MOCK PAPER IGC1: MANAGEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL HEALTH

AND SAFETY
SUGGESTED SAMPLE ANSWERS
SECTION 1
1.

(a) Describe the key stages of the risk assessment process, identifying
the issues that would need to be considered at EACH stage (10)
There are five key stages to a risk assessment suggested by the HSE as follows:

The first stage is hazard identification which involves looking at significant

hazards, which could result in serious harm to people. Trivial hazards should be
ignored. This will involve touring the workplace concerned looking for the hazards in
consultation with workers themselves and also reviewing any accidents, ill health or
incidents that have occurred.
Stage 2 is to identify the person who could be harmed this may be employees,
visitors, contactors, neighbours or even the general public. Special groups at risk, like
young persons, nursing or expectant mothers and people with a disability should also
be identified.
Stage 3 is the evaluation of the risks and deciding if existing precautions or control
measures are adequate. The purpose is to reduce all residual risks after controls have
been put i to as low as is reasonably practicable. It is usual to have a qualitative
approach and rank risks as high, medium or low after looking at the severity of likely
harm and the likelihood of it happening. A simple risk matrix can be used to get a
level of risk.
The team should then consider whether the existing controls are adequate and meet
any guidance or legal standards using the hierarchy of controls and the General
principles of prevention set out in the management regulations.
Stage 4 of the risk assessment is to record the significant findings which must be
done if there are five or more people employed. The findings should include any
action that is necessary to reduce risks and improve existing controls preferably set
against a time scale. The information contained in the risk assessment must be
disseminated to employees and discussed at the next health and safety committee
meeting.
Stage 5 is a time scale set to review and possibly revise the assessment to keep it
valid and current, which must also be done if there are significant changes in the
workplace or the equipment and materials being used, Legislation changes, work
patters, after any major accidents/incidents and specialist advice
(b) Explain the criteria which must be met for the assessment to be suitable
and sufficient (4)
For a risk assessment to be deemed suitable and sufficient, it should identify all the
significant risks arising out of the work activity, it should have considered all those
affected by work with specific concern for pregnant women, young worker, disables etc.,
it should identify and prioritise the measures that need to be taken to comply with the

relevant statutory(legal) provisions, it should be appropriate to the nature of the hazards

in work, the residual risk is low (ALARP level) and, finally, it should be such that it
remains valid for a reasonable period of time. In addition, the RA done by a Competent
Risk Assessor.

(c) Outline the factors that that the employer should take into account when
selecting individuals to assist in carrying out the required risk assessment. (6)
The most important factor is the competence and experience of the individuals in
hazard identification and risk assessment Some training in these areas should
offer evidence of the required competence They should be experienced in the
process or activity under assessment and have technical knowledge of any plant
or equipment used. They should have knowledge of any relevant standards, HSE
guidance and regulations relating to the activity or process
They must be keen and committed but also aware of their own limitations They
need good communication skills and be able to write interesting and accurate
reports based on evidence and the detail found in health and safety standards,
codes of practice, regulations and guidance. Some IT skills would also be
advantageous. Finally, the views of their immediate supervisor should be sought
before they are selected as team members.
SECTION 2
3.

(a) Give the meaning of the term permit-to-work. (2)

Permit-to-work (PTW) system is a formal, documented and planned procedure and
the fact sthat it is designed to protect personnel working in hazardous areas.
There are many types of work situation for which a permit might be required like
Confined space entry, Hot work etc.
(b) Identify THREE types of work that may require a permit-to-work, AND
give the reasons why in EACH case. (6)
(a) Entry into confined, spaces, `hot work', Work on electrical equipment (particularly
live working and/or high voltage systems), Excavation work, Working at height and
Specialist maintenance work (for instance, on process plant).
Confined spaces are deadly spaces such as boilers, vaults, tanks etc., where there
are hazards such as oxygen depletion or enrichment possibility causing
asphyxiation, risk of being engulfed by toxic gases like carbon monoxide or
hydrogen sulphide, as well as flammable gases may be present leading to risk of
explosion or fire so, a PTW will check all these conditions and ensure that the
risks are adequately controlled
(b) In the excavation work deep excavations of more than 1.2 m deep similar
confined space hazard situations can be expected putting the personnel in
danger, plus there is a serious risk of getting buried under the sand due to cave-in
or collapse which may lead to fatalities or serious consequences. In addition,
damage to underground services buried utilities which may pose additional risks
such as explosion due to rupture of a damaged gas pipeline or HT cable damage
may lead to electrocution, ruptured water line may lead to flooding etc.

(c) Working on and around High Voltage equipment or power lines poses serious
threat of electrocution and severe consequences thereof. Therefore, PTW is
required to overcome such situation where adequate precautions are tested and
listed, checked and ensured before start of work, monitored during work, and the
area rendered safe after the work.
(d) Hot work if done unchecked or unmonitored , may lead to fire and explosion
thereof due to the flying hot molten slags and debris or heating up a particular
area or bulkhead where heat may transmit to other remote objects due to
convection or radiation, as well as those in contact with due to conduction process
leading to fire or explosion. So, a PTW is needed to check and control the risk
4. Outline the initial actions that should be taken following a major injury
accident at work (8)
INITIAL ACTIONS FOLLOWING AN ACCIDENT
First aid for injured party
Calling medical assistance if necessary
Isolating services where required
Make area safe and secure by installing barricade / barriers
Isolation of the accident scene
Implement emergency plan
Report to enforcing authority by the quickest practicable means
Informing management
Informing next of kin of the victim
Collecting initial evidence such as photographing the scene, sketches etc.
Identification of witnesses
Finally, setting up the accident investigation
5.
Explain the reasons for considering Personal Protective Equipment as the
last line of defence in combating risk. (8)
After ERIC only PD That is after trying to eliminate or avoid hazards, reduce or
substitute work or material by less hazardous means like using low voltage tools, isolate
or contain hazards like guarding machines etc., and controlling hazards through
engineering and management ways, we should try to use PPE as an additional control
measure not the primary one. First Safe place and then the safe person .
It is a legal requirement that other means of control are considered first. PPE may not
provide adequate protection because of poor selection, poor fit, incompatibility with
other types of PPE, contamination and misuse or non-use by employees. PPE is likely to
be uncomfortable and relies for its effectiveness on a conscious action by the user. Its
use can actually create additional risks (for instance, warning sounds masked by hearing
protection).
6. Identify possible influences on an organisations health and safety
management standards. (8)
The possible influences on an organisations health and safety standards are both
internal and external. Internal influences are:

1) Production demands If high, low safety standards and vice versa

2) Management commitment- Positive influence on Health and safety if committed
mgt. Or else poor
3) Communication- Clear lines of communication promotes safety culture.
communication mars it

Poor

4) Competence- Competent employees will comply and work safely. Otherwise, the
effects are negative
5) Employee representation Employee consultation leads to commitment resulting
in co-operation

External influences are:

1) Economic If the economic condition of country is good, safety and health
standards will be high
2) Social Expectations- An awareness in the society will indirectly force the orgn. to
follow safety
3) Legislation If the Law of the land is strict, it will ensure compliance, otherwise
No.
4) Enforcement- Timely inspection and action taken by Enforcing authorities will
improve safety stds.
5) Insurance Companies- Definitely, the insurance companies can greatly influence
H&S stds. In terms of premiums reduction if good H&S procedure / system
followed
6) Trade Unions- A strong Trade union will project the H&S concerns which will
improve safety Stds.
7. Outline with examples, the general hierarchy that should be applied in
order to control health and safety risks in the workplace (8)
Hierarchy of control is a preferred series of measures to control risks in order of
priority starting with elimination and ending with discipline.
E

liminate Hazards: Remove trailing cable

educe / Substitute Hazards: Use lower voltage tools

solate Hazards: Guard dangerous machinery

ontrol Hazards: Reduce time/frequency of exposure

ersonal Protective Equipment: Issue PPE

iscipline: ITIS; Enforce rules and procedures

8.

AN organisation has had increase in the number of WRULDs

injuries/incidents and associated ill-health.
IDENTIFY sources of
information that may be available to help reduce the risks to the workers

The sources of the information that may be available to help reduce the risks to the
workers are:
Health Surveillance Reports; PAST Medical History of those affected
First Aid Room Registers
Any Specialised Scan, Lab Tests, X-Ray Reports from medical Labs / Clinics
The Equipment user Manual To check the Safety/ Health Warnings /usage instructions
Safety and Health at work regulations ; HSE Bulletins
Specialist Doctors advice and their reports on this issue related to WRULDs
Statement or Symptoms or health complaints told by workers
Previous Medical / Clinical reports of workers on the same issue to match with the
current new workers symptoms and compare to analyse the issues
9.

Identify the key elements of H&S Management System (8)

Policy states managements intentions and sets clear aims, objectives and targets.
Organising for health and safety by allocating responsibilities and establishing effective
communication and commitment at all levels established.
Planning and implementing, where practical plans are developed to meet the objectives
and effective control measures introduced based on risk assessment. Proactive and
reactive monitoring systems should be introduced .
Measure performance in health and safety and a system of review established to
evaluate the performance against the objectives and targets, to consider options for
improvement and to reset targets.
Review would be reinforced by an independent and structured audit of all parts of the
system, which would assess compliance with health and safety management procedures
and identify where existing standards are inadequate or deficient.
Audit systematically critical examination of each stages of an organisation management
system and procedures.
10.

An organisation has been found to have inadequate standards of

workplace health and safety. Identify the costs that the organisation
may incur as a result. (8)

COSTS OF Inadequate Health and safety management system will result in Increasing
Accident and ill health which would incur the following additional costs to be faced /
BORNE by an organisation -

Accident investigation costs

Payments for non productive time (injured persons)
Payments for non productive time (witnesses, First-aiders investigators, clearing
up etc.)
Replacement labour (probably less effective)
Training for replacement labour
Business interruption / disruption Work stoppages
Overtime payments
Loss of reputation
Damage repair; Replacement plant
Compensation payments. Legal costs and fees and Insurance
11.
Why an organisation should set H& S targets. Identify health and safety
targets of an organisation that an organisation can set. (8)
TARGETS specify specific performance requirements.
The importance to an organization for setting targets are: it Gives evidence of
management commitment and motivates staff by giving them something tangible to aim
for.
Targets can be reduction of accidents or achieve Zero Accidents, Reduce the sickness
absences, Reduce the insurance claims , reduce the occupational diseases, increase the
number of people trained in health and safety, improve audit scores, improve near miss
reporting and the reporting of minor accidents etc.