RoSPA’s NEBOSH e-book

What is NEBOSH? 3 NEBOSH in Numbers 7 OSH Career: Insider Tips 8 NEBOSH Command Word Guide 11 RoSPA’s Guide to NEBOSH Past Papers 12 DOs and DONTSs for GC3 24 How to Maximise Marks in Diploma Unit D 28 Top-Tips for NEBOSH Exams 33 Where Will a NEBOSH Qualification Take You? 37 Course Funding Options Explained 38 More about RoSPA 41

Contents:

What is NEBOSH? Idiot’s guide explains all…

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Known by its acronym, NEBOSH stands for ‘the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health’. NEBOSH is a regulated awarding body, which accredits course providers, such as RoSPA, who in turn train candidates in preparation for NEBOSH qualifications. Those working in health and safety are often required to hold the appropriate NEBOSH qualification for their job role, and for many, career progression is closely linked to enhanced NEBOSH qualifications. The qualifications are also recognised by professional membership bodies including the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM) and the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM).

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This chart maps the relationship between NEBOSH qualifications and IOSH Membership:

A NEBOSH qualification does not automatically equate to an IOSH membership level though. For example, you must submit both your NEBOSH certificate and your CV to IOSH so that they can check that you have the qualifications and experience necessary for TechIOSH. Likewise, your NEBOSH Certificate must be dated after 2002 in order

for it to be considered.

NEBOSH Health & Safety at Work Qualification Affiliate Member

NEBOSH Certificate / NEBOSH Fire Certificate /NEBOSH Construction Certificate / NEBOSH

International Certificate / NEBOSH Environmental Certificate.

Technician Member (TechIOSH)

NEBOSH Diploma in Occupational Safety & Health

Graduate Member (GradIOSH)

Skills portfolio and professional peer review Chartered Member (CMIOSH)

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“ The NEBOSH Certificate is the UK’s most popular health and safety qualification. Because it’s so well known and highly regarded it’s ideal if you’re looking to launch a career in safety. The course consists of three units, the first two are assessed by exams and the third by a practical assessment. Once successfully completed candidates meet the academic requirements for Technical Membership of IOSH (Tech IOSH) and associate membership of the IIRSM. For those working overseas, there’s the increasingly popular NEBOSH International Certificate. It’s now also possible to add separate fire, or construction modules on to the first unit to create additional stand alone qualifications.

What is the NEBOSH Certificate?”

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“ The NEBOSH Diploma is a prestigious and highly respected qualification, ultimately enabling Chartered (CMIOSH) status. Divided into four units (three assessed by exams and one by an assignment), it’s a rigorous and demanding course which never the less grows in popularity as safety professionals continue to recognise the benefits of holding such a qualification. There are alternative routes to CMIOSH status but arguably the diploma remains the most highly regarded and transferable across job role and sector and therefore stands candidates in good stead for the future.

What is the NEBOSH Diploma?”

NEBOSH in Numbers: The stats behind the success

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Qualifications

are available

in 6

languages.

OSH Career: Insider tips

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In keeping with their commitment to helping professionals find health and safety jobs, Shirley Parsons Associates (the largest privately owned specialist Health, Safety and Environmental recruitment business in the UK) offers the following insider tips to help you make the next move:

1.) Can you name three key attributes that employers look for in a health, safety or environmental candidate? Qualifications – the NEBOSH Certificate is considered a minimum for an entry level health and safety role, and the Diploma is almost always necessary for safety management roles. Track record – demonstrating what you’ve achieved in your working career as a whole, not necessarily just in any safety-related roles. Be the ‘right fit’ – admittedly difficult to assess, this relates to attitude. Experiences outside of work can be a useful gauge. 2.) Do you have any tips for anyone putting together their CV? How could they best ensure they stand out from the crowd? Your CV must be clear and concise. It must be easy to read, so bullet points are useful and not more than 2-3 pages in length. You should present your CV how you would wish to present yourself: smart, logical and clear. Obviously typing or spelling mistakes are a big no-no. Also, be descriptive in each role when outlining the environments you have worked in and your achievements. 3.) Are cover letters essential, and if so what should they include? If you’re applying directly then you should include a cover letter but make sure it’s 100% relevant to the job you are applying for and not generic! It must state why you want the role and what skills and attributes you would bring. If you’re applying via a specialist agency they will put together a summary sheet to send with your application which will explain why you’re suitable for the role.

“ For all HSE roles, NEBOSH offer the most recognised qualifications”

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4. What advice would you give to anyone looking to move into their first health, safety and environmental role? Ensure your CV is very well presented and includes any experience you have (no matter how small), as this gets you through the door. Beyond that, make sure you prepare comprehensively for interviews – research what questions you may be asked and what questions you wish to ask. Ideally, you also really need to get a NEBOSH Certificate under you belt – even if it means self-funding it as unless you’re moving internally employers almost always consider this a prerequisite for a role in safety. 5. What about candidates looking to progress into managerial or specialist safety roles? Read around the subject (be it a technical specialism or management skills) and take on whatever responsibility you possibly can. Speak to people doing the job already and tap into their first hand knowledge. Really you’ll need the NEBOSH Diploma as in order to manage a team you’ll need the credibility that this qualification affords. There are instances where those with very good management skills lead a team of individuals who are equally, or even better qualified, than themselves but this is rare. The NVQ 5 of course offers an alternative route to apply for CMIOSH status but it is our experience that employers prefer the NEBOSH route. 6. In your experience are NEBOSH qualifications sought after by employers? If so, in which sectors, and for which roles? Yes, definitely! For all HS&E roles, in all sectors , NEBOSH offer the most recognised qualifications.

“ The job market generally has picked up across the board”

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7. What trends do you expect to see played out in the field of health and safety over the next few years, and how should candidates best ensure they’re able to respond? The job market generally has picked up across the board and is currently buoyant. We’re seeing more opportunities, particularly in construction, which is bolstered by roles created by large-scale infrastructure projects. As is typical we’re busiest in the South-East but generally there’s a lot going on nationwide. Candidates should make sure that they keep their CV, qualifications and CPD (continuing professional development) up to date. Also, as most recruitment processes will involve a presentation at some stage it’s a good idea to practise these skills at any opportunity. We’re also seeing an increased shift towards behavioural safety as firms raise their standards from achieving compliance to creating a health and safety culture. Candidates should look to develop in being able to deliver in this area as much as possible.

NEBOSH Exams: Your Command Word Guide

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A quick look at the examiner’s comments from past NEBOSH Certificate exams reveals that candidates frequently fail to answer the question as it is set. This handy guide should help anyone sitting a NEBOSH Certificate avoid this common pitfall.

“Identify” To give reference to an item, which could be its name or title. Normally a word or phrase will be sufficient, providing the reference is clear.

“Give” To offer for consideration, acceptance, or use of another. For example, “Give an example of”; “Give the meaning of”.

“Outline” To indicate the principal features or different parts of. An exhaustive description is not required. Instead opt for a brief summary of the major aspects.

“Describe” To give a detailed written account of the distinctive features of a subject. The account should be factual, without any attempt to explain. When describing a subject (or object) a test of sufficient detail would be that another person would be able to visualise what you are describing.

“Explain” To provide an understanding. To make a idea or relationship clear. This is testing the candidates ability to know or understand why or how something happens. It is often associated with the words “how” or “why”.

RoSPA’s Guide to NEBOSH Past Papers: NEBOSH Certificate Questions 1

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Here we look at questions similar to those that appear in the NEBOSH General Certificate . We don’t provide answers as such as rote learning is not advisable, instead we offer you top-tips for maximum marks, plus points for inclusion.

The marks available are shown in brackets.

Advantages of using an internal auditor include pre-existing knowledge of critical areas of concern; the ability to easily and quickly find information; the ability to drill down into key areas; possible cost savings. Disadvantages may however include a lack of awareness of standards required by legislation or other external bodies; a lack of impartiality; a possible reluctance to create problems for management and the inability to review with a fresh pair of eyes. External health and safety auditors are experienced and bring both their expertise and an independent view not influenced by internal pressures and loyalties. This independence is considered best practice by the International Labour Organisation, and may be a requirement when tendering for work. External auditors are also likely to be aware of best practice across sectors. There may however be problems relating to the external auditor’s lack of knowledge of the business, which may result in more people being asked more questions and therefore greater disruption to the business. Other disadvantages include the external auditing system employed may not fit the organisation; additional training may be required and additional costs accrued.

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“ In answering this 2 part question attention should be given to the fact that examples are required in the answer. The term Hazard is commonly termed as “the potential of a substance, person, activity or process to cause harm.” Typical Hazards may include such things as: • Electricity • Working at height • Chemicals.

The term Risk means the probability/likelihood that an unwanted event will occur and the possible severity in terms of injury or damage should it occur. It would be best practice for the exam to utilise the already recognised hazards as the basis for the answer to this element e.g. • Electrocution • Falling from height • Poisoning.

The second part of this question may again link to the hazards and risks already identified to maintain continuity if it is thought applicable. My recommendation would be to concentrate on the Chemical hazard as this would allow you to quote such things as: • Inexperience • Slow effects • Lack of training • Inappropriate warnings • Over familiarity.

Use a highlighter to mark keywords– it will help keep you focussed”

“ Timing is key - allow approximately 9 minutes for each 8 mark question”

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A question such as this asking you to ‘Outline’ something requires you to cite a number of areas of influence, with fairly minimal descriptive responses – therefore a broad brush approach is appropriate. However, merely outlining the powers of the HSE will not be enough to adequately answer this question, instead you must read the question carefully and answer accordingly. The HSE can influence the health and safety performance of an organisation in the following ways: (For clarity I’ve used bullet points, but remember that in an exam your answer should be presented in a paragraph.) • Conducting campaigns (reducing noise at work and campaigns aimed at particular business sectors) • Providing information (guidance notes, leaflets, codes of practice, statistics) • Carrying out inspections • Carrying out accident investigations • Investigating following complaints • Provide advice on interpretation of laws • Issue improvement notices • Issue prohibition notices • Prosecute those failing to comply with legislation • Interpret accident statistics • Provide feedback on accident trends • Provide feedback on ill health trends.

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4a.) Again, consider the command word for each part of the question. Part a. asks you to identify two specific work activities for which a permit-to-work might be needed, so simply choose two from the following: •Work in confined spaces •Work in flammable atmospheres •Work on live electrical equipment •Hot work •Maintenance work on dangerous process plant or production machinery. 4b.) The answer to the second part of the question should be based on standardised formats in general use throughout industry, so if this is not something that you are exposed to in the workplace, a common sense approach should be adopted giving consideration to the “Hazards” and “ Risks” associated to one of the answers from the first part of the question and should include issues such as: •Work to be completed •Positive ID of the plant/location to be worked on etc. •The person allocated to the task •The person in control of the plant/location •The controls in place e.g. lock offs etc. •Potential hazards that remain •The precautions to be taken against these (e.g. PPE) •The time/date of issue and commencement of work •The duration of the permit •The Safe System Of Work (SSOW) to be followed •Statement that all measures for safety are in place (signed) •Signature of competent person carrying out SSOW under permit •Provision for hand-back after work completed •Work completed signature •Cancellation signature.

“ Leave your rough work on paper; don’t cross it through as it just might gain you a valuable extra mark”

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5.) This is a straightforward question on the fundamental aspects of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and as such should not hold any fear for the vast majority of candidates. Full marks would NOT be obtained by only quoting Sections 2.1 and 2.2 a – e as set out below, instead you must include the other elements which form the rest of section 2 – highlighted in bold below. Also, remember that as the question uses the command word “outline” you will need to expand on the list below, as bullet points alone will not accrue full marks. 1. General duty to ensure health, safety and welfare 2. Provision and maintenance of plant and Safe Systems of Work (SSOW) 3. Safe use / handling / storage and transportation of substances and articles 4. Provision of information, instruction, training and supervision 5. Safe place, access and egress 6. Safe and healthy working environment / welfare. Health and safety policy – organisation and arrangements Consult with safety representatives To form a safety committee (when requested, in writing, by two or more TU appointed safety representatives).

NEBOSH Certificate Questions 2

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Here I’ve used my experience as a RoSPA Trainer delivering the NEBOSH Certificate courses to guide you through questions similar to those you would find in NEBOSH Unit GC1, The Management of Safety and Health.

1.) When attempting a question about the costs of accidents to an organisation, it is best to think in terms of insured costs (such as those associated with loss of production or damage to materials), and uninsured costs (such as a detrimental effect on employee morale, resulting in more down time and higher staff turnover). You can also answer in terms of the direct and indirect costs of the accident to the organisation. Indirect costs (such as increased insurance premiums, uninsured criminal and civil actions and damage to the organisation’s image) are usually far higher than anticipated by an organisation and therefore more marks could be gained by focusing on this area. Remember that in this question it is important to focus on the costs to the organisation, and not to other parties. 2.) This question would be best answered by splitting it into two with one paragraph on Improvement Notices and one on Prohibition Notices. You can then identify the characteristics of the two types of notice to gain the marks. The key difference to remember is that an improvement notice may be served where an inspector is of the opinion that there is a breach of a statutory health and safety duty, or that there has been such a breach which is likely to continue or be repeated. The more serious prohibition notice may be served only where, in the inspector’s opinion, there is a risk of serious personal injury. In the latter case, a breach need not have occurred for the notice to be served.

“ Stick to your timings – you can always add more detail at the end of the exam if you have time to spare”

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3.) To make your answer clearer you should mirror the question and number your answer in three sections. As always, with regulations and ACOPs it is important to focus on their legal status and with guidance it is important to focus on it being good practice. Therefore, for part (i), you should state that regulations dictate minimum legal standards. Breaches of regulations constitute criminal offences that can lead to enforcement action, with the possibility of prosecution and the imposition of fines; that most health and safety regulations are made under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act by the Secretary of State after consultation with HSC; and that they often implement EC Directives that are aimed at protecting employees and others. For part (ii), duty holders must comply with the requirements of an ACOP or be able to show that the chosen means of control are equally effective. ACOPs are approved by the HSC with the consent of the Secretary of State and their purpose is to provide practical interpretations of legal requirements in specific areas. For part (iii), HSE guidance has no formal legal standing, is generally more informative and practical than an ACOP, and is intended to give advice on good practice.

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4.) Again, split your answer into three parts to mirror the question. For part (a), negligence is doing something a reasonable person wouldn’t do, or failing to do something a reasonable person would do. In essence, it’s a lack of reasonable care or conduct. For part (b) examples of negligent acts by employers can include a failure to provide a safe system of work, a failure to provide safe equipment or a failure to provide the necessary safety training. For the final part of the question (c), the role of the civil courts with respect to health and safety matters is to rule on actions for damages, to establish liability and to award compensation where appropriate. There is a hierarchy of appeal: • Cases are referred from the County and/or High Courts to a Court of Appeal • Appeals from the Court of Appeal are heard by the House of Lords, whose decision sets the precedent for all courts below it.

NEBOSH Certificate Questions 3

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These next four NEBOSH past paper questions are from Unit GC2, Controlling Workplace Hazards.

1.) This workplace transport question will allow you to outline the main controls that can be used to separate people and vehicles. It may help to imagine a number of workplace scenarios such as a warehouse, factory and loading dock. You could group your answer into the areas suggested in HSG 136: safe person, safe vehicle and safe site. Things to consider include: •Traffic management systems to segregate people and vehicles •Lighting, mirrors and transparent doors to aid visibility •High visibility clothing •Signage •Refuges •Road surfaces and markings •Staff safety training and adequate supervision. 2.) This question is also a workplace transport question but focusing on reversing vehicles. More detail is required, and it may be useful to look at a hierarchical response to risks: •You could start with one-way systems and turning circles to restrict the need for reversing. •You would then considering pathways and barriers to segregate people and vehicles •Move on to discuss vehicle and workplace design methods such as reversing alarms, the use of mirrors, lighting and refuges •Then consider procedural measures such as driver training and banksman training and deployment.

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3.) Familiarity with different types of work equipment will help to ensure there are no surprises in the exam. On this occasion as many of the relevant hazards and safeguards apply to other work equipment that may appear in a NEBOSH exam question your familiarity in this area can help you in others. For part (i), describe the possible hazards faced by employees using a petrol-driven strimmer on grass verges on the roadside. To gain maximum marks it is therefore important to consider not just the work equipment but also the activity. These include: • Contact with the moving parts of the strimmer • The possibility of being struck by flying stones or other material • Slips/trips/falls • Manual handling hazards and musculoskeletal disorders • The danger posed by moving traffic • The potential dangers of noise and vibration, dust and fumes • The hazards associated with the storage, transfer and use of petrol. For part (ii), focus on PPE that may guard against the hazards you have already suggested. To check you haven’t missed any start at the head and work your way down the body considering all the PPE that may be available, such as: •Ear defenders •Eye protection •Respiratory protection (dust mask) •Gloves •Gaiters •Safety footwear •Overall protection from the weather (be it sun or rain). For part (iii), outline measures that are not related to PPE such as regular breaks, job rotation, traffic control measures, maintenance of equipment, safety training and health surveillance.

NEBOSH Certificate Questions 4

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This past paper question is a further example of questions you can expect to find in the NEBOSH Certificate.

1a) The first thing to do is identify the command word, as this decides how you’ll answer the question. In this instance: Outline = “Indicate the principal features or different parts of”, which immediately tells you that in order to gain the maximum 4 marks available they’re not looking for an exhaustive description, just an outline. In terms of the answer itself, you should first recognise that the accident was reportable under RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences regulations) since the injured visitor was taken directly to hospital. As such, the responsible person within the organisation should notify the authorities by the quickest practicable means, (be it phone, fax or e-mail) and follow this up with a written report on a F2508 form within 10 days. You can answer a four point question in a brief paragraph, but not bullet points and I’d advise against anything too lengthy or wordy as really you ought to be looking to pick up the necessary points and move on.

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1b.) Plan your answer carefully so that you don’t bounce around the question answering a bit here and a bit there. As the question is divided into two parts you should follow suit by answering in two parts, in order, with each part clearly labelled. This question is asking for specifics on the employer, and then on the supervisor so keep your answers in the same order; it makes it easier to mark! Also remember that NEBOSH exams are positively marked, which means that the examiner is actively looking to award points for correct answers, rather than deduct points for incorrect answers. 1bi) When answering the first part of the exam question you should explain that the employer has a general duty of care under section 2.1 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA). That duty is to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health safety and welfare of its employees. In this scenario the employees were exposed to the same risk as the visitor. Under section 2.2 of HASAWA there is a further duty owed to provide a safe place of work, safe access and egress, a safe working environment and adequate supervision, information, instruction and training. In this example, as it was a non employee that was injured, section 3 of HASAWA has been breached. This section states that the employer has an equal duty of care to ensure that persons not in his employment should not be exposed to risks to their health and safety. 1bii) The second part of the question relates to the supervisor and so you should make the point that they could be held in breach of section 7 of the Act for failing to take care for the health and safety of themselves and others who could be affected by their acts or omissions. Further marks could be gained by mentioning sections 36 and 37, if it could be shown that the supervisor might be held responsible for the breaches of section 2 and that these breaches were due to their act or default, and if the supervisor fell within the category of officer as mentioned in section 37. (Remember that in smaller companies a supervisor may well also carry managerial responsibilities).

“ Avoid the temptation to structure your answer as a list unless specifically requested to do so”

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1c) First consider the action word: Identify = “give a reference to an item (could be its name or title)” Then use this to inform the level of detail you go in to, for example, you would provide more information for a question asking you to ‘outline’, than one asking you to ‘identify’. In this instance there are two marks available, but although it’s reasonable to assume that you can earn these by naming the two relevant authorities requested, it is worth including more if you can as this way you’ll be demonstrating the ‘breadth of knowledge’ that NEBOSH examiners seek (something that could earn you a valuable few extra marks overall). Furthermore, when delivering NEBOSH Training we caution delegates to stick to the command verb, and avoid the temptation to answer in a list format. Therefore for this question I would simply expand the ‘list’ of relevant authorities into a short paragraph, punctuated with semi-colons: “Government employers that could prosecute the employer include The Health and Safety Executive; Local Authorities; the Office of the Rail Regulator; the Director of Public Prosecutions and in Scotland, the Procurator Fiscal.”

NEBOSH Practical: RoSPA’s GC3 DOs and DON’Ts

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As the name implies, Unit GC3: Health and Safety Practical Application allows you to demonstrate your NEBOSH NGC1 and GC2 accumulated knowledge by applying it to real examples from within your place of work. It’s where the theory becomes a reality, and where you get to see what risk reductions your knowledge can bring about. So, if you’re currently working towards the NEBOSH Certificate, these DOs and DON’Ts are for you.

“ Don’t scrimp on your Observation Sheets – they’re where 30% of your mark will come from”

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“ Don’t forget to sign the declaration form. ”

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NEBOSH Diploma: How to Maximise Marks in Unit D

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For this final part of the diploma, you are required to bring together the knowledge and understanding you have gained in NEBOSH Units A, B and C, all of which are assessed by exam, to undertake a detailed health and safety review of a workplace or organisation and then produce an action plan to improve performance. While this might initially sound intimidating, with the right planning there is really nothing to stop you gaining high marks and achieving maximum success in this unit!

1. Plan for Success Before you even pick up a pen, think carefully about the workplace or organisation you are choosing to base your assignment on. It should be large enough to provide an opportunity for a review of the health and safety management system as well as providing a sufficiently wide range of hazards in the areas covered by Units B and C as these will be identified and prioritised in your report. If the organisation you have chosen is very large, why not make your study more manageable by looking at a limited department or division rather than the entire organisation? Once you have pinpointed the organisation you wish to use, start by making sure you fully understand the brief and then come up with a plan of how you intend to approach your study, which you can then discuss with your NEBOSH tutor. While they will not be able to read and amend your review, they should be able to tell you whether or not your proposal has sufficient depth and breadth of content to meet the NEBOSH Diploma level. 2. Style and Substance The style in which you present your report is going to have a dramatic impact on your success in Unit D. You should be writing in a formal style, however, the report should be as easy to read as possible, so resist the temptation of using unnecessary technical jargon when a clear and concise explanation will suffice – remember, it’s a human being and not a machine that will be marking your work! It’s also worth bearing in mind that the purpose of the report is to demonstrate that you have a firm understanding of the subject matter, so think about how you choose to present information. Sometimes bullet points or a table will be enough to convey a point, sometimes not – the important thing is to organise your work into paragraphs so that chunks of text are avoided and to try and think outside the box in terms of presentation in order to keep your report stimulating and reader friendly.

“ Your executive summary should be no more than one side of A4 using single-spaced Arial font ”

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3. Think Marks! Even though Unit D is a written report rather than an exam, it is still good practice to approach the assignment as you would a test paper. This means you should be aware that marks are awarded both for the range of factors considered and the quality of treatment and so you need to ensure an appropriate balance between range and depth. It is important to remember that a large range of factors treated superficially will not be rewarded with high marks – think quality not quantity! 4. Executive Summary For those a little confused about the Executive Summary, you can simply think of it as an overview of the important points of your work, with a summary of the main conclusions and recommendations of your review. It should be targeted at a person who is not necessarily an expert in the field and very briefly state the implications of your review for the organisation; including any costs involved and inform the reader of the proposed cause of action and the benefits – all presented in a non-technical, reader-friendly style, suitable for a busy senior manager to read on the fly. If in doubt the golden rule is ‘simple but persuasive’. The Executive Summary should be written after the rest of your report and then inserted at the beginning. It is also the only part of the report which is length limited and should be no longer than one side of A4 using single-spaced Arial font. 10% of the marks available for the Executive Summary will be deducted for text covering up to an additional one-quarter of a page, with a further 10% for each additional quarter of a page submitted as part of the executive summary, so always be sure to plan ahead and keep it succinct if you don’t want to drop unnecessary marks.

“ You are required to outline legislation and case law relevant to your organisation – but an exhaustive list is not expected. ”

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5. Clear Introduction They say that first impressions count, and the introduction to your report is no different. Your introduction should clearly set out your aims and objectives, which will help orientate the reader as well as keeping you on track. A good introduction will also help when it comes to writing your conclusion, providing you with a clear benchmark of objectives to refer back to and evaluate your success. Your introduction should also include a clear description of your methodology, including your methods of research, as well as providing a description of your chosen organisation or workplace in order to set the context for the report. This should include the size and nature of the organisation, the employment profile, the work patterns and production schedules employed, as well as any special situations that are likely to have an impact on health and safety. You are also required to outline legislation and case law relevant to the organisation and this can also be included in your introduction. However, remember you are being marked on your ability to put these in the context of the development of an effective health and safety management programme. An exhaustive list of statutes, regulations etc. is not expected.

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6. Know your Hazards As part of the assignment, you are required to identify at least 15 significant hazards from across a range of categories and prioritise them. You can then justify the choice of each hazard by using a system to assign levels of importance to each of the hazards identified. Remember: A full risk assessment is not needed for each hazard. Once you have identified these hazards (which should be across a range of categories relevant to the organisation), you then need to assign two as high priority – one physical hazard and the other relating to health and welfare. As a rule you should consider physical hazards as those covered in Unit C and health and welfare hazards as those covered in Unit B . 7. Specify Risks The risk assessments that are required for the unit must be completed on the chosen hazards you have previously identified. You then need to evaluate the effectiveness of the organisation in controlling the risks and offer proposals to further control the hazard and reduce the risks – be sure to make use of any existing data for hazards that have already been quantified, for example noise control. Also, make sure to briefly describe the methodology you adopted for each risk assessment and be sure to reference any relevant publications, legislation, ACOPs and other technical documents you consulted. 8. Summing up It almost goes without saying, but your conclusion should offer a concise summary of your findings in the main body of the report – this is not the time to introduce any new ideas! A good conclusion should start by referring back to the aims and objectives you set out at the beginning of your report, evaluating how well they were achieved. The rest of the conclusion should follow on logically from the findings in the main body, being sure to cover every finding in the main report. A good tip is to print out a rough copy of the report and highlight all of your findings – that way you can be sure you don’t miss any.

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9. Recommendations Vs Action Planning Like your conclusion, recommendations should lead on logically from your report and not come as a complete surprise to the reader. Recommendations need to be justified, complete (i.e. cover all the main findings), practical and include a cost benefit analysis – in other words what the organisation will gain set against the costs involved. Recommendations also need to be prioritised – for example you could look at which hazards represent the highest risk, or which will be the easiest, or most cost efficient to implement. However you choose to prioritise your recommendations, make sure you explain the system you have used. Action planning on the other hand is the tool through which your recommendations will be implemented. Your action plans should include actions that need to take place to reduce the risks associated with the hazard, outlining the person responsibility for implementing the action, cost and timescale. Remember – staff time costs money. While there is no set format to present your action plans, a table is often the most successful format because it is easy to see that all of the requirements have been included. Finally, try and make your targets SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time bound) and don’t forget to address every recommendation with an action plan – there’s no point in making a recommendation then not doing anything about it.

10.Last but not least …Relax! Unit D is all about bringing together the knowledge and understanding you have gained during units A, B and C. As long as you plan ahead and manage your time effectively there’s no reason you shouldn’t achieve success in the NEBOSH Diploma. Additional Diploma Unit D guidance available form the NEBOSH website.

NEBOSH Exams: RoSPA’s Top-Tips

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If you’re currently working towards a NEBOSH exam here’s some top tips from from RoSPA trainers (who also have experience marking NEBOSH exams) and recent RoSPA delegate, Roxanne. They helped her to pass her NEBOSH exam – with distinction no less - so hopefully they’ll help you too! 1.) Keep your eye on the prize Yes, it’s a lot of work, and yes it’s usually on-top of all your work work, but the reality is that these days, and in this economic climate, the right qualifications are more important than ever. In the latest poll, 88% of RoSPA Members’ agreed that a nationally recognised health and safety qualification helps career progression, and you only need to spend a few minutes scouring the Institute of Safety and Health’s jobs pages to be reassured that a NEBOSH qualification really will help open doors. With this in mind, focus on the task in hand and prioritise accordingly. Far better to pass first time than to waste time re-sitting. 2.) Know what you’re getting yourself in to The National General Certificate is divided into 3 units, the first two of which, NGC1 and GC2 are assessed by written exam. In order to maximise your point earning potential you need to understand how marks are generated. Remember: •Each exam lasts two hours •Each consists of 10 short answer questions and 1 long answer question •The short answer questions are each worth 8 marks, and the long answer question is worth 20 marks •Time wise, this means that you should give yourself 8-10 minutes for the short answer questions and 20 minutes for the long answer question. Our delegates tell us they find it useful to take their own watch into the exam, and have it visible on their desk, it helps them keep to time •All questions are compulsory.

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3.) Remember that the examiner is looking to give you points The NEBOSH Certificate exam is positively marked, with marks awarded for the correct application of knowledge, rather than deducted for incorrect answers. Therefore, if in doubt, have a go! This marking system means that it’s your job to make it as easy as possible for the examiner to find places to award you marks. This means legible writing; clearly numbered answers (if a question consists of different sub-sections make sure you number each sub section and address it separately within your answer, e.g. 1a, b and c.); and an answer for every question (though you may ‘warm up’ by starting with those that you feel most confident about rather than working chronologically through the paper). 4.) Attend a NEBOSH Certificate Revision course If at all possible we strongly recommend candidates attend a revision course. By putting you in an environment where you’re face to face with both an expert tutor and your peers, a revision course allows you to practice exam questions; get feedback on your performance and to ask any outstanding questions. Tutors expect there to be things that you’re still unsure of, so if in doubt, just ask. Many organisations, including RoSPA, will accept candidates on their NEBOSH Certificate revision courses even if they studied elsewhere and, for the reasons outlined here, attendance is something that we can’t emphasise enough.

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5.) Answer the question that has been set, not a question that you’d like to answer A quick look through NEBOSH’s Examiners’ Reports reveals that it is frustratingly not uncommon for candidates to miss marks simply by failing to answer the question as set. Comments such as: “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”, or variations thereof, regularly feature in the ‘Common pitfalls’ section. A good Revision Course will again help you with this, as indeed will a few deep breaths to calm yourself before reading each question – twice. 6.) Apply the command words Another common pitfall is failure to apply the command words when answering a question. Print the guide on page 11 and refer to it as you revise. 7.) Condense your notes There’s a time for reading through reams of notes with a highlighter in hand but the days immediately prior to the exam are not this time. As the date approaches you should concentrate on condensed excerpts that you can actually commit to memory. Use your own revision cards to create these, or purchase Ed Ferrett’s revision cards to augment your course notes. Remember, minutes of concentrated learning will prove more valuable than hours of reading that you can’t later recall.

8.) Revise the subjects that you like least That says it all really, but suffice to say that although it’s tempting to delve further into the topics that you enjoy and understand, when it comes to revision it’s the areas that you don’t like, or even understand, that really deserve your attention.

“ Sitting a mock exam will help you understand how much time you have per question”

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9.) ‘Always be prepared’ Make sure you’re equipped with pens and a watch and that you’ve double checked the exam date, time and location and are fully au fait with travel arrangements. Do this thoroughly, and then put it out of mind, so that you can better concentrate on the substance of the exam. 10.) Practice your exam technique The example questions on pages 12– 23 will really help, and you will also look at more examples as part of RoSPA’s NEBOSH Certificate course. These are the best way to assess the type of questions that you will face and by submitting them to your tutor you’ll be able to gauge the depth of response required. We also recommend that you take the opportunity to sit a mock exam in its entirety prior to the actual exam as this will help you understand how much time you have per question, as well as to allow you to practice writing for that length of time. 11.) Keep up-to-date Try to keep abreast of developments within the safety community, as doing so will mean you can stand out from the crowd by including topical examples and pertinent issues into your exam answers.

Finally…good luck!

NEBOSH Qualification: Where will it take you?

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My NEBOSH qualification…

“Has made me more respected. It’s a recognised qualification, which I

insisted upon when taking on additional health and safety responsibilities.

I’m now more aware of the practical application of health and safety law, and

this has helped me successfully push for enhanced safety measures.”

Jeff Scotford, QA Manager and Health & Safety officer, Barton Firtop Engineering Co Ltd.

NEBOSH qualifications really do open doors., but don’t take our word for it. Here’s what a selection of our recent successful delegates had to say:

Course Funding: 1. Current and ex-forces options

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In a recent blog ‘Why a career in health and safety might be your ideal spot on Civvy Street’ RoSPA Chief Executive, Tom Mullarkey, outlines seven key reasons why Forces personnel make ideal leaders in health and safety. So, having established that NEBOSH qualifications really do open doors the next step is to secure funding for the training. Options include: The MOD's Enhanced Learning Credits Administration Services (ELCAS) is an initiative to promote lifelong learning amongst members of the Armed Forces. ELCAS provides financial support in the form of a single up-front payment in each of a maximum of three separate financial years. You must plan ahead and allow at least five weeks between submitting your claim and starting your course. ELCAS funding is only available for pursuit of higher level learning (i.e. Level three or above on the National Qualifications Framework in England and Wales, a Level six or above on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework - or an approved international equivalent qualification), which both the NEBOSH certificate and Diploma are. The Career Transition Partnership was set up by the Ministry of Defence to provide eligible Service leavers with free, comprehensive guidance and information about life after the Forces – including training grants. The British Legion’s Civvy Street website helps you build a CV, gives advice about interviews, tells you how to retrain and provides financial support to help you into a job. Their Employment Support Grant Scheme provides assistance to ex-forces personnel who are currently out of work.

RoSPA’s Chief Executive ,Tom Mullarkey, served in the Royal Artillery for 20 years including postings in Germany, Canada and India as well as operational tours in Northern Ireland and Rwanda.

Course Funding: 2. Sector-specific options

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If you work in construction, engineering or the not-for-profit sector it may be worth considering the following routes to funding: Accordign to NEBOSH, if you work in construction for a levy paying member of the CITB (Construction Industry Training Board) in Northern Ireland you can get 75% off the cost of NEBOSH qualifications. Contact the CITB in Northern Ireland on 028 9082 5466 or info@citbcsni.org.uk.

Companies in other areas who are registered with the CITB and have met the full criteria of the grant can claim for an A09 – Technical AND Professional Attendance grant for approved off-the-job training courses such as the NEBOSH Construction Certificate and NEBOSH General Certificate. The ECITB (Engineering Construction Industry Training Board) provides skill enhancing grants to ECITB registered companies. See their website for more details. NEBOSH and the Charities Safety Group (CSG) assist small charities, and voluntary sector organisations in providing scholarships for the NEBOSH Certificate. The scheme has been running for a number of years and many charities have achieved the qualification through this route. Application forms are available from the Charity Safety Group website www.csg.org.uk.

Course Funding: 3. Options by region

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Wales The Redundancy Action Scheme (ReAct) is a programme of funding for training provided by the Welsh Assembly Government to help people in Wales who are facing redundancy or who have been made redundant within the last six months. A contribution of up to £1,500 per person is available to provide vocational training. Further details are available from the ReAct team on 01792-765888, or react.team@wales.gsi.gov.uk GO Wales provide 50% funding for qualifications from £300 to £1500. The funding is available to any graduate employee of SMEs in Wales. More advice is available from Career Wales on 0800 100 900.

Scotland The Scottish Government website provides details on potential education/ training funding options. Careers Scotland provide information & advice about funding for training and claiming benefits . Learn Direct Scotland gives advice on bursaries and loans for further education. More advice is available from My World of Work on 0808 100 1050.

England The Job Centre Plus Rapid Response Team can help people facing, or in the first 13 weeks of redundancy who may be eligible to funding for retraining. If you’re 24 or older you can apply for a 24+ Advanced Learning Loan to help with the costs of a course. Professional and Career Development Loans are bank loans to pay for courses and training that help with your career or help get you into work. You may be able to borrow between £300 and £10,000.

You can find out which banks offer the loan and order an application pack by calling the National Careers Service on 0800 100 900.

About RoSPA

RoSPA Scotland

Livingston House

43 Discovery Terrace

Edinburgh

EH14 4AP

RoSPA

RoSPA House

28 Calthorpe Road

Edgbaston

Birmingham

B15 1RP

www.rospa.com

RoSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) is a registered charity and the UK’s leading safety organisation. Through our workplace safety training, consultancy, fleet, awards and membership services, we work with organisations within the UK and overseas.

Why choose RoSPA NEBOSH training?

• Exceptional pass rates and consistent positive delegate feedback • Expert tutors, many with experience as NEBOSH examiners • Wide portfolio of NEBOSH courses • Revision Courses also open to external candidates • Flexible modes of study include classroom training and e-learning • Training venues throughout the UK • NEBOSH courses also delivered in-company, both in the UK and globally • Prices start at just £490 +VAT with RoSPA Members enjoying discounts.

Which NEBOSH courses do RoSPA offer?

NEBOSH Health and Safety at Work NEBOSH Certificate NEBOSH International Certificate NEBOSH Fire Certificate NEBOSH Construction Certificate NEBOSH Distance Learning NEBOSH Diploma NEBOSH Revision NEBOSH Exams