Unit IG2: Risk assessment

Declaration: By submitting this assessment (Parts 1 – 4) for marking I declare that it is entirely my own work. I understand that falsely claiming that
the work is my own is malpractice and can lead to NEBOSH imposing severe penalties (see the NEBOSH Malpractice Policy for further information).

Important note: You must refer to the document ‘Unit IG2: risk assessment – Guidance and information for learners and Learning Partners’ while
completing all parts of this assessment. Your Learning Partner should provide you with a copy, but it can also be downloaded from the relevant
resources section for this qualification on the NEBOSH website.

Part 1: Background

Topic Comments
Name of organisation* Hamza Marble factory
Site location* Near basti barrier, main GT Road, Wah Cantt, Taxila
Number of workers 23
It is a small factory processing medium size rough marble stones into small size for
commercial use. This factory processes granite and 4 types of marble like badal grey,
tavira, Michael Angelo and ziarat white which are mostly use in surrounding areas. This
General description of the organisation
factory also makes design tiles by cutting different type of marble into small pieces and
join them into single tile. Retail shop and storage area of Hamza marble is located on
front side of factory on main GT road.
Description of the area to be included in the The risk assessment includes the activities like rough cutting, calibrated cutting, polishing
risk assessment and storage area.
Any other relevant information
* If you’re worried about confidentiality, you can invent a false name and location for your organisation but, all other information provided must be
factual.

.
Note: this section can be completed after you have competed your risk assessment.
Outline how the risk assessment was I start by looking into HSE related to stone work and ILO recommendation 156 regarding
carried out this should include: air pollution, noise and vibration and recommendation 164 regarding occupational health
 sources of information consulted; and safety. I also consult research paper “Occupational Health and Safety Issues in the

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 who you spoke to; and
 how you identified:
- the hazards;
- what is already being done; and
- any additional controls/actions
that may be required.
Marble Industry and their Potential Measures” by Imran Hashmi. These are the good
source of information.
After looking into this information I visited the Hamza Marble factory. After permission
from general manager I start inspection and talked to people performing job at the site.
The information provided by workers is much more than simple visual inspection. I note
down everything I observed and information get from workers in a notebook.
I look into problems and try to provide the relevant solution to the problem.
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 Part 2: Risk Assessment

Learner number: 00512974 learner name: Fasih Ur Rehman

Organisation name: Hamza marble

Date of assessment: 15/11/2020
Scope of risk assessment: Hamza Marble cutting and storage area

Hazard Who might be harmed What are you already doing? What further controls/actions are Timescales for
category and and how? required? further actions Responsible
hazard to be person’s job
completed title
(within …)
Hazardous Three workers Exhaust fan is already 1. Proper local exhaust system 4 months 1,3,4 finance
substances working in design available. must be installed. manager
shop to make design
High tiles are directly Company provide normal 2. Make mandatory to wear 1 week
concentration affected, other masks which are not mask for all workers. Also 2,5 cutting
of dust due to workers working near effective enough. So workers provide better quality masks shop
marble cutting. this shop and visitors. use cloth piece to cover their which can stop dust. supervisor
nose.
3. Purchase and install on tool 4 months
High concentration of exhaust system which
dust from marble reduces the spread of dust
cutting are present in in design room.
design shop. Workers
breath in this 4. Also install filters in exhaust 4 months
hazardous substance system so that dust does not
because there is no contaminate surrounding
dust extraction system area.
is installed only a
small exhaust is 5. The maintenance of exhaust

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Hazard Who might be harmed What are you already doing? What further controls/actions are Timescales for
category and and how? required? further actions Responsible
hazard to be person’s job
completed title
(within …)
present which is not system should be carried out 3 months
enough. in every 3 months and
change or clean filter every
Short term exposure month.
to marble dust cause
throat irritation and
long term exposure
cause silicosis,
shortening of breath
and chronic cough.
Marble dust can also
effect adjacent
worker.

Hazardous workers working in tile Single exhaust fan is present 1. Proper local exhaust system 4 months 1,2,3 finance
substance design shop and for ventilation. must be installed. manager
others who work near
Presence of it. Workers are using cloth 2. Instruct workers to wear 1 week
glue fumes in piece to cover their nose. mask which contain filter 4 cutting
design shop. Workers use glue to during job. shop
join small marble 4 months supervisor
pieces to make 3. Install on tool exhaust
design tile. Inhaling system. 1 week
glue fumes is life
threatening. Even if 4. Allow workers to join pieces
inhaled in small by glue in open
amount it can cause environment.

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Hazard Who might be harmed What are you already doing? What further controls/actions are Timescales for
category and and how? required? further actions Responsible
hazard to be person’s job
completed title
(within …)
anxiety, loss of
appetite and
headaches.

If inhaled in large
amount it can cause
brain damage,
respiratory damage,
convulsion and dizzy
appearance.

These type of effects

are very dangerous
causing other
accidents like tripping
and cutter accidents.

Tripping Workers working in They have provided the 1. Workers working on stacks 1 week 1,2 storage
hazard storage area are workers with safety shoes. on stacks should wear hard area
effected. hat. supervisor
Marble stacks Coveralls are provided to 1 month
present in Stacks of marble workers during work. 2. Reduce the height of stacks
storage area pieces is present in to minimize risk.
can cause storage area which
tripping. are 3 to 4 feet in
height. Workers climb
them to place more
marble pieces on
these stacks which

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Hazard Who might be harmed What are you already doing? What further controls/actions are Timescales for
category and and how? required? further actions Responsible
hazard to be person’s job
completed title
(within …)
has the danger of
tripping.
Workers may be
seriously injured by
tripping because of
sharp marble edges.

Slipping Workers operating Machines have pipe draining 1. Make the water passages 1 month 1,2 cutting
hazard small cutters and cooling fluid into water more wide to avoid easy shop
workers moving passages but waste from obstruction. supervisor
cooling fluids marble pieces. cutting often blocks these 1 week
from cutters passages. Due to blockage 2. Instruct workers to clean
may cause Cooling fluid from of passages cooling fluid water passages often to 3 finance
slipping. cutters spread on the overflow from them and minimize blockage. manager
ground. This fluid is spread on ground. 2 months
slippery because it 3. Install proper piping system
contains very fine Safety shoes have been with enough gradient so that
cutting waste. Worker provided to workers. waste can easily flow.
operating cutter and
transporting marble
may slip from this
slippery fluid and slip.

Noise All workers and Only ear plugs are provided 1. Isolate the main cutting 8 months 1 cutting
visitors are effected to workers working on room where gang cutter is shop
Extremely loud from loud noises. cutters. used to control noise levels. supervisor
noise is
present in Marble is an 2. Install sound absorbing 2,3 finance
workplace due extremely hard rock materials in cutter rooms to manager

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Hazard Who might be harmed What are you already doing? What further controls/actions are Timescales for
category and and how? required? further actions Responsible
hazard to be person’s job
completed title
(within …)
to different so in order to cut it reduce overall noise levels. 3 months
cutting large cutters are
activities. used. This cutting 3. Provide good quality ear
process produce muffs to all workers. 1 month
extremely loud noises
effecting workers
hearing. Short term
exposure leads to
headaches while long
term exposure can
cause permanent
hearing loss.
Vibration Cutting machines Training is provided to all 1. Due to continuous working 1 month 1,2 cutting
operators are workers related to operation of cutting blades they shop
Cutter rotation exposed to vibration. of cutters. became dull and unbalance manager
and Motors producing vibration.
driving cutters During cutting Soft rubber grips are Introduce maintenance
produce procedure cutter and installed on handle of table program for cutters. 3 finance
vibrations. electric motors use to move marble towards manager
produce vibrations. cutter. 2. Inspection of electric motors
These vibrations are should be done in every 6 6 months
only transmitted to months. Because sometime
hand and arm of power transmission belt
workers which can become lose or bolts holding
cause conditions like motor in place become lose
vibration white producing vibration.
fingers.
3. Install soft rubber pads
under cutter base to reduce

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Hazard Who might be harmed What are you already doing? What further controls/actions are Timescales for
category and and how? required? further actions Responsible
hazard to be person’s job
completed title
(within …)
overall vibration. 1 month
Electricity Workers operating the Circuit breaker are already 1. Shield must be installed on 2 weeks 1,2 finance
hazard cutters are exposed to installed to prevent damage electric motor to protect it manager
electricity hazard. from short circuit. from water splashes.
Electric motors
driving cutters During cutting Maintenance of electric 2. Install residual current
related to operation splashes of equipment is carried out in device in main electric board 2 months 3 cutting
electricity cooling fluid from every 6 months. to prevent worker from shop
hazard. cutter make electric getting electric shock. supervisor
motor wet increasing
the risk of 3. Provide training to all 1 month
electrocution and workers to spot any electric
short circuit. defect and inform to relevant
authorities.

Physical Workers operating Workers are allowed to take 1. They have to adjust the 1 month 1,3 cutting
hazard slab polishing 10 minutes break after 1 workstation and its layout shop
machine are effected. hour. which is suitable to workers. supervisor
Continuous
movement of Workers operating They have reduced the work 2. Introduce semi-automatic 6 months
arms and back marble polishing time and have two shifts for work process to reduce 2 finance
leads to machine have to workers who polish marble worker’s involvement in manager
physical continuously move slabs. polishing.
problems. this machine back
3. Regular medical check-ups 2 months
and forth also they
have to bend to reach must be done to prevent any
the middle of bigger problems.
slab.

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Hazard Who might be harmed What are you already doing? What further controls/actions are Timescales for
category and and how? required? further actions Responsible
hazard to be person’s job
completed title
(within …)
After extended period
repetitive movements
can leads to work
related upper limb
disorder(WRULDs)
and muscle stress.
Manual workers who transport Workers are only provided 1. Workers should be provided 2 months 1,2,3 finance
handling and load marble is with safety gloves. with manual trolleys to manager
affected. transport marble from cutting
Transporting Lifting limit is already applied rooms into storage area. 4 cutting
marble from Due to high density but due to shortage of labour shop
cutting shop to marble stones are workers have to lift more to 2. For loading purposes 6 months supervisor
storage area very heavy. Manual complete job on time. provide hydraulic lifting
and loading handling of marble is platform.
marble to difficult and it can
3. Hire more workers to reduce 2 months
vehicles. cause problems like
muscle stress, back work load on workers.
strain and injury to
joints. While placing 4. Regular medical check-ups 2 months
marbles pieces, must be done to prevent any
sometime fingers are problems.
pinched between
them causing injury to
finger tips.

Machinery Operators of cutting Training is provided to all 1. Install proper transparent 2 months 1,2 finance
hazard machines are at risk. cutter operators regarding plastic shields to prevent manager
any hazards. any accident.
All cutters are During cutting

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Hazard Who might be harmed What are you already doing? What further controls/actions are Timescales for
category and and how? required? further actions Responsible
hazard to be person’s job
completed title
(within …)
without safety operation cutting Workers are provided with 2. Semi automate the process
guard or blades are exposed to safety gloves and safety by installing new table which 6 months
shields. operator which is goggles. are controlled by motor.
extremely dangerous.
In case of any
accident worker may
lose hand arm or get
seriously injured.
Environment Water waste damages Company has done nothing 1. Reduce the water waste by 1 month 1, 3 cutting
hazard nearby lands also in this field. efficiently controlling water shop
polluting small for cooling purposes. supervisor
Water waste streams and
from marble underground water. 2. Company should purchase 8 months 2 finance
factory pollute coagulation and manager
environment. Suspended solid sedimentation plants and
particles in waste can water waste should be
damage the quality of treated by these coagulation
water. This can water and sedimentation process
cannot be used for before discharge.
drinking or irrigation 1 month
purposes. 3. Recycle water for cooling
purposes.
Occupational All workers are Company provide the worker 1. Company should provide 2 weeks 1 Finance
safety affected by it. with new PPEs in every 2 new PPEs every month. manager
months.
Workers are No spare PPEs are 2. Company should have some 2 weeks 2,3 cutting
not provided present. If someone Worker do not inform the spare PPEs to replace in shop
with enough gloves gets damaged company when their PPEs case someone PPEs get supervisor
PPEs. either they have to gets damage. damaged.

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Hazard Who might be harmed What are you already doing? What further controls/actions are Timescales for
category and and how? required? further actions Responsible
hazard to be person’s job
completed title
(within …)
with their damaged
gloves or wait for 3. Instruct the workers to
weeks. inform company when their 1 week
PPEs worn out before time.
Safe All loading vehicles 1. Company should decrease 1 month 1,2 storage
movement of are affected by it. gradient of slope so that area
vehicle vehicles can easily move supervisor
Due to new out.
Small parking construction road Company has provided 6 months
space inside become higher than separate parking for 2. Company should increase
storage area factory storage area. customers outside factory. storage area height. 3 finance
and steep So when loaded manager
slope towards vehicle leaves storage 3. Company cannot expand 1 month
Storage area is well lit.
road. area it gets difficult for storage area because no
them to cross steep It is mandatory for all loading space is available on either
slope. vehicle drivers to have sides of company. So
Also space inside validate licence. company should provide
storage area in small assistant which guide drivers
so it become difficult during reversing.
for drivers to reverse
their vehicles.

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Part 3: Prioritise 3 actions with justification for the selection
Action that I prioritise are following:
1. Installation of on tool and local exhaust system with filter to control dust problems.
2. Installation of coagulation or sedimentation plant to treat waste water.
3. Enclosure of cutters by shield and motorized table installation.

Moral and financial arguments for ALL actions

Moral, general legal and financial
arguments
Hamza marble has the moral duty to protect its workers. Worker work in this company to
earn a wage, not to put their life at the risk of falling ill during working or after work in the
future due to their work activities. Some ill health condition like silicosis (respiratory
disease) and brain damage (by glue sniffing) will have major effect on workers and their
family lives. In case of long term injury or diseases workers are not able to do any job in the
future. If workers witness serious injury to any other worker than they can become mentally
disturbed.
These incident not only effect worker but also reputation of the company. Damaged
reputation means decease in business and difficulty in hiring new labour.

Accidents also increase financial costs. In case of injury to worker company have to pay for
sick pay, replacement worker wages and medical cost. The lost working time can also
increase financial cost. Cost related to damage equipment replacement or infrastructure
repair for example in this marble factory if vehicle move backward from steep slope and
damage factory walls.
Fine or cost related to enforcement action. Possible enforcement action faced by Hamza
Marble could include probation notice meaning stopping all work activities or improvement
notice meaning that company has to put things right within specific time period by
regulatory authority. These legal notices have massive impact on company finance due to
disturbance in work activities.
Hamza Marble also has to meet the requirements for ILO convention C155 and
Page
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Justification for action 1
Action
Specific legal arguments
Consideration of likelihood AND severity
How effective the action is likely to be in
controlling the risk. This should include:
 the intended impact of the action;
 justification for the timescale that you
indicated in your risk assessment;
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recommendation R164. According to these convention and recommendation employer will
have to make sure that equipment and machines on workplace are safe to use. Specifically
the ILO’s health and safety in use of machinery requires that all work equipment and
accessories should be maintained, inspected and tested at regular intervals.
Installation of on tool and local exhaust system with filter to control dust problems.
As indicated in Paragraph 16(1) of international labour Recommendation No. 156, it is duty
of employer to supervise the health of worker, biological or other tests or investigations
which may be necessary to control the degree of exposure and supervise the state of
health of the worker concerned.
And indicated in paragraph 5 substances that are harmful to health and liable to be
airborne in workplace should be minimized or replaced by less harmful substance. In this
case we cannot replace it less harmful substance so we have to control it.
Working in extreme dusty environment is very difficult and pose a health risk to workers
and surrounding population. Marble dust is very harmful to respiratory system, as workers
have to work in tile design shop for 8 hours so there are high chances of getting serious
respiratory disease. Chances of getting disease also becomes very high with longer time
period. Over longer time periods workers develop acute coughing, respiratory disease
called silicosis which is the scarring of lung tissues and worker get short breath after little
work decreasing their efficiency. Also the severity increases with the increase in
concentration of dust.
On tool exhaust system do not allow the dust to spread in room and Local exhaust system
will remove remaining dust which is not removed by on tool exhaust system thus greatly
reduce the dust concentration. As concentration decreases the chances of getting ill also
decreases. The filter traps most dust preventing contamination of surrounding air. I have
given a time scale of 4 months to purchase and install these exhaust systems because
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 and
 whether you think the action will fully
control the risk.
Justification for action 2
Action
Specific legal arguments
Consideration of likelihood AND severity
How effective the action is likely to be in
controlling the risk. This should include:
 the intended impact of the action;
 justification for the timescale that you
indicated in your risk assessment;
and
 whether you think the action will fully
control the risk.
Justification for action 3
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company has to source a supplier and hire competent person to install it. This is enough
time and I hope that this project will complete in 4 months.
Installation of coagulation or sedimentation plant to treat waste water.
As stated in Paragraph 3 of international labour Recommendation No. 156 It should be the
duty of the employer to arrange for equipment used to monitor air pollution, noise and
vibration in the working environment to be regularly inspected, maintained and calibrated.
The cutting water waste from marble company contains suspended particles which pollute
environment. This waste contaminates the underground drinking water and decrease the
output of agriculture land. This waste is harmful to human life causing kidney problem like
kidney stone and skin problems and also harmful to aquatic life. According to research Dr
Ahmed said “people using ground water within a kilometre of such (contaminated) stream
are susceptible to developing kidney stones”.
In coagulation process the gelatinous mass is used to trap small particles thus forming
large particle enough to settle down or caught in filter. In sedimentation process allows
particles in water to settle down under the effect of gravity and then clean water is
extracted which is reuse for cooling purposes or can be added into stream.
I have given the 8 months’ time period to purchase and install coagulation and
sedimentation plants because they are costly and company have to allocate sufficient
resources and need enough time to install them.
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 Action
Specific legal arguments
Consideration of likelihood AND severity
How effective the action is likely to be in
controlling the risk. This should include:
 the intended impact of the action;
 justification for the timescale that you
indicated in your risk assessment;
and
 whether you think the action will fully
control the risk.
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Enclosure of cutters by shield and motorized table installation
According to ILO recommendation 164 it is employer duty to make the machinery and work
processes without any risk to health.
Workers are operating the cutters without safety shield. Although there is small chance of
accident but in this case severity is very high which make this process dangerous. In case
of accident worker may lose hand, arm and even life threatening situation can arise. If
worker lose hand or arm he will not be able perform any job which also effect the worker
mentally.
In this case we cannot eliminate the hazard then we have to make the worker safe. By the
installation of shied the risk of getting injure by cutter greatly decreases even if worker slip.
Also shield will protect the worker from cooling water splashing into his eyes. This option is
suitable because it is cost effective and take less time to install. By shield installation, work
environment become safe and increase the confidence of worker.
I give 2 month time period to purchase and install the safety shields because company has
to order these shields to custom manufacturer according to cutter dimensions which take
some time.
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Part 4: Review, communicate and check:
Planned review date/period with
reasoning
How the risk assessment findings will be
communicated AND who you need to tell
How you will follow up on the risk
assessment to check that the actions
have been carried out
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Hamza Marble policy is to review risk assessment every 12 months so I set the review date
for 12 months’ 15 November 2021.
As my risk assessment finishes the general manager is out of city for some company
business so I asked the financial manager to arrange my meeting with general manager. I
the mean time I send email to general manager which contain softcopy of risk assessment.
During meeting the response from general manager is very positive that he makes
arrangements to fulfil gaps in health and safety and make the workplace relatively safe. He
invites me to share the finding of risk assessment with the rest of managers, supervisors
and workers during safety meeting.
I visited the organisation 15 day later and talk to relative managers and workers to find that
the progress against each action started or not. Finance manager informed me that
resources to fulfil the action has been allocated and they try finish the desired action at
time. The response from this company is very positive and encouraging.
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