Examiners Report

NEBOSH INTERNATIONAL GENERAL CERTIFICATE IN OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

UNIT IGC2: CONTROL OF INTERNATIONAL WORKPLACE HAZARDS

SEPTEMBER 2012

CONTENTS

Introduction 2

General comments 3

Comments on individual questions 4

2012 NEBOSH, Dominus Way, Meridian Business Park, Leicester LE19 1QWtel: 0116 263 4700 fax: 0116 282 4000 email: info@nebosh.org.uk website: www.nebosh.org.uk

The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health is a registered charity, number 1010444

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Introduction

NEBOSH (The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health) was formed in 1979 as an independent examining board and awarding body with charitable status. We offer a comprehensive range of globally-recognised, vocationally-related qualifications designed to meet the health, safety, environmental and risk management needs of all places of work in both the private and public sectors.Courses leading to NEBOSH qualifications attract around 35,000 candidates annually and are offered by over 500 course providers, with examinations taken in over 100 countries around the world. Our qualifications are recognised by the relevant professional membership bodies including the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) and the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM).

NEBOSH is an awarding body to be recognised and regulated by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).

Where appropriate, NEBOSH follows the latest version of the GCSE, GCE, Principal Learning and Project Code of Practice published by the regulatory authorities in relation to examination setting and marking. While not obliged to adhere to this code, NEBOSH regards it as best practice to do so.

Candidates scripts are marked by a team of Examiners appointed by NEBOSH on the basis of their qualifications and experience. The standard of the qualification is determined by NEBOSH, which is overseen by the NEBOSH Council comprising nominees from, amongst others, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). Representatives of course providers, from both the public and private sectors, are elected to the NEBOSH Council.

This report on the examination provides information on the performance of candidates which it is hoped will be useful to candidates and tutors in preparation for future examinations. It is intended to be constructive and informative and to promote better understanding of the syllabus content and the application of assessment criteria.

NEBOSH 2012

Any enquiries about this report publication should be addressed to:

NEBOSHDominus WayMeridian Business ParkLeicesterLE19 1QW

tel: 0116 263 4700fax: 0116 282 4000email: info@nebosh.org.uk

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General comments

Many candidates are well prepared for this unit assessment and provide comprehensive and relevant answers in response to the demands of the question paper. This includes the ability to demonstrate understanding of knowledge by applying it to workplace situations.

There are always some candidates, however, who appear to be unprepared for the unit assessment and who show both a lack of knowledge of the syllabus content and a lack of understanding of how key concepts should be applied to workplace situations.

In order to meet the pass standard for this assessment, acquisition of knowledge and understanding across the syllabus are prerequisites. However, candidates need to demonstrate their knowledge andunderstanding in answering the questions set. Referral of candidates in this unit is invariably because they are unable to write a full, well-informed answer to one or more of the questions asked.

Some candidates find it difficult to relate their learning to the questions and as a result offer responses reliant on recalled knowledge and conjecture and fail to demonstrate a sufficient degree of understanding. Candidates should prepare themselves for this vocational examination by ensuring their understanding, not rote-learning pre-prepared answers.

Candidates should therefore note that Examiners Reports are not written to provide sample answers but to give examples of what Examiners were expecting and more specifically to highlight areas of under-performance.

Common pitfalls

It is recognised that many candidates are well prepared for their assessments. However, recurrent issues, as outlined below, continue to prevent some candidates reaching their full potential in the assessment.

Many candidates fail to apply the basic principles of examination technique and for some candidates this means the difference between a pass and a referral.

In some instances, candidates do not attempt all the required questions or are failing to provide complete answers. Candidates are advised to always attempt an answer to a compulsory question, even when the mind goes blank. Applying basic health and safety management principles can generate credit worthy points.

Some candidates fail to answer the question set and instead provide information that may be relevant to the topic but is irrelevant to the question and cannot therefore be awarded marks.

Many candidates fail to apply the command words (also known as action verbs, eg describe, outline, etc). Command words are the instructions that guide the candidate on the depth of answer required. If, for instance, a question asks the candidate to describe something, then few marks will be awarded to an answer that is an outline. Similarly the command word identify requires more information than a list.

Some candidates fail to separate their answers into the different sub-sections of the questions. These candidates could gain marks for the different sections if they clearly indicated which part of the question they were answering (by using the numbering from the question in their answer, for example). Structuring their answers to address the different parts of the question can also help in logically drawing out the points to be made in response.

Candidates need to plan their time effectively. Some candidates fail to make good use of their time and give excessive detail in some answers leaving insufficient time to address all of the questions.

Candidates should also be aware that Examiners cannot award marks if handwriting is illegible.

Candidates should note that it is not necessary to start a new page in their answer booklet for each section of a question.

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Question 1 Workers are required to push and pull trolleys in order to move items around a warehouse.

Outline factors that could increase the risk of injury to workers from:

(a) the task of pushing and pulling; (7)

(b) the trolley and its load; (7)

(c) the working environment of the warehouse. (6)

This question required candidates to recognise that pushing and pulling are manual handling activities that may give rise to the risk of injury. In a manual handling risk assessment, it is usual to split the activity into the components of the task, the individual, the load and the environment. To gain marks candidates had to outline risk factors within the relevant category.

Whilst many candidates seemed aware of a range of factors, they had problems with allocating them to the correct category of task, load or environment. Factors relating to the individual, such as their stature or strength, were frequently mentioned although this was not required for any of the sections.

In part (a), factors relevant to the task would include the force required along with consideration of the frequency with which it was carried out and the distance to be covered. Since this was the first part of the question to be answered, it was the one into which most candidates placed all of the factors of which they were aware, whether or not they were relevant.

In part (b), the load was the trolley plus the items that had been placed on it. Some candidates used valuable time in referring to the loading or unloading of the trolley, which was not relevant to the scenario. Relevant answers included factors such as the distance travelled and frequency.

In part (c), the aspects of the environment that were relevant would be those relating to the workplace layout and the characteristics of the walkways. Some candidates mentioned factors relating to the weather although the scenario of the question was a warehouse.

Question 2 (a) Describe the following types of machinery guarding:

(i) fixed guard; (2)

(ii) interlocked guard. (2)

(b) Identify TWO advantages AND TWO disadvantages of a fixed machine guard. (4)

In part (a), many answers demonstrated that candidates were aware that a fixed guard is not connected to the controls of a machine whereas an interlocked guard is so connected and therefore causes a machine to stop if it is opened. Some candidates,

Unit IGC2Control of international workplace hazards

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however, confused the two types of guards while others introduced different types, such as trip devices and light curtains that were not required by the question.

In part (b), many candidates seemed to have misread the question and gave the advantages of one type of guard and the disadvantages of the other. One of the advantages of a fixed guard is that it cannot be removed without a special tool, but some candidates mistakenly identified this requirement as a disadvantage.

Question 3 Outline the role of a workplace fire marshal. (8)

A fire marshal assists to ensure that an evacuation procedure is carried out and the elements within the role would relate to this.

Answers to this question showed some confusion with other fire roles in the workplace, such as fire manager, risk assessor or someone with an auxiliary fire-fighter role. Better answers outlined the appropriate elements, whereas some candidates concentrated on tasks related to fire that would normally be carried out by persons other than the marshal.

Question 4 Outline control measures that could be used when working with electrical equipment in a workplace. (8)

This question required an outline of the control measures. However, some candidates tended to identify the control measures without giving sufficient detail to constitute an outline answer. Candidates are reminded to take note of the command words used in each of the questions as these words give specific guidance as to the level of detail required to demonstrate understanding. Candidates who identified the control measures instead of providing an outline could not be awarded full marks.

It was of some concern that some candidates seemed to place much of their reliance on personal protective equipment as a control when other factors, such as fuses, low voltage and inspection to ascertain the condition of wiring and equipment, should have been given consideration.

Question 5 (a) Identify possible adverse health effects of working in a cold environment. (4)

(b) Outline control measures that could reduce the risk of adverse health effects when working in cold conditions. (4)

Part (a) of this question was misinterpreted by some candidates who focused on givingthe signs and symptoms of hypothermia. Other candidates correctly identified the effects of working in a cold environment, such as frostbite, freeze burns and stress.

Answers to part (b) were often too general to constitute an adequate outline of control measures. Candidates often mentioned measures such as taking breaks but failed to specify that these needed to be taken in a warm place. Some candidates referred topersonal protective equipment but did not give details of the items that would help to ensure warmth.

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Question 6 Outline control measures an organisation could consider to reduce the risk of violence towards workers. (8)

Control measures to reduce the risk of violence would include such things as security measures, controls on the use of drugs and alcohol and procedures for lone working. Frequently answers to this question concentrated on narrow issues such as those arising from stress or the possibility of workers reacting violently towards managers if the working conditions and welfare provision were not satisfactory.

Question 7 (a) Identify FOUR forms of hazardous substance. (4)

(b) Outline factors that could reduce the effectiveness of respiratory protective equipment. (4)

Forms of hazardous substance refer to categories such as dust, vapour and mist andnot whether a substance is a solid, liquid or gas. Some candidates failed to gain marks because they gave examples of substances that were hazardous, rather than identifying the forms that those substances could take.

In part (b), candidates frequently identified factors such as the fit of the equipment andthe possibility of incompatibility with other personal protective equipment, but they did not always include sufficient detail to gain the marks required for an outline answer.Candidates could have referred to the filters, the correct wearing of the equipment and the work rate when considering other factors that could reduce the effectiveness of respiratory protective equipment.

Question 8 (a) Identify factors that may contribute to the risk of an excavation collapsing. (6)

(b) Identify when an excavation will need to be inspected. (2)

In part (a), it was expected that candidates would identify factors such as the depth of the excavation, characteristics of the ground in which it had been made or objects near to the edge. Although many candidates concentrated on these factors, others introduced items that were irrelevant, such as overhead power lines.

In part (b), some candidates gave reasons as to why rather than when an excavation should be inspected or identified who should do the inspection.

Question 9 Identify EIGHT rules to be followed to minimise the risk of forklift trucks overturning. (8)

Whilst many candidates could produce a comprehensive answer to this question, other candidates concentrated on factors that would cause the forklift truck to overturn.Some candidates identified factors that were more appropriate to safe parking. Appropriate rules would be to corner slowly, to avoid overloading and not to travel with the load raised.

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Question 10 Identify non-mechanical hazards which are associated with the use of machinery. (8)

The key phrase in this question was non-mechanical and there were a number of candidates who spent their time identifying mechanical hazards, such as cutting, entanglement and crushing. Identifying non-mechanical hazards did not prove too difficult for most candidates, however, who noted a range of hazards such as dusts, lasers and electricity. Some candidates failed to gain marks because they identified the risks or health effects that could arise, rather than concentrating on the hazard,

Question 11 Identify health effects associated with hepatitis B infection. (8)

Health effects of hepatitis B infection include flu-like symptoms and reduced liver function. Marks could be gained both by identifying these effects and by giving further details, for example flu-like symptoms would include general aches and pains, headaches and a temperature of 38C or more.

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The National ExaminationBoard in OccupationalSafety and Health

Dominus WayMeridian Business ParkLeicester LE19 1QW

telephone +44 (0)116 2634700fax +44 (0)116 2824000email info@nebosh.org.ukwww.nebosh.org.uk