAT) test.
recorded by competent person.
H I Isolate all electrical items that have Immediately
out of date PAT test.
M PAT tests to be carried out on items 2 weeks
by competent person.

L Regular checks for all portable Yearly

electrical equipment.
18. Risk of hot water burns due M I Put up temporary sign to warn staff Immediately
to no warning sign on hot water of very hot water.
boiler in kitchen.
M Ensure permanent warning sign is 1 week
fixed to boiler.

L Monitor that sign remains in place On-going

19. Risk of boxes falling from
shelves on to people due to
them overhanging shelves in
kitchen.
and is legible.
M I Remove overhanging boxes Immediately
M Re-organise boxes on shelves to 2 weeks
ensure all boxes fit onto shelves
correctly and are not overhanging.

L Monitor that boxes continue to be On-going

correctly storage on shelves.
NEBOSH INTERNATIONAL GENERAL CERTIFICATE
IGC3 – THE HEALTH AND SAFETY PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Candidate’s observation sheet
Sheet number 5 of 5
Student name: G Gardner Student number: ********
Place inspected: Education Development Date of Inspection 26/08/20**
centre
Observation Risk Control measures Timescale
Hazards and Consequences Immediate and longer – term actions
20. Risk of legionella controlled _ I N/a N/a
by regular inspection of water
supplied from taps and M Ensure relevant senior managers 3 month
temperature of boiler in kitchen undergo legionella training.

L Ensure inspection and recording Yearly

continues by competent person.
21. Risk of slips on ice on L I Allocate responsibilities 1 month
walkways between buildings
due to a lack of equipment for M Monitor weather forecasts as Next 3 months
dealing with possible adverse winter approaches.
weather conditions as winter
approaches. L Provide grit / salt in suitable 2 months
container.
22. Risk of burns due to workers M I Remind staff of risk of scalding Immediately
carrying several cups of coffee
in corridor M Provide trays to carry cups. 1 week

L Ensure trays are used. Provide Monthly

reminders at worker involvement
meetings
23. Risk of delayed first aid M I Replace eye wash 1 day
treatment due to eye wash in
corridor being out of date and M Implement system of weekly checks 1 week
unusable. of eye wash and other first aid
equipment.

L Team meetings to discuss and 1 month

prepare procedure for replacing
first aid equipment when out of
date for use.
24. Risk of ankle sprains due to L I Move all excess materials to store 1 week
poor storage of materials in or waste bin
general office area, uneven
floor and poor lighting in M Install more lights and review floor 1 month
corridor. condition

L Inspect light levels and materials 3 months

storage regularly.
MANAGEMENT REPORT

1. Introduction

This report follows a workplace inspection of the education development centre on the 26 th August
20** and identifies good and poor practices. The centre has a large education development building,
one primary school, one short stay pupil referral unit and a day nursery. The property is owned and
maintained by the local council. There is an access road from the main road, which runs around the
school, between buildings and then through to the rear car parks.

The education development centre is occupied by 370 workers whose roles revolve around
education attainment, improvement and inclusion. Many workers are ‘outreach’ workers and visit
schools, children centres, and homes. As a result, access and egress to the building is heavily used.
Potential hazards include slips, trips, and falls, musculoskeletal injury and access and egress
arrangements.

2. Executive summary

It was pleasing to observe a high standard of housekeeping. There was an appropriate amount of
lighting inside and outside the buildings. The welfare facilities were of good standard, i.e. clean and
plenty of toilets and washrooms for the amount of workers.

However, during the inspection it was identified that some areas posed a risk of serious injury or ill
health and were in need of improvement. Areas of concern were vehicle movement through the
school site and risks of electric shock, due to uncontrolled access to the communications mast and
several items of portable electrical equipment being out of date with their portable appliance testing
(PAT) test. Also, there was an increased risk of fire and manual handling injury due to many
document files stored under workers desks, next to electrical cables and sockets. These and other
important observations are discussed in the findings part of the report.

Most of the problems that were observed were related to a lack of maintenance and a general lack
of understanding of the need for good health and safety practice. Recommendations include
refresher training and maintenance of signs and electrical equipment, all of relatively low cost,
particularly when related to the risks observed. Two areas observed that were under good control
were the testing and recording for legionella and asbestos.

Details of all observations made during the inspection are attached at the end of this report.

3. Main Findings

3.1 Observation 1 – Risk of road traffic accidents – speed limit, hazards and parking

The access road that runs through the school site is heavily used, as many workers do ‘outreach’
work. In addition, visitors to the site, parents and children use the road to come into school and the
day nursery. It was noted that many of the painted road sins were worn away, so users would not be
aware of speed restrictions. This presented a significant risk of vehicles speeding and causing road
traffic accidents. Also, there were many sharp bends in the road, which would increase the potential
risk from speeding. The additional problem of vehicles being parked in undesignated areas
prevented drivers having proper vision of the road and obstructed footpaths. In view of the
vulnerability of the many pedestrians in the area, this could easily result in a major injury or fatality.
Any claim for damages would be very high and this type of accident could have very high
consequences to the school’s reputation.

Speeding vehicles and vehicles inappropriately parked make access and egress unsafe, not only for
school workers, but other car users and pedestrians. These risks may be seen to contravene the ILO
Occupational Safety and Health Convention C155, Article 16 (1), which requires employers to
provide workplaces that are safe.

School workers, parents, children and visitors should be alerted immediately of the speed limit,
sharp bend hazard and parking problem, for example by email and letters handed out. This will incur
very little cost, mainly time and paper. Temporary signs should be made and located on the route
into the school and where parked vehicles cause an obstruction. This can be done by downloading
signs from the internet, printing and laminating them using school facilities, costs for this should be
limited to £30. Maintenance work should be carried out during the next four weeks to repaint speed
limit signs and erect a sing warning of the sharp bends, at a cost of £500 approximately. Signs and
bollards should be erected to prevent the unauthorised parking; this is likely to cost approximately
£1,000. All limit signs and restriction parking should be monitored yearly during the site inspection.
The sum of money necessary to make improvements is small relative to the risk of serious injury that
may be caused by the hazards.

3.2 Observation 5 – Risk of electric shock – access to communications mast

It was observed that the gates restricting access to the communications mast were not secured by a
padlock and there were no signs warning of the electrical hazard within the restricted area. This
meant that anyone could enter the restricted area and be at risk of electric shock. The school has a
large number of children on site who may be attracted by the electrical equipment and could have
entered the area without difficulty. The absence of warning signs indicating an electrical hazard
could someone to believe they were entering a safe area.

Failing to restrict access to the electrical equipment may be considered a breach of the ILO
Occupational Safety and Health Convention c155, Article 16(1), which requires workplaces
machinery, equipment and processes to be safe and without risk to health. Though the risk of
immediate danger from electricity due to someone entering the restricted area is not high it is
significantly increased by the failure to prevent entry.

With the co-operation of maintenance worker for the site a padlock was added to the fates to secure
them. The padlock was available for their purpose, but had not been fitted to the gate following a
visit from a maintenance contractor, therefore there was no new cost related to this control
measure. Temporary electrical hazard warning signs should be fitted until permanent signs can be
obtained. The cost of these temporary and permanent signs is likely to be about £250. In the
medium term, the supervisor of school maintenance work should ensure the padlock is only
removed to allow authorised entry and refitted immediately on completion of this work. The
security of access to the communication mast should be monitored as part of the site security
arrangements, this may require a small amendment to the contract of the security company that
does this work, but it is expected that is could be added with little or no cost.
3.3 Observation 13 and 15 – Risk of manual injury and fire – document files stored under desks

It was identified that many of the workers stored document files under their desks, occupying a large
amount of space. These files were situated next to trailing electrical cables, which were plugged into
extension leads. The three elements of the fire triangle were present oxygen, fuel (paper files) and
heat (electrical cables and sockets). This combination presented a risk of fire occurring and although
the fire would start in the office area there is a risk that it could spread and affect the whole centre.
This would be a serious risk to all workers and children. No fire risk assessment had been carried out
and fire risk controls were inadequate, contravening the ILO Guidelines on Occupational Safety and
Health Management Systems (ILO – OSH) 2001, which require risk assessment and the application of
control measures.

These poor storage arrangements not only increase the chances of a fire starting and spreading
rapidly, but also pose a risk of back injury when office workers have to bend and assume a very poor
posture when retrieving the files. This poor manual handling arrangement could quickly lead to
serious injury of an office worker and long term absence from work. The office workers are all
experienced and specialise in their education field, therefore finding temporary replacement
workers would not be easy and this would be very damaging to the educational service provided.
The storage arrangements do not comply with the ILO Occupational Safety and Health Convention
C155, Article 16 (1) and (2), in that manual handling risks should be avoided where reasonably
practicable and where risk remain they are minimised by appropriate protection measures.

Workers should be reminded of the fire and manual handling risk as soon as possible, those workers
not immediately available should be emailed. The files should be promptly removed into temporary
storage, at a cost of worker’s time and storage boxes, which are currently available as stock was
purchased for a recent educational project. Suitable shelving should be erected at the cost of £500
approximately. It is recommended that all office workers have fire awareness and manual handling
refresher training , incurring internal cost of worker and health and safety advisor time. The training
should be short and can be done at their monthly meeting. It is recommended that awareness
training is done as part of the annual departmental meeting, this will ensure costs are limited.

3.4 Observation 17 – Risk of electric shock and fire – out of date portable electrical equipment
testing

Several items of electrical equipment around the site were not displaying up to date portable
appliance testing (PAT) sticker. The absence of the sticker could mean that the equipment is
defective. The PAT sticker confirms that electrical equipment has been suitably tested as part of the
maintenance programme. The use of equipment that has not been maintained breaches ILO
Occupational Safety and Health Convention C155, Article 16 (1) requirements that equipment should
be safe, since equipment that is not maintained can lead to the risk of fire or workers experiencing
an electric shock, which may prove fatal. An injury or fatality would not only be a cost to the centre,
but also to the worker and their family. Employers have a legal duty under EWR to ensure all
portable electrical equipment is maintained. This should be clearly marked on the equipment and
recorded.

Immediate action is required to identify and isolate all items that are out of date, this would be at a
small cost taking a couple of hours of time and labels to mark them ‘out of use’. Following this , a
competent person (trained electrician) should carry our PAT test on this equipment, typically at a
cost of £2.00 per item. In the future, all equipment should be tested regularly and care should be
given to ensure equipment stored in cupboards is included in all tests.

4. Conclusion

Routine maintenance is identified as an area where attention is needed. The poor maintenance of
road speed limit signs and lack of portable appliance testing on electrical items were particular areas
requiring immediate management attention. Under the ILO Occupational Safety and Health
Convention C155, Article 16 (1), employers have a responsibility to ensure equipment is safe,
including the carrying out of maintenance to protect workers and others who may be in the
workplace or come into contact with their equipment.

Storing document files under desks next to electrical cables and sockets is a fire hazard. The poor
storage of files also creates a risk of manual handling injuries when workers have to retrieve the
files. This suggests a lack of appreciation of the need for good health and safety practice. Fire and
manual handling risk assessment of the storage of files in the education workers’ office need to be
carried out immediately in order to ensure the safety of workers. Education workers should have
refresher training to remind them of the importance of fire and manual handling issues. This may
indicate a wider problem, this should be evaluated as other workers may also need similar training.

All the areas identified in the findings of this report could result in injury or a fatality, which would
cause suffering to the victims and their families. Employers have a legal and moral duty of care to
take action and reduce the risk identified.

The inspection identified a number of good practices where strong management of hazards was in
place, including two important health hazards, legionella and asbestos. The good practices identified
are commended and should be continued.

Health and safety needs to be of a high priority as failure to manage risk can lead to prosecution or
compensation claims, which can only have an adverse effect on the centre’s reputation and financial
position as well as the health and safety of the people involved.

I suggest that my recommendations are implemented at the earliest opportunity according to the
priority allocated to them in the next section of this report. By doing this, the centre will openly
demonstrate to all workers that their health and safety is being taken seriously at all levels of
management. Also, it will show that, in the long term, a positive health and safety culture is being
developed, which will reduce the sizeable cost attributed to accidents and enhance the reputation of
the organisation in a very competitive market place.
5. Recommendations

Ref. No. Recommendation Likely resource implications Priority Target date

3.1 (item 1, Inform workers, Admin time, cost of paper. High Immediate
2 and 3) parents, children and £50 for materials.
visitors of speed limit,
road hazards and
parking restrictions by
email and handling
out letters.
3.1 (item 1, Fix temporary speed Download from internet, High Immediate
2 and 3) limit, hazardous bends print and laminate using
warning and no school facilities.
parking signs.
3.2 Put padlock on gates Padlock is available but was High Immediate
(item 5) of communication not being used.
tower
3.2 Fix temporary Download from internet, High Immediate
(item 5) electrical hazard print and laminate using
warning signs. school facilities.
3.3 (items Remove files to All education workers to High Immediate
13 and 15) temporary storage pack into storage boxes.
Boxes are in stock
3.4 Isolate equipment that Maintenance worker time, 2 High Immediate
(Item 17) does not have up to hours.
date PAT sticker.
3.1 (item Repaint speed limit £500, using local contractor Medium One month
1,2 and 3) signs on the road.
3.1 (item Change observation Estimated to be £500. Medium 1-2 months
1,2 and 3) mirror to large one.
Erect permanent signs
warning of sharp
bends.
3.1 (item Erect bollards where Estimated to be £ 1,000. Medium 1-2 months
1,2 and 3) possible. Erect
permanent no parking
signs.
3.2 Monitor to ensure Supervisor to check that Medium As entry is
(item 5) gates are padlocked, padlock is removed to only required
particularly after allow authorised access and
maintenance worker is re-fitted immediately after
visits. completion of work.
3.3 Erect suitable shelving £500 Medium One Month
(item 13 to store files on
and 15)
3.3 Ensure employees 3 hours of workers time, Medium One month
(item 13 undertake fire and provided by health and
and 15) manual handling safety advisor at the time of
refresher training. monthly meeting.
 3.4 Competent person to Approx £2.00 per item, using Medium Two weeks.
(item 17) PAT test the out of current contractor.
date equipment.
3.1 (item Monitor effects of Management time to Low Six months
1,2 and 3) measures. Look into monitor and evaluate
feasibility of installing feasibility.
traffic light system.
3.2 On-going inspection of Amendment of current Low Six months
(item 5) mast security and that duties of contracted security
warning signs stay in staff.
good condition.
3.3 Monitor work Manager to monitor as part Low After one
(items 13 practices related to of weekly routines following month,
and 15) use of storage and installation of shelving. ongoing
provide annual
awareness training.
3.3 (item Provide annual
3 hours of workers time, Low One year
13 and 15) awareness training. provided by health and
safety advisor at the time of
monthly meeting.
3.4 Ensure annual PAT Maintain worker time, to Low Annually
(item 17) tests for all portable ensure all equipment located
appliances. and available 2 hours.
Approx £2.00 per item, using
current contractor.
Candidate and course provider declarations:
For completion by the candidate:
I declare that the work submitted for this practical application assessment is my own work. I
recognise that contravention of this statement constitutes malpractice and may result in my being
subject to the penalties set out in the NEBOSH malpractice policy.

Name (Print) _ G GARDNER

Signature _ G Gardner
Date _26/08/xx

For completion by the course provider’s representative (e.g. internal practical assessor):

I declare that the work marked is identical to that received from the candidate. I recognise that
contravention of this statement constitutes malpractice and may result in my being subject to the
penalties set out in the NEBOSH malpractice policy.

Name (Print) _ J SMITH

Signature _ J smith
Date _01/09/xx

For completion by the course provider’s internal practical assessor:

I declare that the work marked is identical to that received from the candidate. I recognise that
contravention of this statement constitutes malpractice and may result in my being subject to the
penalties set out in the NEBOSH malpractice policy.

Name (Print) _ B FERRY

Signature _ B Ferry
Date _06/09/xx