September 2013

Examiners Report
NEBOSH International
General Certifcate in
Occupational Health
and Safety (IGC1)

Examiners Report

NEBOSH INTERNATIONAL GENERAL
CERTIFICATE IN OCCUPATIONAL
HEALTH AND SAFETY


UNIT IGC1:
MANAGEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL
HEALTH AND SAFETY


SEPTEMBER 2013



For: NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety
NEBOSH International Certificate in Construction Health and Safety
NEBOSH International Certificate in Fire Safety and Risk Management



CONTENTS



Introduction 2



General comments 3



Comments on individual questions 4








2013 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/I/IGC1[ ] 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 around 35,000 candidates annually and are offered
by over 500 course providers, with exams taken in over 100 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 2013


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
2 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.

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






Question 1 (a) Setting policy is a key element of a health and safety
management system.

Identify other key elements of a health and safety management
system. (4)

(b) Identify sources of guidance on the preparation and
implementation of health and safety management systems. (4)

(c) Outline why it is important that managers responsibilities are
made clear in a health and safety policy. (8)

(d) Identify circumstances that may require a review of the health
and safety policy. (4)



This question related to Element 2 of the syllabus and assessed candidates
knowledge of learning outcomes 2.1 Outline the key elements of a health and safety
management system and 2.3 Describe the key features and appropriate content of an
effective health and safety policy.

Part (a) required candidates to identify elements such as organisation or allocation of
responsibilities and action for improvement regarding health and safety management.
Candidates generally gave a satisfactory response to the command word identify. A
number of candidates gave answers related to health and safety policy rather than a
health and safety management system, suggesting that some candidates misread the
question.

Part (b) required candidates to identify sources eg government enforcement agency,
I.L.O, etc. Some candidates missed marks by providing sources which are not relevant
to health and safety management systems or by providing vague answers such as
news media. Many candidates gave only one or two responses but generally in order
to gain full marks for a four point identify question, candidates will need to provide four
correct responses.

Part (c) required an outline of reasons why managers responsibilities safety needs to
be made clear. Some candidates missed marks by writing about what managers
responsibilities are, rather than saying why they need to be made clear. Some
candidates listed points but this was not sufficient in gaining marks for the command
word outline.

Part (d) required candidates to identify circumstances that would prompt a review such
as a change of the structure of the organisation, change in legislation, etc. This part of
the question was generally well answered. A number of candidates stated that a policy
should be reviewed following an accident, but a mark for this point could not be given
for this response. Better answers stated a worsening trend in the number of accidents,
a high number of accidents or a particularly serious accident as a circumstance for
reviewing a policy.



Unit IGC1
Management of international safety and health

4 EXTERNAL

Question 2 Give the meaning of the following terms:

(a) health; (2)

(b) safety; (2)

(c) welfare; (2)

(d) environmental protection. (2)



This question related to Element 1 of the syllabus and assessed candidates
knowledge of learning outcomes 1.1 Outline the scope and nature of occupational
health and safety

This question required candidates to give the meaning of the terms. Answers given
generally gained higher marks in part (a), (b) and (c) but were limited for part (d).
Some candidates missed marks by listing factors related to the term such as welfare
facilities, rather than the term itself.



Question 3 (a) Give TWO reasons why visitors to a workplace might be at
greater risk of injury than workers. (2)

(b) Identify precautions that could be taken to reduce the risk of
injury to visitors to a workplace. (6)



This question related to Element 4 of the syllabus and assessed candidates
knowledge of learning outcomes 4.2 Explain the principles and practice of risk
assessment

Generally this question was well answered, with the average mark for this question
being the highest average mark of the eight mark questions on this paper.



Question 4 A large organisation has all of its building maintenance work carried out
by a contractor.

Outline the health and safety responsibilities of the organisation as the
client for this contracted work. (8)



This question related to Element 3 of the syllabus and assessed candidates
knowledge of learning outcomes 3.1 Outline the health and safety roles and
responsibilities of employers, managers, supervisors, workers and other relevant
parties

The question required candidates to outline client responsibilities and some common
errors were made. Some candidates missed the requirement to focus on the client and
answered the question as though it related to contractors duties. Some candidates,
who did see that the question related to client duties, did not outline sufficient duties.

There were eight marks for this question and candidates needed to outline a number
5 EXTERNAL
of responsibilities in order to gain full marks.



Question 5 Explain the reasons for maintaining and promoting good standards of
health and safety in the workplace. (8)



This question related to Element 1 of the syllabus and assessed candidates
knowledge of learning outcomes 1.2 Explain the moral, social and economic reasons
for maintaining and promoting good standards of health and safety in the workplace.

This question required candidates to explain and therefore required detail and
meaning in their answers. A list of points was not sufficient to gain high marks.

Those candidates who covered moral, social and legal reasons tended to provide a
wide range of valid points and gained high marks. Some candidates gave too few
reasons to gain the marks available.



Question 6 (a) Outline the key features of a health and safety audit. (4)

(b) Outline why the audit findings should be presented to the senior
management of an organisation. (4)



This question related to Element 5 of the syllabus and assessed candidates
knowledge of learning outcomes 5.1 Outline the principles, purpose and role of active
and reactive monitoring and 5.2 Explain the purpose of, and procedures for, health
and safety auditing.

Part (a) required an outline of the key features of a health and safety audit.

There were a number of reasons candidates missed marks on part (a). Some
candidates answers dealt with inspections rather than audits whilst other dealt
generally with health and safety policy. Some who did consider audit went on to list
the type of documentation an auditor might examine.

There were few candidates who outlined sufficient points to gain good marks for part
(b). This question obtained the lowest average mark of all the eight mark questions.
Given the importance of auditing within health and safety practice and the fact that this
is reflected in the syllabus, audits and auditing are topics on which candidates do need
to be confident.



Question 7 Identify factors that could cause the safety culture within an organisation
to deteriorate. (8)




This question related to Element 3 of the syllabus and assessed candidates
knowledge of learning outcomes 3.2 Explain the concept of health and safety culture
and its significance in the management of health and safety in an organisation and 3.3
Outline the human factors which influence behaviour at work in a way that can affect
health and safety
6 EXTERNAL

Candidates lost marks by providing more general points relating to safety culture rather
than relating their answer to the specific situation given. This identify question had
eight marks available therefore a wide variety of valid points are needed to gain high
marks.




Question 8 (a) Outline FOUR reasons why accidents should be reported and
recorded within a workplace. (4)

(b) Outline factors that stop workers from reporting workplace
accidents. (4)



This question related to Element 5 of the syllabus and assessed candidates
knowledge of learning outcomes 5.4 Describe the legal and organisational
requirements for recording and reporting incidents.

Both parts of this question were generally well answered with the overall average mark
being over half of the eight marks available. Some candidates gained good or full
marks to one or both parts. There were some candidates who missed marks by either
failing to provide a sufficient number of points in their answers or by a lack of attention
to the outline command word.



Question 9 A university has a security worker who works alone when all staff and
students have left.

Outline what needs to be considered in order to reduce the health and
safety risks to this lone worker. (8)



This question related to Element 4 of the syllabus and assessed candidates
knowledge of learning outcomes 4.5 Explain what factors should be considered when
developing and implementing a safe system of work for general activities.

Candidate performance on this question was mixed with some gaining reasonable
marks but many giving too few valid points. Some candidates provided too much depth
on a particular point. Candidates gained higher marks if they provided a range of valid
points, rather than one point discussed at great length.



Question 10 Outline factors that would determine the frequency with which health and
safety inspections should be done in a workplace. (8)



This question related to Element 5 of the syllabus and assessed candidates
knowledge of learning outcomes 5.1 Outline the principles, purpose and role of active
and reactive monitoring.

Candidates were required to outline factors that would determine the frequency of
inspections and some candidates missed marks because they related to aspects of
inspections other than frequency. Candidates missed marks by outlining too few
7 EXTERNAL
points, or diverting away from what the question was asking.



Question 11 (a) Give the meaning of the term hierarchy of control. (2)

(b) Outline, with examples, the general hierarchy of control that
should be applied when controlling health and safety risks in the
workplace. (6)



This question related to Element 4 of the syllabus and assessed candidates
knowledge of learning outcomes 4.3 Explain the general principles of control and a
basic hierarchy of risk reduction measures.

Part (a) required candidates to provide the meaning of hierarchy of control. Candidate
performance varied, with some giving a suitable definition. Some candidates
incorrectly referred to an organisations managerial structure.

As with part (a), answers to part (b) varied. Some candidates missed marks by not
giving examples as required.



8 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