NEBOSH International

Certificate

Day 4
 Programme for Today
• HSG65 – a Safety Management System
(continued):

- Measuring Performance.
- Active Monitoring.
- Audits.
• Risk Assessment.
• Safe Systems of Work.
• Permits-to-Work.
 Crown copyright material is reproduced
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HSG65 Elements
of Successful Policy
Health & Safety
Management
Organising

Planning &
Implementing

Measuring
Performance
 Measuring Performance
Comparison of Achievements Against Targets

Active Systems Reactive Systems

• Spot and routine • Accident investigation.
checks.
• Accident and ill-health
• Formal inspections. trend analysis.
• Statutory tests.
• Pattern analysis.
• Safety audits.
 Syndicate Group Exercise

• In your groups, list the topic headings

that should be included on an
inspection checklist for use in your
workplace.

• Sketch out a rough format for the

inspection checksheet.
 Inspections

How useful are inspection

checksheets?

How frequently should formal

inspections be carried out?
 Other Monitoring Methods
• Safety sampling:
– Quantitative, short duration and repeated.
– Gives an indication of accident potential.
• Safety tour:
– Focus on one topic area, e.g. fire safety.
• Safety survey:
– In-depth examination of one issue.
 Proactive/Active Monitoring
Definitions:

1. Safety Inspections

Routine scheduled inspection to make an immediate

check on standards.

2. Safety Sampling

Organised system of regular random sampling by

systematic recording of hazard situations observed
during inspections made along predetermined routes.
Proactive/Active Monitoring
3. Safety Tours
Housekeeping inspection of short duration,
performed weekly or monthly.

4. Safety Surveys
Detailed examination of a particular safety issue.

5. Safety Audits
Every area of an organisation is subject to a
thorough and systematic critical examination.
Purpose of Monitoring – Summary

To answer questions, such as:

• How are we doing?

• Are we achieving objectives?
• Are we complying with international, national
legal, and company standards?
• Are we improving or getting worse?
• Are there weaknesses in our management systems?
• Are staff still committed and interested?
• Where must we improve?
Health and Safety Benchmarking

It is a reference point – it means

comparing to a standard.

The process is about continuously

learning from others.

Examining the organisation’s

strengths and weaknesses.
Health and Safety Benchmarking

Step 1 - Deciding what to benchmark

Step 2 - Analysing where you are.

Step 3 - Selecting partners.

Step 4 - Working with your partner.

Step 5 - Learning and acting on

lessons learned.
HSG65 Elements
of Successful Policy
Health & Safety
Management
Organising

Audit Planning &

Implementing

Measuring
Performance

Reviewing
Performance
 Reviewing Performance
This is the periodic internal
assessment of performance
against targets.
• Are we on target?
• If not – why not?
• What do we have to
change?
HSG65 Elements
of Successful Policy
Health & Safety
Management
Organising

Audit Planning &

Implementing

Measuring
Performance

Reviewing
Performance
 Auditing

Key features of an audit:

• Independent.
• Systematic.
• Comprehensive
(covers all aspects).
• Objective.
• Evidence-based.
 Audit
• Provides confirmation that health and safety
systems are in place and are effective.
• Provides evidence of legal compliance.
• Reports on non-fulfilment of obligations.
• Encourages continuous improvement in the
safety management system.

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 Auditing

Which is better, internal or external auditing?

 Syndicate Group Exercise

• In your groups, list all of the topic

areas that you think should be
included in a comprehensive H&S
audit of your workplace.
• Pick five of these topics and for each
of these, discuss how an auditor could
go about discovering and verifying the
standards in your workplace.
 Audit Areas
• Safety policy and organisation.
• Safety committee and representatives.
• First-aid and medical facilities.
• Fire and bomb arrangements.
• Crisis management plans.
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• Accident reporting.
• Insurance obligations.
• Staff development and training.
• Risk management.
• Vehicle and passenger safety.
• Work experience/shadowing.
• Hazardous pursuits/visits and outings.
• Safety inspections.
 Audit Areas - continued
• Control of substances hazardous to health.
• Building maintenance.
• Purchasing controls and acquisitions.
• Electricity (fixed and portable equipment).
• Display screen equipment.
• Manual handling.
• Personal protective equipment.
• Health: - smoking, drinking and drug-taking.
- stress and related human factors.
• Pregnant women.
• Radiation.
• Environmental protection and waste management.
NEBOSH International
Certificate

Risk Assessment
 Risk Assessment

Our programme for this section:

• The five steps of risk assessment explained.

• Syndicate group exercise.
 Introduction
What is risk assessment?

“Risk assessment is a simple process

of identifying hazards, evaluating risks
and identifying controls to avoid or
minimise those risks.”
 “Suitable and Sufficient”

• Identifies the significant hazards and risk.

• Proportionate to level of risk:
– Resources.
– Sophistication.
– Advice.
• Anticipates reasonably foreseeable risk.
• Identifies length of time it will be valid.
Qualitative Risk Assessment
Approach recommended for SMEs:
INDG163 HSG183
 The 5 Steps of Risk
Assessment
1. Identify the hazards.

2. Identify the people who might be harmed.

3. Evaluate the risk.

4. Record your findings.

5. Review the assessment as required.

 Step 1 - Identify the Hazards

What is a hazard?
“Something with the potential
to cause harm.”

Can you think of some

examples of hazards?
Step 1 - Identify the Hazards
 Step 1 - Identify the Hazards

• Hazards can be categorised by type:

– Physical.
– Chemical.
– Ergonomic.
– Biological.
– Psychological.
 Step 1 - Identify the Hazards
• Hazards can be identified by:
– Inspections.
– Accident/ill-health records.
– Hazard books.
– Guidance documents/manuals.
– HAZOPs.
– Involvement of others.
Also, Job Safety Analysis.
 Step 2 - Who Might be Harmed

• Which groups of people are at risk?

- Operators.
- Maintenance staff.
- Cleaners.
- Contractors.
- Visitors.
- Members of the public.
- Trespassers.
 Step 2 - Who Might be Harmed

• Are certain groups especially at risk?

– Young people.
– New or expectant mothers.
– People with disabilities.
– Lone workers.
– New starters and temporary staff.
If so, record who they are.
 Step 3 - Evaluate the Risk

What is risk?
It is a measure of the
likelihood of harm
occurring and the
severity of that harm.
 Step 3 - Evaluate the Risk

• Risk is a combination of two factors:

– Likelihood.
– Severity.
 Step 3 - Evaluate the Risk
The risk evaluation can be:
• Qualitative
Uses words to describe likelihood
and severity, e.g. acceptable or
unacceptable.
• Semi-Quantitative
Uses words and numbers to
describe likelihood and severity.
• Quantitative
Uses numbers to describe both
likelihood and severity.
 Step 3 - Evaluate the Risk
Using a scoring system:
Likelihood: Severity:
Almost certain = 3 Fatality/disabling = 3
Likely =2 Three day injury = 2
Very low =1 Minor injury = 1

LxS=?
1 = trivial risk 9 = high risk
 Step 3 - Evaluate the Risk

• What is the likelihood of harm occurring?

• What is the severity of the foreseeable

harm?

• Consider the controls already in place, but

also consider the possibility of failure.
 Step 3 - Evaluate the Risk
Existing Controls
• Safe working
procedures.
• Checks and inspections.
• Training, instruction and
information.
• Signs and alarms.
• Housekeeping.
• Supervision.
• Specialist assessments.
• Personal protective
equipment (PPE).
• Planned preventative
maintenance and testing.
• Environmental controls:
– Light.
– Temperature.
• Guards and barriers.
 Step 3 - Evaluate the Risk
What does national law require?

• Sometimes there are very clear

regulations and codes of
practice to be met.

• Often there is no set standard in

law – “reasonable practicability”
applies.
 Principles of Prevention
• Avoid risk. • Substitute.
• Evaluate, where it • Develop coherent
cannot be avoided. overall policy.
• Combat risk at • Prioritise collective,
source. protective measures
• Adapt work to the over individual,
individual. protective measures.
• Adapt to technical • Instructions.
progress.

Is further action required?

 Step 3 - Evaluate the Risk
The Hierarchy of Control:
• Eliminate hazard - most effective.
• Reduce hazard.
• Isolate hazard from people.
• Control extent of exposure/contact.
• Personal protective equipment.
• Discipline (SSW, information, training,
supervision and enforcement) - least effective.

Remember ERIC Prevents Death!

Step 4 - Record Your Findings

Record:
• The significant hazards.
• The existing controls.
• Those at risk.
• Further actions necessary.
 Step 4 - Record Your Findings
Risk Likelihood
Very Likely 3
Severity
Major injury 3
Dept. Assessors:
Assessment Date:
Record
Likely 2 Lost time 2 Area Review date:
Unlikely 1 Minor 1
or
Task:
Hazard Who might be Existing L S Risk Rating What further action is
harmed? Controls (LxS) required?
Step 5 - Review of Assessment
• Assessments must be reviewed if:
– There is reason to suspect it is
no longer valid.
– There has been a significant
change.
• It is best practice to review
assessments periodically.
The 5 Steps of Risk Assessment
1. Identify the hazards.
2. Identify the people
who might be harmed.
3. Evaluate the risk.
4. Record your findings.
5. Review the assessment
as required.
Use of a Photocopier
 Syndicate Group Exercise

Using the scenario you have been given,

complete a risk assessment for the
workplace described.

Document your assessment.

You have 30 minutes.

 Alternative
Syndicate Group Exercise
• In your groups, carry out a risk
assessment on an area here.
• Use Steps 1 to 4.
• Use a quantitative scoring system.
• Present your findings to the other
groups in 20 minutes.
 Exam Question
(a) State the circumstances under which an
employer must establish a health and safety
committee. (2 marks)

(b) Give six reasons why a health and safety

committee may prove ineffective in practice.
(6 marks)

(Source: NEBOSH)
NEBOSH International
Certificate

Safe Systems of Work

 Safe Systems of Work
“A formal procedure which results from a
systematic examination of a task, in order
to identify all of the hazards. It defines safe
methods to ensure that hazards are
eliminated or risk minimised.”

Safe systems of work are pre-planned and

enforced methods for performing routine and
non-routine work safely, which take into account
the capabilities of the individuals doing the work
and the human factors which might arise.
 Developing a SSW
Remember S-R-E-D-I-M
Select the task.
Record the stages of the operation.
Evaluate the risks at each stage.
Develop safe method.
Implement safe method.
Monitor.
 Safe Systems of Work
When developing SSW consider:
• Materials and substances:
– Hazards to health.
– Handling - mechanical or manual.
• Equipment and plant:
– Guarding on machinery.
• Environment:
– Lighting and slippery floors.
• People:
– Competence and young people.
 Syndicate Group Exercise
• Using the scenarios you have been
given develop a safe system of work
for the jobs outlined.
• Document your SSW as a set of
simple-to-follow instructions.
• You have 20 minutes.
 Presentation of SSWs

• Language?
• Level of detail?
• Format?
• Flexibility?
NEBOSH International
Certificate

Permits-to-Work
 Permits-to-Work
“These are formal documents specifying
work to be done and precautions to be
taken. Work can only start when safe
procedures have been defined and put into
place. The permit provides a clear written
record, signed by a responsible officer, that
all forseeable hazards have been
considered and all necessary actions have
been taken. It must be in the possession of
the person in charge of the operation
before work can commence.”
 Permits-to-Work
“Operations mostly relate
to maintenance work
which can only be carried
out if normal safeguards
are dropped. It can also
include certain types of
routine work which
demands that special
precautions are taken.”