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 organisation’s health and safety management standards. (8)

The possible influences on an organisation’s 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. Poor communication mars it

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

R educe / Substitute Hazards: Use lower voltage tools

I solate Hazards: Guard dangerous machinery

C ontrol Hazards: Reduce time/frequency of exposure

P ersonal Protective Equipment: Issue PPE

D 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 Doctor’s 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 management’s 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.