Unit IGC1: Suggested Answers to Revision Questions

Element 3: Health and Safety Management Systems 2 - Organising

Question 1
An employer owes a duty to his own employees, other people (both workers and non-workers) who may be in his
workplace, other workers who may be carrying out work on his behalf outside of his workplace and other people who may
be outside his workplace but affected by his undertaking.

Question 2
The two general duties of employees are:

• To take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of other persons who may be affected by their acts or
omissions at work.

• To co-operate with the employer so far as is necessary to enable the employer to fulfil his legal obligations.

Question 3
It would depend on the terms of the tenancy agreement. Responsibility lies with the person who may be said to control
that particular aspect of the premises.

Question 4
All people involved in the design, manufacture and supply of articles and substances, insofar as it relates to their own role,
should:

• Ensure that the articles and substances are safe and without risks to health.

• Carry out any necessary tests.

• Provide end-users with information about the article/substance (this might cover intended use, limitations and inherent
hazards as well as how to use it properly).

Question 5
In general terms, the client would be responsible for the workplace and environment, and the contractor for the job that
they are carrying out. Both parties would be responsible for the health and safety of their own workers, but they would also
be responsible for the health and safety of other people who might be affected by their work. So the contractor would be
responsible for the safety of the client’s employees if they were carrying out work that might injure the client’s employees;
and the client might be partly responsible for the safety of members of the public if they might be injured by the work that
the contractors were carrying out.

Question 6
Your definition should cover the main points given in the element:

• Safety culture is the shared attitudes, values, beliefs and behaviours relating to health and safety, or

• Safety culture is the way that all the people within an organisation think and feel about health and safety and how this
translates into behaviour.

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 Unit IGC1: Suggested Answers to Revision Questions

Question 7
Through the influence of peer group pressure. This is the process by which social groups form in the workplace, group
behaviour is established, and then social pressure is exerted to force individuals to comply with the group behaviour. There
will usually be one or more group leaders who influence the group to a very high degree.

Question 8
Perceptual distortion occurs when something is not recognised for what it is. The brain does not correctly interpret
information. This can arise as a result of illness, inexperience, poor education and training, drugs and alcohol, fatigue, etc.

Question 9
No. Feedback opportunities may help, but are not essential. Most written communication is one way and this does not
make that form of communication ineffective; it simply means that the message must be carefully worded to ensure clear
understanding.

Question 10
The following table shows the advantages and disadvantages of the two forms of communication.

Advantages Disadvantages
Permanent record Expensive

More careful Impersonal

Written

compilation
Lack of feedback
Widely distributed may lead to
with ease misunderstandings
Immediate Time-consuming and
provision of expensive
information
Not permanent
Oral

Immediate
feedback Opportunities for
misinformation
Personal and direct

Question 11
Mostly they are incorporated into safety signs.

Question 12
To set out the general rules to be followed for safe movement around the workplace and what to do in the event of a fire
or emergency. These are the priorities. The induction training can then move on to other topics.

Question 13
There are various times when training should be provided:

• When people first start a job where specific rules and procedures need to be followed.

• When there are significant changes to work equipment, substances or activities.

• Refresher training.

• After an accident or near miss.

• When the law or standards change.

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 Unit IGC1: Suggested Answers to Revision Questions

Question 14
The main objective of an emergency procedure is to ensure the safety and health of staff and others who might be
affected by the emergency. In some instances minimising other losses associated with the emergency will also be a priority.
Preventing an escalation of the emergency may also be important.

Question 15
Fire or explosion; bomb threat; release or spillage of a hazardous substance.

Question 16
Hazards in the workplace; general risk level; accident history; number of workers; specific work processes; geographic
spread of the workplace; geographic location of the workplace and proximity to the emergency services; vulnerable groups
in the workplace; presence of members of the public.

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