Exam Skills

INTRODUCTION
To pass the NEBOSH International General Certificate you need to perform well during the exams.
You only have two hours and your performance will be related to two key factors:
The amount that you can remember about the elements youve studied; and
Your success in applying that knowledge to an exam situation.
Being good at both aspects is essential. Being calm under exam pressure is pointless if you do not have a good
knowledge of the information required to answer the exam questions.
Here, we will consider some practical guidelines that can be followed to increase success in the exam. Then you will
find Exam Skills questions for you to answer at the end of each element, starting with this one.

EXAM REQUIREMENTS

EXAM SKILLS PRACTICE

The GC2 exam consists of two sections:

At the end of each element there is an Exam Skills

question (or two) for you to attempt, with guidance on
how to answer in addition to a suggested answer outline.
This includes an Answer Plan - all of the points listed in
this would attract marks and you will see most of them
developed in the suggested answer itself.

Section 1 contains one question, which is likely to

consist of a number of sub parts. This question in total
is worth 20 marks.
Section 2 contains ten questions, with each question
being worth eight marks.
There is no choice of questions in the exam - all questions
must be answered. The exam in total lasts two hours and
NEBOSH recommend that you spend:
about half an hour on Section 1; and
about one and a half hours on Section 2.
For advice on exam technique, please refer back to Unit
IGC1, end of Element 1.

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Remember that when answering exam questions,

information from additional reading and personal
experience may be included. Examining bodies encourage
this and it will enhance your answers.
There is a time estimate at the beginning of each Exam
Skills activity. Dont worry if the activity takes you a little
longer than this - the timings are just there as a rough
guide.

Unit GC2 Element 1: Workplace Hazards and Risk Control

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Exam Skills
QUESTION 1
A roofing contractor is required to carry out extensive repair work on a fragile roof on a large manufacturing building.
Outline the factors that should be considered in the selection
process for hiring the roofing contractor. 

(8)

(b)

Identify the main risks to the contractors from working at height.

(4)

(c)

Identify possible control measures for the erection of an independent tied scaffold.

(8)

(a)

QUESTION 2
Excavation work is being carried out on a construction site.
Identify the control measures needed to reduce the risk to workers.

(8)

APPROACHING QUESTION 1

(a)

In GC2 the first section is a longer, 20-mark question, which

is typically broken down into smaller parts. NEBOSH advise
that you allow yourself half an hour for this question here
you can allow yourself a little longer to work through the
process, but be aware that on exam day you will be under
greater time pressure.

Outline the factors that should be considered

in the selection process for hiring the roofing
contractor.
(8)

(b)

Identify the main risks to the contractors from

working at height.
(4)

(c)

Identify possible control measures for the

erection of an independent tied scaffold.

This question may look daunting, consisting of three subsections, but you should approach it in the same way that
you would a simpler, 8-mark question. Action words are
used to indicate the level of depth that you are required to
provide. Note, however, that it is possible that a 20-mark
question may cover topics from more than one element.
Think now about the steps you would take to answer the
question:

(8)

Read the question again to make sure you understand about

roof work, contractor selection and scaffolds.
(Re-read your notes if you have to.)
4. The next stage is to develop a plan.
Here, your answer plan is likely to take the form of a bulletpointed list that you need to develop into a full answer
based on the key words that you have highlighted.

1. The first step is to read the question carefully. This

question requires you to outline and identify as always
be careful that you understand the correct level of
depth required, as many good candidates lose marks for
giving a list rather than an outline.

Now have a go at the question. Draw up

an answer plan, and then use it as the basis
to write out an answer as you would in the
exam.
Key hint: think of this as three separate
questions if that helps.

2. Next, consider the marks available. It would be sensible

to assume that you need to outline eight factors for part
(a) (though adding a couple of additional factors may
maximise your chances of getting full marks here). In
part (b) you should identify at least four main risks from
working at height. In part (c) you should identify at least
eight controls for erection of the scaffold.

When you have finished, compare your plan

and full answer to those that follow.

3. Now highlight the key words. In this case they might

look like this:
A roofing contractor is required to carry out extensive
repair work on a fragile roof on a large manufacturing
building.

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Exam Skills
SUGGESTED ANSWER

Plan
Factors to Consider in Contractor
Selection

Risks to Contractors from Work at

Height

References.
Insurance.
Trade association memberships.
Maintenance of equipment.
Experience of similar works.
Training of staff.
Method statement suitability.
Risk assessment quality.
Accident history.
Enforcement actions.
Health and safety policy.
Equipment to be used.
Maintenance of equipment.
Control of sub-contractors.

Falls from height.

Falling objects.
Falls through fragile roof.
Contact with live services/cables.
Injuries due to tools in use.
Effects of weather (from sunburn
to slips on ice).

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Controls for Erection of

Independent Tied Scaffold
Correctly designed for use and
load.
Designed for weather.
Equipment to be used.
Stable ground.
Base plates and sole plates.
Scaffold not damaged and in good
condition.
Erected by competent persons.
Inspected before use.
Scaffolders wearing fall-arrest
equipment.
Securely tied to structure/
building.
Protected from vehicles.

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Exam Skills

POSSIBLE ANSWER BY EXAM CANDIDATE

(a) The following factors should be considered when selecting a roofing contractor. References should be

checked to ensure that previous clients were satisfied with the work carried out, and to ensure that works of
a similar nature and size to the proposed project have been delivered successfully. Certificates of insurance
should be checked to ensure that adequate public liability and employers liability cover is carried by the
contractor. The level and quality of health and safety training provided to employees should be considered,
and preference given to organisations that demonstrate such commitment to employee training. The
organisations health and safety management system should be considered, such as the suitability of the
health and safety policy and the process for reporting and recording of accidents, and the processes in place
for checking and controlling sub-contractors. With regard to the safety of the project the suitability and
quality of the risk assessments should be assessed, ensuring that the risk assessments are site-specific. Method
statements should be sufficiently detailed and demonstrate how control measures will be implemented to
reduce the risk to the workers. Finally, consideration should be given to the safety of the equipment to be
used on-site, the suitability of the equipment for the environmental conditions and its maintenance.

(b) The main risks to the contractors from working at height include falls from height, falls through a fragile roof,

contact with live services such as power cables, and the effects of exposure to adverse weather conditions
(from sunburn through to slips on ice).

(c) Possible control measures to be implemented when erecting an independent tied scaffold include ensuring

that the scaffold is designed for the load it is intended to take, and that it is erected by a competent scaffold
contractor on firm, level ground with base plates used to spread the load. The scaffold components should
be free from damage. The scaffolders should wear fall-arrest equipment during the assembly to prevent falls.
The scaffold should be tied securely to the building with the appropriate number of ties to prevent collapse,
taking into account possible loads and adverse weather conditions.

REASONS FOR POOR MARKS ACHIEVED BY CANDIDATES IN EXAM

In part (a) problems that the candidates encountered included limiting their answers to previous work of a similar
nature, and reviewing the health and safety policy.
In part (b) some candidates confused risks (which were required) with hazards and provided the wrong information.
In part (c) some candidates misread the question and detailed the components used for the erection of the scaffold
rather than the control measures to be used during the erection of the scaffold.

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Exam Skills
APPROACHING QUESTION 2
Think now about the steps you would take to answer the
question:
1. The first step is to read the question carefully. This
question requires you to identify, so you dont need
to give much detail as we saw earlier, if asked to
identify you are expected to select and name, so
in this case you should name the control measures
needed to reduce risk to workers.
2. Next, consider the marks available. In this question
there are eight marks. It would be sensible to assume
that you need to identify eight or more controls to
gain the eight marks (adding a couple of additional
controls may maximise your chances of getting full
marks here). However, dont go overboard watch
the time! The question should take around eight
minutes in total.

Now have a go at the question. Draw up

an answer plan, and then use it as the basis
to write out an answer as you would in the
exam.
Take care to keep an eye on the time
when answering it is very easy to spend
too long on a question and there are only
eight marks available, no matter how long
you spend on it!
When you have finished, compare your plan and full
answer to those provided.

3. Now highlight the key words. In this case they might

look like this:
Excavation work is being carried out on a
construction site.
Identify the control measures needed to reduce the
risk to workers.
(8)
4. Read the question again to make sure you
understand it and have a clear understanding of
controls to protect workers. (Re-read your notes if
you need to.)
5. The next stage is to develop a plan there are
various ways to do this. Your answer must be based
on the key words you have highlighted. Remind
yourself, first of all, that you need to be thinking
about How are pedestrians kept separate from
vehicles? and then How else can we ensure the
safety of pedestrians?

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Exam Skills
SUGGESTED ANSWER
Plan
Excavation Controls

Shoring or drag boxes to prevent trench collapse.

Stop blocks to prevent vehicles driving into trench.
Provision of safe access into excavation (ladders, etc.)
Pre-dig checks for services (cable scans, checking plans).
Supporting adjacent buildings/checks to ensure
foundations arent undermined.

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Barriers to prevent pedestrians falling in.

Gas checks to ensure breathable atmosphere.
PPE to protect against possible contamination
(contaminated land).
PPE and training in biological hazards.
Statutory inspections of the excavation.

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Exam Skills
POSSIBLE ANSWER BY EXAM CANDIDATE
Possible controls to reduce the risk to workers near excavations on a construction site include:
Before digging, the excavation site should be checked for underground services, including power and gas mains.

This should be carried out by checking site plans and using cable detectors.

Supporting the sides of the excavation to prevent collapse using shoring or drag boxes. An alternative is to batter

back the sides of the excavation to a safe angle. All material excavated should be stored a safe distance from the
excavation to prevent it from falling in onto workers.

Provision of stop blocks to prevent vehicles driving or reversing into the excavation.
Use of barriers to prevent pedestrians from falling into the excavation.
Provision of safe access means for those entering the excavation (e.g. a ladder) and so that they can exit safely.
Those working in the excavation may need gas detectors to ensure that the atmosphere is breathable, testing for

toxic gases but also to ensure an adequate oxygen supply.

PPE may be needed to protect workers from contamination (e.g. chemicals in contaminated land), or biological

hazards.

In order to ensure ongoing safety the excavation should be inspected before the start of every shift, after any fall

of earth and after any event likely to affect stability.

REASONS FOR POOR MARKS ACHIEVED BY CANDIDATES IN EXAM

There were some good answers to this question, although some candidates did talk about general controls, such as permitsto-work and risk assessments, which didnt attract marks.

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