Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Element 3 - Questions and Answers
Element 3 - Questions and Answers
Advantages Limitations
Personal. Language barrier may exist.
Quick. Jargon may not be understood.
Direct. Strong accent or dialect may interfere.
Allows for checking of understanding. Background noise may interfere.
Allows for feedback to be given. Recipient may have poor hearing.
Allows for exchange of views. Message may be ambiguous.
Usually allows for additional information to be Recipient may miss information.
transmitted by means of tone of voice, facial Recipient may forget information.
expression and body language. No written record as proof.
Poor transmission quality if by telephone or PA system.
Written Communication
Advantages Limitations
Easy to preserve Expensive
Permanent record Time consuming
Prevention of wastage of time and money Useless for illiterate
Accurate presentation Delay in response
Use it as a reference Lack of direct relation
Easy to verify Questions cannot be asked
May contain jargon or abbreviations
Language barrier may exist
Graphical Communication
Advantages Limitations
May be eye-catching. Can only convey simple messages.
Visual. Might be expensive to buy or produce.
Quick to interpret. May not be looked at.
No language barrier. Symbols or pictograms may be unknown to the recipient.
Jargon-free. No immediate feedback available.
Conveys a message to a wide audience. Questions cannot be asked.
Recipient may have impaired vision.
6. Explain why it is important to use a variety of methods to communicate health and safety
information in the workplace?
a) The reasons are:
Consideration of the sort of information that needs to be communicated in the workplace
and the different methods of presenting such information should be addressed.
People respond differently to different stimuli, and that variety prevents over familiarisation
with one method and helps to reinforce a message.
The need to overcome language barriers and the inability of some workers to read.
The need to motivate, stimulate interest and gain involvement and feedback.
The acceptance that different types of information require different methods of
communication for example emergency signs.
That the policy of the organisation may require certain information to be in a specified
format; and
That on occasions evidence that the message was given may need to be kept.
7. What are the advantages of co-operation and consultation?
a) The main benefits of worker participation in safety and health include:
Lower accident and sickness rates
Reduced costs and reduced risks
Help find practical solutions, and comply with the end result
They can advise, suggest, and request improvements – helping to develop measures to
prevent occupational accidents and ill-health
Improved standing among suppliers and partners
A better reputation for corporate social responsibility among investors, customers and
communities
Increased productivity – employees are healthier, happier and better motivated
8. What is the role of health and safety committee?
a) The roles of health and safety committee:
Review injury data, accident reports, and workers’ compensation records.
Conduct regular walkaround inspections to identify potential health and safety hazards.
Conduct safety and health job analyses to identify problems.
Design and conduct health and safety surveys.
Collect and review Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs).
Plan and organize training programs.
Establish or improve procedures for employees to report health symptoms without fear of
reprisal.
Review and evaluate corrective actions taken by management.
Temporarily “shut down” unsafe operations until a hazard is corrected.
Collect and review information on new chemicals, procedures, and processes before they
are introduced.
Respond to concerns raised by workers, supervisors and managers.
Recommend training for new employees, supervisors, and managers and refresher training
on health and safety practices, procedures and emergency response.
Keep workers, supervisors, and managers informed about the committee’s activities.
12. What are the individual factors that influences the safety related behaviour?
a) Attitude: It is a person’s point of view or way of looking at something; how they feel and think
about – Can be improved through Education and training, High impact interventions (Picture of
injuries caused by the failure to use the guard may change the attitude quickly), Enforcement –
Workers forced to use guards by supervision and discipline so that it becomes a habit, Consultation
and involvement in the decision-making process – Workers consulted and involved will feel more
ownership of the process and are more likely to develop a positive attitude.
Motivation: A persons drive towards a goal, the thing that is making them to do what they do.
Perception: It can be defined as the way that a person interprets information detected by their
senses.
Factors that might distort a person’s perception: Illness, Stress, Fatigue, Drugs and alcohol, training
and education.
13. (a) Give the meaning of the term ‘perception’.
(b) Explain the ways in which workers’ perceptions of hazards in the workplace might be
improved.
a) (a) Perception can be defined as the way that a person interprets information detected by their
senses.
(b) Perception can be improved by: -
Carrying out safety awareness campaign using posters, TBT’s.
Developing Training programs to increase awareness of the hazards and its consequence.
Highlighting hazards: using sign boards
Ensuring that there is adequate lighting
Removing distractions such as noise (which could result in a worker not hearing warning)
Factors that might distort a person’s perception: Illness, Stress, Fatigue, Drugs and alcohol,
training and education.
14. What are the factors that distort a person’s perception of hazards and risks in the workplace?
a) Various factors that can distort a person’s perception of hazard and risk, such as:
They are suffering from an illness (e.g. ‘flu) and so they are not processing information very
well.
They are under stress and so other issues may be dominating their thinking.
They may be fatigued and so not alert or capable of responding quickly to circumstances.
They may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
They have past personal experiences that is skewing their thinking.
They may not have received good quality training and education on the hazards and risk of
the job.
They may be required to wear PPE that is interfering with their ability to detect the hazards
creating the risk.
Workplace conditions, such as high levels of noise, may be interfering with their ability to
correctly identify the hazard that creates the risk.
15. Explain the ways in which managers can motivate employees to work safely.
a) Managers can motivate people in health and safety by a number of means, including:
A clear and evident commitment from the most senior manager downwards, which provides
a climate for safety in which management’s objectives and the need for appropriate
standards are communicated and in which constructive exchange of information at all levels
is positively encouraged.
Effective monitoring systems to check the implementation of the procedures and standards.
Incident investigation and the effective use of information drawn from such investigations.
Adequate and effective supervision with the power to remedy deficiencies when found.
Effective health and safety management system.
Encouraging a positive health and safety culture.
Ensuring adequate and competency of supervision.
Insisting on effective incident reporting and analysis.
Willing to learn from experience.
Clearly visible health and safety leadership.
A suitable team structures.
Efficient communication systems and practices.
Providing adequate staffing levels.
Ensuring suitable work patterns are implemented.
Recognition of safe behaviours and rewarding them.
16. What checks could be made to assess whether a person is competent.
a) Checks on the possession of competence by an individual may include:
Their qualifications and the possession of a specific licence such as for driving a heavy goods
vehicle.
Employment history and experience.
Membership of a professional body.
Previous training.
Success in any relevant examination and/or test and
Any references and recommendations that might be available.
17. Explain, using an example EACH case, the meaning of the following terms:
‘Hazard’
‘Risk’
a) A hazard is the potential of a substance, activity or process to cause harm.
Hazards take many forms including, for example, chemicals, electricity and working from a ladder. A
hazard can be ranked relative to other hazards or to a possible level of danger.
Risk can be defined as the probability/likelihood of an occurrence and its possible consequences
and severity in terms of injury, damage or harm.
18. Define risk assessment and explain what is a suitable and sufficient risk assessment?
a) Risk assessment is the formalised process of identifying hazards (associated with work activities
and locations), evaluating risk and then either eliminating or controlling that risk to an acceptable
level.
A suitable and sufficient risk assessment should:
Identify the significant risks arising out of work, i.e. those that are most likely to occur and
result in harm being caused, with any remaining risks being at an acceptable low level.
Identify all those persons who could be at risk, including workers and others such as visitors.
Vulnerable people, such as young persons, should also be identified.
Evaluate the effectiveness of any current controls.
Enable the employer to identify and prioritise the measures that must be taken to protect
people from harm, including complying with any relevant legal provisions.
Be appropriate to the nature of the work and remain valid for a reasonable period of time.
In other words, the assessment should be proportionate to the risks in the workplace.
19. What are the key stages of the risk assessment process, identifying the issues that would need to
be considered at EACH stage?
a) The key stages of risk assessment are:
Identifying the hazards (many state risk here) associated with the activities and tasks
performed at the workplace.
Identifying who might be harmed including operators, maintenance staff, cleaners and
visitors 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 (Identification of the activity/area
assessed and of the significant hazards, Identification of groups at risk and those especially
at risk, Evaluation of the risks and the adequacy of existing control measures, Action plans
for implementing further precautions needed, A typical risk assessment form, Date of
assessment and name of the competent person carrying out the assessment, Review date).
Carrying out a review at a later date and revising the findings when necessary.
20. Explain the methods that can be used to identify the hazards in the workplace.
1. The means of identifying hazards in the workplace may include:
Carrying out workplace inspections
Safety tours can be undertaken
Carrying out observations of the workplace and work practices
Safety audits
Task or job analysis
Risk assessments
The analysis of accident, incident and ill-health data
Reviewing accident and incident reports
Referring to legislation, approved codes of practices and guidance notes
Reviewing procedures in line with manufacturers recommendations e.g. a MSDS
Consultation with the workforce
Health surveillance.
21. (a) What work activities that may present a particular risk to pregnant women at work AND give
an example of EACH type of activity?
(b) What actions that an employer may take when a risk to a new or expectant mother cannot be
avoided?
a) (a) The following work activities may present particular hazards to a pregnant woman:
Manual handling of loads such as in packing goods.
Tasks involving long periods of standing or sitting as experienced by shop assistants.
Work involving exposure to biological agents or chemical substances that might affect the
unborn child or pregnant/nursing mother such as lead glazing.
Work in hyperbaric atmospheres, for example underwater diving.
Tasks involving exposure to ionising radiation which would affect radiographers.
Tasks involving regular exposure to shocks and low frequency vibration or excessive
movement such as driving.
Unusually stressful work such as tasks involving exposure to heat or noise.
Contact with the public where there might be a risk of violence or verbal abuse.
Ergonomic issues such as in assembly work; and
Work at height for example from a ladder.
(b) The actions that an employer may take when a risk to a new or expectant mother cannot be
avoided include:
(b) The measures that could be taken to minimise risks to young employees are:
When developing a safe system of work, you should consider the following.
People - are people 'competent' and suitably trained to conduct the specific work or task
expected of them?
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?
Materials - What materials will be used or handled during the work? What are the hazards of the
materials? How will waste be disposed of?
Equipment - is the machinery / equipment to the 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.
Factors to be considered when developing a SSW:
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?
35. (a) Why it is important to involve workers in the development of a safe system of work?
(b) Why it is important for safe systems of work to have written procedures?
a) (a) It is important to involve workers in the development of a safe system of work because of their
knowledge of the particular working environment involved and what will work in practice.
Additionally, their involvement will establish their ownership of the system and will encourage
them to use and follow it once it has been finalised and introduced.
Finally, their involvement will emphasise management’s commitment to health and safety and help
to raise its profile within the organisation.
(b) It is important for safe systems of work to have written procedures
Ensure consistency.
Provide a basis for training.
Establish a standard (can be checked).
Provide a written record for incident investigations/regulatory inspections.
Can be in many forms:
Checklists.
Short notes.
Detailed manuals.
36. What is the difference between technical, procedural and behavioural controls?
a) Technical controls are those that are applied directly to the hazard itself in order to minimise the
risk. This may involve fencing or barriers of different kinds to isolate workers from the hazard as far
as possible, or security devices built into equipment to stop its operation if there is a fault.
b) Procedural controls define the way in which work should be carried out in relation to the hazard.
They will specify the exact tasks involved, their sequence and the safety actions and checks that
have to be taken. Often, procedures will relate to the correct operation of technical controls.
c) Behavioural controls define how the individual operator, or groups of workers, must act in relation
to the hazard. They include general points of good practice in the workplace (e.g. good
housekeeping, and specific measures such as the use of PPE).
Technical controls are preferable to procedural ones, which, in turn, are preferable to behavioural
ones. This is because behavioural controls have a very heavy reliance on personal behaviour
whereas technical controls do not require people to do the right thing in the right circumstances all
of the time.
37. What are the practical means in which managers can involve their staff in the improvement of
health and safety?
a) Practical means in which managers can involve their staff in the improvement of health and safety
are:
The ways in which a manager could involve workers in the improvement of workplace
health and safety may include but not be limited to:
Involving workers in risk assessments, accident investigations, the selection of equipment
and the development of safe systems and procedures.
Encouraging hazard spotting and the reporting of defects.
Setting up suggestion schemes for improvements.
Organising training courses and information programmes.
Supporting active involvement in safety committee meetings.
Being accompanied by workers or their representatives on safety tours and inspections; and
Giving workers responsibilities for mentoring young and inexperienced workers.
38. (a) Define the term 'permit-to-work system'
(b) What are the THREE types of work situation that may require a permit-to-work system, giving
reasons in EACH case for the requirement.
a) (a) A permit-to-work system is a formal written system used to control certain types of work that
are potentially hazardous. A permit-to-work is a document which specifies the work to be done and
the precautions to be taken. Permits-to-work form an essential part of safe systems of work for
many maintenance activities.
(b) Some of the high-risk work that would require a permit are:
Hot work such as welding, in certain situations – fire and explosions
Confined space work - dangerous atmospheres, work conditions
Working at height – fall from height
Work at high voltage electrical systems (overhead power lines)
Excavating near buried services
Maintenance work on plant and machinery – exposure to dangerous parts, entrapment,
entanglement, nip points, etc.
Electrical work, especially high voltage – Contact with live electricity
39. (a) What are the functions of a permit-to-work form?
(b) What are the sections of permit to work?
a) (a) The functions of a permit to work system are to control high risk activities by ensuring set
procedures are followed
To formally record control measures and
To give signed authority for the activity to be carried out.
(b) The general details to be included on a PTW reflect the operation of the permit system and can
be summarised as:
Issue
Description of the work to be carried out (details of plant and location).
The date and time of issue and the duration over which the permit will be open (remain valid).
Assessment of hazards associated with the job.
Controls required, such as isolations, PPE and emergency procedures.
Signature of the authorised person issuing the permit.
Receipt
Signature of the competent persons accepting the permit (the workers).
Clearance
Signature of the competent persons stating that the area has been made safe (e.g. work
completed) and that they are leaving the area and isolations can be removed.
Cancellation
Signature of the authorised person stating that the isolations have been removed, the area has
been accepted back and that the equipment can be restarted.
40. What are the factors which may influence the effectiveness of a permit to work system?
a) A good permit system is only as good as the persons using it. To work effectively:
Only authorised persons should issue permits.
Permit issuers must be familiar with the hazards of the workplace and the job to be carried
out.
Precautions must be checked before permits are authorised.
Permits must never be amended.
The permit must be treated with respect.
All permit conditions must be adhered to.
Staff must be trained and competent.
The system must be monitored to ensure it is effective.
The PTW system must be appropriate for the nature of the business (e.g. a bakery may
require a less complex system than an oil rig).
Sufficient time must be allowed to ensure permits are issued correctly, and staff trained to
understand this. Contractors, for example, may become stressed if the process is time-
consuming, but must understand that they are required to adhere to the system.
41. The general details to be included on a PTW reflect the operation of the permit system?
a) The general details that should be included in a permit-to-work are:
A 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 such
as:
– 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 and
– 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 authorised person, and
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.
42. (a) What are the THREE types of emergency in the workplace that may require the evacuation of
workers?
(b) Explain why it is important to develop emergency procedures in the workplace?
a) Part (a)
Three types of emergency in the workplace that could lead to the need to evacuate workers could
be:
Fire or explosion,
The accidental release of toxic chemicals or gases,
Transport incidents such as a multiple casualty accident,
Bomb alerts or other terrorist activities,
Weather related emergencies and
Earthquakes.
Part (b)
The importance of developing procedures for the safe evacuation of workers in the event of an
emergency could include:
The need to comply with legal requirements.
To be prepared for foreseeable emergencies.
To ensure the safety and protection of the workers including those dealing with the
emergency
To assist the safe evacuation of persons including those with specific needs such as visitors
and the disabled.
To provide information on the action to be taken, not only by workers but also by
neighbours and others who might be affected by the emergencies such as in a shared or
joint occupancy premises.
To allocate specific responsibilities to certain workers in the event of an evacuation being
necessary.
To be able to mitigate the effects of adverse events and to restore the situation to normal;
to ensure the procedures are made available to any relevant emergency services and
To ensure business continuity.
43. What are the arrangements for the emergency procedures?
a) These procedures should cover the internal arrangements for dealing with the foreseeable
incidents, which will include:
The foreseeable emergencies.
Procedures for raising the alarm.
Procedures to follow.
Provision of suitable equipment.
Nomination of responsible staff.
Provision of training and information.
Drills and exercises.
Contacting the emergency services.
44. (a) What are the TWO main functions of first-aid treatment?
(b) Explain the factors to consider when assessing first-aid provision in a workplace.
a) Part (a)
The main purpose of first aid is to control the life-endangering situation and prevent further injury.
Part (b)
The nature of the work you do
Workplace hazards and risks (including specific hazards requiring special arrangements)
The nature and size of your workforce
The work patterns of your staff
Holiday and other absences of those who will be first-aiders and appointed persons
Your organisation’s history of accidents
You may also need to consider: the needs of travelling, remote and lone workers the
distribution of your workforce, the remoteness of any of your sites from emergency
medical services, whether your employees work on shared or multi-occupancy sites, first-
aid provision for non-employees (e.g. members of the public).
45. Why people need training and procedures need to be tested?
a) Completing a comprehensive plan for handling emergencies is a major step toward preventing
disasters. However, it is difficult to predict all of the problems that may happen unless the plan is
tested. Exercises and drills may be conducted to practice all or critical portions (such as evacuation)
of the plan. A thorough and immediate review after each exercise, drill, or after an actual
emergency will point out areas that require improvement. Knowledge of individual responsibilities
can be evaluated through paper tests or interviews.
It should be stressed that provision must be made for the training of both individuals and teams, if
they are expected to perform adequately in an emergency. An annual full-scale exercise will help in
maintaining a high level of proficiency.