Unit Ng1 and Ng2 Revision Guide Sample

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RRC
Revision Guide
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NEBOSH
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National General Certificate in

Occupational Health and Safety
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Unit NG1: Management of Health and Safety

Unit NG2: Risk Assessment
Units NG1 & NG2 Revision Guide: Introduction
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Introduction to Units NG1 and NG2 Revision
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Guide

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This Revision Guide has been created to help you revise and prepare for your Unit
NG1 exam (Elements 1–4) and Unit NG2 practical assessment (Elements 5–11). By
combining an overview of each topic with practice exam questions, it will help you revise
the course content and improve your exam technique at the same time. It’s perfect
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preparation for your NEBOSH exam. However, it is not intended to replace a proper
course of learning! Details about the practical assessment are also included to help you
understand what’s required for each part.
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The Revision Guide is divided into the following sections:
Effective Revision
This is a summary of how you can use the syllabus for effective revision, a description
of the exam structure and the importance of exam technique.
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Unit NG1 Revision Notes
These notes provide a summary of key principles and ideas that are assessed in the
exam. They are a condensed version of the topics covered by the first four elements
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of the course. They will be useful to you when you are reviewing course content and
will help you build and enhance your memory of core ideas.
Unit NG1 Exam Skills Questions
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The example exam skills questions provided give you an insight into the sorts of
questions that are asked and the way that they are worded. They will be useful to
you when you are preparing for the exam and will help you understand the exam
process.
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Unit NG1 Model Answers

These answers to the example exam skills questions set will help you review and
understand the course content. They have been written as ideal answers – not under
exam conditions or time restraints – so it may not always be possible to write such
detailed answers in the actual exam.
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Unit NG2 The Practical Assessment

This focuses on what’s required for the Unit NG2 practical assessment and the steps
you will need to take to ensure success.
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© RRC International 1
Units NG1 & NG2 Revision Guide: Introduction
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Effective Revision
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Using the Syllabus
The Guide to the NEBOSH National General Certificate is a very useful resource for
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exam preparation. This sets out the structure of the course and contains the syllabus. If
you don’t already have a copy of the syllabus guide, we strongly recommend that you
download it from the NEBOSH website and refer to it as you work through your course
revision (make sure you get the version that is labelled ‘for Learning Partners’). All Unit
NG1 exam questions are set from Elements 1–4 of this syllabus guide, so as you become
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more familiar with it you’ll be less likely to be ‘thrown’ by a surprise question.
Because all exam questions are taken from Elements 1–4 of the syllabus, mapping your
study notes against the syllabus can be a very useful revision technique. If you have
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studied with RRC you will see that the material follows the syllabus quite closely, but this
exercise is important to help you appreciate the overall ‘picture’. When you’re studying
one specific section in isolation, it can be very easy to lose sight of how the material fits
together, what practical use it is, or how a health and safety practitioner might make
use of it in real life. Referring back to the syllabus will put each topic in perspective and
help you see how it relates to the field of health and safety generally. It will also help you
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cross-reference the material with other related topics, which you may have to do in more
complex exam questions.
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One revision technique is to randomly pick a part of the syllabus from Elements 1–4 and
write down what you know about that topic. This might be very little at first, in which
case go back to your study notes and summarise the key issues that you need to work
on. Make a note of this topic, then return to it later and see how much more you can
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remember. If you practise this regularly, you will eventually cover all four elements and in
the process find that you understand and retain the material much more effectively. This
is called ‘active revision’, as it actively tests your memory to see what you have learnt.
It is far more effective than ‘passive revision’ where you simply read your study notes
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(most people will switch off after 30 seconds).

You will find it easier to study if you have an overall understanding of the topic first, then
fill in the detailed knowledge requirements later. Ask yourself searching questions such
as:
‘What use is this?’;
‘How would a health and safety practitioner apply this in real life?’; and
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‘What is the point of this topic?’;

until you feel that you fully understand why a health and safety practitioner would need
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to know about each topic. Once you have this level of general understanding, the details
will be much easier to retain, and in some cases you may be able to derive them from
your own workplace experience.
2 © RRC International
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Element 1: Why We Should Manage Workplace
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Health and Safety
Key Words
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Health and safety at work covers a wide range of concepts:
Health refers to the absence of disease or ill-health condition and includes both
physical and psychological ill health.
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Safety refers to the absence of risk of serious personal injury.
Welfare refers to access to basic facilities, such as toilet facilities, hand-wash stations,
changing rooms, rest rooms and places where food can be prepared and eaten in
relatively hygienic conditions, drinking water and basic first-aid provision.
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Morals and Money
The Moral Reason for Managing Health and Safety
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The scale of the problem – the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides annual
statistics detailing the scale of health and safety accidents in the UK. These statistics
indicate the extent of death, ill health and injury that results from people going to
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work to earn a living. The moral argument for proper management of health and
safety is simply recognition that this suffering is morally unacceptable.
Societal expectations – standards of health and safety improve over time. This is
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a reflection that though individuals may not appear to be interested in health and
safety, when a serious injury or disease is caused by work, the overall response from
society is one of condemnation.
The Financial Reason for Managing Health and Safety

The financial argument for good health and safety management is simply that accidents
and ill health cost an employer money.
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When an accident occurs, there are two types of losses that the organisation may face:
Direct costs – the measurable costs arising directly from the accident.
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Indirect costs – those which arise indirectly as a consequence of the event. Indirect
costs are often difficult to quantify precisely and may be hard to identify. In certain
circumstances, they may be extremely high.
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Insured and Uninsured Costs
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Insured costs – it is compulsory to take out employers’ liability insurance (under the
Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969). The minimum amount of
cover is currently £5 million. Stock and premises are also usually insured against fire.
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Uninsured costs – some losses are uninsurable by their very nature (e.g. you cannot
take out an insurance policy to pay money should you be prosecuted and fined
in the criminal law courts). Many of the direct and indirect costs associated with
workplace accidents are uninsured. It has been estimated that uninsured losses are
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between 8 and 36 times greater than insured losses, with an average figure of 10
times stated by the HSE.
The Force of Law – Punishment and Compensation
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Criminal and Civil Law
Criminal Law Civil Law
Action is brought by the state. Action is brought by the individual.
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The intention is punishment. The intention is compensation.
There is usually no time limit within which Legal proceedings have to start within
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legal proceedings have to start. three years of the date of injury.
Insurance is not available to pay the fine. Insurance is available to pay the
compensation.
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Statute law is used as the source of law. Common law is used as the source of law.
The burden of proof is normally on The burden of proof is on the claimant

the prosecution to prove “guilt beyond to prove their case “on balance of
reasonable doubt”. probabilities”.
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* The burden and standard of proof required for some health and safety offences under
the HSWA is different.
Sources of Law
Statute Law
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Acts (have full legal status).

Regulations (have full legal status).
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Approved Codes of Practice (ACoPs) (have semi-legal status).

Guidance (have no legal status).
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Both the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 (HSWA) and the Management of
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Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSWR) are frequently used to bring
prosecutions to the criminal courts.
Common Law
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Common law is made up of decided cases. A court case requires a judge (or several
judges) to make a decision and state the reasons for their decision. These reasons
establish a precedent that will influence the decision-making of judges in the future.
Common law is therefore recorded in the form of past court cases and the reasoning
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stated in those cases.
Common law is used in the civil courts when bringing a claim for compensation.
However, it is not used as the source of law when bringing prosecutions against
employers for health and safety failings.
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Criminal Law
The Enforcing Authorities
There are several authorities who have a role in enforcing health and safety law in the
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UK. First among these is the HSE (or the Health and Safety Executive for Northern
Ireland (HSENI)).
The HSE enforces health and safety law in medium- and high-risk workplaces. The
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HSE does not enforce in all workplaces and does not enforce general fire safety or
environmental protection legislation.
The HSE:
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Enforces HSWA and associated law.

Reviews existing legislation and makes recommendations for changes.
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Provides information and guidance.

Conducts research.
Local authorities enforce health and safety law in workplaces not covered by the HSE
(lower-risk workplaces). Enforcement is carried out by Environmental Health Officers
(EHOs) who have the same powers under HSWA as HSE inspectors.
Powers of Inspectors under HSWA
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Inspectors appointed under HSWA have wide-ranging powers to enter and inspect
premises to ensure that activities are being carried out in accordance with the law.
These powers are detailed in Section 20 of HSWA:
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To enter premises at any reasonable time.

To take along a police officer if they believe they are going to be obstructed.
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Health and Safety
Short Questions
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1. (a) What does the term ‘vicarious liability’ mean in relation to health and safety?
(2 marks)
(b) Employers owe a common law duty to their employees. What must an
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employer provide to discharge this common law duty of care? (6 marks)
(Total: 8 marks)
2. (a) What does the word ‘shall’ mean when used in health and safety
regulations? (2 marks)
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(b) What are the specific duties of employers to their employees as set out in
Section 2 (2) of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 (HSWA)?
(6 marks)
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(Total: 8 marks)
3. What is the principle of ‘common law’ and how does it work in relation to health
and safety? (8 marks)
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4. What are the possible defences that an employer might use against a claim for
negligence? (8 marks)
5. What are eight powers available to a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector
under HSWA? (8 marks)
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6. What information could an organisation request and examine in order to ensure

that a contractor appears to be competent to undertake a task? (8 marks)
7. (a) The phrase ‘so far as is reasonably practicable’ is frequently used in health
and safety statute law. What is the meaning of this phrase? (4 marks)
(b) What are the general duties of employers as set out in Section 2(1)
of HSWA? (2 marks)
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(Total: 8 marks)
(c) What does the word ‘health’ mean? (2 marks)
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(Total: 8 marks)
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8. What are four possible direct AND four possible indirect costs that an
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organisation might have to bear following a serious work-related accident?
(8 marks)
9. Because of tight deadlines in the workplace, a supervisor has instructed an
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employee to operate a machine they both know to be unsafe because of a
defect with its guards. What are the possible breaches of HSWA in relation to
this scenario with reasons in each case? (8 marks)
10. What are the ways in which enforcement authorities such as the HSE can exert
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influence on the health and safety standards in an organisation? (8 marks)
Long Questions
11. (a) What are the main differences between criminal and civil law? (10 marks)
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(b) What is the meaning of the term ‘negligence’? (2 marks)
(c) What are the standard conditions that must be met for a claim of
negligence to succeed at a civil court? (8 marks)
12. An employee in a workplace has disabled an interlock safety device on an
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item of machinery. They have then been seriously injured whilst operating
the machine. The accident has been immediately reported to the enforcing
authority and an HSE inspector has arrived to investigate the accident.
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(a) What are the statutory powers given under HSWA that the HSE inspector
may use in order to gather information for their investigation? (8 marks)
(b) What are the specific pieces of health and safety legislation that the
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employee may have breached and what are your reasons in each case?
(6 marks)
(c) What various possible actions might the management of the workplace
take to prevent similar accidents from occurring? (6 marks)
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(Total: 20 marks)
13. (a) What are the responsibilities of employers as set out under Section 2 of
HSWA? (10 marks)
(b) What information should a reasonable employer request and examine
before engaging a contractor to undertake a large redecorating task?
(10 marks)
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(Total: 20 marks)
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Health and Safety
Short Questions
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1. (a) An employer’s responsibility and legal liability for the negligent acts of an
employee who, acting in the course of employment, causes injury or loss to
a third party. For vicarious liability to exist, there must be a true employer–
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employee relationship; the employee must have been acting through the
course of their employment and they must have been negligent.
(b) An employer should provide:
A safe place of work with safe access to and from it.
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Safe plant and equipment.
A safe system for doing the work.
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Safe and competent workers.
Appropriate supervision, information, instruction and training.
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2. (a) The word ‘shall’ imposes an absolute duty that must be complied with.
There would be no acceptable excuse for not complying with the duty.
(b) Section 2(2) of HSWA states the employer’s duty to ensure so far as is
reasonably practicable :
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Safe plant and systems of work.

Safe use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances.
Information, instruction, training and supervision.
A safe workplace and safe access to it and egress from it.
A safe working environment with adequate welfare facilities.
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3. The main points to include regarding common law are that:
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It is based on judicial precedent.
It is accepted by society as a basic standard of acceptable behaviour.
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It ensures consistent judgments.
Judgments are recorded for reference in other cases.
These judgements influence or dictate the decision-making of judges in
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future cases
Common law allows previous judgments to be revised and kept up-to-date.
In relation to health and safety, common law is used as the source of law in
civil courts when deciding on matters of negligence and compensation. It is
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not used when deciding criminal cases.
4. The possible defences that an employer can use against a claim for negligence
are:
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There was no duty owed.
There was no breach of duty.
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Breach was by a third party.
The breach did not lead to the loss.
The loss was not foreseeable.
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Volenti non fit injuria.

Contributory negligence (not a total defence).
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The Social Action, Responsibility and Heroism Act (2015).

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5. HSE inspectors have the power to:
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Enter the premises at any reasonable time.
Take a police officer with them.
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Investigate and examine.
Take photographs, measurements and samples.
Direct the premises to be left undisturbed.
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Dismantle equipment.
Take statements.
Inspect documents.
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Seize and render harmless potentially dangerous articles.
(Only eight are required.)
6. The following should be requested:

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References and testimonials for past work.
Health and safety policy.
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Training records, certificates and other proof of competence.
Example method statements.
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Example risk assessments.

Insurance certificates.
Membership of trade bodies or industry associations.
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Maintenance and inspection report for equipment and plant.
7. (a) The phrase ‘so far as is reasonably practicable’ means:

The level of risk inherent in a work activity must be weighed against the
cost (in terms of time, effort and money) of putting controls in place to
reduce or eliminate that risk.
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When the level of risk is found to be significant then a proportionate

sacrifice (money, time and effort) must be made to control or eliminate
that risk. However, if the risk is found to be negligible and the cost of the
proposed action is disproportionately high, then the proposed sacrifice
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does not have to be made.
Unit NG2 Risk Assessment: The Practical Assessment
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Unit NG2 Risk Assessment: The Practical
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Assessment

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The Practical Assessment
Introduction
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The Unit NG2 practical assessment tests knowledge covered in Elements 5–11 of the
course and requires you to carry out a risk assessment on a wide range of hazards. For
each hazard, you will have to identify the nature of the hazard(s) presented, the people
who might be harmed and how, the current control measures in place and any further
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control measures necessary. You will have to develop action plans to address all of the
additional control measures that you have identified in the assessment. You will then
have to prioritise three actions that you think are the most urgent and justify your
choices and indicate how you intend to review, communicate and check the assessment.
The parts to the practical assessment are shown in the diagram below:
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Unit NG2: Risk Assessment
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Description Prioritise Review,
of the organisation Risk
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3 actions with communicate

and methodology assessment justification and check
used
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There is a standard form that must be used for each step of the above process. This is
supplied by NEBOSH in its online Assessment Pack (available from: www.nebosh.co.uk).
It is important that you use the standard NEBOSH form for the assessment – the use of
non-standard forms might result in your assessment receiving a referral. Make sure that
you use the right form for the course that you are enrolled on. Forms can be completed
by hand or electronically – NEBOSH has created two different versions of the form
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for these options. We recommend that you complete the forms electronically, if at all
possible, as this looks more professional.
Your completed Unit NG2 practical assessment forms are submitted to NEBOSH for
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marking. You will be given a ‘pass’ or a ‘referral’ depending on whether it meets the
required standard or not. You must achieve a pass in the practical assessment in order to
achieve the Certificate qualification.

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Before You Begin – A Note from the Author
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Students taking the NEBOSH General Certificate course are often very concerned about
the exam that they have to pass to gain the qualification. Consequently, students often
spend a lot of time and effort preparing for the written exam. This is only natural as the
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written exam is the harder element of the assessment process (at least, this is what the
pass rates show).
Unfortunately, in their efforts to do well in the written exam, students often push the
practical assessment to the back of their thoughts. This can mean that they are poorly
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prepared to undertake the practical assessment. In some cases, students fail to achieve
the minimum standard required by NEBOSH. This is a great shame as a little preparation
can ensure a good performance in this part of the assessment process.
The practical assessment is not easy! You can’t assume that you will get a pass without
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putting in the effort, but with a little preparation and thought there is no reason why you
shouldn’t do well in it. The following guidance sets out practical guidelines and hints and
tips.
Part 1 – Description of the Organisation and

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Methodology Used
Description Prioritise Review,
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of the organisation Risk 3 actions with communicate
and methodology assessment justification and check
used
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The Part 1 Form
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Part 1 of the NEBOSH form is shown below:
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Note: These forms are for reference purposes only. Please visit the NEBOSH website to
obtain the official forms to submit your assessment.
Box 1 – Description of the Organisation
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The first step is to provide a brief description of the workplace and write this down in
the first box of Part 1 of the NEBOSH form. Make sure that you include all of the
information that is requested in italics at the top of this box.
Ordinarily the workplace that you choose to describe would be the organisation that
you work for but it doesn’t have to be. If, for example, you are between jobs, or are self-
employed and work in a very small, low-risk location such as a home office, you might
choose to carry out this assessment at a larger, complex workplace.
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You can provide a false name and/or location for your organisation if you like, to protect
the identity of the organisation involved and maintain confidentiality. Everything else
must be factual.
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You need to think about the scope of the risk assessment exercise. You should choose an
area that is large and interesting enough to offer a broad range of hazards and risks. But

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National General Certificate in

Unit NG1: Management of Health and Safety

 Unit NG1 Model Answers

 Unit NG2 The Practical Assessment

(most people will switch off after 30 seconds).

 ‘What is the point of this topic?’;

The Financial Reason for Managing Health and Safety

The Force of Law – Punishment and Compensation

The burden of proof is normally on The burden of proof is on the claimant

 Acts (have full legal status).

 Approved Codes of Practice (ACoPs) (have semi-legal status).

 Enforces HSWA and associated law.

 Provides information and guidance.

 To enter premises at any reasonable time.

6. What information could an organisation request and examine in order to ensure

 Safe plant and systems of work.

 Volenti non fit injuria.

 The Social Action, Responsibility and Heroism Act (2015).

6. The following should be requested:

 Example risk assessments.

 Maintenance and inspection report for equipment and plant.

7. (a) The phrase ‘so far as is reasonably practicable’ means:

When the level of risk is found to be significant then a proportionate

does not have to be made.

3 actions with communicate

© RRC International 115

Part 1 – Description of the Organisation and

116 © RRC International

© RRC International 117

You might also like

Unit NG1 Model Answers

Unit NG2 The Practical Assessment

‘What is the point of this topic?’;

Acts (have full legal status).

Approved Codes of Practice (ACoPs) (have semi-legal status).

Enforces HSWA and associated law.

Provides information and guidance.

To enter premises at any reasonable time.

Safe plant and systems of work.

Volenti non fit injuria.

The Social Action, Responsibility and Heroism Act (2015).

Example risk assessments.

Maintenance and inspection report for equipment and plant.