Exercise 9

Giving reason in EACH case, identify THREE categories of persons who may be considered a
useful member of an internal accident investigation team.

Answer 9

Any three of the following:

 Senior manager from another department: can be useful to chair the investigation to
help eliminate any bad feeling between the interviewee and their department manager.

 A Supervisor is familiar in the area

 The working practices in the area.

 The character of the employees.

 A department manager is required if the scale of the incident exceeds the experience of
authority of the supervisor to deal with the event & it outcomes.

 A department manager: is required if the scale of the incident exceeds the experience or
authority of the supervisor to deal with the event & it outcomes.

 Safety officer or advisor: to offer advice on:

 Current safety system & procedures in place

 Legal implications.

 Safety representative: who can provide assistance on:

 Results of inspection,
 Employees previous concerns.

 Technical expert: as health and hygiene professionals to provide information on the

technical issues.

 An independent observer: to offer an unbiased view.

Exercise 10

Outline the conditions that may causes slipping or tripping hazards and how to control these
hazards

Answer 10

Condition that may cause slipping:

Smoothness of the floor.
0 Steepness of the floor,
0 Met floor due to:
0 Spillage on floor.
0 Passer rendering areas of floor wet by their wet shoes.
0 Not completely drying floor after cleaning.

Conditions that may cause tripping:

0 Uneven flooring.
0 Damaged floor.
0 Trailing cables, wires, etc.
0 Obstructions as piece of furniture, etc.
Both slipping & tripping hazards are aggravated by factors as:

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NEBOSH National General Certificate
a Poor lighting.
• Working in a hurry.

Measures to control slipping & tripping hazards:

• Antislip finishes of floor.
• Avoid design of steep floor.
• Availability and proper use of mat pieces at the entrance of work area to dry
shoes before entering the work area.
• Immediate and careful drying of spillages which accidentally occur on the floor.

• Safe system of work for floor cleaning including:

o Using cleaning material that dry rapidly

o Cleaners to wear sensible shoes.
o Training & supervision of cleaners at work.
o Warning signs referring to cleaning area.
o Allowing enough time for the floor to dry after cleaning.

• Repair of damaged floor.

• Removal of cables, wires, pieces of furniture and other sorts of obstruction.
• Improving lighting conditions.
• Avoid working in a hurry.

Exercise 11

A worker is injured after being struck by a reversing vehicle on a loading bay.

*Give 4 reasons why accident is to be investigated.
*Outline the information to be. included in the investigation.
*Outline the immediate & underlying causes of the accident.

Answer 11

Reasons why accidents are to be investigated:

o Preventive reason: to prevent the occurrence of similar accidents in the future.

• To look for evidence of liability (this is mainly required for claims specialist).
• To look for evidence of blame (this is required for enforcement agencies).
• To look for enough material for case study (this is required for trainers).

The information to be included in the investigation:

• The place of accident, the timing and date of-occurrence of the accident.
• The immediate causes of injury: or loss.
• The underlying or contributing factors.
• The details of those. injured (regarding age, sex, occupation, etc.).
• The details of physical examination including:

o Simple diagram for the area of the accident.

o Photos for the area showing important accident features.
o Recording of events as odours, spillage, fires, etc.
o Results of sample examination are to be recorded if available.
• Witnesses statements (including primary, secondary or tertiary witnesses).
• The corrective actions recommended.

The immediate causes of the accidents:

• Unsafe act by the reversing vehicle driver (lack of attention, lack of concentration and
working in hurry due to job pressure.
• Unsafe condition: faulty vehicle (with no warning facilities "audible or visual").

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NEBOSH National General Certificate
The underlying causes:
o Lack of management commitment to safety.
o Absence of safe system of work.
Lack of proper sign & warning system.
Lack of proper supervision for workers (example is the vehicle driver).
improper design of workplace (so that no separate routes for pedestrians).

Exercise 12

b.) Identify the reasons why employees may fail to report accidents at work.

Answer 12

help in the identification and reduction of losses, to trigger the review of risk
assessment.

b) Reasons why employees may fail to report accidents:

To preserve departments or company's safety record free of accident (especially when an

incentive scheme is in operation).
Due to the over complicated reporting procedures.
Lack of obvious management response to earlier reporting of accidents.
ignorance of the reporting procedures.
To avoid receiving first aid or medical treatment (for whatever reason).
® Peer pressure.
O Possible punishment by management.

Exercise 13

a) Give FOUR reasons why accidents may occur on staircases,

b) Outline ways in which accidents on staircases may be prevented

Answer 13

a) Reasons why accidents may occur on staircases.

Unsafe conditions: as:
o Poor design of the staircase (very steep, narrow, etc.). o
Smoothness of the staircase leading to slipping,
o Damaged staircase forming a tripping hazard.
o Lack of handrail (leading to failing hazard).
o Poor lighting.

Unsafe acts: as:

o Lack of attention.
o Using the staircase in a hurry.
o Carrying heavy or awkward loads while using the staircase. o
Over crowding,

b). The ways in which accidents on staircases may be prevented.

Proper design of the staircases: to be:
o Of suitable width.
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