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NEBOSH National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety and

NEBOSH International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety

Unit DNI Webinar

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Session Content

• Timescales and registration

• Assignment brief

• Report structure

• Marking

• Detailed content

• Referencing and FAQs

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Unit D / Unit DNI

• Last Unit D submission - November 2017

• Last Unit D re-submission - August 2018

• During November 2018 and onwards – students can only submit DNI

• First DNI submission - February 2017

• If started on the National Diploma during or after September 2016 then must submit DNI

• DNI is the only option if studying the National Diploma 2015 syllabus

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Submission

• Four submission dates each year in February, May, August and November (Actual dates published by NEBOSH annually)

• Candidates must register through their accredited course provider using the appropriate form and paying the appropriate fee

• Late submissions will not be accepted • Following registration candidates will receive a pre-submission

email confirming registration with instructions for electronic submission

• Assignments must be submitted electronically directly to NEBOSH• Accredited course provider’s name/number must not be shown

anywhere • Candidates NEBOSH student number to be included on each page • Candidates are strongly advised to keep a copy of their

assignment

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Assignment Brief (1 of 3)

• Carry out a detailed review of the arrangements for managing health and safety for a workplace or organisation

• Produce recommendations that are justified and proportionate to improve health and safety performance

• Pass mark = 50%

• Total goes towards final grade along with results for exams A/AI, B/BI and C/CI

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Assignment Brief (2 of 3)

• Apply knowledge and understanding gained from their studies of elements A/AI, B/BI and C/CI in a real working environment

• and to carry out critical analysis and evaluation of the information gathered during the review

• The level of work should be that expected of a competent health and safety practitioner working within an organisation (Ref A11 / IA9)

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Assignment Brief (3 of 3)

• Assignments must be the candidate’s own work

• Must be typed and submitted directly to NEBOSH following registration for that sitting

• Do not plagiarise

• Anti-plagiarism software will be used on all DNIs

• Ensure student number appears on each page of the assignment

• No reference to Course Provider anywhere

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• Focus and presentation (not a heading within the DNI but marks are awarded for format and style)

1) Executive Summary

2) Introduction: aim and objectives; methodology; description of the organisation; role of the H&S practitioner; professional ethics in context

3) Review of Health and Safety Management Arrangements: including a critical analysis of current system• Review should include: Leadership; Management;

Worker Involvement; Competence; Risk Profile

Report Structure (1 of 2)

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Report Structure (2 of 2)

4) Evaluation: identify the top three priorities where improvements should be made

5) Conclusions and Recommendations:

summarise the main issues identified; and

are justified and proportionate; and

based on the outcome of the review

6) References/Bibliography

7) Appendices

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Allocation of Marks (1 of 2)

• Focus and presentation (5)

• Executive Summary (10)

• Introduction (5)• aim and objectives / methodology / description of the

organisation

• Review and critical analysis of the arrangements for managing Health and Safety (40)• Leadership (5)

• Management (5)

• Worker involvement (5)

• Competence (5)

• Compliance (5)

• Risk profile (15)

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Allocation of Marks (2 of 2)

• Evaluation of Improvements Required (30)

• Improvement 1 (10)

• Improvement 2 (10)

• Improvement 3 (10)

• Conclusions and Recommendations (10)

• Total = 100

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Level Descriptors (1 of 4)

• For each of the sections within the report structure there are three potential level descriptors which are used by examiners to award potential marks

• Level 1 = highest marks

• Level 2 = mid range marks

• Level 3 = lowest marks

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Level Descriptors (2 of 4)

• E.g. Focus and presentation: Max 5

• Level 1 = potential marks 4-5

• The assignment has a clear and ethically acceptable focus that satisfies the assignment brief

• The assignment follows a logical structure and an appropriate range of presentational devices e.g. tables, figures and appendices

• References are cited correctly using a recognised system (Harvard or Vancouver)

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Proportionality

• Word count approximately 8000 words excluding list of contents, bibliography and appendices

• Assume actual word count is 10 000

• Under 12000 to avoid losing clarity

• Introduction is worth 5% whereas

• Review and critical analysis of H&S arrangements = 40% = largest section

• Evaluation of improvements = 30% = second largest section

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Level Descriptors (3 of 4)

• E.g. Focus and presentation: Max 5

• Level 2 (potential marks 2-3)

• The assignment is generally clear and ethically focused but does not satisfy all aspects of the brief and guidance

• The assignment is generally logical and precise and the language and presentational devices e.g. tables, figures and appendices are mostly clear but there is a lack of structure in some areas

• References are generally cited correctly

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Level Descriptors (4 of 4)

• E.g. Focus and presentation: Max 5

• Level 3 (potential marks 0 - 1)

• The assignment is unclear and unfocused and does not satisfy the assignment brief

• The assignment is not logically structured or concise, and the language is unclear and unstructured

• There is no or inappropriate use and range of presentational devices, e.g. tables, figures and appendices

• References are limited or cited incorrectly

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Questions?

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Introduction (1 of 2)

• Clearly stated aim and objectives

• state what you are trying to achieve in relation to your chosen workplace

• Objectives

• specific statements defining measurable outcomes

• how you achieve the aims

• Methodology

• describe methods used to research and develop the assignment

• Role of the H&S Practitioner and Ethics

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Introduction (2 of 2)

• Description of Organisation

• include current arrangements for competent H&S advice

• Consider the role of the candidate as a H&S practitioner in setting and achieving the objectives of the organisation

• Consider professional ethics in context

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Role of the H&S Practitioner

• Picks up points from A11/IA9

• The role of H&S practitioner in setting and achieving the objectives of the organisation should be explained

• Professional ethics

• include a discussion on ethical principles such as honesty, respect and integrity that a H&S practitioner should apply when carrying out work for this assignment

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Review and critical analysis of how H&S is currently managed

• An overview of the current OHSMS

• Compared to HSG65

• Critical review – needs to answer: where are you now?

• Clear systematic description of gaps

• and where no gaps exist

• For all areas of the management system

• identify priorities for improvement

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Review and critical analysis of how H&S is currently managed under core elements

• Leadership

• Management

• Worker Involvement

• Competency

• Compliance

• Risk Profile (significant risks and critical control measures)

For each element current arrangements should be identified, evidenced and critically analysed against

best practice to identify gaps

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Leadership

• Seeks to answer critical questions such as• Is there H&S leadership from the top of the

organisation?

• Is it visible?

• Is there a H&S champion/focus at board level?

• Is there H&S leadership at all levels within the organisation?

• Is it visible?

• What examples do leaders set? Do they talk about H&S?

• When was this last done?

• Is the leadership aware of the organisation’s significant risks and how well are they being controlled etc etc

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Management

• Seeks to answer critical questions such as

• How is H&S included in the management arrangements for the organisation?• Are the H&S responsibilities of key people clear and

reflected in job descriptions?

• Is there setting of policy and performance standards?

• Is there performance monitoring?

• Is there access to competent advice?

• Is there adequate provision/communication of current H&S information/documentation etc etc

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Worker Involvement

• Seeks to answer

• How are workers or their representatives consulted and involved in H&S matters?

• How effective are those mechanisms?

• Are the needs of any vulnerable workers being met?

• Are workers consulted in good time?

• Do H&S representatives have sufficient time and access to the facilities they need to carry out their functions?

• etc etc

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Competency

• Seeks to answer• Are the H&S responsibilities of managers/supervisors proven

to be effective?

• Who fulfils the role of the H&S competent person and are they effective?

• Does the organisation act upon advice of the competent person?

• Is there an identified lack of competence in a particular area?

• How are workers selected for tasks carried out?

• Are arrangements in place to ensure workers are aware of roles and responsibilities?

• etc etc

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Compliance

• Seeks to answer

• Is the organisation aware of all the relevant compliance requirements affecting its undertaking?

• This is not just restricted to legal, e.g. local legislation requirements, but may also extend to other defined standards, e.g. ISO OHSAS 18001, company standards, e.g. internal procedures, external requirements e.g. insurance or customer stipulations

• Can the organisation demonstrate that it is compliant with all requirements?

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Risk Profile (1 of 2)

• What is the nature of the significant risks faced by the organisation?

• What is the likelihood of adverse effects occurring and the level of disruption?

• Is there evidence that critical H&S risks are included in the overall business risk management of the organisation?

• Is there evidence of risk assessments?

• Is there evidence that all the critical risk controls have been identified and implemented effectively?

• etc etc

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Risk Profile (2 of 2)

• It is important that this section includes a critical analysis of the current H&S arrangements, not just a description.

• This means comparing current arrangements with identified criteria or standards and making judgements about acceptability.

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Answering the Questions

• Yes / No ?

• Percentage compliant?

• Likert scale?

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Possible summary table for use

Standard Required What’s in place in x company

Gap? / Required Improvement P

1

2

3

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SMS Review

• Join this up and cross-reference to other parts of the report

• The planning bit of HSG65 is premised on

• prevention through identifying, eliminating and controlling hazards and risks

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Evaluation of Improvements Required (1 of 2)

• On completion of the review and critical analysis, the information gathered should be evaluated to determine the top three improvements

• Those that would make the most impact on improving H&S performance at the organisation

• These can be selected from any of the elements, as long as the choice is justified

• You must explain how improvement will actually be achieved including timescales, monitoring, lessons being learnt etc

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Evaluation of Improvements Required (2 of 2)

• The role of the H&S practitioner in implementing these improvements should be discussed

• Include information regarding mentoring and supporting the development of competencies of others

• Distinguish between leadership and management and the different styles of management to help achieve improvements

• Recognise personal limitations• Critically analyse and evaluate your own personal

development• Effective communications if improvements should be

considered and the financial justification for each improvement should be outlined

• Name who is responsible and how the budget holder may be influenced

• Etc

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Questions?

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Conclusions and recommendations (1 of 2)

• Should conclude the whole report

• Concise summary of main findings

• No new issues or additional relevant factors

• Refer back to the aims and objectives

• how well they were achieved

• Ensure all main findings are discussed in logical order

• Read the report

• Highlight / underline the main findings

• Capture and organise them

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Conclusions and Recommendations (2 of 2)

• Recommendations should be based upon the points set out in the conclusions

• Make reference to the other sections of the assignment

• Logical flow and be based on the three selected improvements in the evaluation of the main body

• Provide justification for inclusion

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Recommendations should be

• Justified • Reason for inclusion

• Complete • Covers all main findings

• Practical • Realistic proposal in terms of the resources required

• Include a cost benefit analysis

• Prioritised• Explain the system of prioritisation

• Address most pressing issues first

• High risk / low cost etc

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Questions?

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Bibliography and References

• Shown via the detailed referencing and bibliography

• No use putting in a lot of references if they have not been read

• Checking the accuracy of references to international standards, legislation, ACOPs etc is important as there is no excuse for inaccurate citation in an assignment at this level

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Bibliography and References

• Harvard: author and date at appropriate point in text e.g. … “based on HSG65 (HSE, 2013)” • List of references at the end in alphabetical order of

author surname• HSE (2013) “Managing for Health and Safety, HSG65,

third edition” HSE Books, London

• Vancouver: a number at the end of the sentence to indicate the reference e.g. HSG65 1

• List of references at the end in number order reflecting order of citation in text

• 1. HSE (2013) “Managing for Health and Safety, HSG65, third edition” HSE Books, London

• Useful website – Neilstoolbox.com

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Questions?

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FAQs

• Syllabus content• Prior completion of study for Units A/IA, B/IB and C/IC is

recommended

• Assessment location• Own workplace• Suitable• Educational purposes• Confidentiality• Fictitious or simulated situations are not acceptable

• Assistance from Astutis Tutors• can review and discuss an outline plan of any students approach to

unit DNI• cannot read and/or amend drafts of DNI assignments• cannot pre mark or comment on the actual DNI assignment written

by a student

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Thank you