NEBOSH

International General
Certificate
Instructor:
2015 Ragesh.A.V
Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 2
 IGC 1
Element 1
Foundations in Health & Safety
Instructor:
2015 Mr. Ragesh.A.V
Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 3
 Learning Outcomes
¤ 1.1 Outline the scope and nature of occupational
health & safety.
¤ 1.2 Explain the moral, social and economic
reasons for maintaining and promoting good
standards of health & safety in the workplace.
¤ 1.3 Explain the role of national governments and
international bodies in formulating a framework
for the regulation of health & safety.

Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 4

 1.1 - The Scope and
Nature of
Occupational Health
and Safety
Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 5
 The Scope and Nature of Occupational H&S

Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 6

 MEANINGS OF AND
DISTINCTIONS
BETWEEN COMMON
TERMS
Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 7
 Exam Question
Q. Give the meaning of the following terms:
a) Health; Ans. Page 22 (2)
b) Safety; Ans. Page 22 (2)
c) Welfare; Ans. Page 24 (2)
d) Environmental protection; Ans. Page 24 (2)

Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 8

 Health
“A state of well-being”

“The term Health, in relation to work, indicates not merely the

absence of disease or infirmity; it also includes the physical & mental
elements affecting health which are directly related to safety &
hygiene at work”
Occupational Safety and Health Convention (C155), ILO

“A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being & not

merely the absence of disease or infirmity”
WHO 1946

Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 9

 Safety
“Absence of danger of physical Harm”
“Freedom from unacceptable risk of harm”
OHSAS 18001:1999
Welfare
“Facilities for workplace comfort”

Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 10

 1.2 – The Moral, Social
& Economic reasons
for maintaining &
promoting Health &
Safety
Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 11
 Exam Question
Q. Identify reasons for maintaining good standards of
health and safety in an organization. (8)
Ans. Page 26

Q. Outline reasons for promoting and maintaining good

standards of health and safety in the workplace. (8)
Ans. Page 26

Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 12

 Moral
There are clear, pressing reasons why businesses
should effectively manage health and safety.
¤ Moral / Humanitarian Reasons:
Our lives depend on what we do at work, we all
have a moral obligation not to cause harm to
others, and employers have a moral obligation
towards their employees and others to prevent
Injuries and ill-health which result in great deal of
pain and suffering.
Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 13
 The Size Of The Problem
Global statistics from the International Labour
Organisation (ILO) reflect the moral issues:
2.2 million people die every year from
occupational accidents and diseases.
There are 270 million occupational
accidents and 160 million occupational
diseases each year throughout the
world.
4% of gross national product (GNP) is lost
through injury, death and absence.
Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 14
 Social / Legal
¤ Social / Legal Reasons:
To avoid prosecution, the criminal and civil law
demands active management of risks, not just
compliance with prescribed standards. It is a
specific legal requirement to safeguard the health
and safety of workers and others. Risk management
is the cornerstone of modern health and safety law.

Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 15

 Construction of Empire State Building

Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 16

 Construction of Empire State Building

Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 17

 Construction of Empire State Building

Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 18

 Economic / Financial
¤ Economic / Financial Reasons:
Accidents at work cost a great deal of money,
Interrupt production & business disruption, Medical
treatment & compensation.

Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 19

 Exam Question
Q. A serious accident has occurred to a worker and there will be costs
to the organization as a result.
a) Identify THREE costs which are likely to be insured. (3)
Ans. Page 31
b) Identify THREE costs which are likely to be uninsured. (3)
Ans. Page 31
c) Outline reasons why it is important that an organization
maintains employer’s liability insurance. (2)
Ans. Page 31

Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 20

 Economic
Accidents at work cost a lot of money. The costs may be
divided as :
Insured Costs
¤ Employer’s Liability
¤ Public / third party liability
¤ Contractors all risks
¤ Plant & building damage
¤ Tools & equipment

Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 21

 Economic
Accidents at work cost a lot of money. The costs may be
divided as :
Uninsured Costs
¤ Production delays or lost production, and
¤ Damage to materials and products;
¤ Time involved in the investigation of the Accident;
¤ Loss of expertise or experience;
¤ Hiring and training replacement staff;
¤ Loss of goodwill and reputation;
¤ Clean-up costs and possible fines and legal costs.
Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 22
 Insured Costs Vs Uninsured Costs

Insured
Costs

Uninsured
Costs

Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 23

 Exam Question
Q. Identify possible costs to an organization
following an accident in the workplace. (8)
Ans. Page 31

Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 24

 Direct Costs
¤ Lost time of injured worker & any continued
payments to worker or family.
¤ Damage to equipment, tools, property, plant or
materials.
¤ Medical or first-aid costs.
¤ Time & materials to clean up after the accident.
¤ Insurance, indemnity or compensation payments.
¤ Court costs.
¤ Fines.

Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 25

 Indirect Costs
¤ Lost time by other workers who stop work or reduce performance.
¤ Out of curiosity.
¤ Out of sympathy
¤ Weakened morale.
¤ Lost time by supervisor or other managers.
¤ Assisting injured person.
¤ Investigating the cause of the accident.
¤ Arranging for replacement.
¤ Preparing accident reports, attending hearings, inquests courts.
¤ Bad reputation.

Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 26

 Exam Question
Q. A serious accident has occurred to a worker and there will be costs
to the organization as a result.
a) Identify THREE costs which are likely to be insured. (3)
Ans. Page 7
b) Identify THREE costs which are likely to be uninsured. (3)
Ans. Page 7
c) Outline reasons why it is important that an organization
maintains employer’s liability insurance. (2)
Ans. Page 7

Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 27

 Employer’s Liability Insurance
It is important that an organization maintains
employers’ liability insurance in order to satisfy the
legal requirements for employers to carry appropriate
insurance so that a worker, who is harmed by the
negligence of their employer, is assured of receiving
compensation even if the employer does not have
sufficient resources to pay compensation directly. This
form of compensation enables organizations to meet
the costs of compensation and legal fees.

Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 28

 1.3 – The role of national
governments &
international bodies in
formulating a framework
for regulation of Health
and Safety
Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 29
 Regulatory Frameworks
There are some basic intentions in every country to protect people
at work.
Most responsibilities rest with the employer. Laws governing this
share behavioral expectations for both the employer and employee.
The International Labor Organization (ILO) is a UN agency active in
setting health and safety standards based on adopted principals.
Health and safety is governed internationally by:
Conventions (ILO).
Recommendations (ILO).
Protocols (ILO/UN).

Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 30

 Exam Question

a.) Outline the health and safety responsibilities of

employers towards workers at work. (4)
Ans. Page 34
b.) Outline the health and safety responsibilities of
workers.
Ans. Page 34 (4)

Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 31

 Employers Responsibilities
The main health and safety responsibilities of an employer are:
¤ Providing a safe workplace, machinery and equipment and
safe work methods.
¤ Provide necessary instruction and training, taking into
account of the functions and capacities of different categories
of workers.
¤ Provision of adequate supervision of work, of work practices
and of application and use of occupational safety and health
measures.
¤ Provide, without any cost to the worker, adequate personal
protective clothing and equipment which are necessary. Contd

Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 32

 Employers Responsibilities
¤ Ensure that work organization, particularly with respect to
hours of work and rest breaks, does not adversely affect
occupational safety and health.
¤ Adopt all reasonably practicable measures with a view to
eliminating excessive physical and mental fatigue.
¤ Have appropriate emergency procedures and the provision of
adequate welfare, medical and first aid facilities.

Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 33

 Workers Responsibilities
The health and safety responsibilities of workers are:
¤ To cooperate with the employer with regards to the obligations
placed upon the employer.
¤ Report any situation that presents imminent risk or serious danger
and accidents.
¤ Take reasonable care for the safety of themselves and of other
persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work.
¤ To wear and use at all times any protective equipment or clothing
provided by the employer for the purpose of preventing risks to
their health and safety.
¤ To comply with any instruction or measure on occupational safety
and health instituted by their employer.
Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 34
 Worker’s Rights
Workers have a right to a safe workplace. Article 19 of
C155 adds the following rights:
“There shall be arrangements at the level of the
undertaking under which …”
¤ Representatives of workers are given adequate information
on measures taken by the employer to secure health and
safety.
¤ May consult representative organisations provided they
don’t disclose commercial secrets.
¤ Workers and representatives are given appropriate training
in health and safety. Contd
Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 35
 Worker’s Rights contd.
¤ Workers or representatives are enabled to enquire and are
consulted by the employer on all aspects of occupational safety
and health – advisors may be brought in, by mutual consent.
¤ Workers should report to immediate supervisor, any situation
believed to present imminent or serious danger to his life or
health. Employer cannot require worker to return to work when
imminent or serious danger to life and health continues.

Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 36

 Role / Powers Of Enforcement Agencies
¤ Enter premises at any reasonable time.
¤ Take an authorized person if there is an obstruction in the
execution of his duty.
¤ Examine & investigate.
¤ Take photographs & measurements.
¤ Sample or retain unsafe articles & substances.
¤ Order the testing, dismantling & examination.
¤ Take possession of items.
¤ Require answers to questions with a signed statement, if
necessary.
¤ Inspect & copy documents
¤ Order a medical examination etc.
Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 37
 Exam Question
a) Outline the main health and safety responsibilities of an
employer. (6)
Ans. Page 34

b) Identify actions an enforcement authority might take if it

finds that an employer is not fulfilling its responsibilities.
Ans. Page 38 & 46 (2)

Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 38

 Actions of Enforcement Authority
¤ Giving advice or an informal warning,
¤ Serve an improvement notice
¤ Serve a prohibition notice, and
¤ Initiate prosecution

Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 39

 Sources Of Information On National Standards

¤ Acts, Regulations & Orders

¤ Used to set out a framework of national standards of
OH & S by means of legislative structure.
¤ Regulatory Authorities And Agencies
¤ Guidance notes, leaflets, codes of practice, statistics
etc.
¤ National Standards & Approved Codes Of Practice
¤ OSHA 1970

Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 40

 Sources Of Information On National Standards
¤ National Standards & Approved Codes Of Practice
¤ Managing Health & Safety in Construction - CDM
2007
¤ Safe use of work equipment - PUWER 1998
¤ Workplace health, safety and welfare – WHSWR
1992
¤ Official Guidance
¤ Guidance notes issued by regulatory authorities
that are purely advisory and have no standing in
law.
Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 41
 Sources Of Information On National Standards
¤ Role of the Courts
¤ When a case is heard in court it can provide insight
into the application of legislation to a specific
situation.
¤ Absolute & Qualified Requirements– Refer Pg. 51
¤ Absolute,
¤ Practicable,
¤ Reasonably practicable
¤ Reasonable
Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 42
 “As Far As Is Reasonably Practicable”
Employers are entitled to balance costs of remedy against
benefits in reduction of risks and if the benefit is minimal
compared to the cost, they need not carry out the duty.

TIME
TROUBLE
MONEY

Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 43

 “As Far As Is Reasonably Practicable”

“As far as is reasonably practicable” is a phrase that

implies that a computation must be made, in which
the Risk is placed on one scale and the sacrifices
involved in the measures necessary for averting the
risk (whether money, time or effort / trouble) is
placed on the other. If it can be shown that there is a
gross disproportion between them, the defendants
discharge the onus on them to take that measure.

Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 44

 Learning Outcomes
¤ 1.1 Outline the scope and nature of occupational
health & safety.
¤ 1.2 Explain the moral, social and economic
reasons for maintaining and promoting good
standards of health & safety in the workplace.
¤ 1.3 Explain the role of national governments and
international bodies in formulating a framework
for the regulation of health & safety.

Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 45

 The END

Any Questions?

Foundations in Health and Safety Slide 46