NEBOSH PAPER 2

PAPER IGC 2 CONTROL OF INTERNATIONAL WORKPLACE HAZARDS

Section 1

This section contains one question. The marks for each part of the question are shown in brackets. You are
advised to spend approximately half an hour on it.
1. (a) Outline the factors that may affect the risk from manual handling in relation to:
(i) the task; (4)
(ii) the load. (4)
(iii) the individual (4)
(iv) the working environment (4)
(b) Outline a good manual handling technique that could be used when lifting a box
weighing 12.5 kg. (4)

Section 2

This section contains ten questions and you are advised to spend approximately 90 minutes on it. The marks for each question or part of a question are shown in brackets.
2. Outline FOUR types of engineering control that may be used to reduce noise in the workplace,
giving a practical example of EACH. (8)
3. Outline the issues that should be considered by an organisation when developing a system for the safe
collection and disposal of its waste. (8)
4 (a) Outline ways of segregating pedestrians and vehicles in the workplace. (4)
   (b) Outline ways of reducing the risk to pedestrians when segregation is not practicable. (4)
5 Outline a range of checks that should be made to ensure electrical safety in an office environment.(8)
6 (a) Outline the principles of the following types of machine guard:
   (i) fixed guard (2)
   (ii) interlocked guard (2)
   (b) Identify TWO advantages and TWO disadvantages of a fixed machine guard. (4)
7 Identify the ways in which accidents may be prevented when using portable ladders as a means of access.(8)
8. (a) Define the meaning of the term ‘hazard’. (2)
    (b) Outline the main hazards that may be present during the demolition of a building. (6)
9  (a) Describe the differences between acute and chronic health effects. (4)
    (b) Identify the factors that could affect the level of harm experienced by a worker exposed to a toxic substance. (4)
10 (a) In relation to the classification of fires, give an example of a material(fuel) that falls
     within EACH of the classes A, B, C and D. (4)
     (b) Identify TWO methods of heat transfer AND explain how EACH method contributes to the spread of fire. (4)
11  a) List possible health effects of working outside in extreme heat created by the sun. (4)
     (b) Outline control measures that could be used to minimise the effects of the sun on construction workers. (4)

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NEBOSH PAPER 1

Paper IGC 1 THE MANAGEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

Section 1

This section contains one question. The marks for each part of the question are shown in brackets. You are
advised to spend approximately half an hour on it.
1. (a) Identify the possible consequences of an accident to:
(i) the injured workers; (3)
(ii) their employer. (3)
(b) Identify the direct and indirect costs to the employer of accidents at work. (8)
(c) Outline the actions an enforcement agency may take following an accident at work. (6)

Section 2

This section contains ten questions and you are advised to spend approximately 90 minutes on it. The marks for each question or part of a question are shown in brackets.
2. Outline how two organisations who share the same workplace can work together to ensure
that good health and safety standards are achieved. (8)
3. Outline what should be considered when undertaking a risk assessment for young persons
who are to be employed in the workplace. (8)
4     (a) Identify THREE types of emergency in the workplace which require the evacuation of workers. (3)
       (b) Explain why it is important to develop workplace procedures for emergency situations.(5)
5 Outline the key elements of a health and safety management system. (8)
6     (a) Give TWO reasons why visitors to a workplace might be at greater risk of injury than workers.(2)
       (b) Identify the precautions to be taken to reduce the risk of injury to visitors to the workplace.(6)
7. Outline the immediate and longer term actions that should be taken following an accident at work that
caused serious injury to a worker. (6)
8. Outline the main features of:
      (a) a health and safety inspection; (4)
      (b) a health and safety audit. (4)
9 List the ways in which a manager could involve workers in the improvement of health and
safety in the workplace. (8)
10. (a) Explain, using an example, the meaning of the term ‘risk’. (4)
      (b) Outline the key steps of a risk assessment. (4)
11. (a) Outline why it is important for an organisation to set health and safety targets. (2)
      (b) Identify health and safety targets that an organisation may set. (6)

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Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Storage

What is LPG?

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is a colourless odourless liquid which readily evaporates into a gas. Normally an odourant has been added to it to help detect leaks.

LPG (either Butane or Propane), is generally stored and distributed as a liquid and it is widely used for process and space heating, cooking and automotive propulsion.  .  It is classified as highly flammable and if it contains more than 0.1%Butadiene, it is also classified as  a carcinogen and mutagen.

LPG is non-corrosive but can dissolve lubricants, certain plastics or synthetic rubbers.

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What are the dangers of LPG?

LPG may leak as a gas or a liquid.  If the liquid leaks it will quickly evaporate and form a relatively large cloud of gas which will drop to the ground, as it is heavier than air.   LPG vapours can run for long distances along the ground and  can collect in drains or basements.  When the gas meets a source of ignition it can burn or explode.

Cylinders can explode if involved in a fire.

LPG can cause cold burns to the skin and it can act as an asphyxiant at high concentrations.

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What are the Regulations?

The regulations are framework in character.  They lay down general requirements but rely for detailed guidance upon codes of practice which may be approved from time to time by the Health and Safety Authority.  These regulations apply in addition to any other requirements under relevant statutory provisions.

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What do the Regulations cover?

The regulations cover storage, loading and unloading, use of LPG and related activities, carried on in the course of any trade or business, involving more than 70kg or a total volumetric storage capacity above 160 litres. The regulations do not apply to fuel tanks of vehicles.

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What other Regulations apply to the storage of LPG?

• The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations
• The European Communities (Control of Major Accident Hazards involving Dangerous Substances) Regulations, 2006, apply to the storage of LPG at inventories of 50 tonnes or greater

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Who must comply?

Obligations are placed upon occupiers, suppliers of LPG, persons present at installations, designers of plant and persons installing plant.

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What are the general requirements?

• LPG must be stored in adequate location wherein vessels or cylinders are suitably positioned having regard to the relevant codes of practice
• LPG  plant must be designed to appropriate standards and be properly installed and commissioned by competent persons
• Plant must be fitted with adequate safety and monitoring control devices and operated by competent persons
• Occupiers must notify the gas supplier of any structural or other changes which might affect the gas installation
• There must be a suitable programme of maintenance and testing by competent persons
• Plant must be identifiable and accessible for maintenance
• Records of maintenance and tests must be kept
• Precautions must be taken to prevent fire and explosion including appropriate protection of storage vessels
• Installations must have appropriate security measures to prevent deliberate interference
• Incidents involving death or hospitalisation, fire or explosion or a significant release of LPG must be reported to the Authority and records of such incidents must be kept

Hazard and Risk

What is a Hazard?

When we refer to hazards in relation to occupational safety and health the most commonly used definition is ‘A Hazard is a potential source of harm or adverse health effect on a person or persons’.

The terms Hazard and Risk are often used interchangeably but this simple example explains the difference between the two.

If there was a spill of water in a room then that water would present a slipping hazard to persons passing through it. If access to that area was prevented by a physical barrier then the hazard would remain though the risk would be minimised.

What is Risk?

When we refer to risk in relation to occupational safety and health the most commonly used definition is ‘risk is the likelihood that a person may be harmed or suffers adverse health effects if exposed to a hazard.’

Categorising Risk

The level of risk is often categorised upon the potential harm or adverse health effect that the hazard may cause, the number of times persons are exposed and the number of persons exposed. For example exposure to airborne asbestos fibres will always be classified as high because a single exposure may cause potentially fatal lung disease, whereas the risk associated with using a display screen for a short period could be considered to be very low as the potential harm or adverse health effects are minimal.

What are Control Measures?

Control measures include actions that can be taken to reduce the potential of exposure to the hazard, or the control measure could be to remove the hazard or to reduce the likelihood of the risk of the exposure to that hazard being realised. A simple control measure would be the secure guarding of moving parts of machinery eliminating the potential for contact. When we look at control measures we often refer to the hierarchy of control measures.

1. Eliminate the hazard	Elimination of the hazard is not always achievable though it does totally remove the hazard and thereby eliminates the risk of exposure. An example of this would be that petrol station attendants in Ireland are no longer exposed to the risk of chronic lead poisoning following the removal of lead from petrol products sold at forecourts.
2. Substitute the hazard with a lesser risk	Substituting the hazard may not remove all of the hazards associated with the process or activity and may introduce different hazards but the overall harm or health effects will be lessened. In laboratory research, toluene is now often used as a substitute for benzene. The solvent-properties of the two are similar but toluene is less toxic and is not categorised as a carcinogen although toluene can cause severe neurological harm.
3. Isolate the hazard	Isolating the hazard is achieved by restricting access to plant and equipment or in the case of substances locking them away under strict controls. When using certain chemicals then a fume cupboard can isolate the hazard from the person, similarly placing noisy equipment in a non-accessible enclosure or room isolates the hazard from the person(s).
4. Use engineering controls	Engineering Controls involve redesigning a process to place a barrier between the person and the hazard or remove the hazard from the person, such as machinery guarding, proximity guarding, extraction systems or removing the operator to a remote location away from the hazard.
5. Use administrative controls	Administrative controls include adopting standard operating procedures or safe work practices or providing appropriate training, instruction or information to reduce the potential for harm and/or adverse health effects to person(s). Isolation and permit to work procedures are examples of administrative controls.
6. Use personal protective equipment	Personal protective equipment (PPE) include gloves, glasses, earmuffs, aprons, safety footwear, dust masks which are designed to reduce exposure to the hazard. PPE is usually seen as the last line of defence and is usually used in conjunction with one or more of the other control measures. An example of the weakness of this control measure is that it is widely recognised that single-use dust masks cannot consistently achieve and maintain an effective facepiece-to-face seal, and cannot be adequately fit-tested and do not offer much, if any real protection against small particulates and may lead to a false sense of security and increase risk. In such instances an extraction system with fitted respirators may be preferable where the hazard may have significant health effects from low levels of exposure such as using isocyante containing chemicals.

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What is Risk Assessment?

Risk Assessment is where the severity of the Hazard and its potential outcomes are considered in conjunction with other factors including the level of exposure and the numbers of persons exposed and the risk of that hazard being realised. There are a number of different formulae used to calculate the overall risk from basic calculations using high, medium and low categories to complicated algorithms to calculate risks at Nuclear power stations and other high risk work locations.

It is important to ensure that the residual risk following implementation of control measures is ‘as low as is reasonably possible (ALARP). For a risk to be ALARP it must be possible to demonstrate that the cost involved in reducing the risk further would be grossly disproportionate to the benefit gained.

- See more at: http://www.hsa.ie/eng/Topics/Hazards/#sthash.nqmnz7ry.dpuf

Explosives

Uses of Explosives

Explosives are used in a number of industries and locations in Ireland. They are used extensively in underground mining and surface hard rock quarrying operations. They are also used frequently in the construction industry for the development of new roads, excavation of ground for the foundations of buildings or basement areas and in demolition work.

Types of Explosives

There are many types of explosives used in Ireland and these include ANFO, which is a mixture of Ammonium Nitrate and Fuel Oil (Diesel), pumped emulsion which is a liquid explosive, gelignite based cartridge explosives, and shock tube compressed gas explosives. Explosives require initiation and this is achieved through the use of detonators, detonating cord and in rare cases detonating fuse.

Who Can Use and Handle Explosives?

There are strict controls on who can be involved in the transport, storage and use of explosives and explosive products and a qualified shotfirer is always required to undertake blasting operations. In addition to health and safety legislation on the use and storage of explosives there are also legislative requirements enforced by Inspectors from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

- See more at: http://www.hsa.ie/eng/Topics/Explosives/#sthash.x53A0ipy.dpuf