March 2012

Examiners Report NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety (NGC1)

Examiners Report
NEBOSH NATIONAL GENERAL CERTIFICATE IN OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY UNIT NGC1: MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH AND SAFETY MARCH 2012
For: NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety NEBOSH National Certificate in Fire Safety and Risk Management NEBOSH National Certificate in Construction Health and Safety

CONTENTS

Introduction

General comments

Comments on individual questions

2012 NEBOSH, Dominus Way, Meridian Business Park, Leicester LE19 1QW
tel: 0116 263 4700 fax: 0116 282 4000 email: info@nebosh.org.uk website: www.nebosh.org.uk

The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health is a registered charity, number 1010444
T(s):exrpts/C/NGC11203 EXTERNAL DW/DA/REW

Introduction

NEBOSH (The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health) was formed in 1979 as an independent examining board and awarding body with charitable status. We offer a comprehensive range of globally-recognised, vocationally-related qualifications designed to meet the health, safety, environmental and risk management needs of all places of work in both the private and public sectors. Courses leading to NEBOSH qualifications attract over 25,000 candidates annually and are offered by over 400 course providers in 65 countries around the world. Our qualifications are recognised by the relevant professional membership bodies including the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) and the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM). NEBOSH is an awarding body to be recognised and regulated by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). Where appropriate, NEBOSH follows the latest version of the GCSE, GCE, Principal Learning and Project Code of Practice published by the regulatory authorities in relation to examination setting and marking. While not obliged to adhere to this code, NEBOSH regards it as best practice to do so. Candidates scripts are marked by a team of Examiners appointed by NEBOSH on the basis of their qualifications and experience. The standard of the qualification is determined by NEBOSH, which is overseen by the NEBOSH Council comprising nominees from, amongst others, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). Representatives of course providers, from both the public and private sectors, are elected to the NEBOSH Council. This report on the examination provides information on the performance of candidates which it is hoped will be useful to candidates and tutors in preparation for future examinations. It is intended to be constructive and informative and to promote better understanding of the syllabus content and the application of assessment criteria. NEBOSH 2012

Any enquiries about this report publication should be addressed to: NEBOSH Dominus Way Meridian Business Park Leicester LE19 1QW tel: 0116 263 4700 fax: 0116 282 4000 email: info@nebosh.org.uk

EXTERNAL

General comments

Many candidates are well prepared for this unit assessment and provide comprehensive and relevant answers in response to the demands of the question paper. This includes the ability to demonstrate understanding of knowledge by applying it to workplace situations. There are always some candidates, however, who appear to be unprepared for the unit assessment and who show both a lack of knowledge of the syllabus content and a lack of understanding of how key concepts should be applied to workplace situations. In order to meet the pass standard for this assessment, acquisition of knowledge and understanding across the syllabus are prerequisites. However, candidates need to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding in answering the questions set. Referral of candidates in this unit is invariably because they are unable to write a full, well-informed answer to one or more of the questions asked. Some candidates find it difficult to relate their learning to the questions and as a result offer responses reliant on recalled knowledge and conjecture and fail to demonstrate a sufficient degree of understanding. Candidates should prepare themselves for this vocational examination by ensuring their understanding, not rote-learning pre-prepared answers. Candidates should therefore note that Examiners Reports are not written to provide sample answers but to give examples of what Examiners were expecting and more specifically to highlight areas of under performance. Common pitfalls It is recognised that many candidates are well prepared for their assessments. However, recurrent issues, as outlined below, continue to prevent some candidates reaching their full potential in the assessment. Many candidates fail to apply the basic principles of examination technique and for some candidates this means the difference between a pass and a referral. In some instances, candidates do not attempt all the required questions or are failing to provide complete answers. Candidates are advised to always attempt an answer to a compulsory question, even when the mind goes blank. Applying basic health and safety management principles can generate credit worthy points. Some candidates fail to answer the question set and instead provide information that may be relevant to the topic but is irrelevant to the question and cannot therefore be awarded marks. Many candidates fail to apply the command words (also known as action verbs, eg describe, outline, etc). Command words are the instructions that guide the candidate on the depth of answer required. If, for instance, a question asks the candidate to describe something, then few marks will be awarded to an answer that is an outline. Similarly the command word identify requires more information than a list. Some candidates fail to separate their answers into the different sub-sections of the questions. These candidates could gain marks for the different sections if they clearly indicated which part of the question they were answering (by using the numbering from the question in their answer, for example). Structuring their answers to address the different parts of the question can also help in logically drawing out the points to be made in response. Candidates need to plan their time effectively. Some candidates fail to make good use of their time and give excessive detail in some answers leaving insufficient time to address all of the questions. Candidates should also be aware that Examiners cannot award marks if handwriting is illegible.

EXTERNAL

Candidates should note that it is not necessary to start a new page in their answer booklet for each section of a question.

EXTERNAL

Unit NGC1 Management of safety and health

Question 1 An employee suffered a broken leg as a result of a fall from height. The accident was reported to the enforcing authority as a major injury. An HSE inspector investigated the accident. (a) Identify FOUR other types of major injury listed in the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995. Outline the powers that the inspector may use to investigate the accident. (i) Identify the court that would hear prosecutions for a health and safety offence summarily. Identify the court that would hear prosecutions for a health and safety offence on indictment. Identify the maximum penalties that EACH court can impose for breaches of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

(4)

(b)

(8)

(c)

(1)

(ii)

(1)

(iii)

(4)

(d)

Outline the conditions necessary for, AND the effect of, the serving of a Prohibition Notice.

(2)

In answer to part (a) of the question, a variety of suggestions were put forward. Some candidates did not differentiate between accidents, dangerous occurrences and diseases and gave examples of each. Others suggested over 3 day accidents, whilst many referred to broken bones or dislocations without specifying the part of the body involved. For part (b), familiarity with section 20 of HASWA would have allowed candidates to outline the powers available to an inspector. Most candidates provided good answers for this part of the question although some did add the serving of notices and the instigation of legal proceedings which although they might follow the completion of the investigation, would not be relevant to the investigation itself. For part (c), the court that would hear prosecutions for a health and safety offence summarily in England would be the Magistrates Court whilst in Scotland they would be heard in the Sheriffs Court. Cases on indictment would be heard at the Crown Court in England and before the Sheriffs Court or High Court in Scotland. Maximum penalties that can be imposed for a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act are 20,000 or twelve months imprisonment for cases heard summarily and for those on indictment, an unlimited fine and two years imprisonment. This was the least well answered part of the question and many showed a lack of understanding of the differences between criminal and civil courts occasionally suggesting that the latter would hear summary proceedings. Penalties were often confused and some candidates suggested those which are now out of date.

EXTERNAL

In answer to part (d), candidates should have outlined that a prohibition notice may be served in the case of an activity which could lead to a risk of serious personal injury. The effect of the notice would be to stop the activity until the specified risk is reduced or eliminated. Few candidates mentioned serious personal injury but suggested in its place imminent danger. As for the effect of serving a notice some suggested an appeal and there were not many who correctly identified that it would stay in place until the risk had been reduced or eliminated.

Question 2

An organisation is considering expanding onto a shared site. (a) Outline factors to consider when carrying out a risk assessment of the first-aid provision on site. Identify the TWO main functions of first-aid treatment.

(6) (2)

(b)

In answering part (a) of the question, candidates could have outlined factors such as: the types of activities and hazards present; the facilities and resources such as firstaid personnel who might be shared with other occupants; the needs of nonemployees; the increased use and supply of first-aid reusables; and the ability to provide continued cover over different shifts and for sickness, leave and other absence. Candidates who did not do so well concentrated on facilities such as the content of first-aid boxes rather than the factors to be considered when carrying out an assessment. Often candidates neglected the fact that the question was concerned with a shared site. For part (b) it was disappointing that the standard of answer to this part of the question was not particularly good with many not recognising the part played by firstaid in the treatment of minor injuries.

Question 3

Outline FOUR active (proactive) monitoring methods that can be used in assessing the health and safety performance of an organisation.

(8)

Active monitoring methods that could have been outlined include: safety surveys which focus on a particular activity such as manual handling, training programmes or employees attitudes towards safety; sampling where specific areas of occupational health and safety are targeted; health surveillance using techniques such as audiometry or the measurement of blood lead levels and environmental monitoring involving the measurement, for example, of noise or dust levels. There was confusion between active and reactive monitoring methods whilst some candidates named a method without providing the supporting detail necessary for an outline.

Question 4

(a)

Identify the legal requirements whereby employers must prepare a written statement of their health and safety policy. Outline the circumstances that may give rise to a need for a health and safety policy to be revised.

(2)

(b)

(6)

EXTERNAL

For part (a) of the question, candidates were required to outline that employers have a duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 to prepare a written statement of their health and safety policy when they have five or more employees. Most candidates answered this part of the question well although there were still a few who suggested the criterion of more than five. For part (b), candidates could have outlined circumstances such as significant changes in the structure of the organisation; following changes in legislation; where audits, risk assessments, monitoring exercises or investigations into accidents and cases of ill-health show that the policy is no longer effective or relevant; following enforcement action by or the receipt of advice from the enforcement authority; and after a sufficient period of time has elapsed since the previous review to suggest that another is due. Some answers lacked sufficient detail to satisfy an outline question whilst a few candidates did not read the question with sufficient care and suggested circumstance that would result in the revision of a risk assessment.

Question 5

Outline the factors that should be considered when planning and setting health and safety performance objectives.

(8)

An important initial factor to be considered would be to decide who would set the objectives and whether this would be done at board or local management level. With that decided it would then be necessary to consider further factors such as the requirements of the organisations health and safety management systems and those demanded by legislation and /or standards; to decide whether short or long term targets were to be set and to ensure that they were specific, measureable, reasonable and achievable; to consider the likely effects of constraints such as those imposed by the availability of finance or trained staff; and, to consider methods for measuring achievement with the objectives and for deciding a time scale within which they should be reviewed. Many candidates did not seem to understand what factors should be considered in planning and setting performance objectives and suggested possible targets instead. Some candidates gained few marks by the use of the mnemonic SMART.

Question 6

(a)

Outline, using a workplace example, the meaning of the terms: (i) (ii) near-miss; dangerous occurrence (reportable under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995). (3)

(3)

(b)

Outline how an accident study ratio (eg Birds Triangle) can contribute to an understanding of accident prevention.

(2)

In answering part (a), candidates were expected to outline the meaning of a near-miss and a dangerous occurrence. Whilst most candidates were able to provide an adequate meaning of a near-miss they had problems with a dangerous occurrence, some not even realising that it should be reported. Examples were often missing and even when given, they were mostly incorrect. For part (b), candidates should have outlined how accident ratio studies have shown that there is a fixed ratio between accidents of different severity and those where no loss occurred. Consequently, organisations that have high numbers of near-misses are likely to have a greater number of serious accidents and, therefore, if they reduce the number of near-misses they are likely to suffer fewer serious accidents. Similarly,

EXTERNAL

if the causes of minor injuries are addressed and either eliminated or controlled the causes of serious accidents will also be reduced. This part of the question was poorly answered and even when candidates showed an understanding of the existence of a ratio between near misses and major accidents they were often unable to comment on the significance of this relationship. There also appeared to be confusion in some minds between an accident study ratio, root cause analyses and dominoes.

Question 7

Identify EIGHT indicators of management commitment to health and safety in the workplace.

(8)

Important indicators of management commitment to health and safety include ensuring that sufficient resources such as finance, equipment and training are provided to support the implementation of the health and safety policy; participation in monitoring procedures such as inspections and audits and ensuring rapid implementation of any recommendations made; personal observance of all safety rules such as wearing personal protective equipment and using pedestrian walkways; participation in meetings of the safety committee and ensuring that health and safety is a regular agenda item in other meetings at all levels; engaging in consultation with the workforce and welcoming employee feedback; and in initiating and being personally involved in the delivery of health and safety training courses. Answers to this question were to a reasonable standard although candidates who did not do so well described the benefits that might accrue from management commitment rather than how managers themselves would demonstrate it.

Question 8

(a)

Identify TWO specific work activities for which a permit-to-work might be needed. Outline key elements of a permit-to-work system.

(2) (6)

(b)

For part (a), most candidates were able to identify permit-to-work activities. Candidates should note, however, that a general reference to electrical work without further definition is not sufficient to obtain the mark. Elements which should be included in the permit include the necessary controls such as, the isolation of sources of energy and other services, the provision and use of personal protective equipment, emergency arrangements, the identification and competence of the persons carrying out the work and the duration of the permit confirming the start and end time. 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. Some candidates appeared to have experience of using permits to work at their workplace and provided good answers. Those who did not seem to have this experience struggled.

EXTERNAL

Question 9

(a) (b)

Explain why health and safety performance should be reviewed. Identify FOUR issues that may be considered during a health and safety performance review.

(4)

(4)

Candidates were expected to explain reasons such as: to assess compliance with legal requirements; to identify whether control measures are in use, to assess their effectiveness and to be able to make decisions on appropriate remedial measures for any deficiencies identified; and ultimately because monitoring and review is a vital component of any safety management system. This proved to be the least well answered question on the paper. Some candidates did not seem to appreciate that it referred to the review requirements for a safety management system and wrote about reviews of policies or risk assessments. Even when the right approach was taken, explanations were limited. In answer to part (b), candidates could have identified issues such as absence and illhealth records; records and reports of any monitoring exercises; information on the degree to which objectives and targets have been met; quality assurance reports; actions taken and advice given by the enforcement authority and any civil claims that have been submitted; and the results and outcomes of previous reviews. Again, there was confusion, and often answers were limited to issues such as changes to processes, equipment, personnel and the environment.

Question 10

(a)

Explain key stages involved in carrying out a workplace risk assessment. Identify legal requirements for recording a risk assessment.

(6) (2)

(b)

Answers to part (a) were generally to a good standard although some candidates seemed unfamiliar with the five steps whilst a few explained the hierarchy of control. For part (b), candidates should have referred to the requirements contained in the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations which lays a duty on an employer, who employs five or more persons, to keep a record of the significant findings of an assessment. Some candidates considered that the requirement to record was to be found in the Health and Safety at Work etc Act and others who could not be sure whether it is was five or more or more than five.

Question 11

(a) (b)

Give the meaning of the term health and safety audit. Outline THREE advantages AND THREE disadvantages of an external auditor carrying out a health and safety audit.

(2)

(6)

For part (a), a good answer would have included that an audit is a systematic critical examination of a health and safety management system, involving a structured process for the collection of independent information with the aim of assessing the effectiveness and reliability of the system and suggesting corrective action when this was thought to be necessary. There were many candidates who showed a lack of understanding of the process of auditing with some identifying it as an inspection of various types of documentation and workplace activities rather than the examination of the effectiveness of a health and safety management system.

EXTERNAL

Part (b) of the question produced some good answers and many candidates appeared to be well prepared for it.

10

EXTERNAL

The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health Dominus Way Meridian Business Park Leicester LE19 1QW telephone +44 (0)116 2634700 fax +44 (0)116 2824000 email info@nebosh.org.uk www.nebosh.org.uk