September 2009

Examiners Report
NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety - IGC2
Question 1
a. Identify FOUR hazards associated with maintenance operations on machinery in the
workplace. (4)
Contact with dangerous moving parts of the machinery;
Electricity;
Stored energy such as heat or pressure;
Contact with gases, fumes and vapours and exposure to radiation and biological
agents;
Manual handling of heavy machine parts or tools;
Noise and vibration and working at height or in confined spaces.
b. Give FOUR examples of how a worker could be injured when carrying out maintenance
operations on an item of machinery in the workplace. (4)
Contact with moving parts of the machine;
Contact with live electrical components;
Contact with hot surfaces causing burns;
Being overcome by emissions of gas or vapours;
Contact with high pressure fluid and falling from a height or on the same level.
c. Outline measures to be taken to minimise the risk of injury during the maintenance of
machinery. (12)
Designing the machine where possible to reduce the need to remove guards for
routine maintenance and lubrication;
To operate a permit to work system which would help to ensure that electrical power
to the machine was isolated and locked off, and all pipelines leading to the machine
were similarly isolated;
To release stored energy and to allow sufficient time for the machinery to cool down
before maintenance starts.
Where necessary, means of access such as a scaffold may have to be erected and
barriers and warning signs placed round the machinery to advise workers that
maintenance work was in progress.
Use only skilled and competent personnel in possession of specialised tools where
required, to carry out the work;
To provide them with personal protective equipment such as head protection, eye
protection and harnesses;
To ensure adequate standards of lighting and ventilation in the work area and to
arrange for the work to be properly supervised.
Plan and schedule the work.
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Question 2
Outline factors to be considered when carrying out a manual handling assessment of the work
undertaken by baggage handlers at a large, busy airport. (8)
Structure answers under the headings of task, individual, load and environment:
Postural issues such as the need to stoop and twist,
The frequency and duration of the physical effort required,
The need to move the loads quickly to meet scheduled departures,
The distance that loads might have to be carried
The height to be lifted to place bags on to the conveyor.
With respect to the load, reference can be made to:
The variable weights of items of baggage which would not carry weight markings
Bulky and unwieldy baggage such as golf clubs or skis
The possibility of movement of a bags contents because of unsatisfactory packing
The slippery nature of some of the packaging material used which would prevent the
handlers from obtaining a good grip on the load
Factors associated with the individual would be:
Stature
Fitness Levels
Training
Experience
Environmental factors would relate to:
Possible space constraints
The condition of floors
The temperatures where the handlers might have to work
The standard of lighting provided
The weather conditions
Question 3
Identify factors that may indicate a need for health surveillance of workers in a workplace. (8)

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The requirements of legislation, codes of practice and guidance;

The work activity involving contact with, for example, lead or asbestos;
Changes in the work activity;
As a result of a risk assessment;
Ill-health records including those of first aid treatments and absence records;
The results of monitoring or workplace inspections;
Job fitness standards and evidence of pre-existing conditions;

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Complaints from workers and as a result of consultation with the workforce.

Question 4
A large office is open to the public for enquiries and the risk assessment has shown a significant
risk of violence to workers from visitors.
Outline measures that the employer could take to reduce the risk. (8)

The design of the workplace

Public areas to restrict access;
The use of security equipment such as cctv, alarm systems and personal alarms and
panic buttons;
Secure areas with coded locks and physical barriers and the use of check-in and
check-out procedures for visitors;
The use of trained security staff; keeping the area free of anything that could be used
as a potential weapon;
Introducing procedures for the reporting of incidents;
Posting signs warning of the action that would be taken in cases of violence
Providing workers with training in confrontation management and stress reduction
techniques.

Question 5
A portable electric drill for use on a construction site needs periodic inspection and testing to
ensure it is safe to operate.
Identify the factors that would determine the frequency of the inspection and testing. (8)

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The extent and conditions of use; the age and robustness of the equipment;
The intrinsic safety features of the equipment such as double insulation and low
voltage;
User checks and the number of problems reported;
The number and competency of the users;
Manufacturers recommendations
Best practice guidance;
Foreseeable misuse or abuse
The results of previous tests and inspections.

Question 6
The manager of an industrial unit containing a number of offices and workshops has just
completed a risk assessment and is to develop a fire plan.
Identify the factors that should be addressed in the fire plan. (8)

The action workers should take if they discover a fire;

The system for raising the alarm and notifying the fire service;
The escape routes and travel distances and the provision of fire exit route signs;
The provision of emergency lighting; the provision and siting of firefighting
equipment;
The identification of an assembly point and the procedures for taking a roll call;
The appointment of and delegation of specific responsibilities to marshals and door
wardens;
The arrangements for workers with disabilities and for non-workers;
The location of service shut down switches and valves and the arrangements for
stopping and isolating machinery and plant in the event of a fire;
The training required for all workers and that for those with special responsibilities
and coordination and cooperation with other employers who might be affected if a
fire occurred.

Question 7
Identify possible causes of a mobile crane overturning on a construction site. (8)

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Failure to set the crane on a level footing,

Siting it on poor and unconsolidated ground
Failing to distribute the weight of the crane by providing adequate timber beneath
outriggers.
Additional factors affecting stability would be:
Condition of the tyres,
Mechanical or hydraulic failure,
Overloading, incorrect slinging resulting in an unstable load,
Operating when winds were too strong
Driver error such as slewing too quickly, causing an abrupt movement of the jib,
Travelling with a load over poor terrain and colliding with structures,
Overhead cables or another vehicle.

Question 8
a. Identify activities on a construction site that may expose workers to cement or material
containing cement. (3)

Opening dry cement bags

Disposing of the old bags;
Shovelling dry and mixing wet cement;
Pouring wet cement into voids or foundations;
Levelling wet cement;
Laying bricks, blocks or paving.

b. Identify the harmful effects to workers which could result from contact with cement. (5)

Irritation or inflammation of the eyes,

Dermatitis whether contact or sensitising,
Irritation to the nose and throat,
Respiratory irritation and chest complaints,
Cement burns or ulcers from contact with wet cement,
Silicosis if exposed to silica in cement or cement products
Possibility of musculoskeletal injuries as a result of lifting and carrying bags of
cement.

Question 9
a. Identify FOUR types of ionising radiation. (4)
Alpha particles
Beta particles
Gamma radiation
X-ray
Bremsstrahlung
b. Outline the main control measures for ionising radiation. (4)
Shielding, for example with lead or perspex;
Segregation by increasing the distance between the source and the person;
Reducing the duration of exposure by worker rotation;
Reducing the strength of the source;
The use of a glove box provided with local exhaust ventilation;
The use of appropriate personal protective equipment such as an apron;
The introduction of procedures for monitoring and health surveillance.

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Question 10
a. Identify possible routes of entry of biological organisms into the body. (4)
Inhalation,
Injection,
Absorption through the skin for example through cuts and grazes,
Exchange of body fluids and ingestion.
b. Outline control measures that could be used to reduce the risk of infection from
biological organisms. (4)
Cleaning and disinfecting;
The use of personal protective equipment such as respiratory protection and aprons
and gloves;
Engineering controls such as containment for example in glove boxes provided with
local exhaust ventilation and the use of microbiological safety cabinets;
The introduction of procedures for the disposal of waste;
The prohibition of eating or drinking in the work area;
Vermin control;
Procedures for site monitoring and health surveillance;
Immunisation
Good standard of personal hygiene.
Question 11
a. Identify FOUR hazards that can cause trips or slips. (4)
Floor being poorly maintained with damage to carpets, linoleum and tiles;
Changes in level caused by ramps, slopes or kerbs;
Slippery surfaces caused by oil or water with the spillages being left in place and not
cleaned up;
Ice and snow;
Highly polished surfaces such as marble or slate;
Dusty surfaces;
The wearing of inappropriate footwear;
General obstructions in walkways such as trailing cables, pipes and uncollected
rubbish.
b. Identify control measures that can be used to reduce the risk of slips and trips. (4)
Maintaining the surface condition of the walkways;
Replacing damaged carpet, linoleum and tiles;
Using anti-slip flooring materials;
Highlighting changes in level with hazard warning strips;
Providing good lighting;
Introducing procedures for cleaning up liquid spillages and dust, debris and waste;
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Introducing a regime of regular inspection

Encouraging the wearing of appropriate footwear.