NEBOSH International General Certificate – Module 1 SummaryNo Fault liability: The injured Definitions poor risk assessment party does not have to prove Welfare = Looking after the procedure, lack of that the employer was negligent. basic needs of people. supervision, no defect Environment = The reporting system. Criminal Law: surroundings in which the The aim is to punish and deter individuals and organizations organization operates from behaving in a way that is including land, air, water, Benefits of Good Health and unacceptable to society. natural resources, fauna, Safety Practice: Punishment of organizations Increased levels of compliance. flora and humans and usually a fine or restriction of Improved production. activities. their inter-relationships. Improved staff morale. Punishment for individuals Ill Health: Improved company reputation. could be jail, fine, restriction of Acute = Short-term exposure Reduced accidents. offices held or all of the above. with immediate effect, usually reversible. Chronic = Long-term or repeated exposure with delayed effect, often irreversible. Accident = An unwanted, unforeseen, unplanned event which results in loss. Incident/Near miss = An unwanted, unforeseen, unplanned event with the potential to result in loss. Hazard = Something with the potential to cause harm. Physical Chemical Biological Ergonomic Psychological Risk = The likelihood that harm will occur and the severity of the harm. Safety Culture = The product of individual and group values, attitudes, competencies and patterns of behavior that determine the commitment to and proficiency of an organisation’s Health and Safety. Immediate or direct cause of an accident = The unsafe act or condition that caused the accident. The root or underlying cause of an accident = The failure of management systems and procedures that allowed an unsafe act or condition to occur e.g. Reduced Reduced Reduced Reduced Reduced Reduced payouts ill health. damage to equipment. staff complaints. staff turnover. insurance premiums. fines and compensation Reasons for Good Health and Safety Practice: Moral Legal Financial Employer’s responsibilities: The employer must provide: Safe environment. Safe buildings. Safe plant and equipment. Safe systems of work. Competent staff. Adequate supervision. Adequate instructions. Worker’s responsibilities: To protect themselves and those around them. Co-operate with their employer. Report any situation that presents a significant danger. To receive adequate information, instruction and training. The worker (or representative) should be consulted by their employer on all aspects of health and safety. Legal System Civil Law: The aim is to compensate an injured party for loss suffered. There are 2 types of civil liability: a) Fault liability b) No fault liability Fault liability: Injured party must prove that: There was a duty of care owed. Duty of care owed was breached. The breach caused the loss/injury/ill health/death. Direct costs of Accidents Lost time of injured worker and any continued payments to worker or family. Damage to equipment, tools, property, plant or materials. Medical or hospitalization costs. Time and materials to clean up after the accident. Indirect costs of Accidents (hidden costs) Lost time by other workers (curiosity, sympathy, morale) Lost time – assisting, investigating, arranging for new staff, preparing reports. Failure to fill customers’ orders on time. Hidden Costs of Accidents: Accident investigation. Payments to injured person. Payments for non-productive time. Replacement labour. Training for replacement labour. Business interruption. Loss of reputation. Repair or replacement of damaged plant. Legal fees. Insurance. Uninsured costs (8-36 times greater than insured costs) Sources of Information Internal Sources: Risk assessments. Inspection reports. Accident/incident records. Medical reports. Safety representatives. Safety committee reports. Company safety policy. Maintenance reports. External Sources: 1|Page Consultants and specialists.NEBOSH International General Certificate – Module 1 Summary Government organizations – Enforcing Authorities Professional institutions – IOSH World Health Organisation – ILO Suppliers and manufacturers. Insurance companies and workers unions. 2|Page . Employer’s responsibilities towards Employees: Provide safe plant and equipment. Materials. Set standards against which performance can be measured. Information. training and supervision (ITIS). confined spaces. fumes. Changes in: Organisation. Competent health and safety assistance. Safety policy should be signed by the most senior person in the organisation because: It shows management commitment. Ineffective Health and Safety Policies No commitment or leadership. Safe systems of work. Issues included in Organization: Clear roles and responsibilities for all health and safety responsibilities allocated. transportation. Targets Important because: They give evidence of management commitment. auditing. It should be both: Proactive. Legislation. Communication. Precautions for visitor safety Signing in. supervision and management involvement. Work patterns. instruction.Demonstrates Management’s commitment to health and safety and sets the H&S aims and objectives 2 Organization (WHO) . written.KATE Control. Consult and inform employees. Perform risk assessments. Identify hazards. It gives the policy authority. Audit Systematic critical examination of each stage of an organisation’s management systems and procedures. noise. Cooperation. – From recruitment through to staff transfers and training. – Safety performance measurements made on information resulting from accidents and ill-health. The safety policy should be reviewed: After: Prosecutions Enforcement Action Compensation Claims Review period expires Professional Advise Accidents or Incidents. supervision to achieve control of H&S. They motivate staff by giving them something to aim for. – Policies. Health and safety not given enough priority. organisation. Permits to work. .Set out in detail the systems and procedures for implementing the safety policy . Providing personal protective equipment. – Needs to flow in all directions. Communication. Competence. 3|Page . KATE Control. Providing identification badges. departments. Reviewing Performance Analysing data gathered through monitoring to see whether performance is adequate. PPE personal protective equipment. – Safety performance measurements made before an accident happens Reactive. Management unaware of their role. The person who signed it has ultimate responsibility. Too much emphasis on employee responsibility. Verbal. groups. monitoring and review. The procedures might include: Risk assessments.NEBOSH International General Certificate – Module 1 Summary Elements of HSG65 Health and Safety Management Systems: POP MR A Policy: Sets out Health and Safety aims and objectives of the organisation and Management commitment. (Should flow in all directions) Planning and Implementation: Generate SMART objectives. Safe place of work. visible. Components of Safety policy: 1 Statement of Intent (WHAT) . assess risks and decide how risks can be eliminated or controlled.To identify H&S roles & responsibilities and reporting lines within the company. hotwork. Housekeeping. including consultation with H&S reps and externally between clients suppliers and contractors. instruction. COSHH assessments – Control of substances hazardous to health. This involves Competence Control Co-operation and Communication 3 Arrangements (WHAT) . No measurement of performance. example Issues included in Arrangements: Sets out in detail how the requirements of the policy will be met This will include procedures and arrangements for planning. Eectrical work. Organisation: 5Cs Clear roles and responsibilities. Processes. procedures. Insufficient resources provided. Personnel do not understand the aims. Provide a Safety policy. Measuring Performance Used as a means of determining the extent to which health and safety policy and objectives are being implemented. Allocating responsibilities accountabilities. access and egress. dust. Policies and procedures – Fire. No annual objectives. Premises. Health surveillance.for example safe systems of work. Provide effective health and safety management. handling. control. Risk assessments. Maintenance of plant and equipment. (policies. First aid Training programmes. Safe environment and welfare facilities. – is assisted by consultation and demonstrates management commitment internally between individuals. procedures) Co-operation obtained through consultation. Manual handling. Competence. Storage. Radiation. No training of management in their responsibilities. Follow instructions and training given.g. Not to interfere with anything provided for safety. 4|Page . Escorting visitor to area of work. Remain with visitor back to reception area. Duties of Employees: Protect themselves and others from danger. Inform employer of dangers and problems with health and safety arrangements.NEBOSH International General Certificate – Module 1 Summary Site induction e. fire precautions. Signing out visitor and removing badge. Co-operation with employer. Manufacturers and suppliers. Awareness of own limitations. Clients and customers. Safety committee Object is to promote cooperation between employees and employer on health and safety matters. Ability to identify problems. Arrangements for sub contractors. Competence based qualification. Clients sets an example. Suitable reference or recommendation. Understand current best practice. Regular inspections. Suitable risk assessments etc. Media. Consultants and engineers. Monitor training program. Importance of consulting Worker’s committees and representatives should: Be given adequate information on health and safety matters. Suitable training for employees. Knowledge of current health and safety applications. Managing the contractors on site. Checking contractor work. Identification of hazards related to job. Consideration of safety representative’s reports. Ability to contribute to decision making process. Training competency. Suitable risk assessments. Given protection from dismissal when carrying out duties as a representative. The enforcing authority. Contractors. Specialist health practitioners. Matters on which employees are to be consulted Introduction of measures that affect their health and safety. Reputation. Liaison with contractors. Method statements. Formation of a safety committee is between the employer and worker’s union/volunteers. Progress meetings. Previous work record. Enforcement history. Planning and organisation of any training required. Safety committee. Suitable training for employees. Safety committee – effective meetings Agenda may include relevant items such as: Study of statistics. Management strategy for contractors Identification of suitable bidders. Record and analyze accident data. Equal representation from management and safety representatives. Contact external bodies. Evaluate the effectiveness of strategies. Accident and incident reporting.NEBOSH International General Certificate – Module 1 Summary Requirements of Safety practitioner: Knowledge and understanding of the work involved. Promote and communicate health and safety. Accident and ill-health data. Regular inspections. Membership of trade organisations. Public. External parties the Safety practitioner will communicate with. Contractors agree to clients rules. Be able to contribute to negotiations in the undertaking of health and safety matters. Be consulted when major health and safety changes are envisaged. Carry out inspections. Membership of a professional body IIRSM IOSH. Establishing site rules. Capacity to apply to tasks required. Investigate complaints from employees. Police. Analysis of inspector’s report. Managing of contractors on site Appointment of coordinator. Willingness to learn. New processes and technology. Consult with enforcement authorities. New organisation of work patterns. Investigate accidents. Make representations on general matters of health and safety to employer. Examination of audit reports. Client set example. Ability to assess the need for action. No set structure. EHS Fire and rescue service. Have reasonable paid time to exercise their health and safety functions. Examine causes of accidents. Attend safety committee meetings. Selection of a suitable contractor Experience with type of work. Functions of the safety practitioner Advise management. Understanding of principles of risk assessment. New personal protective equipment. Have recourse to specialists for advise on particular health and safety problems. Safety propaganda. Safety committee. Functions of the Safety Representative Investigate potential hazards and dangerous occurrences. Method statements. Accident/incident reporting. 5|Page . During: Progress meetings. Checking health and safety aspects of bids. Pre-contract meeting. Pre-contract meeting. Keep up to date with new safety standards. Safety propaganda. Reducing the risks to Contractors before and during the building project Before: Careful selection of suitable contractors. Be free to contact labour inspectors. Carry out workplace inspections. Appointment of cocoordinator. Plant documentation. Checking the health and safety aspects of the bids. Ability to design and develop strategies. Liaison with the work force. Be able to communicate with workers during working hours. Identification of hazards associated with the job. Adequacy of safety policy. Assist with training. Insurance company. Benefits of a positive safety culture: Increased levels of compliance. Barriers to written communication. Reorganization and uncertainty. Reduced insurance premiums. Wide audience. Training for all levels of employees. Job insecurity. attitudes. Relevant (not trivial) agenda items. May be unread.NEBOSH International General Certificate – Module 1 Summary Development and monitoring of work safety rules and safe systems of work. procedures etc. memos. Reduced ill health. Lack of consultation and employee involvement. Staff turnover. Legislation. Verbal Communication: Instructions. Reduced damage to equipment. Trade unions. Quick. Quality of information. Often no feedback. First aid arrangements. Duration – speed. competencies and patterns of behavior that determine the commitment to. Hearing or speech defects. Balance between health and safety and production. Written Communication: Letters. Effective communication. Disadvantages No record. Shared perception of risks. Perception of a growing blame culture. Monitor adequacy of health and safety communication. Instant feedback. Lack of leadership and management commitment. Over familiarisation with the task. message. Time consuming. Communication. Complaints. meetings. Inconsistent Too much for Limited audience. interviews. Good leadership and chairmanship. Repetitive work leading to boredom. Enforcement. Absenteeism. lectures. Information should include: Information for employees regulation poster. Insurance companies. Access to information or specialist advice. Poor working environment. Good communication channels. Formalised procedures with agendas. reports. Competence. Respect of management. Ownership of health and safety at all levels. Attitude. Influence in decision making. Distance. Types of communication. Targets for accident reduction. notices. Internal influences on health and safety management standards: Production demands – Too many resources directed to production and not enough to health and safety. Authoritative. Effective consultation. Sickness. Standards of acceptable behavior. Competence. Health and safety seen as a low priority. Cost. Lack of information. Establish a link with the appropriate inspectors. Lack of supervision. Contact details for safety representatives. Improved staff morale. Two way. Lack of monitoring. Health and safety notice boards. Failure to implement remedial action. Flexible. Attitude. Easy to do. Compliance with legislation and internal policies. External influences – unions. Unrealistic working procedures. Improved company reputation. Factors that can cause a health and safety culture to decline: Lack of communication. Reduced staff turnover. Presentation. Illiteracy. Factors that influence the effectiveness of safety committee Balanced representation. Barriers to verbal communication. Agenda not led by industrial relations. Advantages Direct. Consistent message. Social expectations – society expects certain safe behavior. and proficiency of an organisation’s health and safety performance. Misinterpretation. Reference. Fatigue and stress. Employee representation. Promoting a positive health and safety culture: Senior management commitment. Peer group pressure. Lack of knowledge. No reference. Advantages Disadvantages Permanent record. Accurate detail. Quantity. External influences on health and safety Economic. Appraisal of effectiveness of safety training. One way. Safety Culture = The product of individual and group values. Why employees fail to comply with safety procedures even when competent: Lack of motivation. Learning from experience through monitoring and review. Willful disregard of laid down procedures. Unstructured. Reduced accidents. Lack of management commitment. Health and safety policy. Evacuation procedures. 6|Page . Language – jargon. Noise. memory. Reduced staff complaints. Improved production. Indicators of a company’s health and safety culture: Accident rates. Commitment from members. Level of written material. Management commitment. Morale. Activities carried out. Dedicated to health and safety only. Safety inspections. Make boards eye-catching through colour and graphics. Induction Training is important because: Establishes a safety culture. new technology. Improve morale. Less accidents. Improve safety attitude. How to report accidents. Information in a neat orderly state. Supervision. Health surveillance procedures. Consideration for training session What employees need to know and what they do already know – gap analysis. Additional health and safety health and safety notice training board: Employer should keep Increase in accidents or Locate in a prominent area. Greater productivity. Information displayed is relevant and current. Open to influence and peer group pressure. – Analysing the results of safety audits. Job specific training programme Safe system of work. Less absenteeism. Limited working hours. Young workers at risk because: Overenthusiastic. revision of systems of work. new material. What is a risk assessment A risk assessment is a careful examination of what hazards are in the work place and what precautions should be put in place to prevent harm. Enforcement action. Employee made aware of hazards. Membership of professional organisation. Emergency procedures. Fire training. Body not fully developed. Improve efficiency. ability. Resources needed. Changes in work patterns – night shift. Less legal issues. Assess progress against targets. Non-inspection techniques. Drugs and alcohol policy. Shows management commitment. Mentoring. Health and safety training. Results of risk assessments. Role of safety representatives. material safety data. – Break down the job into tasks and evaluate each task to identify hazards. Combined techniques. 2. Changes in working procedures. Level of training. Competent persons A person shall be considered competent when he has sufficient knowledge. Job change. Proof of employees’ competence. Achieve standard. PPE. New legislation. Numbers involved. codes of practice. Precautions for young workers should include: Provisions of suitable work equipment. Young person’s training. Accident and ill-health data. Examination of documents. Review effectiveness of training. Result of an accident investigation. – Monitoring accident statistics and investigation and illhealth complaints to identify the causes and then determining the hazards from the results. Risks associated with activities. Company safety policy. Less claims and premiums. Identifies hazards and precautions. Undertaking of written or practical assessments. Specific hazards. Decide who may be harmed and how. Results of inspections/audits. Provide evidence in investigations. No experience comparisons. – Manufacturers data. Promotion or reorganization. Before moving to a new job. Training should be given at the following stages: On joining the organisation – (Induction training) Before starting work – (Job specific) At regular intervals – (Refresher training) Whenever work practice changes e. legislation. Quality of life. New processes or technology. training and experience to enable him to carry out the tasks required of him and knowledge of his own limitations. 7|Page . Near miss reports. training records because: incidents. Employee Employer Less suffering. permit to work. References or recommendations. Organisation of work processes. Job satisfaction. Induction training programme Management commitment to safety. Actions required by employees. PPE training. Identifies responsibilities. Competence of trainers. Identify when refresher training is needed. Provide evidence in legal actions. Talking to the workforce. Equipment training. What are the hazards. First aid arrangements. Types of training already received. Employees recognize and report hazards. Different requirements for various staff. Welfare and amenity provisions. Benefits of training.g. Consultative procedures. Imparts knowledge. Identify the hazards. Sets the scene for future performance. Insurance company requirements. Employees responsibilities.NEBOSH International General Certificate – Module 1 Summary Communicating to employees Maximize effectiveness of and getting their commitment. Flexibility of staff. Factors to be considered: Evidence of qualifications. Workplace inspections. Dangerous occurrences. Steps in the risk assessment process 1. More likely to take risks. 4. Existing controls. Lead. Stress. Information such as the number of people affected. (Proactive) Risk assessment. 8|Page . 4. 16 – 25 = high risk. 1 – 7 = low risk. Severity: 1.NEBOSH International General Certificate – Module 1 Summary How likely are they to occur. Example: . Number of employees exposed. After an incident or accident. After enforcement action. (Proactive) Accident incident data. After professional advice. 2. Evaluate the risks and decide whether the existing precautions are adequate. the adequacy of existing control measures and any further precautions that may be necessary. Exposure to chemicals. Frequency and duration of the exposure. Reviews should be done: Changes in process. Changes in work patterns. (Reactive) 3. Changes in premises. Review the assessment and revise it if necessary.risk to pregnant women. Changes in legislation. Major disabling injury. Fatality. Consequences. Very unlikely. 2. Likely. 3. (Proactive) Job task analysis. Minor injury – no time off. Likelihood: 1. Minor injury – 3 days off work. Effects of the exposure. 5. Very likely. non-disabling illness. Changes in materials. Ergonomic issues like prolonged standing. 5. Competence. Injury. Ionizing radiation. Record the significant findings. PPE Methods of identifying hazards Sources and forms of harm can be identified via: Workplace inspection. Unlikely. 4. After prosecution. Certain – imminent. After compensation claims. 3. Biological exposure. Extremes of temperature. 5. Use a likelihood x severity matrix 5 x 5. 8-15 = medium risk. Significant hazards should be recorded. After a policy review. (Proactive) Manufacturers information. over 3 days off work. training and experience (KATE)and personal qualities. Breakdown emergencies. Mobile workers working away from their normal base. Are young workers especially at risk. Hierarchy of control measures Safe system of work = A system of doing the work in the safest way practicable by performing a task analysis to identify the hazards likely to be present and creating procedures including the precautions necessary to avoid or minimize the health and safety risks. Monitoring. Is the lone working likely to impose any additional physical or mental burdens on the worker. Assess the task. A combination of knowledge. All aspects of the work activity must be reviewed taking into account the way the work is organized: All of the significant hazards and risks must be identified. Electrical hazards. Guard on a dangerous part of a machine. Does the task present any special risks. Risk assessment is valid for a reasonable amount of time. ERICPD Eliminate – can the hazard be removed completely. Control measures for young persons: Induction training. Working at height. Employees and others at risk must be identified. Normal operation. Priorities have been set. Body not fully developed. The risks have been evaluated. Vehicles. Isolate – Can the hazard be enclosed or contained. reduce the risk of injury by using low voltage tools. Lone worker controls Training. Ergonomic design hazards. When is a safe system needed A safe system of work is needed when the hazards cannot be physically eliminated. The control measures must be appropriate to the nature of the work. Installation. Standards. Thermal hazards. Is there safe access and egress.g.NEBOSH International General Certificate – Module 1 Summary Identifying hazards for different states of operation Complex activities should be broken down into component parts. Work methods. Young persons Young persons at greater risk because: Lack of knowledge. Changes to work layouts. Lone working risk assessment Should take into account the following: Does the workplace present any special risks. Overenthusiastic. Mechanical hazards. Automatic or manual warning devices. Staff undertaking the risk assessment are competent. Restrictions on type of work. Does the worker have any special medical conditions. Mentoring. Regular contact using telephone or radios. PPE – Can something be provided to reduce the injury in case of accident. Reduce – Can the risk be reduced at the source or is 3. E. Breakdown maintenance. Purpose of the task.g. Define safe method. Machinery. The residual risk must be low. Knowledge of own limitations. Control – Limiting the time or frequency of the exposure. Existing controls. Suitable control measures must be identified. Competence of risk assessors. More likely to respond to peer pressure. Cleaning and maintenance operations. People involved.g. Dismantling. Electricity. Legal requirements. Cleaning. Environment. Loading. Periodic visits. Materials. materials etc. Noise and vibration hazards. training and experience (KATE). Persons working separately from the others. ability. Clear lines of communication. unloading and movement of vehicles. 9|Page . A thorough understanding of the processes and procedures involved. Equipment. Contractors on your premises. Persons working outside normal working hours.g. Types of hazards to look for. 2. More likely to take risks. ability. Good communication skills. E. there a safer alternative? e. Remove the trailing cable. Are women especially at risk. Chemical hazards. Radiation hazards. Issuing safety helmets or boots. Identify the hazards. Working below ground. Suitable and sufficient assessment The risk assessment will be suitable and sufficient if: The detail in the risk assessment is proportionate to the level of risk. e. Discipline – Ensuring that the procedures and rules are being followed and taking action if not. Takes account of non-routine operations. Lone working Employer has a duty of care to persons working alone without close or direct supervision: Single persons working on the premises. Restriction of working hours. Is there a risk of violence. Close supervision. 5 Steps of the safe system of work 1. Toxic materials. Adjusting. Environment. Supervision. Employees working away from base/alone. Compatibility. First aid and medical facilities. Permit to work = A permit to work is a formal written system used to control certain types of potentially hazardous work. Relies on management commitment. Procedural. 3. Fails to danger. Prevent deterioration. Set priorities and establish realistic timescales. May create additional hazards. Communication. Design of permit to work system 1. Relies on action being taken by the user. Replacement. Assessment of first aid needs checklist Size of the organisation. media. enforcement action against company. Designing a safe system by considering MEEP Materials. Lack of comfort. Limitations of the PPE. Storage. Implement the safe system. 4. Materials – choice of packaging to make handling easier. Identify trends and patterns. Further precautions. Purchasing control – buy good quality. Description of work. Choose type of equipment. tsunami. Technical. investigation. legal mandates or court orders. Difficulty in obtaining equipment. Nature of the work. Access egress – wide aisles. Useful in benchmarking. unfinished. Correct storage arrangements. Remoteness of emergency services. Need to train personnel in special procedures. Cancellation. Reasons why employees may not to wear PPE and Reasons PPE should be a last resort. disposal Equipment and machinery. Selection of PPE Identify the hazard. Health surveillance. Appoint persons to deal with emergency. Post emergency action e. hazardous chemical spillage. Provide information to board. – KATE Motivation. Travelling. Workplace emergencies Arrangements to be considered when developing an Emergency Response Plan: Type of emergency – fire. – light heat noise. Acceptance. Procedures and rules. 11. Work requiring permits: Confined spaces. The aim is to identify the strengths and weaknesses 10 | P a g e . Communication systems. Identify use and effectiveness of control measures. Other reactive monitoring methods such as number of defects reported following safety inspection. Behavioral. Evacuation procedures. Job location/plant identification. Reasons for monitoring Identify sub-standard health and safety practices. Types of hazards and risks. knowledge. guarding. earthquake. Emergency preparedness. Equipment – design e. prosecutions. Hand back. Reactive monitoring. 5. 2. Supervision. Supervision. Description of hazards. Time extensions/Shift change procedures.NEBOSH International General Certificate – Module 1 Summary 4. 3 forms of workplace controls 1. 5. – Behavior. Types of monitoring Main purposes of First aid Preserve life. 10. 8. – Raw. Hot work and cold work. Contamination. – Design specification. Compatibility with other types of PPE. Lengthy process carried out by a trained auditor. Poor selection or fit. When and how to replace. either internal or external. 6. Assess compliance with legal requirements. Tests and checks prior to work commencing. Claims records. ergonomics. How to keep it clean.g. critical assessment of each aspect of the health and safety management system and procedures. Monitor the safe system. Compare actual performance against targets. Electrical. flood. Correct usage. Emergency services contact and response times. Make decisions on suitable remedial measures. Incompatibility with other PPE. Costs. repair. committees etc. Time limits. Compliance with standards. Environment – Local exhaust ventilation. 2. skills. 9. Consequences of not wearing it. Examining accident figures. Authorization. All signatures must be legible. Nature and distribution of the workforce. Promote recovery. Misuse or non-use.g. Permit to work. remote and lone workers. Training needs. 3. Policy and standards. Comfort. Hygiene problems. Competence. Protection offered. Perception. Environment. Proactive monitoring. 7. Emergency procedure should be practiced so that weaknesses in the system are highlighted and corrected. space People. bomb. Past accident injury types. Effects on surrounding community. Need to cover absence of first aiders. Safety audit – A systematic. Training in the use of PPE Legal and organizational requirements. Incompetent person conducting the inspection. Inspection procedure leading to human error or abuse. Undertaking the audit. Some hazards may not be visible. Prevents issues from being overlooked. More structured and systematic. Welfare facilities. Use and storage of hazardous substances. Provide information to insurance company. Conclusions may not be taken seriously. More weight may be given to their conclusions. Make recommendations. Disadvantages: Could be influenced by internal relationships. Implement corrective action. of the health and safety management system A structured way of assessing the health and safety performance that makes use of a scoring system so that improvements can be measured. less formal workplace inspections are carried out to check on issues such as housekeeping or the use of PPE. Benchmarking – Where an organisations performance in certain areas is compared with those of similar organisation. Secure the area by barricading to prevent unwanted people from entering. Notify the authorities as per legal requirements. activities and equipment. Isolation of the accident scene. Identify witnesses. Electrical safety. 11 | P a g e . Report to relevant enforcing authority if necessary. Identify weaknesses in the risk assessment. Provide information for Civil/Criminal actions. Manual handling. Disadvantages: Require more time to arrange. employee representative and safety advisor. Identify weaknesses in the management system. Internal audits Advantages: Easier to arrange. Calling for medical assistance if necessary. Meet legal standards. Not reviewed or updated to account for changes. Employees may feel threatened. Demonstrate management commitment. Contact with the organisation being audited. The auditor will ask questions and will not make assumptions. Higher cost to the organisation. Identify witnesses. Draw conclusions. Ensure the effectiveness of training. Traffic routes. Strengths of using a checklist to complete Health and safety inspections Enables prior preparation and planning. Preserve the evidence. Call for an ambulance if needed. Employees may not feel so threatened. The auditor may make assumptions. Working environment. Action by the organisation. Advantages: Auditor will be completely independent and unbiased. Machinery. Pre-audit preparation procedure Setting audit objectives. Report and presentation. Often aided by the use of a checklist. Some hazards may not be present at the time of the inspection. Limitations of safety inspection It is only a snapshot in time. Set up investigating team. Systems of work. Health surveillance Providing periodic health checks before symptoms appear Performance review – Did the organisation: Achieve its health and safety objectives. Collect evidence like taking photographs or take sketches of the accident scene. Immediate and longer term action after an accident First aid for injured party. Internal transport. Aims of accident investigation Determine the cause of an accident. Immediate record available. Inspections become routine and no follow-up questions asked. Unsafe practices may not occur during the inspection. communication and consulting programmes. Safety tours – unscheduled. Full investigation to determine root cause. Safety sampling – Targeting specific areas. Call the first aiders to attend to the injured person. Comply with legal requirements. No scope for secondary issues to be considered. Lower cost to the organisation. Learn from management system failures. Collect data to establish trends which can be used to prevent future business losses. Safety inspections – The straight forward observation of a workplace. Provision and use of PPE. Implement effective control measures. Initial actions to be taken following a major injury accident at work Make sure the area is safe to enter before entering as there could be hazards surrounding the accident scene. Ensure a consistent approach. Reduce the risk of accidents and ill-health. May be carried out routinely Safety surveys – focusing on particular activities and may be carried out by a specialist.NEBOSH International General Certificate – Module 1 Summary Safety inspection checklist External audits Housekeeping. Weakness of using a checklist to complete Health and safety inspections Inflexible approach. Emergency equipment. Selecting the audit team. Usually carried out by the manager. Easy method for comparison and audit. The aim is to identify hazards and assess the use and effectiveness of the control measures. Equipment instructions. Preparation before investigation Who should be involved and the depth of the investigation. Have legal requirements been met. When. Identify areas that require improvement. Supervision quotas. Why. Measures should be evaluated for: The effectiveness of the control measures. Identify weaknesses in procedures and policies. 12 | P a g e . Incident/accident history. Medical reports. Nature of work. Over-complicated response to reports. The analysis may have identified that no control measures in place. Undertaking accident investigation 1. Equipment. Control measures in place but not used. Identify the risk control measures – possible solutions to be identified. Method to be adopted. To comply with legal requirements.NEBOSH International General Certificate – Module 1 Summary Documents: Risk assessments. Starting point for investigation. Employees can be discouraged from reporting accidents because: Ignorance of procedures. Safe systems of work. Peer pressure. Environment. Interviews and witness statements. Monitoring records – dust. Preservation of the department’s safety record. Gather relevant existing documents. Involves senior management. Accident data can: Show trends and patterns. Set targets for reduction. Style of report and recipients. Investigation team Line manager – has knowledge of the processes involved. Review of risk assessments. Retribution by management. Prioritize safety measures. To prevent reoccurrences and further injuries/losses. What. MEEP – Materials. Identifying the witnesses. Safety practitioner – to advise on health and safety implications. Prioritize the order of control measures to be implemented. Analysis should determine: Immediate/direct causes. To provide information for any subsequent claim. Training records. Will the control measures remain effective. People. 4. Specialist examinations. Accident scene preserved. 2. Root/underlying causes. Any equipment needed. 3. Inspection reports. Gather the information – Where. Monitoring health and safety performance. Senior manager – from a different department to be unbiased. Supervisor – has knowledge of the process. Safety representative – has legal right. Will the control measures be used. Who. Analyse the information – What happened and why. Combinations of both. noise. Are the control measures practical. Highest priority risk control measures implemented first. Engineer – to advise on technical matters. Take action – should have SMART objectives. Reasons for reporting accidents Implement initial controls. Pre-start equipment checks. Maintenance records. A senior manager nominated to be in charge of the implementation.