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CONTENTS
Introduction
General comments
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
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 50,000 candidates annually and are offered
by over 600 course providers, with exams taken in over 110 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 that applies best practice setting, assessment and marking and applies
to Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) regulatory requirements.
This report provides guidance for 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 2014
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.
Course providers and candidates will benefit from use of the Guide to the NEBOSH International
General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety which is available via the NEBOSH website. In
particular, the Guide sets out in detail the syllabus content for Unit IGC1 and tutor reference
documents for each Element.
Some candidates may over rely on knowledge of health and safety gained through their own work
experience. While practical experiences can sometimes be helpful they are not a substitute for tuition
and study of the syllabus content, to the breadth and depth indicated in the Guide referred to above.
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
underperformance.
Common weaknesses and suggestions to assist providers and candidates
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.
Weakness in examination technique
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
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.
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 question
even when the question is on an unfamiliar topic. At the risk of stating the obvious, an
unattempted question will gain no marks. Questions or parts of questions missed can also
indicate a weakness in time management
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.
The comment below about rote learning may be relevant also.
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 benefit from the chance to practice answering questions in examination like conditions.
This should assist them to become familiar with the need to read questions carefully, consider, plan
their answer and then begin to write. By examination like conditions, practicing their answers within
appropriate time limits should help candidates with time management within the examination.
Feedback to candidates on their answers to questions is a key part of these practice activities.
Lack of attention to command word
-
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.
The most common weakness is the provision of too little content in an answer to meet the
requirement of the command word. This is an unfortunate error as it can mean that a
candidate who knows the topic, and correct points to include in their answer, misses out on
marks.
There is good guidance available to candidates and providers Guidance on command words and
question papers which can be accessed on the NEBOSH website. This guidance will assist
candidates to see and understand what is required in an answer when the different command words
are used in questions. Some candidates miss out on marks by spending too long writing about one or
two points when the answer requires more points to be covered. The chance to practice questions with
a range of command words and to receive feedback on the quality of their answers will benefit
candidates.
Rote learning
-
Some candidates appear to have answered a question they hoped to see in the question paper
rather than the question actually asked. This error can lead to all the available marks for a
question being missed, with the consequent impact on the likelihood of reaching a pass
standard.
The weakness described can be due to rote learning but may also relate to the need to read
and consider the question commented upon above
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.
Unit IGC1
Management of international safety and health
Question 1
(a)
(b)
(10)
Identify FOUR types of activity that typically require a permit-towork, AND outline the reasons why in EACH case.
(8)
(c)
(2)
For part (a), an acceptable meaning would have been a formal documented planned
procedure designed to control high risk activities and to protect personnel engaged in
carrying them out. Some candidates are unable to differentiate between a normal
situation and one where a permit-to-work would be required while others merely
describe it as a safe system of work. Candidates should refer to either the fact that a
permit is used in high risk activities or that it is a formal documented procedure.
Elements which should be included in the permit include firstly a description and
assessment of the task to be performed including the plant involved its location and
the foreseeable hazards associated with the task. Details of the precautions to be
taken should follow such as, for example, the need for isolation, lock off, atmospheric
testing, the use of personal protective equipment and the arrangements for the action
to be taken in the event of an emergency.
An essential element of a permit-to-work system is the operation of the permit itself.
By means of signatures, the permit should be issued by an authorised person, stating
the duration of the permit 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.
For part (c), candidates should identify the required types of activity choosing from
work such as entry into confined spaces, hot work, working at height, and work on live
electrical equipment. Candidates should also give reasons why a permit should be
used for such activities.
Question 2
(8)
In answering this question, candidates are expected to outline factors such as, for
example, compliance with statutory requirements and ILO guidelines; the activities
undertaken at the workplace and their associated level of risk; and the makeup of the
workforce which could include vulnerable members such as the young and/or disabled
where high standards of health and safety would have to be maintained. Additional
factors which could be influential include accident history, past performance and levels
of compliance and advice or action by the enforcing authorities.
Candidates should avoid describing what should be done during inspections and who
should carry them out instead of making reference to the factors that would determine
their frequency as required by the question.
Question 3
(8)
Question 4
Identify:
(i)
organisational factors;
(2)
(ii)
job factors
(2)
(4)
For part (a)(i), candidates could identify organisational factors such as, for example,
the culture of the organisation with more emphasis being given to the care of patients
rather than to the staff with a lack of management commitment to achieving good
standards of health and safety for their workers; insufficient staffing levels; and a
failure both to provide appropriate equipment for handling patients and to carry out risk
assessments and introduce safe systems of work.
As for job factors, reference could be made to excessive workload, with conflicting
demands and little opportunity for rest periods and with no procedures in place for
handling patients often in restricted spaces with inadequate standards of lighting.
Candidates are expected to relate their answers to a hospital environment and
demonstrate they understand the difference between organisational and job factors.
Answers to part (b) should refer to a number of information sources such as those
provided by national agencies, for example, the ILO; by trade unions and employers
organisations and that contained in international standards. Information might also
have been obtained through consultation with the workers themselves or with other
organisations doing similar work while a study of in house accident, ill-health and
complaint statistics can also often prove productive.
Question 5
(8)
Question 6
(a)
(5)
(b)
(3)
In answering part (a) of the question, candidates should follow the well-publicised route
of identification, evaluation, control, recording and review detailing the action that
should be taken at each stage.
For part (b), reasons that might be outlined include amongst many others: changes in
the processes, work methods or materials used; the introduction of new or modification
of existing plant; the availability of new information on hazards and risks; as a result of
investigation reports on accidents or monitoring exercises; and ultimately after the
passage of time. Candidates should avoid providing a list rather than the outline
required.
Question 7
A worker in a busy kitchen has notified her employer that she is pregnant.
Outline factors that the employer should consider when undertaking a
specific risk assessment for this worker.
(8)
Factors that an employer should consider include the nature of the task to be
performed such as the duration and variety of the work including any shift patterns and
the provision of adequate rest breaks; the involvement of manual handling such as in
lifting heavy cooking utensils and ergonomic issues related to prolonged standing or
the involvement of awkward body movements. Consideration would also have to be
given to the workers possible exposure to chemicals such as those used for cleaning
utensils and additionally the possible effects of the environment in the kitchen where
there would inevitably be exposure to heat and noise and where there would always be
the possibility of slipping on wet floors.
Question 8
(a)
(2)
(b)
(3)
(ii)
(3)
an external auditor
Question 9
(8)
Candidates choosing the Successful Health and Safety Management Model (HSG 65)
are expected to outline the six key elements of the system and to give brief details of
the content and purpose of each. These are well documented in the publication and do
not need to be repeated here.
Those choosing the OHSAS model are expected to carry out a similar exercise and
identify not only the five key elements of that system but again, to satisfy the outline
command, to provide detail of their particular content and purpose.
Question 10
(8)
In the training course described, workers would firstly have to be given a definition of
an accident and the requirements for reporting it whether to meet legal requirements
or national standards. It would then be important for them to be advised of the reasons
and benefits for reporting the incident such as to begin an investigation as soon as
possible with the aim of preventing a recurrence. Information would then have to be
provided on the procedures for reporting such as on a form or on line; the information
which should be provided; and the person to whom the incident should be reported.
The consequences of failing to report an accident should be explained although
emphasis would have to be given to the fact that a no blame culture would be
adopted.
Some candidates are unable to demonstrate a clear understanding of the concept of
an accident reporting training course.
Question 11
Outline factors that should be considered when assessing the health and
safety competence of a contractor.
(8)
Candidates should successfully outline factors including, for example, the contractors
previous experience with the type of work to be carried out and his reputation amongst
previous or current clients; the quality and content of their health and safety policy and
the systems in place for its implementation; the level of training and qualifications of
the staff including those with health and safety responsibilities and the arrangements
for the management of sub-contractors; and their accident and enforcement history.