The Regulatory Reform Order 2005

The Regulatory Reform Order 2005

The Regulatory Reform Order 2005

Created October 2006, published 2 October 2006

The Regulatory Reform Order 2005

Now that fire legislation has changed and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is now in force, the responsible person for a building (all non domestic) will have to conduct a fire risk assessment.

All existing fire legislation has now been repealed or revoked, which includes the Fire Precautions Act 1971, the amended 1997 Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations plus 100 other pieces of fire related legislation. Fire certificates are no longer valid.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is a fire risk assessment based approach where the responsible person(s) for the premises or area where they have control must decide how to address the risks identified, while meeting certain requirements.

By adopting a fire risk assessment, the responsible person(s) will need to look at how to prevent fire from occurring in the first place, by removing or reducing hazards and risks (ignition sources) and then at the precautions to ensure that people are adequately protected if a fire were still to occur. Therefore the main emphases of the changes are to move towards fire prevention.

The fire risk assessment must also take into consideration the effect a fire may have on anyone in or around your premises plus neighbouring property. The building fire risk assessment will also need to be kept under regular review (it is a living document).

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 will apply to all non-domestic properties, including voluntary organisations and will be subject to monitoring and, where appropriate, enforcement by the Local Authority Fire Service (LAFS).

Summary of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

• All existing fire legislation has now been repealed or revoked, which includes the Fire Precautions Act 1971, the amended 1997 Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations plus 100 other pieces of fire related legislation.
• Fire certificates have been abolished and are no longer issued or in force.
• Responsible person(s) will be responsible for fire safety. They must conduct a fire risk assessment regardless of the size of the risk.
• The identified responsible person(s) would take full corporate liability.
• Extended scope of consideration now to include property safety, fire fighter safety and the environment around the site. The responsible person(s) would have a duty to protect all risks.
• Unlike the amended 1997 Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places emphasis on business continuity and containing and preventing the spread of small fires.
• Protection is explicitly extended to all occupants, which would include employees, visitors, contractors and passers-by who would all have to be considered in the fire risk assessment.

Who is the responsible person(s)?

• Employer with control of a workplace

Failing that or in addition;

• Person with overall management of a building,
• Occupier of premises,
• Owner of premises (i.e. empty buildings),
• Landlords (multi occupied buildings).

Question?

What is the difference between a fire risk assessment and a health & safety risk assessment?

Answer!

Absolutely nothing.

Why?

Because the aim of both is to:

• Identify hazards,
• Reduce the risk of those hazards identified,
• To decide what physical precautions and management arrangements are necessary to ensure the safety of people.

So with any fire risk assessment you will always:

• Identify the hazard,
• Identify who is at risk,
• Evaluate, remove, reduce and protect from risk,
• Record, plan, inform, instruct and train,
• Review.

It is important, if you carry out your fire risk assessment yourself, that you do it in a practical and systematic way. It must take the whole area of your responsibility into account, including outdoor locations and any rooms and areas that are rarely used.

If your responsible area in a building is shared with others, you and all the other occupiers and any other person(s) who have control of any other part of the premises will need to discuss yours and theirs fire risk assessment.

In a shared building it is imperative and a requirement that all responsible persons;

Communicate, Co-operate and Co-ordinate their findings with their fire risk assessments.

When you conduct your fire risk assessment you must:

• Identify who is at risk,
• Eliminate or reduce potential ignition sources,
• Ensure there are suitable means of detecting & raising the alarm in the event of fire,
• Ensure there are adequate emergency escape routes & exits,
• Ensure there are appropriate type & sufficient quantities of fire fighting equipment,
• Ensure there are the correct type & sufficient quantities of fire signs & notices,
• Ensure there are provisions for the correct maintenance of installed fire equipment,
• Ensure that there are suitable provisions for the protection of Fire Service personnel,
• Ensure that building occupants receive the appropriate instruction / training in, e.g. actions to be taken in the event of fire and fire evacuation drills,

Please note, that if your organisation employs five or more people or the premise are licensed or an alterations notice is in force, you must record any significant findings and the actions you have taken.

In addition to the above, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order stipulates that:

¹You must appoint one or more competent persons, depending on the size and use of your premises, to carry out any of the preventive and protective measures required (you can nominate yourself for this purpose). A competent person is someone with enough training and experience or knowledge and other qualities to be able to implement these measures properly.

You must provide your employees with clear and relevant information on the risks to them identified by the fire risk assessment, about the measure you have taken to prevent fires, and how these measures will protect them if a fire breaks out.

You must consult your employees (or their elected representatives) about nominating people to carry out particular roles in connection with fire safety and about proposals for improving the fire precautions.

You must, before you employ a child, provide a parent with clear and relevant information on the risks to that child identified by the risk assessment, the measures you have put in place to prevent/protect them from fire and inform any other responsible person of any risks to that child arising from their undertaking.

You must inform non-employees, such as temporary or contract workers, of the relevant risks to them, and provide them with information about who the nominated competent persons are, and about the fire safety procedures for the premises.

You must co-operate and co-ordinate with other responsible persons who also have premises in the building, inform them of any significant risks you find and how you will seek to reduce/control those risks which might affect the safety of their employees.

You must provide the employer of any person from an outside organisation who is working in your premises (e.g. an agency providing temporary staff) with clear and relevant information on the risks to those employees and the preventive and protective measures taken. You must also provide those employees with appropriate instructions and relevant information about the risks to them.

If you are not the employer but have any control of premises which contain more than one workplace, you are also responsible for ensuring that the requirements of the Order are complied with in those parts over which you have control.

You must consider the presence of any dangerous substances and the risk this presents to relevant persons from fire.

You must establish a suitable means of contacting the emergency services and provide them with any relevant information about dangerous substances.

You must provide appropriate information, instruction and training to your employees, during their normal working hours, about the fire precautions in your workplace, when they start working for you, and from time to time throughout the period they work for you.

You must ensure that the premises and any equipment provided in connection with firefighting, fire detection and warning, or emergency routes and exits are covered by a suitable system of maintenance and are maintained by a competent person in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.

Your employees must co-operate with you to ensure the workplace is safe from fire and its effects, and must not do anything that will place themselves or other people at risk.”

Note. If you were already complying with the revoked amended 1997 Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulation and the 1971 Fire Precautions Act (fire certificate if issued), you will only have to make adjustments to your existing fire risks assessments. If, however, you have not conducted a fire risk assessment of your area of responsibility you must do so now.

The Government have produced 11 guides to assist the responsible person(s) with their responsibilities, to view these guides visit www.communities.gov.uk. These guides have been written to assist you to carry out a fire risk assessment within your area of responsibility. If you read the guides and decide that you are unable to apply the guidance, then you should seek expert advice from a competent person. More complex premises will probably need to be assessed by a person who has comprehensive training or experience in fire risk assessment.

If required, Fire Safety Service can assist you in the implementation and management of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. For further details contact us at www.firesafetyadvisor.co.uk/ or telephone 01865 890085.

¹ Extract from Government guidance document’s to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

Asbestos – for the Health and Safety Beginner.

Asbestos – for the Health and Safety Beginner.

Asbestos is one of those words H & S professionals don’t like to hear. To most people it means Lung Cancer, Compensation or Expensive removal work.
In the maze of H & S regulations, this one often gets forgotten….or worse…some people really believe their building has NO Asbestos, so why bother…even though their building was built pre 1999 (when Asbestos use in building materials was finally banned ). What needs to be realised is that asbestos was incorporated into over 3000 products, including floor tiles, artex, pipe insulation, cement, cavity wall insulation, …..heck they even put it into toilet seats….

The fact is …you have a duty in LAW under the ‘Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 (CAWR 2002) Regulaton 4 The Duty to Manage’, to produce an Asbestos Management Plan and Asbestos Register detailing the locations of any Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM’s) and to continue to manage any positive areas.

Why?

The object of the register is to provide information relating to the building and the whereabouts of ACM’s. This allows tradesmen to plan and carry out any remedial or improvement works safely. Would you want to be sitting in your office while the maintenance man drills into a wall to put up a shelf ….only for you to hear him say… “hey, I’m sure this wall is Asbestos Board”? or for your boss to say “someone is suing us for exposure to asbestos, where’s the register, I’ll prove it wasn’t” and your answer is “what register?”

So what do you do?

Firstly don’t panic…..if you have had an asbestos register done previously, check it to establish when it was last updated, you may need another survey. Registers should be updated on a yearly basis or earlier if damage is reported, along with the measures taken as a result of this report.

Things change over time, sometimes these changes are not recorded and no one has any idea who did what or when!.

A Competent person will need to do a visual re-inspection to establish that areas found to contain Asbestos are damage free and still in good condition, and will need to document the findings, Its no use going around the building checking if you have no proof you have done it! Or get an Asbestos Surveyor to do the re-inspection, many companies choose this route because Asbestos Surveyors are qualified and insured to do this specific type of work.

If you have not had a register done previously, you need to assess the probability of your building containing Asbestos.

All buildings must have a register, if your building was built after 2000 a letter from the architect detailing that materials were sourced which do not contain Asbestos will suffice, file it and relax.

If your building was built before 2000 you need to survey. For many this is done through a surveying company.

Most importantly you need to sit down and plan how you will survey, what type of survey you need, who needs access to the survey results and how will they will be accessed ( hard copy, electronic database) and also how you will manage the survey results in the future.

Most dutyholders use asbestos surveying companies to produce their asbestos report.

Surveying costs vary with the size of site and the type of survey required and can be expensive, however it doesn’t always pay to go with the cheapest company, whoever you decide to employ, remember the following.

Asbestos survey companies have qualified surveyors. Asbestos qualifications are specific, a surveyor must hold a minimum qualification of BOHS P402, a senior surveyor S301 and a consultant will hold a Certificate of Competence in Asbestos (CCP) this is the highest qualification you can get in the Asbestos industry. Ask to see copies of your surveyor’s qualifications.

Check that the surveying company you use has adequate insurance cover, some surveying companies are not insured for type 3 surveys.

The main thing is communication with the surveyor, tell the surveyor what you want the survey to achieve, and any areas you specifically want surveyed. If the building is to be demolished or undergo major refurbishment your needs will be different to a building that isn’t, a good surveyor will tell you what is and isn’t possible during a survey and what areas you need to take into consideration.

Ask to see a copy report, a survey report is no good if it is written or presented in such a way that you or your tradesmen don’t understand it!

Ask for references…and check them, ask the customer if they were happy with the service…and the after sales service.

Does the company have a database system that allows your results to be accessed on line by authorised personnel? This is a particularly useful management tool for companies who manage more that one site eg housing authorities.

There are 3 different survey types, which one do you need

Type one: Location and assessment survey (presumptive)

Type 1 surveys are designed to locate, as far as reasonably practical, any ACMs and assess the risk and are used when sampling is not a suitable option. All areas of a building are accessed but as materials are only presumed to contain asbestos they rely heavily on the experience and knowledge of surveyor. Samples would have to be taken before maintenance work started to confirm the presence or absence of Asbestos.

Type two: Standard Sampling, identification and assessment survey (sampling survey)

The purpose and procedures of a type 2 survey are as for a type 1 survey but includes the sampling of suspect ACMs to confirm the surveyors’ judgment. The samples are analysed by an accredited laboratory and the resulting report informs exactly which materials in the building are or are not asbestos containing. This is the most commonly utilised survey for asbestos management plans.

Type three: Full access sampling and identification survey (pre-demolition/major refurbishment survey)

Type 3 surveys are used to locate all ACMs, as far as reasonably practicable within a building and its structure and may involve destructive inspection techniques. These surveys are designed to estimate quantity of asbestos rather than condition to allow tendering of asbestos removal prior to demolition or refurbishment.
On some larger sites a mixture of the above survey types can be used if different parts of the site have varying requirements.

How will you manage the survey in the future?

Once the survey is completed you need ongoing management of the data. Put procedures in place for responsibility and timescales to make sure the information is updated and re-inspections are carried out.

Finally……. train all employees on Asbestos Awareness and put in place a contingency plan in case asbestos is found or accidentally damaged.

A good effective asbestos management plan will satisfy the HSE and your insurers.

Remember, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) take the enforcement of asbestos legislation very seriously – ignorance it not a defence! http://www.hse-databases.co.uk/prosecutions/

The HSE website www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos and www.etonservices.co.uk - Eton Environmental Services Ltd. Eton, Windsor, Berkshire | Asbestos Consultancy Service are a great place to start to get free information on asbestos.

Risk Assessments and Health and Safety

Risk Assessments and Health and Safety

One area that really needs to be enforced in schools is risk assessments. Not just by the caretaker, but by every member of staff. Everyone working in a school has a responsibility to those they work with and teacher to ensure they work in a safe and healthy environment.

TeachersTV has recently made a film about the importance of completing risk assessments and Health and Safety. The film highlights some of the main points that you need to address.

Proper Storage

Schools are busy places. Equipment left out can be a cause of accidents. As part of the risk assessment, you should identify areas where there is a need for correct storage. This can be cupboards for equipment or lockers for pupils. Busy corridors and fire exits are places that equipment should never be stored.

Manual Handling

Many staff will attempt to place items for storage above head height or try to work on noticeboards or display boards above head height. These areas of risk should be identified within the risk assessment. Staff should be given clear instructions and told not to use chairs, tables or even pupils to gain that extra height. Step ladders should be provided. Within the instructions, staff should be aware that when using step ladders, another member of staff should be present to steady the steps and you should not carry items up the steps yourself, but have them passed to you when you are at the correct height.

Employers have a duty to provide you the correct equipment.

Lifting and Carrying

All staff should be aware of the techniques for lifting and carrying. Within the risk assessment, items like Briefcases, books, Over Head Projectors (OHPs) and laptops should be highlighted. It's often these small but bulky items that get overlooked.

Always bend at the knees keeping your back straight. When you finish the lift, straighten your knees, always keeping your back straight.

Keeping corridors safe

All school should have strict rules of conduct in corridors. Pupils should be aware of the dangers of pushing, shoving or running in corridors. Pupils should be aware of the reporting process if they find spillages or loose tiles in corridors. Corridors should be kept clear at all times, this includes pupils. Do not let pupils hang around in corridors (eg breaktimes). Do not place chairs or tables in corridors. Corridors are also the main fire exit within schools. If a panic was to happen during a fire, a chair or table could cause a serious problems.

These are just some of the issues the 15 minute film covers.

To watch the film provided by TeachersTV now, CLICK HERE to be taken to the Caretakers' Website hosting the film. You will need a broadband connection to stream this (35mb) media and Windows Media Player.

Written by thecaretaker of The Caretakers' Website

Changes to the Rule for Training of Drivers of Vehicles carrying Dangerous Goods

Changes to the Rule for Training of Drivers of Vehicles carrying Dangerous Goods

Currently drivers of vehicles with a permissible maximum mass exceeding 3.5 tonnes have to posses an ADR training certificate.

From 1st January 2007 the exemption for drivers of vehicles less than 3.5 tonnes expires. From that date drivers of all vehicles that carry dangerous goods will be required to hold a vocational training certificate (ADR).

General Training Requirements

Since 1999 all persons (not only drivers) such as consignors, carriers, packers and container operators, whose duties concern the carriage of dangerous goods require some form of training. They have to receive training appropriate to their responsibilities and duties. This training is usually an awareness course.

The awareness course must cover the following subjects:

General Awareness Training
Function-specific Training &
Safety Training

Driver Training from 1st Jan 2007

When would a driver require an ADR certificate?

There will be some exemptions that can still be claimed for the driver to have an ADR. These can be found in section 1.1.3.1 – 1.1.3.6.4 of ADR. Some examples are:

1) If the vehicle is being used for private use

2) Carriage of machinery or equipment

3) If package meet the requirement of Limited Quantities

There is an additional exemption where the quantity of dangerous goods carried does not exceed the values set out in table 1.1.3.6. of ADR. To know if this exemption can be claimed, you first need to establish what transport category the goods belong to. This information should be available from the consignor. The second piece of information required would be the quantity of dangerous goods on the vehicle.

If the quantity of dangerous goods carried does not exceed the value indicated for the given transport category the carrier can then claim exemption for the requirement of the driver for having an ADR certificate.

For example:

For Transport Category 0 there are no exemptions

For Transport Category 1. The exemption applies until the quantity carried exceeds 20 (kilograms or litres)

For Transport Category 2. The exemption applies until the quantity transported exceeds 333 (kilograms or litres)

For Transport Category 3. The exemption applies until the quantity transported exceeds 1,000 (kilograms or litres)

Although the driver is exempt from an ADR certificate he would still be required to have awareness training. Where these values (or values for mixed loading in 1.1.3.6.4) are exceeded then the driver would be required to have an ADR.

How the changes came about

August 2002

The Government of Liechtenstein proposed mandatory training for drivers carrying dangerous goods regardless of the permissible maximum weight of their vehicle.

November 2002

Opinions at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe were divided on the proposal. Some delegates noted that these vehicles were regularly able to carry goods in quantities greater than the exemption limits of 1.1.3.6 and those vehicles were increasingly being used to carry dangerous goods since they were subject neither to the same speed limits as heavy vehicles nor to weekend travel restrictions (for certain countries).

Others considered that in view of the number of drivers concerned, a measure of this nature would have considerable economic consequences and that the cost for carriers should be carefully evaluated with a view to the benefits in terms of safety, which needed to be supported by accident statistics. It was also noted that the drivers of these vehicles were in any case subject to the general company training requirements of Chapter 1.3.

The representative of Liechtenstein was asked to submit a new proposal for the next session, which would take into account the necessary consequential amendments.

May 2003

Liechtenstein resubmits it proposal but this time with support from other countries: Austria, Norway, Poland and most notably Germany

Some delegations said that the proposed obligation concerning the training of drivers of vehicles with a permissible maximum mass not exceeding 3.5 tonnes would involve a very large number of drivers and would therefore have considerable economic repercussions.

Other delegations stressed that training requirements had caused a significant increase in the production cost of the transport of dangerous goods, and that in order to avoid it, the industry was more and more resorting to using vehicles not exceeding 3.5 tonnes, which were increasingly effective in power and speed but fell short of numerous safety requirements.

The representative of Italy proposed that the decision on this proposal should be deferred, so as to give Governments time to collect accident statistics and assess safety advantages in relation to cost. After a vote resulting in equal numbers for and against, the proposal was not accepted.

The Working Party finally decided to adopt the proposal by Liechtenstein to the effect that all drivers of vehicles carrying dangerous goods, irrespective of the permissible maximum mass of the vehicle, subject to the exemptions set out in 1.1.3, must be trained in accordance with 8.2.1. This measure would take effect on 1 January 2007 at the latest (see annex).

So industry has not only had the usual six month introductory period but it has had over 2 years to get ready.

It is unlikely that there will be any extension or exemption as the view is that industry has already had two years to adapt. If they have not adapted by now then they have only themselves to blame.

Although spot checks will not be carried out on January1st 2007, I have been assured that enforcement will be taking place as of the 2nd of January.

Are you ready?

www.ritchiestraining.com

Further information on the exemptions that can be made can be found in the following Microsoft Publisher file:

Exemption Book A4 Size (PDF 296KB)

Hospital Equipment and Supplies

Hospital Equipment and Supplies

Hospital Equipment and Supplies

Clinical Waste Discussion Forum – a new resource

Clinical wastes are notoriously variable in composition. They comprise potentially infectious used swabs and dressings, syringes and needles, blades and other “sharps”, laboratory and pharmaceutical wastes, and many sanitary wastes. Disposal is a complex undertaking, and is inevitably costly. The complexity of regulations governing disposal present can be overwhelming, while the risks to health & safety, hospital hygiene, and to infection control present an often profound challenge.

Public, political and professional concerns about environmental protection, and the rising infection rates and standards of hygiene in hospitals, drive improvement in the management of clinical wastes. Deficiencies undoubtedly exist. Waste segregation in hospitals is often inadequate, in breach of the Hazardous Wastes Regulation 2005, and incurring additional cost in disposal. Bulk waste carts are located in insecure areas accessible to the public. Waste carts obstruct fire exits. Though official guidance is available, this generally lacks the detail necessary to ensure an adequate standard of performance. An impending revision of clinical waste management procedures across the NHS proposes considerable change to the segregation, packaging and processing of wastes, and the introduction of additional colour schemes for the identification of “new” waste streams. These proposals, if accepted, will dramatically increase costs. Waste containers and their holders will require replacement to support new colour coding schemes; additional signage will be essential, as part of a comprehensive retraining process to ensure change is managed effectively. But how might this be managed? What are the wider ramifications for waste contractors and the manufacturers of key equipment and supplies? And what about the often critical space constraints in clinical areas that may have to accommodate additional coded waste containers? Of the greatest concern is the possibility that the NHS proposals, and the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005, may undermine the CDC Universal Precautions since this will have profound Health & Safety implications and increase the risks to all those handling clinical wastes.

Though considerable expertise exists throughout the disposal chain, there is a tendency for professional groups to work largely in isolation. In the commercial sector, issues of confidentiality and market sensitivity have a negative impact and impede development at the expense of market sector advantage. Customer representation is almost unknown, and waste producers have neither a voice to express their concerns, nor an opportunity to learn from the experience of the commercial sector. As regulatory bodies, the Environment Agency and the Health & Safety Executive, together with the Department of Health and the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), sit largely apart from waste producers and waste disposal contractors, having their own agendas that impact on or dictate policy, though not always in conformity with essential waste management practice. Clearly, there is need for more effective information interchange, to share knowledge and opinion, news and views, among sometimes disparate groups, and this has prompted the creation of the Clinical Waste Discussion Forum. Accessible at http://www.ianblenkharn.com, the Forum is free, independent and non-commercial, with a fully open editorial policy. Participation is invited from all those involved in the management of clinical wastes, the designers, manufacturers and suppliers of waste disposal equipment and consumables, and from the legislators and representatives of regulatory bodies. Of equal importance are the patients’ organisations, and those who feel they are affected by clinical waste issues in their community since these individuals have almost no voice at all.

Funded by a generous development grant from Cliniserve Limited, a specialist clinical waste management company operating across the UK (Cliniserve Limited, Chichester PO20 6QH, http://www.cliniserve.co.uk), the Forum seeks to bring together a range of views, concerns, opinions and expertise not available within any one discipline or professional organisation. This should become a key resource for those who share our aims, to ensure the widest possible exchange of information, and bring together people from many different disciplines in order to develop and promote best practice. Though in its infancy, items posted to the Forum include issues of waste security in hospital premises, clinical waste composition and the suitability of different disposal technologies, and the application of new packaging technologies to replace the ubiquitous yellow waste sack. It is, intentionally, a multi-disciplinary forum that seeks to bring together producers, contractors, legislators and others. We invite everyone to take part in discussions, to share information, use the Forum as a sounding board for new ideas, ask a question, or offer answers to assist others. Visit the Forum, bookmark the site, and come back regularly to share thoughts and experiences with others.


Ian Blenkharn is an independent healthcare and environmental microbiologist specialising in clinical wastes management, bio-safety, hospital hygiene and the prevention of healthcare-associated infection. He is moderator of the Clinical Waste Discussion Forum, which is accessible at http://www.ianblenkharn.com

Ian Blenkharn MSc CBiol MIBiol CSci FIBMS GradMCIWM AIIRSM

Everything You Need to Know to Pass the NEBOSH A1 Management Paper

Everything You Need to Know to Pass the NEBOSH A1 Management Paper

Everything You Need to Know to Pass the A1 Management Paper

HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK ETC ACT 1974

Part 1 relates to HW&W at the workplace
Part 2 relates to EMAS
Part 3 relates to Building Regs
Part 4 contains misc. & general provisions

PRACTICABLE – capable of being carried out or feasible (given current knowledge, finance, information etc.)

REASONABLY PRACTICABLE – must be technically possible, and the risk assessed against the cost. Where cost is disproportionately high, can be deemed not to be reasonably practical.

H&S Inspectorate powers include: Investigation, Advisory, Enforcement (Imp. Not, Pro. Not, Seize/destroy substances/articles, Prosecute)

PART 1 HSWA

DUTIES OF EMPLOYERS
Section 2(1)
Employer must protect the HS&W at work of all their employees
Section 2(2)a
Provide & maintain plant & systems of work that are safe & without risk to health
Section 2(2)b
Ensure safety and absence of risks in the use, handling, storage and transportation of articles and substances
Section 2(2)c
Provide information, supervision & training to ensure the H&S of employees
Section 2(2)d
Provide safe place of work, safe access/egress, safe working environment
Section 2(2)e
Provide adequate welfare facilities and arrangements
Section 2(3)
Produce written H&S policy where 5 or more persons employed
Section 3(1) & 3(2)
Ensure that activities do not endanger persons NOT in their employment who may be affected by their operations
Section 2(4), (6) & (7)
Consult union safety reps & establish safety committee when requested by 2 reps
Section 9 Do not levy charge for anything provided in pursuance of the statutory provisions

DUTIES OF SELF-EMPLOYED
Section 3(2) & (3)
Same general duties as Employers through a general duty to ensure as far as reasonably practical that they and other persons are not exposed to risks to H&S

DUTIES OF EMPLOYEES
Section 7(a)
Exercise reasonable care for the H&S of themselves and others who their actions may affect
Section 7(b)
Co-operate with the employer
Section 8
Not to interfere with anything provided in the interests of HS&W

DUTIES OF MANUFACTURERS, DESIGNERS, IMPORTERS AND SUPPLIERS
Section 6(1)
Articles to be safe and without risk to H&S
Section 6(2)
Carry out tests, research etc. to provide adequate info on conditions to ensure its safety when in use
Section 6(3)
Similar as above but for installers and erectors
Section 6 (General)
Info on noise levels

SECTION 2 – Duties of employers to employees
SECTION 3 – Duties of employers to others
SECTION 4 – Duties of persons concerned with premises to others
SECTION 5 – Duties to control harmful emissions into the atmosphere
SECTION 6 – Duties of those producing articles for use at work
SECTIONS 7-9 – Duties that affect employees

Breaches of HSWA can lead to:
Max. £20K fine and/or 6 months imprisonment (Summary Conviction – Magistrates Court)
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years imprisonment (Indictable Offence –Crown Court)

Civil Law – Prosecution on Balance of Probabilities (Civil Law established by case precedence)

Criminal Law – Prosecution beyond all reasonable doubt (Statute & legislation)

THE SIX PACK REGULATIONS
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regs 1999 (MHSWR)
Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regs 1992 (WHSWR)
Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 (DSE Regs)
Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (PPE Regs)
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (MHOR)
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER)

MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK REGS 1999
Regulation 3 Risk assessment (significant risks to be recorded)
Regulation 4 Implementation of protective or preventive measures:
1. Avoid risk
2. Evaluate risk
3. Combat risk at source
4. Adapt the work of an individual
5. Adapt to technical advances
6. Replace dangerous with non/less dangerous
7. Develop policy which influences the factors relating to working environment
8. Give collective measures priority
9. Give appropriate instructions to employees

Regulation 5 Make proper arrangements for all aspects of H&S
Regulation 6 Health surveillance (where appropriate)
Regulation 7 Appointment of competent persons
Regulation 8 Procedures to be developed for particular dangers which may arise (ie: fire)
Regulation 9 Information for employees
Regulation 10 Information to be provided to employees for:·
Identified risks·
Preventive/protective measures·
Procedures and name of nominated responsible person as required under Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regs 1997
Regulation 11 Where more than one employer, they must co-operate over H&S matters
Regulation 12 Working on other peoples premises – must provide them with info and details of risks etc.
Regulation 13 Employers to take into account employees capabilities
Regulation 14 Employees responsibilities to use tools and equipment etc safely
Regulation 16-18 New & expectant mothers
Regulation 19 Young persons

MANUAL HANDLING OPERATIONS REGULATIONS 1992
Injury
Includes muscoskeletal, cuts, bruises, broken toes etc.
Load
Anything to be moved (except tool when in use)
Manual Handling
Transporting, lifting, supporting, pushing, pulling, carrying, loading by hand or bodily force

Regulation 4 Requires employers to avoid manual handling and to undertake risk assessment
Regulation 5 Duty on employees to make full and proper use of all equipment provided

PROVISION AND USE OF WORK EQUIPMENT REGULATIONS 1998
Regulation 4 Equip to be suitable
Regulation 5 Properly and effectively maintained
Regulation 6 Inspections and recording of inspections
Regulation 7 Identified specific risks
Regulation 8 Information & instruction
Regulation 9 Training
Regulation 11-20 Deal with machine guarding – basically requires all dangerous parts of any machine or piece of equipment to be effectively and properly guarded at all times
Regulation 21 Suitable and sufficient lighting
Regulation 22 Must be Safe to maintain
Regulation 23 & 24 Markings an warnings
Regulation 25 to 30 Deal with plant and plant safety

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AT WORK REGULATIONS 1992
Regulation 4 Provision of PPE (Employers to ensure it is available and is suitable)
Regulation 5 Compatibility
Regulation 6 Assessment/Suitability – with regards to the nature of the task
Regulation 7 Properly maintained, cleaned or replaced; and that
Regulation 8 Suitable accommodation is provided
Regulation 9 Employees are provided with all necessary information, instruction and training
Regulation 10 Employees to use in accordance with training provided
Regulation 11 To report any loss or defects

THE HEALTH & SAFETY (DISPLAY SCREEN EQUIPMENT) REGS 1992
Regulation 1 Definitions (user – someone who habitually uses DSE)
Regulation 2 Risk Assessment of workstations
Regulation 3 Specific workstation requirements (ie: adjustable chairs, screens etc)
Regulation 4 Rest breaks
Regulation 5 Eyes and eye tests
Regulation 6 Training
Regulation 7 Provision of information

THE WORKPLACE (HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE) REGS 1992
Regulation 5 Maintenance of the workplace
Regulation 6 Ventilation
Regulation 7 Temperature
Regulation 8 Lighting
Regulation 9 Cleanliness
Regulation 10 Room dimensions and space (11m3 per person excluding area above 3m)
Regulation 11 Workstations and seating
Regulation 12 Condition of floors and traffic routes
Regulation 13 Falls or falling objects
Regulation 14 Windows and translucent surfaces
Regulation 15 Windows, skylights and ventilators
Regulation 16 Ability to clean windows etc safely
Regulation 17 Organisation of traffic routes
Regulation 18 Doors and gates
Regulation 19 Escalators and moving walkways
Regulation 20 Sanitary conveniences
Regulation 21 Washing facilities
Regulation 22 Drinking water
Regulation 23 Accommodation for clothing
Regulation 24 Facilities for changing clothes
Regulation 25 Facilities to rest and eat meals


AFR = No of lost time accidents x 100,000/No of man hours worked

AIR = No of work related injuries x 1000/Average No of persons employed


Severity Rate = No of Days lost x 1,000/Total No. of man hours worked

Mean Duration Rate = Total No of Days Lost/Total No of Accidents

Duration Rate = No of Man hours worked/Total No of accidents


4 C’s
Competence
Control
Co-operation
Communication

5 Steps to Successful Safety Management: (HSG65)
1. Policy
2. Organisation
3. Planning and implementation
4. Measure performance
5. Audit and Review

Risk Assessment (5 Steps)
1. Identify Hazards
2. Identify Persons Exposed (particular attention to high risk groups – young persons, pregnant workers, disabled)
3. Evaluate Risks (Consider likelihood and severity) & Controls
4. Record the findings
5. Review and Revise

TYPES OF HAZARDS: CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL, PHYSICAL, ERGONOMIC, PSYCHO-SOCIAL

Job Safety Analysis (JSA) SREDIM

Process of identifying hazards in each component part of a job in order to assess the risk and decide on control measures for a SSW.

Stages are:
1. Select the job/task to be reviewed
2. Record – Identify and record the sequence of steps and/or
components in the process
3. Examine each component part of the job to identify the hazards/risks
4. Develop control measures
5. Install SSW/Control measures
6. Maintain. Carry out regular reviews.


LEGAL ECONOMIC MORAL
Planned Preventative Maintenance:
Frequency of maintenance
Statutory requirements
Manufacturers Recommendations
Operating Environment
Age and Condition of Machinery
Breakdown history
Frequency of use/operation
Critical components (effects of component failure)
Effect of failure
Timing of the works (ie: during shutdown periods)
Disruption
Maintenance staff competence
Cost benefit


Negligence:
It is a common law tort
Summarised as Careless Conduct/Breach of Duty of Care

Tests to be satisfied:
That a duty of care was owed
That there was a breach of that duty
That the breach led directly to the harm

Mechanical Hazards: Crushing, Shearing, Cutting/Severing, Entanglement, Drawing In, Ejection of Material, Abrasion, Stabbing/Puncturing

Non Mechanical Hazards: Noise, Temperature, Vibration, Electricity, Radiation, Hazardous Substances, Ergonomic Factors (inc. Manual Handling), Psycho-Social (Bullying, assault)

Noise at Work Regulations 1989
Leq – Continuous Daily Equivalent Noise Level (8hrs)
Lep,d – Daily Personal Exposure
A Weighting Scale –
Most commonly used, recognises that the human ear is less sensitive to low frequencies
Gives greater importance to frequencies sensitive to the Human Ear

Regulation 4 Assess Noise
Regulation 5 Competent person to complete the assessment
Regulation 6 Employer to reduce risk of hearing damage to lowest reasonably practical level
Regulation 7 Take steps to reduce noise exposure as far as reasonably practicable
Regulation 8 Provide suitable protective equipment
Regulation 9 Identify hearing protection zones and erect appropriate signage
Regulation 10 PPE to be repaired and maintained & PPE provided to be used
Regulation 11 Information, Instruction and Training
Regulation 12 Specifies action levels

COSHH Assessments:
Type of substance (Toxic/Harmful/Sensitiser/Irritant)
Chronic (prolonged exposure, long term effects)
Acute (Short term exposure, immediate effect)
Routes of entry into body (Absorbtion/indegstion/inhalation)
Concentration in relation to exposure limits
No of persons exposed (identify vulnerable persons)
Duration of exposure
Adequacy of control measures
Compliance with control measures

Hierarchy of Control:
Elimination by design
Substitution with less hazardous substance
Automation of process
Reducing exposure by process change
Engineering controls (ie: LEV)
Minimising exposure
PPE
Monitoring/Health surveillance

Permit to Work:
Permit title
Reference No.
Job location
Plant/Task identification
Description of work and any limitations
Identified hazards
Necessary precautions
Protective equipment
Authorisation
Acceptance
Extension
Hand back/completion
Cancellation

Risk Assessment: PEME
People, Equipment, Material, Environment

Develop a system: ERIC PD
Eliminate, Reduce (by Monitoring Substitution), Isolate, Control, PPE, Discipline

Human Factors: SPAME
Skill Personality Attitude Motivation Experience

Machine Hazards: ENTICCE
Entanglement Nips Traps Impact Contact Cutting Ejection

Manual Handling: TILE
Task Individual Load Environment

Machine Guarding: FIAT
Fixed or fixed distance Interlocks (elect, air, mech, hydr) Automatic Trip

Training: IITS
Instruction Information Training Supervision

Accident Factors: relate to Domino Theory
Attitude Fault Unsafe Accident Injury

Safety Management Systems (SMS) – HSG65

1. Policy – written statement of policy, procedures and commitment to HSW. Assigns responsibilities and explains duties etc.

2. Organising – structures to assist in:
- Control
- Co-operation
- Communication
- Co-ordination
- Competence

3. Planning and Implementation – establish, operate and maintain systems that:
- Identify objectives and targets
- Set performance standards
- Consider and control risks
- Document performance
- React to change
- Sustain positive safety culture

4. Monitoring – Active and Reactive systems:
Active: Measuring achievements against specified standards before things go wrong. Ensures controls are working correctly.
Reactive: Collection of information about failures. Involves learning from mistakes.

5. Review and Audit – Ensures policy is being carried out and is having the desired effect.

HAZARD PREVENTION
1. Eliminate the hazard
2. Substitution
3. Use of barriers (Isolation/segregation)
4. Procedures (SSW/Dilution)
5. Warning systems (Instruction/Training/Signs/Markings)
6. PPE

5 STEPS IN DEVISING A SSW (AIDIM)
1. Assess the task
2. Identify the Hazards and assess the risks
3. Definition of the Safe Method
4. Implementation of the SSW
5. Monitoring the System

MAINTENANCE ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY:
1. Poor Design
2. Poor perception of risk
3. No SSW
4. Poor communications
5. Failure to brief and supervise contractors

MAINTENANCE ACCIDENTS CAN BE PREVENTED BY:
1. Planning
2. Evaluation
3. Controls
4. Monitoring

Audit – looks at systems and the way they function in practice
Inspection – looks at physical conditions

6 PART STRATEGY TO CONTROLLING CONTRACTORS
1. Identify suitable contractors
2. Identification of hazards within specification
3. Contractor competence & selection
4. Contractor acceptance of H&S Rules
5. Control of contractors on site
6. Completion checks

SAFETY CULTURE (KEY ELEMENTS):
Good communications between and with employees and management
Ensuring a real and visible commitment to high standards by senior management
Maintaining good training standards to achieve competence
Achievement of good working conditions

WORKPLACE ISSUES
Ventilation: / 5l/s/person for mechanical systems
Temperature: 16-30oC (13oC for physical work)
Windows: Glass below shoulder height – safety glass
Cleanliness:
Working Space: 11m3
Seating: Ergonomic and adjustable
Slips/Trips/Falls:
Traffic Routes:
Welfare Facilities:
Toilets – Privacy/Ventilation/lighting/cleanliness/location/quantity
Washing facilities
Drinking water
Accommodation for clothing
Rest Facilities

WORK EQUIPMENT
1. Suitable for the purpose
2. Installed, located and used so as to reduce the risk to operators & others
3. Substances – safe supply and/or removal
4. Maintained
5. Inspected by competent persons
6. Information, instruction and training

TYPES OF GUARDS
Fixed
Interlocked
Control
Automatic
Distance guard
Adjustable
Self adjusting
Trip devices
Two handed devices

GUARD MATERIAL DEPENDS ON:
Strength/stiffness/durability
Effects on reliability (eg: closed guard causing M/C to overheat)
Visibility
Need to control secondary hazards (ie: Noise)

Hope this is of some use to all you NEBOSHers out there
Enjoy

Otto.

The Control of Noise at Work

The Control of Noise at Work

The new Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 come in to force in April 2006.

The forthcoming regulations require significant reductions in workers exposure to noise. Employers will be required to take action (risk assessment and risk control) to prevent employees suffering noise induced hearing loss.

Exposure to noise (unwanted sound) can lead to permanent hearing loss either by repetitive exposures e.g.: daily use of percussion drills, or by a single exposure to a loud noise e.g.: from a cartridge gun. On the 6 April 2006 the lower exposure action level will be reduced to 80dB(A) (previously 85dB(A)) and the upper exposure action level will drop to 85dB(A) (previously 90dB(A)). Currently it is estimated that over 2.2million workers are exposed to noise levels above 80dbA including over 1 million exposed to levels above 85dbA and 450,000 at levels above 90dbA. Many of these workers are employed in or associated with the construction and house building industries. You may have little knowledge of how noise is measured and a reduction of 5 from a figure of 85 may seem insignificant. However nothing could be further from the truth as this equates in real terms to a reduction of approx. 75% which may be the difference between hearing damage or not.

The regulations require all employers to assess the risks to their employees from noise at work. This does not necessarily mean carrying out noise surveys and measuring noise. Wherever possible employers are being encouraged to make use of pre-existing noise data available from manufacturers, industry bodies or from earlier noise surveys. Many employers carried out noise surveys in compliance with the 1989 Noise at Work Regulations. As long as they are considered relevant, they are appropriate for compliance with the new regulations. The HSE has prepared guidance for employers on the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 that gives practical guide lines to employers on determining whether a noise problem exist at all. For example

• Do employees have to raise their voices to carryout a normal conversation at 2 metres apart?
• Do employees use noisy power tools or machinery for more that half an hour per day?
• Is the noise intrusive for most of the day e.g. continuously running compressors?
• Are there noises due to impact e.g. pile driving, cartridge tools, impact tools?

Have you answered yes to one or more of the above? Depending on the complexity of the operation e.g. where it’s performed, how many are exposed, frequency, when the operation is performed and by who control measures will need to be introduced.

The risk assessment process is more than just taking noise measurements or looking up noise data. The main purpose of the process is to help the employer decide what needs to be done to eliminate or reduce, to a reasonably practicable level, the exposure of the workforce to noise. Hence the risk assessment should:

• identify where exposure exists and who is affected
• have a reliable estimate of noise level to enable a comparison with the regulations exposure action and limit values
• identify the measures to be taken to comply with the legal requirements; controls at source and appropriate hearing protection or both
• identify those employees who will require health surveillance

The estimate of ‘employee exposure’ in the risk assessment must take into consideration the work presently done and due to be done that day. This may prove particularly difficult with general operatives due to the way the work is performed and how it may vary from one day to the next.

Whilst recording and reviewing this information is important, the key area for effort is in the selection of appropriate controls. The following list offers suggestions for reducing high level of noise on site:
Look for alternative construction processes, perhaps by manufacturing component off site – it is easier to control noise exposure in a factory setting therefore where possible make use of components that have been prefabricated off site where noisy operations such as cutting, drilling, welding can be carried out under controlled conditions.

Look to purchase/hire alternative quieter equipment in order to reduce noise at source. The manufacturers and hire companies are continually introducing new quieter low vibration models. Request information about noise levels when looking for new equipment. Remember noisy equipment is less efficient than quiet equipment and therefore cost more to run. When purchasing consumables and accessories for plant and equipment look for noise data a recent study carried out by Hewden Plant Hire demonstrated a 6dB(A) (200% difference) between the noise levels of different diamond blades being used on the same Stihl saw.

Look to see whether alternative methods of work may have a benefit in reducing noise exposure, whereby the workplace becomes quieter or workers have shorter exposure times. Halving the time spent in a noisy area reduces the exposure by 3dB(A). This may be achieved by reviewing and introducing engineering controls such as lining debris chutes or reducing drop heights. Increasing the frequency of basic maintenance of plant and equipment to reduce the amount of vibration. Isolate the location of noise sources by screens of sound absorbent/damping materials or locate at a distance from the remainder of the workforce. Consider noise within the design of the site traffic management plan.

Wherever possible increase the distance between noisy operations and other workers. Doubling the distance between the source of the noise and the ear reduces noise by 6dB(A). Reduce the amount of time that workers are exposed to noise; where possible manage exposure by moving workers between operations during the course of a day.

Selecting hearing protection is not, the first and only option in the hierarchy of appropriate noise control. Hearing protection should only be issued where extra protection is required above that achieved by engineering; or where its use is intended short term whilst other measures are being developed.

Hearing protection must be:

Available on request where the noise exposure is between the lower and upper action values (daily or weekly exposures of 80dB(A) – 85dB(A))

Compulsory where the noise exposure exceeds the upper action level of 85dB(A). Above 85dB(A) the wearing of appropriate hearing protection must be enforced and should be backed up, where possible, by identifying those areas (Signage) where hearing protection is compulsory.

Where employees are going to be regularly exposed to noise at or above the upper action level (85dB(A)) and where particular employees are vulnerable to the effects of noise, the employer must provide health surveillance i.e. regular hearing tests. Regular checks will provide the employer with early warning signs of damage to hearing gives the employer an opportunity to prevent any damage from getting worse and provides a regular check to ensure that noise control measures are effective.

Finally employers must ensure that they provide their employees and others who may be exposed, with information to explain the risks and the controls that are in place. In particular where employee will need to make use of hearing protection the employer must ensure that employees know how to use and fit the appropriate protection.

The involvement of the employees is critical in ensuring that compliance with the controls is achieved on site. They need to be informed of: -

• Their likely exposure to noise and the resulting risk to hearing
• What the employer is doing to reduce noise levels
• Where and how they can obtain hearing protection
• What constitutes a defect and how to have it replaced or rectified
• What their duties are under the Regulations, and where appropriate
• Information on the Health Surveillance regime.

In summary

Employers must:

• Assess and identify appropriate measures to either eliminate or reduce the risks of hearing loss to their employees. Where the risks are low, simple and inexpensive actions will meet the reasonably practicable standard. Where they are high a noise control action plan must be in place.
• Where required provide hearing protection and enforce its use together with enforcing the use of technical or engineering controls.
• Provide information, training and, if required, health surveillance.

Action Levels and Limit Values.

Lower exposure action values (measured without PPE)

Daily or Weekly exposure of 80dB(A)
Peak sound pressure level 135dB(C )

Upper exposure action values (measured without PPE)

Daily or weekly exposure of 85dB(A)
Peak sound pressure of 137dB(C )

Exposure limit values (measured WITH PPE)

Daily or weekly exposure of 87 dB(A)
Peak sound pressure of 140dB(C )


NHBC provides a range of services designed to improve health and safety both on site and in the office. Our Services can be tailored to fit any size of business throughout the UK, from producing a basic policy statement through to a full audit of your health and safety management systems. For further information please call 0870 241 4319 or visit www.nhbcbuilder.co.uk

A Potted Guide to Taking NEBOSH Exams

A Potted Guide to Taking NEBOSH Exams

Created March 2006, published 5 March 2006

Introduction

It’s a well-known fact in health & safety that NEBOSH exams are tough, but that’s not to say they are impossible. The guidance that follows is intended to give you some final key pointers for the big day, and coupled with a comprehensive study and revision programme, should get you through just fine.

Action Verbs

Take note of the “action verb” at the start of each question. As a general rule, if a question asks you to “Identify”, “state” or “list” then a simple list will do. If however, the question asks for “outline”, “describe” or “explain”, then your answer should be in sentences, preferably with an example to illustrate.

Read the Question

The clue is in the question! However simple it may seem, make sure you read the question properly, maybe even underlining key points (you can write on your question papers). It is imperative that you answer the question that has been set, not the one you wish had been set.

Keep it Brief

We have already said that you must comply with the action verb, but do not be tempted to waffle on or give long introductions to your answer – this is not required. If a question asks for control measures for working at height, that is what will be on the marking scheme. There will be no marks available for introducing your answer with statistics on numbers injured falling from height.

There are no marks for “star quality” or knowing Lord Roben’s birthday – just answer the question.

Structure

Certain questions allow you to give your answers in a certain structure. Sometimes there will be marks available for just using the structure, but even if they are not, the structure will help you think a little more laterally.

As an example, if the question relates to risk assessment, it is helpful to go through the 5 steps of risk assessment. This applies whether the question relates to a specific situation or type of risk assessment e.g. manual handling, fire, COSHH etc.
If the question is about human factors, then split your answer into Organisation, Job and Individual factors.

For questions about management systems or strategies, split the answer into the elements of HSG65.

If the question relates to reasons for improving safety, structure the answer into moral, economic and legal factors.

Plan Ahead

For the longer questions (20 markers or case studies), then an answer plan should be prepared. This is a simple outline of what you will cover in your answer. It might be bullet points, or a mind-map – whatever suits you.

When you’re done, draw a line under it and start putting your plan into proper sentences.

"Bankers"

This is important. There are certain answers which will be relevant time and time again, for example: risk assessment, training, supervision, PPE etc. Put reproducing this list without relating it to the specific question will not gain marks – let’s look at some examples to illustrate the point:

“Outline the precautions to be taken when a minor repair is to be carried out on a fragile roof” (NEBOSH Diploma Part One, June 1998).

Carry out a risk assessment – 0 marks
Carry out an initial risk assessment to identify the hazards from roof work and decide on the necessary precautions – 1 mark

Provide adequate information, instruction and training – 0 marks
Provide information, instruction and training on the hazards and associated precautions involved in roof work – 1 mark

Provide suitable PPE – 0 marks
Provide PPE for groups at risk, e.g. hard hats for people below – 1 mark

Provide adequate levels supervision – 0 marks
Provide adequate supervision to ensure that the method statement/safe system of work is followed – 1 mark

Timing

Question timing is vital to success. You cannot afford to spend too long on some questions, to the detriment of others. The approximate timings you should try to stick to are as follows:

Diploma 1 Paper 1

Action Timing
Read through exam paper 5 minutes
15 Short answer questions (10 marks) 9 minutes each
Check answers 10 minutes

Diploma 1 Paper 2

Action Timing
Read through exam paper 10 minutes
5 Long answer questions (20 marks) 25 minutes each
Check answers 15 minutes

Diploma 2 Paper 1

Action Timing
Read through exam paper 5 minutes
10 Short answer questions (10 marks) 8 minutes each
Case study (100 marks) 1 hr 20 minutes
Check answers 15 minutes




Diploma 2 Paper 2

Action Timing
Read through exam paper 10 minutes
5 Long answer questions (20 marks) 30 minutes each
Check answers 20 minutes

For Cert, on a 2 hour paper 120 minutes

100 marks (20 x 1, 8 x 10)

Approx 1 mark a minute

5 minutes, read paper,
20-25 minutes 20 pointer
10 x 8 minutes short questions
10 minutes, check paper

Of course these are not precise, but are useful as a general guide. Even if you are an expert on a particular subject, there is no benefit on writing reams and reams on the answer – use your allocated time and move on. Similarly, if you get a question where you have no idea, try not to leave it blank and move on – use your allocated time and try to get something down. Maybe a couple of “bankers” might be relevant? Those couple of points may just make the difference.

Legislation/Case Law

Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to be a law expert or have a photographic memory to pass NEBOSH exams. What you do need though, is a grasp of fundamental principles of legislation and case law, and be able to relate them to different scenarios. It is not important to remember the precise years of legislation or case law (although if you forget the year of the Health & Safety at Work Act, do you expect to pass????). Neither is it a requirement to learn regulation numbers off by heart – if you could say, for example, that the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regs require all employers to carry out risk assessments, or the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regs require all work equipment to be maintained, that will suffice.

Abbreviations are fine, but give their title in full to start with e.g. The Personal Protective Equipment Regs (PPE) require employers to provide PPE to employees where required.

Check your Answers

As with any exam, leave yourself some time at the end to go through your answers. Make sure you have answered the question that was asked and add any extra points that have occurred to you – it can’t hurt, and they may just make the difference!

At the end of the day it's a numbers game. You need 45% to pass, anything else is just icing on the cake. Answer half the twenty pointer well, along with three good answers from the 8 pointers (like lists or identify) and you're at 35 marks already. Only 10 marks to go from 7 other 8 pointers and you're there.....

The majority of the questions will be outline, a couple of explain/describe and 2-3 list identify. The list/identifys are the easy money. The outlines should be too.
I'll start a new post with a worked example to help you along.

You can read the worked example to help you along by clicking the following link, or by browsing the articles section:

NEBOSH Exam Worked Example

Above all don't panic.

Good luck

Nick Higginson MSc CMIOSH Dip2.OSH SpDipEM MIIRSM of Phoenix Health and Safety Consultancy

NEBOSH Exam Worked Example

NEBOSH Exam Worked Example

Created March 2006, published 5 March 2006

OK we’ve talked about all the theory – now let’s put it all together and try to give a perfect answer to a recent exam question:

“Volunteers are involved in collecting bags of books, clothes and other donated goods from householders. The bags are loaded into vans for delivery to a chain of charity shops. Explain how the charity should assess the risks to the charity workers, identifying the particular issues that would need to be considered at each stage of the assessment” (NEBOSH Diploma Part One, June 2003)

First things first – look at the action verbs. You are being asked to explain how the problem should be assessed and identify the particular issues at key stages.
Re-read the question now, and underline your key signposts:

“Volunteers (unskilled, no selection criteria?) are involved in collecting bags (manual handling – size, weight, shape etc.) of books, clothes and other donated goods from householders (violence, dogs etc.). The bags are loaded into vans (driven by who? Vehicle hazards) for delivery to a chain of charity shops. Explain how the charity should assess the risks (assess the risks, not control them) to the charity workers, identifying the particular issues that would need to be considered at each stage of the assessment” (NEBOSH Diploma Part One, June 2003).

As this question is essentially about how to carry out a risk assessment, the 5 steps approach would be a good structure to follow. This question was worth 20 marks, so a plan would be in order:

PLAN

1. Identify hazards
Manual Handling
Violence
Animals
Contents of bags
Vehicles

2. Decide who can be harmed
Volunteers – old, untrained, health problems, how many?

3. Evaluate risks
Probability/severity
Frequency/duration
Evaluate existing controls
Legal requirements

4. Record

5. Review

ANSWER

No need for a flowery intro about how many injuries are cause by manual handling or where risk assessment comes from – just get on with it!!

IDENTIFY THE HAZARDS

The first stage of a risk assessment is concerned with identifying hazards, which in this case may be as follows:

Violent assault by members of the public or being attacked by dangerous dogs
Musculoskeletal disorders caused by lifting bags or constraints on posture when working inside the vans

Injuries caused by the contents of the bags e.g. sharps or chemicals

Slips, trips and falls due to uneven surfaces, kerbs, steps etc.

Traffic accidents involving the vans, especially if they were poorly maintained or the bags caused an obstruction inside

Vans being struck by other road vehicles

Poor lighting due to work in the evenings or in autumn/winter

Weather conditions could be a problem especially if particularly hot, wet, cold or windy

Lone working which may result in a lack of communication between volunteers and their supervisors

Manual handling would be the major hazard due to a variety of factors: The bags may have to be carried for long distances and there will be a large amount of repetitive handling. Lots of stooping and twisting may also be required inside the van. The bags themselves may be heavy or bulky, and as their contents are unknown, may be unstable or unpredictable.

PEOPLE AT RISK

The next stage is to consider how many people are affected by the risk, and who they are.

Volunteers may well be elderly and are likely to be retired. This means that they may have existing health problems and may not be as strong as they once were. Pregnant women or young people would also be at increased risk.

EVALUATE THE RISKS

To come up with a level of risk, there are several factors which need to be considered:

The likely severity of injury if an accident were to happen, for example a slipped disc might be an outcome of a manual handling injury

The probability that an accident was going to occur

The duration and frequency of exposure to the hazards

Existing control measures should be evaluated to assess their effectiveness. These may be things such as manual handling training, supervision, mechanical aids etc.
The law should be considered to see if more needs to be done. The relevant law here are the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regs (Risk Assessment) and the Manual Handling Regs

RECORD FINDINGS

The significant findings of the risk assessment should be recorded and information on these findings should be provided to employees

REVIEW

The risk assessment should be reviewed when there is reason to believe that it is no longer valid. This may be for a variety of reasons, e.g.:

Lapse of time

Enforcement action

An accident has occurred

There you go - 20 marks to start you off with! Too many students didn’t use the 5 steps approach so didn’t think widely enough to get good marks. Lots also gave long lists of how to control hazards, which was not asked for and so attracted no marks.

You can read the potted guide to taking NEBOSH exams to help you along by clicking the following link, or by browsing the articles section:

A Potted Guide to Taking NEBOSH Exams

Well that’s about all the help I can give you, so it just remains to say:

Good Luck!

Nick Higginson MSc CMIOSH Dip2.OSH SpDipEM MIIRSM of Phoenix Health and Safety Consultancy

A Tragic Lesson

A Tragic Lesson

This article has been created from an incident report sent to us here at HSfB where a visitor to the site thought it could perhaps help prevent similar tragic events from happening in the future.

Incident Description

At 10.25 a.m. on 11 November, 2005 a plater fell to his death whilst replacing stair treads on the Clipper PW platform. The fall was not witnessed.

Outcome

The Injured Party sustained severe head injuries from which he died.

Main Findings from Investigation

* The Injured Party died as a result of falling through an opening in the stair tower created when two stair treads were removed.
* The team found all the associated permitry to be in place for the work being carried out. The work was prescribed to be undertaken on a ‘one stair tread out, one stair tread in’ basis.
* For whatever reason the Injured Party, in a change to the permitted work method, chose to remove a second tread. This change created a large opening through which he subsequently fell.
* The primary cause of death was the result of a severe head injury caused by a fall from height.

Immediate Causes

The Injured Party died as a result of falling through an opening in a stair tower created when two stair treads were removed.

Immediate Actions

Conduct a risk assessment to cover the specific case of stair tread replacement on the Clipper in order to clear the intent of the Prohibition Notice served by the Health and Safety Executive on 12 November 2005.

Contributory Factors

* The work permit stated that the work should be undertaken on a ‘one stair tread out, one stair tread in’ basis.
* For reasons that can never be established, a second stair tread was removed in a change to the permitted work method.
* This change was never subject to further risk assessment which might have identified additional controls.

Read the complete article and see the incident photgraphs here: http://www.healthandsafetytips.co.uk/Articles/A_Tragic_Lesson.htm