NEBOSH NEBOSH IGC Paper 1 Health & Safety Foundations After reading this chapter, you student should be able to: Outline the scope and nature of occupational health and safety • Explain briefly the moral social and economic reasons for maintaining and promoting good standards • of health and safety in the workplace. Outline the role of national governments and international bodies in formulating a framework for the • regulation of health and safety Identify the nature and key sources of health and safety information • Outline the key elements of a health and safety management system. • Q1. Explain using an example in EACH case, the meaning of the following terms; (i) Hazard (ii) Risk Answer: (i) A hazard is the potential of a substance, person, activity or process to cause harm. Hazards take many forms including, for example chemicals, electricity and working from a ladder. likelihood d of a substance, substance, person, person, activity activity or or process process to cause cause harm and and its resultin resulting g (ii) A risk is the likelihoo severity. severity. Q2. Outline the sources of published information that may be consulted when dealing with health and safety problem at work. work. Answer: The internal and external sources of information may be consulted when dealing with health and safety problem problem at work are are as follows; follows; Internal Sources Accident and ill-health ill-health records records and investigation investigation reports; reports; • Absence records • Inspection Inspection and audit audit reports reports taken taken by the organiza organization tion and by external external organization organizationss such as • HSE Maintenance, Maintenance, risk risk assessment assessment and training training records records • Documents Documents which which provide provide information information to the workers workers • Any equipment equipment examinati examination on or tests tests reports. reports. •
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External Sources are; Health and and safety legislation legislation European European and British British standards standards International International Labor Labor Organizat Organization ion (ILO) (ILO) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (USA); European European Agency for for Safety and Health Health Work Safe (Western Australia); Health and and Safety magazines magazines and journals; journals; Specialist Technical and legal Publications; Information Information and and data from from manufacturer manufacturerss and suppliers suppliers and; The internet and encyclopedias.
Q3. An organization has had an increase in the number of manual handling accidents and associated illhealth. Identify sources of information that may be available to help reduce the risks to the workers. Answer: Sources of information that may be available to an organization to reduce the number of manual handling accidents include International agencies such as the ILO; national enforcement agencies such as 1
the Health and Safety Executive, Executive, EHS, Dubai Municipality guidelines; guidelines; employers employers organizations organizations and Trade such as ISO; SO; informa Unions; nationa nationall and interna internation tional al standa standards rds such information tion from from manuf manufactu acturers rers,, professional professional health health and safety safety bodies such as IOSH ; and consultation with the workers . Q4. (i) Explain the purpose of employer liability insurance. (ii) Outline SIX costs of a workplace accident that might be uninsured. Answer: (i) The purpose of Employers’ liability insurance will enable employees to meet the cost of compensation for your employees’ employees’ injuries injuries or illness illness whether whether they they are caused caused on or or off site. site. (ii) Six costs of the workplace accident might be uninsured as follows; Product and material material damage damage • Legal costs costs • Emergency Emergency supplies supplies • Cleaning of site • Production Production Delays Delays • Temporary labor • Lost orders orders • Investigation Investigation time time • Fines • Loss of expertise expertise etc • Q5. An organization has been found to have inadequate standards of workplace health and safety. Identify the costs that the organization may incur as a result. Answer: The direct costs include loss of production; plant damage, replacement and cleanup activities; sick pay, recruitment recruitment and/or rehabilit rehabilitation ation costs; costs; enforceme enforcement nt actions and fines, fines, civil claims claims from from the injured injured parties and higher higher insurance insurance premiums. premiums. There There are also also indirect indirect costs costs related related to poor poor staff morale and high staff turnover turnover and and the damage damage to the organization’s organization’s reputation, reputation, loss loss of orders, orders, production production delays, delays, time time spent for subsequent subsequent investiga investigations; tions; and and a subsequent subsequent decrease decrease in its profitabil profitability. ity.
possible direct and FOUR possible indirect costs to an organization following a serious Q6. Identify FOUR possible accident at work. Answer: (i) These are the four possible direct costs when a serious accident occurs in an organization. • • • • • • • • • • •
payment payment for for work work not perfor performed; med; medical and compensation payments; repair or replacement of damaged machinery and equipment; reduction or a temporary halt in production; increased training expenses and administration costs; possible possible reductio reduction n in the the quality quality of work; work; Negative effect on morale in other workers. Claims on employer and public liability insurance; Damage of buildings, buildings, equipment equipment or vehicles The absence of employees Any attributabl attributablee production production / or general business business loss;
(ii) These are the four possible indirect costs when a serious accident occurs in an organization. the injured/ill worker has to be replaced; • a new worker has to be trained and given time to adjust; • it takes time before the new worker is producing at the rate of the original worker; •
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time must be devoted to obligatory investigations, to the writing of reports and filling out of forms; forms; accidents often arouse the concern of fellow workers and influence labour relations in a negative way; poor health health and safety safety conditions conditions in the workplace workplace can can also result result in poor public public relations relations. A cumulative cumulative business business loss; loss; Product or process process liability liability claims; claims; Recruitment Recruitment or replacement replacement of staff. staff. Loss of goodwill goodwill and a poor poor corporate corporate image; image; Production Production delays delays Extra overtime overtime payments; payments;
Q7. (i) Identify the possible consequences of an accident to: (a) The injured worker (b) The employer (ii) Identify the direct and indirect costs to the employer of accidents at work. (iii) Outline the actions an enforcement agency may take the following an accident at work. Answer: (i) (a) The possible consequences of an accident to the injured worker are ; the pain and suffering of the injury or illness • the loss of income; • the possible loss of a job; • Health-care Health-care costs. costs. • Loss of salary • Loss of overtime overtime payments payments • Medical, Medical, travel or other expense • Compensation received • Lost savings savings • Retraining Retraining costs costs • Pay differences differences from any any new employer employer • (i) (b) The possible consequences of an accident to the employers are; Lost business business opportunities opportunities • Productivity Productivity losses losses • Salary of the absent injured employee • Expenses Expenses reimbursed reimbursed to the the injured injured employee employee • Repair, Repair, rental or replacement replacement costs costs • Insurance Insurance premium premium changes and and legal costs costs • Additional Additional training training or supervisory supervisory costs costs • (ii) The direct and indirect costs to the employer of accidents at work are: Direct costs • • • • • • •
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payment for work work not performed; performed; medical and compensation payments; repair or replacement of damaged machinery and equipment; reduction or a temporary halt in production; increased training expenses and administration costs; possible possible reduction reduction in the quality of of work; Negative Negative effect on on morale in other workers. workers. 3
Indirect costs for employers are: the injured/ill worker has to be replaced; • a new worker has to be trained and given time to adjust; • it takes time before the new worker is producing at the rate of the original worker; • time must be devoted to obligatory investigations, to the writing of reports and filling out of • forms; forms; accidents often arouse the concern of fellow workers and influence labor relations in a • negative way; poor health health and safety safety conditions conditions in the workplace workplace can can also result result in poor public public relation relation • (iii) The enforcement agency may take the following actions while an accident at work are as follows; follows; Acts • Mandatory Mandatory regulations regulations • Codes of practices • National National and Internation International al Standards Standards • Q8. Replacement and repair of damaged equipment is a cost that an organization may incur following accident at work. Identify EIGHT possible costs to the organization following a workplace accident.
possible costs such such as associated associated with are as follows; follows; Answer: Eight possible Loss of production production • Staff absence • Sick pay • Repair of of damaged plant and equipment equipment • Damage to products products • Investigation Investigation and and remedial remedial actions actions • additional administration incurred, • an increase in insurance premiums, • fines and compensation awarded, • and court and other legal representation. • Also relevant relevant are are the intangible intangible costs costs arising arising from from a loss loss of business business image image and the • detrimental effect on worker morale resulting in reduced productivity. Q9. Identify EIGHT possible costs to an organization when employees are absent due to work related illhealth.
possible costs of an organization organization when when employees employees are absent due due to work work related related ill-health ill-health Answer: Eight possible are as follows; Internal Internal Audit • Decrease Decrease of the productio production n • Quality losses • Training of new staff • Technical disturbance • Organizational difficulties • Increased Increased of production production costs costs • Increased Increased of Insurance Insurance premium premium • Q10. Outline reasons for maintaining good standards of health and safety within an organization. Answer:
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There are three reasons for promoting and maintaining Good safety sa fety st standards in work ork pl place.1 - M o r a l 2 - L e g a l 3- Fina Fi na nc ia l 1 . M o r a l : - I t’ t’ s m or or al al o bl bl ig ig at at io io n o f th th e emp lo yer to pro vide vi de a saf e En viron vi ron men t to the Emplo Employe yees es wher wheree they they can can enj enjoy oy their their work work and and feel feel happy while returning home. Injury and accident leads to pain and suffering not only to victim but to family andfriends. Everyone who goes out for work is because of economic necessity and not consents with injury and accident.2 . L e g a l : - It’s also legal obligation l obligation by the country’s law that employer should provide anenvironment that is totally safe for working just like HASAWA (Health and safety atwork etc. Act) 1974. No n -c om pl ia nc e to th e le ga l bi nd in g ca n re su lt in pe na lt ie s, fines and even pro prohibition ion of the work.3 . F i F i n a n c i a l : - A work place place without without good safety safety working working standar standards ds can lead to accidentswhich have direct and indirect financial impacts. Accident cause a great deal of money specially when we add damage caused by some accidents.Direct costs include fines, compensation compensation payouts, medical cos costs and and sick pay pay etc etc.In .I n di r ec t c o st s in c l ude u de production delay, personal allocated personal allocated to to investigate the accidents, damage to equipment, loss of reputation and loss of good will.So maintaining a good and safer
working environ ment is more ch eaper in lon ger ter terms
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The reasons for promoting and maintaining good standards of health and safety in the workplace are the moral, legal and financial. •
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The mora morall reaso reason n inclu includes des the the resp respons onsib ibil ilit ityy of the the emplo employer yer to prote protect ct worke workers rs,, other otherss and neighbors, from occupational hazards and risks. The legal reasons are focused on to protect employees and others, by issuing prohibitions and fines. The financial reasons include the financial losses incurred with accidents and their investigations; such as productio production n loss, employee employee absence, and and high insurance insurance premiums. premiums.
Q11. (i) Explain reasons for maintaining and promoting good standards of health and safety in the workplace. (ii) Identify sources of information that an organization may use to help maintain and promote good standards of health and safety in the workplace. (iii) Outline possible possible reason reason why good standards standards of health health and safety safety in the workplace workplace may may not be achieved. Answer: (i) Q12. (i) Draw a flowchart to show the relationships between the six elements of the health and safety management model in HSE’s succes HSE’s successful sful health health and safety safety management management (HSG65). (HSG65). (ii) Outline the part that each element of the HSG65 model plays within the health and safety management system. Answer: A hazard hazard is the potential potential of a substance substance Q13. (i) Draw a flowchart to identify the main components of the health and safety management system describe in the HSE publication Successful Health and Safety Management (HSG65). Management (HSG65). (ii) Outline TWO components of the health and safety management system. Answer: (i) The flowchart (ii) The components are: Setting policy: policy: to show commitment of management of health and safety and to set clear aims • and objectives.
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Organizing: there should be a framework of roles and responsibilities for health and safety allocated alloc ated to individual indiv idualss through th roughout out the organizati organ ization on from senior senio r man manag agem emen entt to to sho shop p floo floor. r. Planning Planning & implementing implementing:: this refers to: The detailed specification of health and safety standards standards to be applied in in all areas areas & aspects aspects of work. The The measures measures needed needed to ensure ensure standards standards applied. applied. Important Important is risk assessme assessment nt and devising devising safe safe system system of work. ork. Monitoring Monitoring and review: review: monitoring performance by the use of active and reactive monitoring methods. Inspection, surveys, sampling, tours and environmental monitoring methods while accident investigation and enforcement actions are examples of reactive methods. Auditing: Auditing: this refers to collecting information on the efficiency, effectiveness and reliability of the total safety system in the organization
Q14. Outline the key elements of a health and safety management system. Answer: The key elements of the health and safety management system include
Policy, which is the top management commitment with commitment with a clear statement of intent, setting the main health and safety aims and objectives of the company.
Organization includes the allocation of responsibility to appropriate members of staff, with the emphasis on achieving competency, control, communication and consultation.
involves ves carry carrying ing out out risk risk asse assess ssme ments nts,, the setti setting ng of Plannin Planning g and implem implementa entation tion invol standards standards and targets targets and the the introduction introduction of of appropriate appropriate control control measures measures to achieve achieve them.
Proactive and reactive monitoring monitoring systems would need to be introduced to provide data on the achievement or non achievement of the objectives and targets set .
Review and audit should be carried out to check whether the planned arrangements arrangements are being implemented and to consider options for improvement and to set new targets where necessary. Q15. Outline the economic benefits that an organization may obtain by implementing a successful health and safety management system. Answer: A hazard hazard is the potential potential of a substance substance
Q2. Identify possible influences on an organization’s health and safety management standards. (8) Answer: The possible influences on an organization’s health and safety management standards include regulatory regulatory and enforcement enforcement authorities, and individual individual governments, governments, industry based standards standards of good/safe good/safe practice; practice; shareholder shareholder demands and expectations; expectations; trade union demands; insurance companies; companies; production production demands, demands, the competence competence and experience experience of the workforce and finally the commitment commitment of members members of senior management themselves in setting and enforcing high standards for their company.
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giving ng an exam example ple in EACH case, case, the circum circumsta stances nces under which which a health health and safety safety Q4. (a) Explain , givi inspector may serve: (i) an im improvement notice (3) (ii) a pr prohib hibition no notice. (3 (3) (b) State the effect on EACH type of enforcement notice of appealing against it. (2) Answer (a): (i)
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A health and safety inspector inspector serves an improvement improvement notice when there is a breach of relevant relevant statuto statutory ry provis provisions ions.. Example: Example: the absence absence of manual manual handling handling assess assessmen ments ts absence of PPE. A health and safety inspector serves a prohibition notice if there is a risk of serious personal personal injury. injury. Example Example a dangerous dangerous machine machine lacks the necessary necessary safeguard safeguards. s.
(b) The effect of an appeal against an improvement notice is to suspend the notice until the appeal is held, whereas a prohibition notice continues in force during this time.
What types of hazards are there? A common way to classify hazards is by category: • • • •
biological - bacteria, viruses, insects, plants, birds, animals, and humans, etc., chemical - depends on the physical, chemical and toxic properties of the chemical. ergonomic - repetitive movements, improper set up of workstation, workstation, etc., physical - radiation, magnetic fields, pressure extremes (high pressure or vacuum), noise,
etc, psychosocial - stress, violence, etc., safety - slipping/tripping hazards, inappropriate machine guarding, equipment malfunctions or breakdowns • •
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