Professional Documents
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1-16 Q&A (Important)
1-16 Q&A (Important)
1-16 Q&A (Important)
Replacement & retraining of staff is a cost that an organisation may face following a workplace accident
List EIGHT other possible costs to an organisation when an employee has been seriously injured in
such an accident (8)
2 Element
1.Outline the main components of a health & safety management system
(8)
Policy
Organisation
– 4Cs
(Competence, commitment, Co-operation & Communication)
Arrangements
– planning & implementing
Monitoring
– auditing
Review
2.Outline the items that may be included in the “arrangements” section of a health & safety policy
document (8)
Accident/incident reporting
Risk assessment
First-aid
COSHH
PTW
Contractors
Welfare
Training
3.AExplain the purpose of EACH of the following sections of a health & safety policy document
(i) “Statement of Intent” (2)
(ii) “Organisation” (2)
b) Outline the issues that are typically included in the arrangements section of a health & safety
policy document (12)
– Commitment from top
– How policy will be implemented
(A ii) 4c,s how policy will be organised (Competence, commitment, Co-operation &
Communication)
B) Accident/incident reporting
Risk assessment
First-aid
COSHH
PTW
Contractors
Welfare
Training
4.Outline the circumstances that may give rise to a need for a health & safety policy to be revised
(6) Change in risk assessment procedure
Change in workplace layout/design
New tasks or equipment
Change in rates of production
Change in legislation
Change of any other major circumstances
3 Element
1.Outline the THREE standard conditions that must be met for an employee to prove a case of alleged
negligence against an employer
– Duty of care owed
– Breach of duty of care
– Breach caused the loss
3.Explain, using examples, the differences between civil law & criminal law
(8)
Criminal
– Statute, no loss, punishment, cannot insure against, action brought by the state, burden of
proof beyond all reasonable doubt
Civil
– Case law, judge made law, judicial precedence, common law, has to be a loss, compensation,
can insure against, action brought by an individual, burden of proof on the balance of
probabilities
5.Outline the powers normally given to health & safety inspectors under safety legislation
(8)
Entry
Confiscate, seize & destroy
Photographs
Take witness statements
Issue notices to insist on improvement, the prohibition of certain work activities
Bring a policeman
Take samples
Cordon off area
Investigate accidents
Etc, etc
6.Explain, using an example in EACH case, the circumstances under which a health & safety inspector may
serve (i) An improvement notice
(2)
(ii) A prohibition notice (2)
7.List the factors that could be considered when assessing the health & safety competence of a contractor
8.Identify the actions that the company should take to help ensure that the health & safety of their own & the
contractors employees are not put at risk (10)
Full exchange of information including policy, safe systems of work, risk assessments, co-ordination,
cooperation, training, monitoring, induction training for contractors including site layout, etc, meetings, etc
4 Element
1.Explain the meaning of the term motivation (2)
b) Describe the motivating factors that could lead to improved health & safety performance in the
workplace (6)
The force which stimulates an individual to do something. People are motivated by their wants or
needs
b) 4cs (Competence, Commitment, Co-operation, Communication)
– Performance standards made clear & enforced & reinforced with commitment from the top
– Reasoning behind H&S rules, etc with appropriate training for personal growth
– Communication & consultation with risk assessment, etc
– Rewarding safe behaviour
2.a) State the criteria that should be used in assessing a person’s competence to carry out a task
(4)
b) Outline the personal & organisational factors that may cause a person to work unsafely even though
they are competent
a)
– Relevant experience, qualifications, training & good personal qualities
– The nature of the task & the level of risks involved
b)
– Personal
Attitude, motivation, aptitude, perception of risk
– Organisational
4Cs (Commitment, Co-operation, Consultation, Communication)
3.Outline ways in which employers may motivate their employees to comply with health & safety procedures
a) Is the way we individually perceive or take in information from our surroundings using our
common senses, such as hearing, sight, smell, touch taste, etc
b)
– Peoples physical, mental disabilities/limitations, the extent of decision making, aptitudes
– Improving process of risk assessment, improved procedures & instructions
– Improving task routines, work patterns, etc
– Providing ergonomics
– Better environmental conditions
– Induction, Supervision, Instruction & Training
–
6. a) Identify the factors that place young persons at greater risk of accidents at work
(4)
b) Outline the measures that could be taken to minimise the risk to young persons
a)Inexperience, lack of knowledge, lack of maturity, physical development, peer pressure, reluctant to
ask questions
b)
– Induction training, full supervision, on the job training, acclimatisation, mentor, not employed
on higher risk activities, matching aptitude to task
–
7.a) Explain using examples, the meaning of EACH of the following terms
(i) “motivation” (3)
(ii) “Perception” (3)
(iii) “Attitude” (3)
b) Outline ways of reducing the likelihood of human error in the workplace
(11)
a)
– (i) The force which stimulates an individual to do something. People are motivated by their
wants or needs e.g. Reward for us working safely or reporting an incident
– (ii) Is the way we individually perceive or take in information from our surroundings
using our common senses, such as hearing, sight, smell, touch taste, etc - e.g. We may
not perceive a hazard as being dangerous until we are hurt by it
– (iii)Is the way we think we react or may react to situations (as opposed to the way we
actually respond which may be quite different), our point of view
A combination of our beliefs, feelings & intention to act e.g. We may have a poor
(negative) attitude towards H&S
b)
– Organisation
4Cs
– Individual
Attitude, aptitude, personality, competence, peer pressure, perception
– Job
– Poor ergonomics, fatigue, env conditions,
– Work rate, rest breaks, etc
8.Describe the types of human error that can lead to accidents in the workplace
(20)
Errors fall into 2 broad categories
– Slips & lapses
These can when conducting very familiar tasks where there is normally little need to
pay conscious attention. Driving a car is a good example of a typical “skill based” task
for many of us, but is very prone to error, with grave circumstances, should attention
be diverted
Slips
– failure to carry out actions of a task, or “actions not as planned”
– Performing an action too early or too late in a procedure
– Omitting steps or a series of steps from a procedure
– Turning a control knob in the wrong direction
– Doing the right thing on the wrong object
– Reading the wrong dial
Lapses
– cause us to forget to carry out an action or even forget what we set out to do.
– These are most common when there is a long period of waiting or tasks take a long time to
complete
Mistakes
– More complex failures where the wrong thing is done, but the person believes that the correct
action has been taken
Rule based
– Behaviour is based on remembered rules or familiar procedures often without checking for
changes
– There is a strong tendency to revert to these rules or solutions even when not always the most
efficient
Knowledge based
– When in unfamiliar, or circumstances that may feel familiar but unknown, there is a tendency
to apply first principles or try to match it with a situation that resembles a familiar one, I.e.
one that they are knowledgeable with
– Experienced & knowledgeable personnel without complete information on the hazards &
risks, are susceptible to this type of mistake
9.Outline the factors that may influence a persons perception of risk in the workplace
– Poor ergonomics
– Physical stressors
– Task routine
– Work patterns
10.Outline the reasons why an organisation should monitor & review its health & safety performance
Reactive
– Look for trends & analysis of accident statistics to highlight hot spots
11.Outline FOUR proactive monitoring methods that can be used in assessing the health & safety
performance of an organisation
Inspections
Audits
Samples
Surveys
Tours
12.Explain how the following may be used to improve safety performance within an organisation
(i) Accident data
(4)
(ii) Safety inspections
a)
– Highlights hot-spots & areas that require improvement, shows trends & patterns, identifies
weak areas & deficiencies in risk assessment process, helps to prioritise risk assessment
process
b)
– Helps Identify & reduce hazards,Involves consultation with workforce, checks improvements
made from last inspection, van be carried out by people at all levels within the workplace,
covers all aspects,
13.State EIGHT measures that can be used to monitor an organisations health & safety performance
(8)
Accident/incident statistics
Training records
Maintenance records
Checking SMART Objectives
Risk assessment registers
Safe systems of work, P.T.W.
Inspection / audit etc findings
Bench marking
14.Outline the main components of a health & safety management system
(8)
Policy
Organisation
Planning & implementing/Arrangements
Monitoring / auditing
Review
15. a) Outline the factors that should be considered when planning an inspection of the workplace
(10)
b) Identify information that should be included in a report of a workplace inspection. Explaining how
the information should be presented in order to increase the likelihood of action being taken (10)
a)
– Previous inspection records
– Familiarisation of legislation relevant to workplace being inspected
– Checklists, topics, etc
– Which part of the workplace
– Route to be taken
– Inform line manager, etc of inspection
– Escort
b)
– Breaches of legislation, inadequately controlled hazards, any improvements, who was spoken
to, time & date of inspection, area visited, topics covered, bench marking
– Report format
Summary, main body, conclusions & recommendations
Moral, legal, costs
a)
– Identifies hazards which are not controlled to an adequate standard, uses checklists, physical
in walkabout, can be carried out by all levels of personnel
b)
– Systematic evaluation of the whole management system both software elements (written
documentation) & hardware elements (people), follows a trail through the workplace to verify
documentation is known to people, understood by them & used by them
– Can be internal (inter-departmental) or totally independent, i.e. external
–
17.Outline the methods that may be used to assess an organisations health & safety performance
Audits
Inspections
Samples
Tours
Surveys
18.Outline FOUR advantages & FOUR disadvantages of using posters to communicate health & safety
performance (8)
Advantages
– Simple easy to understand, striking powerful message, can be moved around, cheap, visual,
pictorial, etc
Disadvantages
– May become stale, not always read, not relevant, can be damaged or vandalised, information
overload if next to safety signs, no feedback, etc
19.In relation to the Health & safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996
(i) Identify the particular health & safety matters on which employers must consult their
employees
(4)
(ii) Outline the entitlements of representatives of employee safety who have been elected under
the regulations(4)
(i)
– Introduction of new measures, H&S information required by statute, planning & organising of
H&S training,H&S consequences of new technology
(ii)
– Time off for training, facilities, represent a group of employees in consultation at the
workplace with enforcement officers, to make representations to employer on hazards,
20.An investigation has identified the two key underlying causes of a workplace accident as ineffective verbal
communication between employees & shortcomings in the quality of health & safety training
(i) Identify the barriers to effective verbal communication that may have existed (8)
(ii) Outline the measures by which verbal communication could be improved (6)
(iii) Describe the variety of training methods a trainer could use to improve the effectiveness of
employee training in health & safety (6)
(i)
– conceive, encode, effective listening, decode & interpret, feedback (jargon & technical terms),
poor telecommunication connections
(ii)
– Encourage effective listening & respond by giving feedback, make notes of essential items, ask
for verification, use more one to one or group visual communication, back-up with written
information
21.Explain why it is important to use a variety of methods to communicate health & safety information in the
workplace (8)
Formal
– Safety committees, audits, inspections,Risk assessments, training,etc
Informal
– On the job training, toolbox talks
Written
– Minutes of meetings, newsletters, memos
Verbal
– Instructions, SSs of W, SOPs
Visual
– Posters, safety signs, hazard warnings on machinery, colour coding
23.Outline the various methods for communicating health & safety information to the workforce (8)
Formal & Informal
Verbal, visual, written, intranet
H&S committee meetings
Inspections, audits, etc
Interviews, toolbox talks
Risk assessments
Posters, safety signs, visual/audible warnings
Training
Minutes of safety meetings, bulletins, newsletters
24.Outline the sources of published information that may be consulted when dealing with a health & safety
problem at work
H&S Legislation, regulations, ACOPS, guidance
Free guidance leaflets – Government (HSE)
HSC/HSE annual reports & national statistics
H&S journals, published reports, etc
Libraries
HMSO
CBI / trade union
25.Outline the topics that may need to be included on the agenda of a safety committee meeting
(8)
Accident/incident statistics
Audit reports
New legislation
Training
Risk assessments
New work equipment
Safety management Action Plan
Any other specific issues, etc
26.Outline the reasons that may prevent a verbal instruction being clearly understood by an employee
(8)
Noise, other distractions, etc
Jargon, technical
Not conceived correctly
Not encoded correctly
Not decoded correctly
Not interpreted correctly
Lack of feedback/verification
Lack of competence
35.Outline how health & safety training needs can be identified (8)
Task or job analysis
Reference to risk assessments
Reference to accident/incident records
Speaking/interviewing/tool box talks
Training matrices
During monitoring (audits, inspections, sampling, tours, surveys etc)
Competence checks
Questionnaires
36.Outline the main health & safety issues to be included in an induction training programme for new
employees (8)
Emergency procedures for fire etc,
First aid provision
H&S policy statement, H&S law poster
Risk assessment
Accident/incident reporting
Traffic system, i.e one-way systems, blind corners etc
Who safety reps/safety department are
5 Element
1. Past Exam Question
Outline the factors that should be considered when carrying out a risk assessment
(8)
1. Past Exam “Answer”
The types & range of hazards
The types(people more at risk, (e.g. pregnant, disabled, young, old, lone workers,etc) & numbers of
people exposed to those hazards
The likelihood & severity & existing control measures
Methods of recording & communicating
Methods & occasions for reviewing
Remember:
– Suitable & sufficient, remain valid for a reasonable time, appropriate to nature of work, prioritises
Any space, including any chamber, tank, vat, silo, pit, trench, pipe , sewer, flue, well or other similar
place in which, by virtue of its enclosed nature, there arises a reasonably foreseeable specified risk
7
ELEMENT 07
MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE
1. Past Exam Question
Outline the precautions to be used when using a mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) to reach a
high point such as a streetlight (8)
1. Past Exam “Answer”
Firm & level ground
Cones & warning signs, barriers, lane closure, etc
PPE – safety harness etc
ISIT – competent persons
Not over-reaching
Isolate power
Brakes, chocks etc
(6)
11. Past Exam “Answer”
a)Temperature at which vapours given off will ignite when subjected to an external ignition source &
will extinguish when the ignition source is removed
b)Keep quantities to a minimum, stored in suitable closed vessels in a metal cabinet (50 litres max
indoors), outdoors fireproof or separate storeroom with top & bottom ventilation & kept cool away from
ignition sources, correctly labelled, suitable fire extinguishing equipment
12. Past Exam Question
List EIGHT rules to follow that may reduce the risk of fire starting in a workplace (8)
12. Past Exam “Answer”
Good housekeeping
Correct storage of flammables
No-smoking or designated areas with sand bins
Keep ignition sources & flammable materials apart
Security (arson)
Maintenance of electrical equipment
keeping combustibles away from heaters
ISIT
13.Past Exam Question
Outline the issues that should be included in a training programme for employees on the emergency action to
take in the event of a fire (8)
13. Past Exam “Answer”
How to raise the alarm
Where the fire exits are
Where the call points & extinguishers are
Muster point
Don not run
How evacuation of the premises will be conducted
Practices
How to fight a fire with different extinguishers?
14. Past Exam Question
a)List FOUR sources of ignition that should be considered when storing & using flammable solvents(4)
b) Identify TWO extinguishing agents that can be used on fires that involve flammable solvents AND
explain their mode of action (6)
14. Past Exam “Answer”
a)Naked flames, smoking materials, cigarettes/matches
– Mechanical friction
– Electrical sparking/arcing
– Welding
b)Foam – smothers by creating a floating blanket, Dry powder – interferes with the chemical process
involved in burning
12
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
ELEMENT 12
CHEMICAL & BIOLOGICAL
1. Past Exam Question
a) Give TWO examples of a disease resulting from biological hazards at work
(2)
b) Outline the control measures that could be used to reduce the risk of infection from ONE of the
biological hazards given in a) (6)
1. Past Exam “Answer”
a)Zoonoses:
Anthrax
Leptospirosis
b)PPE, hygiene no eating/smoking/ISIT, pest control, immunisation, occ health
surveillance/monitoring, maintenance, air etc monitoring, cleaning/disinfection, water treatment
programme/temperature control, procedures – handling/disposal/containment
2. Past Exam Question
Inadequate lighting in the workplace may affect the level of stress amongst employees.
Outline EIGHT other factors associated with the physical environment that may increase stress at
work (8)
2. Past Exam “Answer”
Extremes / lack of environmental conditions
– Noise / vibration, temperature, ventilation, lighting, access & egress
– Lack of maintenance
– Poor housekeeping
– Inadequate welfare facilities
– Poor ergonomics
Layout, task, plant & equipment
3.Past Exam Question
Outline the factors to be considered when making an assessment of first-aid provision in a workplace
3. Past Exam “Answer”
Number of persons employed
– Appointed person up to 50 office workers
Nature of work
– High risk (engineering) low risk (offices)
– Peripatetic workers
– Transport
Size, layout & location of the workplace
4. Past Exam Question
In relation to occupational dermatitis
(i) Identify TWO common causation agents (2)
(ii) Describe the typical symptoms of the condition (6)
4. Past Exam “Answer”
a)Solvents, acids, alkali, oils, fuels, metal salts, cement, dusts
b)Inflammation / reddening of the skin
– Itching
– Open sores through dryness / de-fatting & breaking of the skin
– Non-contagious
4. Past Exam “Answer”
c)EH40
– HSE Guidance
– COSHH
– CHIP
– Hazard data sheet
(ii) Outline measures to minimise health risk both from the trimming & the gluing operation(8)
13
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
ELEMENT 13
PHYSICAL & PSYCHOLOGICAL
1. Past Exam Question
Outline the factors in the physical environment that may cause a person to feel stressed at work (8)
1. Past Exam “Answer”
Extremes of environmental conditions
– Heat, cold, noise, vibration, lighting, ventilation
– Lack of welfare facilities
Poor ergonomics
– Poor access & egress, poor design of machinery & equipment, poor housekeeping
Lone working on remote sites
– Lack of welfare facilities
– Isolation
2. Past Exam Question
Identify the factors to be considered to ensure the health & safety of persons who are required to
work on their own away from the workplace (8)
2. Past Exam “Answer”
Risk assessment & safe system of work,emergency procedures, first-aid
Plant & equipment, access & egress
Communication, automatic devices, phones, visits, etc
Psychological profile, medical conditions
Welfare facilities
Violence & aggression (women more at risk?), young persons
ISIT - (Information, Supervision, Instruction & Training)
3. Past Exam Question
a) Identify the main topic areas that should be included in a planned health & safety inspection of a
workplace (8)
b) With reference to the Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) regulations 1992, outline the
requirements of FOUR types of welfare facility that an employer must provide for his employees
(8)
c) Describe the possible enforcement actions that might be taken against an employer for failing to
provide adequate welfare facilities (4)
3. Past Exam “Answer”
a)Access & egress/workplace layout / housekeeping, welfare, workstations / seating, environmental
conditions, equipment
b)Washing facilities, accommodation for clothing, sanitary conveniences, drinking water, Facilities to
eat meals & rest
c)Improvement & prohibition
4. Past Exam Question
Outline the possible effects on health & safety of poor housekeeping in the workplace (8)
4. Past Exam “Answer”
Safety
– Fires from build-up of combustible materials
– Blockage of fire exits & escape routes
– Blockage of fire lanes for fire fighting services
– Slips, trips & falls
Health
– Biological - pest infestation
– Dusts & odours
– Toxins
– Stress
– This means that the equipment being used is set to be sensitive at the range of frequencies picked up
by the human ear, therefore mimicking it. It does this by means of a filter system which is “A” weighted
14
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
ELEMENT 14
CONSTRUCTION
1. Past Exam Question
Outline FOUR duties under the Construction of EACH of the following persons
(i) The project co-ordinator
(4)
(ii) The principle contractor
(4)
1. Past Exam “Answer”
a)Notify HSE if it is a notifiable project
– Coordinating the H&S aspects of the design & planning stage in the early stages of the H&S plan &
file
– Ensuring that designers cooperate with each other
– Be in a position to give advice
– Ensuring designer cooperate with each other
– Ensuring that a H&S plan has been prepared
– Ensuring the H&S file has been prepared, reviewed & delivered to the client on completion of the
construction work
– Etc
15
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
ELEMENT 15
INVESTIGATING ETC - ACCIDENTS
1. Past Exam Question
An employee has been seriously injured in an accident at work
a) Outline the immediate actions to be taken following the accident (6)
b) Outline the reasons why the accident should be investigated 6)
c) Identify FOUR parties, other than the employer who may want to
investigate the accident giving reasons in EACH case
(8)
1. Past Exam “Answer”
a)Treat person if safe to do so, ring for an ambulance & send to hospital, inform dependants
– Make area safe & cordon off ensuring scene is not disturbed
– Notify Enforcement Authority
– Speak to any eye witnesses
1. Past Exam “Answer”
b)To contain in report to Ministry of Labour / Municipality under the reporting of incidents, diseases
and Dangerous Occurrences local requirements (Order) etc
– Employers liability insurance (‘all cover’ claims insurance
– To defend civil claims for compensation
– To find immediate & underlying causes of accident to prevent a reoccurrence