Health and safety For NEBOSH

1. Define the term ‘Health and Safety Culture’.

a) The shared attitudes, values, beliefs and behaviours relating to health and safety. These will either be positive or negative.

An organisation’s health and safety culture will either be positive or negative. In that it will either encourage and promote positive health and safety views, opinions and behaviours, or it will encourage and promote negative ones.

2. What are the factors that have a negative impact on health and safety culture in an organisation?

OR

What are the factors that might cause the safety culture within an organisation to decline/deteriorate?

a) The factors that promote negative culture in the organisation are:

· Lack of strong safety leadership from management.

· Presence of a blame culture.

· Lack of management commitment to safety (e.g. saying one thing and doing another).

· Health and safety receiving lower priority than other business issues.

· Organisational changes (frequent or poorly communicated change resulting in uncertainty).

· High staff turnover rates (i.e. workers do not stay long enough to be influenced).

· Lack of resources (e.g. too few workers due to downsizing, and lack of correct equipment).

· Lack of worker consultation.

· Interpersonal issues (e.g. unregulated peer group pressure, bullying or harassment).

· Poor management systems and procedures.

· External influences (e.g. economic climate resulting in difficult operating conditions).

3. What are the Indicators of health and safety culture?

a) The indicators of health and safety culture are:

· Accident records.

· Sickness rates.

· Absenteeism.

· Staff turnover.

· Compliance with safety rules.

· Worker complaints.

· Staff morale.

4. What are the ways in which the following can be achieved to help promote a positive health and safety culture in a workplace?

a) The ways in which health and safety culture can be improved are:

· Demonstrating safe behaviour

· Involvement in the day-to-day management of health and safety by attending safety meetings

· Taking part in safety tours and audits

· Enforcing the safety rules of the company

· By hiring competent staff.

· Clear and active senior management commitment to health and safety

· The needs of production and health and safety perfectly balanced with pressure for production controlled against that for health and safety

· Sufficient resources devoted to health and safety

· Maximum partnership between management and the workforce based on a participative relationship between staff at all levels

· Humanistic and non-authoritarian style of management

· High senior and line management visibility on the site.

· Frequent and informal communication between all levels

· Quality training given to management and the workforce

· Frequent and high-quality training for general safety and safe skills

· High levels of job satisfaction

· Ergonomic plant design and layouts

· Workforce selected for their safety attitudes and behaviours.

5. What are advantages and limitations of verbal written and graphical communication?

a) Verbal Communication:

Written Communication

Graphical Communication

6. Explain why it is important to use a variety of methods to communicate health and safety information in the workplace?

a) The reasons are:

· Consideration of the sort of information that needs to be communicated in the workplace and the different methods of presenting such information should be addressed.

· People respond differently to different stimuli, and that variety prevents over familiarisation with one method and helps to reinforce a message.

· The need to overcome language barriers and the inability of some workers to read.

· The need to motivate, stimulate interest and gain involvement and feedback.

· The acceptance that different types of information require different methods of communication for example emergency signs.

· That the policy of the organisation may require certain information to be in a specified format; and

· That on occasions evidence that the message was given may need to be kept.

7. What are the advantages of co-operation and consultation?

a) The main benefits of worker participation in safety and health include:

· Lower accident and sickness rates

· Reduced costs and reduced risks

· Help find practical solutions, and comply with the end result

· They can advise, suggest, and request improvements – helping to develop measures to prevent occupational accidents and ill-health

· Improved standing among suppliers and partners

· A better reputation for corporate social responsibility among investors, customers and communities

· Increased productivity – employees are healthier, happier and better motivated

8. What is the role of health and safety committee?

a) The roles of health and safety committee:

· Review injury data, accident reports, and workers’ compensation records.

· Conduct regular walkaround inspections to identify potential health and safety hazards.

· Conduct safety and health job analyses to identify problems.

· Design and conduct health and safety surveys.

· Collect and review Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs).

· Plan and organize training programs.

· Establish or improve procedures for employees to report health symptoms without fear of reprisal.

· Review and evaluate corrective actions taken by management.

· Temporarily “shut down” unsafe operations until a hazard is corrected.

· Collect and review information on new chemicals, procedures, and processes before they are introduced.

· Respond to concerns raised by workers, supervisors and managers.

· Recommend training for new employees, supervisors, and managers and refresher training on health and safety practices, procedures and emergency response.

· Keep workers, supervisors, and managers informed about the committee’s activities.

9. Define Training and when a training is needed?

a) Is the planned, formal process of acquiring and practising knowledge and skills in a relatively safe environment. Training helps the workers to understand Hazards and risks. Rules and precautions, Emergency procedures, restrictions.

Training should be provided when:

New employees join the company – Induction Training, when there is a change in the job, change in the process, new technology is introduced, new legislation.

10. What are the topics that are covered in the induction training?

OR

What are the contents of the induction training?

a) Typical contents to include in the induction training:

· The health and safety policy of the organization including a summary of the organization and arrangements including employee consultation a brief summary of the health and safety management system including the name of the employee's direct supervisor, safety representative and source of health and safety information.

· The employee responsibility for health and safety including any general health and safety rules (e.g. smoking prohibitions).

· The accident reporting procedure of the organization, the location of the accident book and the location of the nearest first aider.

· The fire and other emergency procedures including the location of the assembly point

· The hazards that is specific to the workplace.

· A summary of any relevant risk assessments and safe systems of work.

· The location of welfare, canteen facilities and rest rooms.

· Procedures for reporting defects or possible hazards and the name of the responsible person to whom the report should be made.

· Details of the possible disciplinary measures that may be enacted for non‐compliance with health and safety rules and procedures.

11. What are the human factors that influences the safety related behaviour?

OR

What are the factors that influences a worker’s safety related behaviour?

a) There are three main factors that influence a worker’s safety related behaviour, they are:

Organisational Factors: These are the characteristics of the organisation that influence the behaviour: Safety Culture of the organisation, policies and procedures, commitment and leadership from management, levels of supervision, peer group pressures, consultation and worker involvement, communication, resources, Training and work patterns.

The Job Factors: There are various characteristics of a worker’s job that influence their behaviour, and may involve – Task, Workload, Environment, Displays, Ergonomics and Controls & Procedures.

Individual Factors: Characteristics of the individual- Attitude, competence, motivation and perception of risk, there are three personality characters that influence their safety behaviour.

12. What are the individual factors that influences the safety related behaviour?

a) Attitude: It is a person’s point of view or way of looking at something; how they feel and think about – Can be improved through Education and training, High impact interventions (Picture of injuries caused by the failure to use the guard may change the attitude quickly), Enforcement – Workers forced to use guards by supervision and discipline so that it becomes a habit, Consultation and involvement in the decision-making process – Workers consulted and involved will feel more ownership of the process and are more likely to develop a positive attitude.

Motivation: A persons drive towards a goal, the thing that is making them to do what they do.

Factors that might distort a person’s perception: Illness, Stress, Fatigue, Drugs and alcohol, training and education.

13. (a) Give the meaning of the term ‘perception’.

(b) Explain the ways in which workers’ perceptions of hazards in the workplace might be improved.

a) (a) Perception can be defined as the way that a person interprets information detected by their senses.

(b) Perception can be improved by: -

· Carrying out safety awareness campaign using posters, TBT’s.

· Developing Training programs to increase awareness of the hazards and its consequence.

· Highlighting hazards: using sign boards

· Ensuring that there is adequate lighting

· Removing distractions such as noise (which could result in a worker not hearing warning)

· Factors that might distort a person’s perception: Illness, Stress, Fatigue, Drugs and alcohol, training and education.

14. What are the factors that distort a person’s perception of hazards and risks in the workplace?

a) Various factors that can distort a person’s perception of hazard and risk, such as:

· They are suffering from an illness (e.g. ‘flu) and so they are not processing information very well.

· They are under stress and so other issues may be dominating their thinking.

· They may be fatigued and so not alert or capable of responding quickly to circumstances.

· They may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

· They have past personal experiences that is skewing their thinking.

· They may not have received good quality training and education on the hazards and risk of the job.

· They may be required to wear PPE that is interfering with their ability to detect the hazards creating the risk.

· Workplace conditions, such as high levels of noise, may be interfering with their ability to correctly identify the hazard that creates the risk.

15. Explain the ways in which managers can motivate employees to work safely.

a) Managers can motivate people in health and safety by a number of means, including:

· A clear and evident commitment from the most senior manager downwards, which provides a climate for safety in which management’s objectives and the need for appropriate standards are communicated and in which constructive exchange of information at all levels is positively encouraged.

· Effective monitoring systems to check the implementation of the procedures and standards.

· Incident investigation and the effective use of information drawn from such investigations.

· Adequate and effective supervision with the power to remedy deficiencies when found.

· Effective health and safety management system.

· Encouraging a positive health and safety culture.

· Ensuring adequate and competency of supervision.

· Insisting on effective incident reporting and analysis.

· Willing to learn from experience.

· Clearly visible health and safety leadership.

· A suitable team structures.

· Efficient communication systems and practices.

· Providing adequate staffing levels.

· Ensuring suitable work patterns are implemented.

· Recognition of safe behaviours and rewarding them.

16. What checks could be made to assess whether a person is competent.

a) Checks on the possession of competence by an individual may include:

· Their qualifications and the possession of a specific licence such as for driving a heavy goods vehicle.

· Employment history and experience.

· Membership of a professional body.

· Previous training.

· Success in any relevant examination and/or test and

· Any references and recommendations that might be available.

17. Explain, using an example EACH case, the meaning of the following terms:

‘Hazard’

‘Risk’

a) A hazard is the potential of a substance, activity or process to cause harm.

Hazards take many forms including, for example, chemicals, electricity and working from a ladder. A hazard can be ranked relative to other hazards or to a possible level of danger.

Risk can be defined as the probability/likelihood of an occurrence and its possible consequences and severity in terms of injury, damage or harm.

18. Define risk assessment and explain what is a suitable and sufficient risk assessment?

a) Risk assessment is the formalised process of identifying hazards (associated with work activities and locations), evaluating risk and then either eliminating or controlling that risk to an acceptable level.

A suitable and sufficient risk assessment should:

· Identify the significant risks arising out of work, i.e. those that are most likely to occur and result in harm being caused, with any remaining risks being at an acceptable low level.

· Identify all those persons who could be at risk, including workers and others such as visitors. Vulnerable people, such as young persons, should also be identified.

· Evaluate the effectiveness of any current controls.

· Enable the employer to identify and prioritise the measures that must be taken to protect people from harm, including complying with any relevant legal provisions.

· Be appropriate to the nature of the work and remain valid for a reasonable period of time. In other words, the assessment should be proportionate to the risks in the workplace.

19. What are the key stages of the risk assessment process, identifying the issues that would need to be considered at EACH stage?

a) The key stages of risk assessment are:

· Identifying the hazards (many state risk here) associated with the activities and tasks performed at the workplace.

· Identifying who might be harmed including operators, maintenance staff, cleaners and visitors and groups especially at risk including young workers and the disabled.

· Evaluating the likelihood and probable severity of the harm that might be caused, assessing the adequacy of existing control measures and deciding whether additional controls should be introduced.

· Recording the significant findings of the assessment (Identification of the activity/area assessed and of the significant hazards, Identification of groups at risk and those especially at risk, Evaluation of the risks and the adequacy of existing control measures, Action plans for implementing further precautions needed, A typical risk assessment form, Date of assessment and name of the competent person carrying out the assessment, Review date).

· Carrying out a review at a later date and revising the findings when necessary.

20. Explain the methods that can be used to identify the hazards in the workplace.

1. The means of identifying hazards in the workplace may include:

· Carrying out workplace inspections

· Safety tours can be undertaken

· Carrying out observations of the workplace and work practices

· Safety audits

· Task or job analysis

· Risk assessments

· The analysis of accident, incident and ill-health data

· Reviewing accident and incident reports

· Referring to legislation, approved codes of practices and guidance notes

· Reviewing procedures in line with manufacturers recommendations e.g. a MSDS

· Consultation with the workforce

· Health surveillance.

21. (a) What work activities that may present a particular risk to pregnant women at work AND give an example of EACH type of activity?

(b) What actions that an employer may take when a risk to a new or expectant mother cannot be avoided?

a) (a) The following work activities may present particular hazards to a pregnant woman:

· Manual handling of loads such as in packing goods.

· Tasks involving long periods of standing or sitting as experienced by shop assistants.

· Work involving exposure to biological agents or chemical substances that might affect the unborn child or pregnant/nursing mother such as lead glazing.

· Work in hyperbaric atmospheres, for example underwater diving.

· Tasks involving exposure to ionising radiation which would affect radiographers.

· Tasks involving regular exposure to shocks and low frequency vibration or excessive movement such as driving.

· Unusually stressful work such as tasks involving exposure to heat or noise.

· Contact with the public where there might be a risk of violence or verbal abuse.

· Ergonomic issues such as in assembly work; and

· Work at height for example from a ladder.

(b) The actions that an employer may take when a risk to a new or expectant mother cannot be avoided include:

· Modifying the working conditions or hours of work of the workers,

· Offering them suitable alternative work or

· Suspending them from work for as long as necessary on full pay.

22. (a) Explain the reasons why young persons may be at a greater risk of accidents at work

(b) Explain the measures that could be taken to minimise risks to young employees.

a) (a) There are several reasons why a young person might be more vulnerable to risk in a workplace:

· Lack of experience in workplaces in general.

· Physical and, perhaps, mental immaturity.

· Poor perception of risk.

· Heavily influenced by peer group pressure.

· Eager to show a willingness to work.

· Less developed communication skills.

(b) The measures that could be taken to minimise risks to young employees are:

· Carry out risk assessments specifically with young persons in mind.

· Prohibit a young person from carrying out certain high-risk activities (e.g. operating complicated machinery).

· Restrict their work patterns and hours (no nightshift work or overtime).

· Train and supervise them more than other workers.

· Provide mentors to monitor and supervise young person’s more closely than other workers and to provide clear lines of communication.

· Provide specific health surveillance.

23. What conditions might trigger a risk assessment review?

a) A number of situations can trigger a review of a risk assessment:

· Significant change to something that the risk assessment relates to:

Process.

Substances.

Equipment.

Workplace environment.

Personnel.

Legal standards.

· There is reason to suspect that the assessment is not valid:

Accident.

Near miss.

Ill health.

It is also good practice to review risk assessments on a regular basis. This is often done by determining a frequency of review based on the level of risk associated with the activity in question. An annual review of risk assessments is common practice in many workplaces.

24. What are the sources of information for Hazard Identification?

a) There are many sources of health and safety information which can help organisations to meet their health and safety obligations. Some of these are internal to the organisation and while others may be external.

25. What is Task Analysis?

a) It involves breaking down the job into competent steps and identifying the hazards each step so that the safe working method can be established to deal with each hazard.

Task Hazard Analysis has been known as various names such as Job Safety Analysis (JSA), Job Safety and Environment Analysis (JSEA) and Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) etc, all of which have a similar goal to identify and treat hazards prior to work starting.

Acronym of task analysis: - S R E D I M

Select the task

Record the steps of the task

Evaluate the risks associated with each step

Develop the safe working method

Implement the safe working method Monitor to ensure it is effective.

a) The procedures that could be used to ensure the safety of visitors to an organisations premise are:

· The proper identification of visitors

· Visitors being stopped and met at the ‘gate’ prior to entering site – this will enable the issuing of safety related messages / instructions, etc.

· Getting visitors to sign in, issue badges that identify them as visitors etc. These badges may contain a version of site rules that have to be complied with.

· Providing information regarding the risks present and site rules and procedures, especially in emergency situations – tie this in to the point mentioned above.

· Provide visitor supervision i.e. escorts, to ensure that they are not unduly exposed to risks.

· Ensure that restricted access areas are suitably identified, and visitors are made aware of them.

27. Why visitors to a workplace should be informed of emergency procedures that may be actions during their visit?

a) There is a need for visitors to be aware of the emergency procedures that may be enacted during their visit to the premises for a range of reasons, including:

· There is a moral responsibility on the occupier/host to do so.

· There is a legal duty of care owed to visitors.

· So that they will know the appropriate procedure to adopt to lessen the risk to themselves, and

· To prevent them being a hindrance to those dealing with the emergency situation.

28. Why visitors to a workplace might be at greater risk of injury than workers?

a) There are a number of reasons why visitors to a workplace might be at greater risk of injury than workers. These include:

· Their unfamiliarity with the processes carried out at the workplace, the hazards they present and their associated risks

· The fact that they may not have been issued with personal protective equipment.

· Their lack of knowledge of the site layout.

· The fact that pedestrian routes might be inadequate and unsigned.

· Their unfamiliarity with the emergency procedures.

· Their vulnerability particularly if they were disabled, very young or had language problems.

29. What are precautions that could be taken to reduce the risk of injury to visitors to a workplace?

a) Measures such as the following may reduce the possibility of injury to visitors:

· Visitor identification, for example, by the issue of badges with a routine for signing in and out;

· Prior notification to those members of staff to be involved in the visit.

· The provision of information to the visitors in suitable languages on hazards and emergency procedures.

· An explanation of specific site rules, for example, restricted areas and the wearing of personal protective equipment.

· The clear marking of pedestrian routes and

· The need for visitors to be escorted by a member of management or supervisory staff.

30. With respect to the management of risk within the workplace:

(a) Explain the meaning of the term 'hierarchy of control'

(b) Explain with examples, the standard hierarchy that should be applied with respect to controlling health and safety risks in the workplace.

a) (a) ‘hierarchy of control’ are the measures designed to control risk that normally begin with an extreme measure of control and end with personal protective equipment as a last resort.

(b) The steps of hierarchy of risk control are:

Elimination: Elimination is the most effective of the five members of the hierarchy of hazard controls in protecting workers, and where possible should be implemented before all other control methods. e.g: Removing the use of a hazardous chemical.

Substitution: Hazard substitution is a hazard control strategy in which a material or process is replaced with another that is less hazardous. e.g: replace a toxic chemical with a less toxic one.

Engineering Controls: This method of control involves designing and/or adding physical safety features to plant or equipment. E.g. use of guards to prevent contact with dangerous moving parts.

Administrative Controls: Establishing policies, procedures and work practices designed to reduce a worker’s exposure to a risk. It can also include the provision of specific training and supervision. E.g. Providing training and information in safe work practices and other workplace health issues so that personnel can work safely.

Personal Protective Equipment: The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is a way of controlling hazards by placing protective equipment directly on workers' bodies. Examples of personal protective equipment include respirators, gloves, protective clothing, hard hats, goggles, and ear plugs.

31. Due to its limitations personal protective equipment (PPE) should only be considered after other control measures.

Explain the limitations of using PPE.

a) There are many reasons why PPE should be considered only after other possibilities have been exhausted, these include:

It is often a legal requirement that other means of control are considered first particularly since PPE does not remove the hazard.

PPE may not provide adequate protection because of such factors as:

· Poor selection,

· Poor fit because of facial features such as beards,

· Incompatibility with other types of ppe,

· Contamination, and

· Misuse or non-use by workers.

PPE is likely to be uncomfortable and relies for its effectiveness on a conscious action by the

user which raises issues such as training and supervision.

Its use can actually create additional risks, for instance, impaired vision and warning sounds

masked by hearing protection and wearing a PPE does not remove the hazard.

32. Define:

Residual Risk

Acceptable Risk

Tolerable Risk

Unacceptable Risk

a) Residual Risk: the risk that remains after the controls have been implemented

Acceptable Risk: If the residual risk is low then it can be considered as acceptable – the existing controls are adequate and nothing more need to be done.

If the residual risk is high, the decision has to be made that whether this residual risk is tolerable or unacceptable

Tolerable Risk: implies that it is not acceptable, but it can be tolerated for a short time while interim controls are in place

Unacceptable Risk: implies that the risk level is too high for work to be allowed.

33. What are five management controls that should be considered for the control of risks created by temporary works?

a) Five management controls that should be considered for the control of risks created by temporary works are:

Communication and Co-operation: Effective communication and co-operation between the various parties undertaking the work and all those affected by the work is essential. Information on the hazards and risks present in the existing workplace and created by the temporary works must be exchanged.

Risk Assessment: The temporary works or other change and its impact on the existing workplace must be fully risk assessed. This assessment must include consideration of the hazards associated with the work and those created by the impact of the work on the existing workplace. Proper consideration must be given to all of the people who might be affected by the hazards with special consideration given to vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, the disabled, etc.

Appointment of Competent People: All of the people involved in temporary works or change must be competent. This includes not only the workers involved in the work itself, but also those involved in the management of the work. ‘Competent’ means sufficient training, skills, experience and knowledge.

Segregation: The area where the temporary works or change is to take place must be effectively segregated from the existing workplace. This should be accomplished by use of physical barriers and signage.

Amendment of Emergency Procedures: Consideration must be given to the emergency procedures that may have to be established because of the nature of the temporary works. Consideration must also be given to existing emergency procedures that have to be modified as a consequence of the impact of the temporary work.

Alternative fire detection and alarm procedures that are put in place because of the temporary isolation of part of automatic fire detection and alarm system during hot work.

Alternative emergency escape routes that have to be designated because of the closure of an existing escape route. This may require the use of temporary signage and emergency lighting.

Welfare Provision: Adequate welfare provision should be provided to the workers who are engaged in the temporary works. This will include all the basic requirements that cover the welfare provision for a worker such as:

· Drinking water.

· Sanitary conveniences.

· Changing rooms.

· Washing facilities.

· Accommodation for clothing.

· Resting and eating facilities.

34. Define Safe Systems of Work and explain the factors that should be considered when developing a safe system of work.

a) A safe system of work is a procedure that results from a systematic examination of a working process that identifies hazards and specifies work methods designed either to eliminate the hazards or controls or minimise the relevant risks.

OR

A Safe System of Work (SSW) is a formal procedure based on a systematic examination of work in order to identify the hazards. It defines safe methods of working that eliminate those hazards, or minimise the risks associated with them.

When developing a safe system of work, you should consider the following.

People - are people 'competent' and suitably trained to conduct the specific work or task

expected of them?

Environment - will the environment in which the work is being carried out have sufficient

heating, ventilation, lighting etc. will the activity or process have an impact on the

environment?

Materials - What materials will be used or handled during the work? What are the hazards of the materials? How will waste be disposed of?

Equipment - is the machinery / equipment to the specification for the work and is it is good

condition, with guards where necessary.

Within the consideration risk assessments, inspection and accident reports should be

consulted to ensure the safe system of work addresses all hazards and risk which are likely to

arise. Also manufactures instruction and information and equipment, machinery and chemicals etc should also be consulted.

Factors to be considered when developing a SSW:

· What is the task being undertaken? Analysis can be provided through job safety analysis (the SREDIM method mentioned earlier).

· What equipment and materials are required for the task? These will present their own hazards, which need to be controlled.

· Who will be carrying out the work? How many people are working? What is their experience/knowledge level? Are there vulnerable persons?

· What are the hazards associated with the job?

· What controls are recommended by the manufacturer?

· What emergency provision is in place?

· Are the control measures adequate or are additional controls needed?

· How will the system of work be monitored?

35. (a) Why it is important to involve workers in the development of a safe system of work?

(b) Why it is important for safe systems of work to have written procedures?

a) (a) It is important to involve workers in the development of a safe system of work because of their knowledge of the particular working environment involved and what will work in practice.

Additionally, their involvement will establish their ownership of the system and will encourage them to use and follow it once it has been finalised and introduced.

Finally, their involvement will emphasise management’s commitment to health and safety and help to raise its profile within the organisation.

(b) It is important for safe systems of work to have written procedures

Ensure consistency.

Provide a basis for training.

Establish a standard (can be checked).

Provide a written record for incident investigations/regulatory inspections.

Can be in many forms:

Checklists.

Short notes.

Detailed manuals.

36. What is the difference between technical, procedural and behavioural controls?

a) Technical controls are those that are applied directly to the hazard itself in order to minimise the risk. This may involve fencing or barriers of different kinds to isolate workers from the hazard as far as possible, or security devices built into equipment to stop its operation if there is a fault.

b) Procedural controls define the way in which work should be carried out in relation to the hazard. They will specify the exact tasks involved, their sequence and the safety actions and checks that have to be taken. Often, procedures will relate to the correct operation of technical controls.

c) Behavioural controls define how the individual operator, or groups of workers, must act in relation to the hazard. They include general points of good practice in the workplace (e.g. good housekeeping, and specific measures such as the use of PPE).

Technical controls are preferable to procedural ones, which, in turn, are preferable to behavioural ones. This is because behavioural controls have a very heavy reliance on personal behaviour whereas technical controls do not require people to do the right thing in the right circumstances all of the time.

37. What are the practical means in which managers can involve their staff in the improvement of health and safety?

a) Practical means in which managers can involve their staff in the improvement of health and safety are:

· The ways in which a manager could involve workers in the improvement of workplace health and safety may include but not be limited to:

· Involving workers in risk assessments, accident investigations, the selection of equipment and the development of safe systems and procedures.

· Encouraging hazard spotting and the reporting of defects.

· Setting up suggestion schemes for improvements.

· Organising training courses and information programmes.

· Supporting active involvement in safety committee meetings.

· Being accompanied by workers or their representatives on safety tours and inspections; and

· Giving workers responsibilities for mentoring young and inexperienced workers.

38. (a) Define the term 'permit-to-work system'

(b) What are the THREE types of work situation that may require a permit-to-work system, giving reasons in EACH case for the requirement.

a) (a) A permit-to-work system is a formal written system used to control certain types of work that are potentially hazardous. A permit-to-work is a document which specifies the work to be done and the precautions to be taken. Permits-to-work form an essential part of safe systems of work for many maintenance activities.

(b) Some of the high-risk work that would require a permit are:

· Hot work such as welding, in certain situations – fire and explosions

· Confined space work - dangerous atmospheres, work conditions

· Working at height – fall from height

· Work at high voltage electrical systems (overhead power lines)

· Excavating near buried services

· Maintenance work on plant and machinery – exposure to dangerous parts, entrapment, entanglement, nip points, etc.

· Electrical work, especially high voltage – Contact with live electricity

39. (a) What are the functions of a permit-to-work form?

(b) What are the sections of permit to work?

a) (a) The functions of a permit to work system are to control high risk activities by ensuring set procedures are followed

To formally record control measures and

To give signed authority for the activity to be carried out.

(b) The general details to be included on a PTW reflect the operation of the permit system and can be summarised as:

Issue

Description of the work to be carried out (details of plant and location).

The date and time of issue and the duration over which the permit will be open (remain valid).

Assessment of hazards associated with the job.

Controls required, such as isolations, PPE and emergency procedures.

Signature of the authorised person issuing the permit.

Receipt

Signature of the competent persons accepting the permit (the workers).

Clearance

Signature of the competent persons stating that the area has been made safe (e.g. work completed) and that they are leaving the area and isolations can be removed.

Cancellation

Signature of the authorised person stating that the isolations have been removed, the area has been accepted back and that the equipment can be restarted.

40. What are the factors which may influence the effectiveness of a permit to work system?

a) A good permit system is only as good as the persons using it. To work effectively:

· Only authorised persons should issue permits.

· Permit issuers must be familiar with the hazards of the workplace and the job to be carried out.

· Precautions must be checked before permits are authorised.

· Permits must never be amended.

· The permit must be treated with respect.

· All permit conditions must be adhered to.

· Staff must be trained and competent.

· The system must be monitored to ensure it is effective.

· The PTW system must be appropriate for the nature of the business (e.g. a bakery may require a less complex system than an oil rig).

· Sufficient time must be allowed to ensure permits are issued correctly, and staff trained to understand this. Contractors, for example, may become stressed if the process is time-consuming, but must understand that they are required to adhere to the system.

41. The general details to be included on a PTW reflect the operation of the permit system?

a) The general details that should be included in a permit-to-work are:

· A description and assessment of the work to be performed including the plant involved, its location and the possible hazards associated with the task.

· This will determine the need for, and nature of, other relevant contents of the permit such as:

· The isolation of sources of energy and product inlets,

· Additional precautions required such as atmospheric monitoring,

· The provision and use of personal protective equipment,

· The emergency procedures to be followed and

· The duration of the permit.

· An essential element of a permit to work system is, of course, the operation of the permit itself. By means of signatures, the permit should be issued by an authorised person, and accepted by the competent person responsible for the work.

· On completion of the work, the competent person would need to indicate on the permit that the area had been made safe in order for the permit to be cancelled by the authorised person, after which isolations could be removed.

42. (a) What are the THREE types of emergency in the workplace that may require the evacuation of workers?

(b) Explain why it is important to develop emergency procedures in the workplace?

a) Part (a)

Three types of emergency in the workplace that could lead to the need to evacuate workers could be:

· Fire or explosion,

· The accidental release of toxic chemicals or gases,

· Transport incidents such as a multiple casualty accident,

· Bomb alerts or other terrorist activities,

· Weather related emergencies and

· Earthquakes.

Part (b)

The importance of developing procedures for the safe evacuation of workers in the event of an

emergency could include:

· The need to comply with legal requirements.

· To be prepared for foreseeable emergencies.

· To ensure the safety and protection of the workers including those dealing with the emergency

· To assist the safe evacuation of persons including those with specific needs such as visitors and the disabled.

· To provide information on the action to be taken, not only by workers but also by neighbours and others who might be affected by the emergencies such as in a shared or joint occupancy premises.

· To allocate specific responsibilities to certain workers in the event of an evacuation being necessary.

· To be able to mitigate the effects of adverse events and to restore the situation to normal; to ensure the procedures are made available to any relevant emergency services and

· To ensure business continuity.

43. What are the arrangements for the emergency procedures?

a) These procedures should cover the internal arrangements for dealing with the foreseeable incidents, which will include:

· The foreseeable emergencies.

· Procedures for raising the alarm.

· Procedures to follow.

· Provision of suitable equipment.

· Nomination of responsible staff.

· Provision of training and information.

· Drills and exercises.

· Contacting the emergency services.

44. (a) What are the TWO main functions of first-aid treatment?

(b) Explain the factors to consider when assessing first-aid provision in a workplace.

a) Part (a)

The main purpose of first aid is to control the life-endangering situation and prevent further injury.

Part (b)

· The nature of the work you do

· Workplace hazards and risks (including specific hazards requiring special arrangements)

· The nature and size of your workforce

· The work patterns of your staff

· Holiday and other absences of those who will be first-aiders and appointed persons

· Your organisation’s history of accidents

· You may also need to consider: the needs of travelling, remote and lone workers the distribution of your workforce, the remoteness of any of your sites from emergency medical services, whether your employees work on shared or multi-occupancy sites, first-aid provision for non-employees (e.g. members of the public).

45. Why people need training and procedures need to be tested?

a) Completing a comprehensive plan for handling emergencies is a major step toward preventing disasters. However, it is difficult to predict all of the problems that may happen unless the plan is tested. Exercises and drills may be conducted to practice all or critical portions (such as evacuation) of the plan. A thorough and immediate review after each exercise, drill, or after an actual emergency will point out areas that require improvement. Knowledge of individual responsibilities can be evaluated through paper tests or interviews.

It should be stressed that provision must be made for the training of both individuals and teams, if they are expected to perform adequately in an emergency. An annual full-scale exercise will help in maintaining a high level of proficiency.