NEBOSH IGC Summary week 1

Element 1:- Foundations in Health and Safety

Health: - absence of diseases, PLUS physical, mental & social well
being.
Safety: - Absence of uncontrolled hazards, unacceptable or significant
risk.
Welfare: - Looking after peoples basic needs; providing welfare facilities
such as : food, water, accommodation & bathrooms
Environmental protection: - measure used to prevent harm to the
environment of the workplace & to the surroundings of the organisation
& the whole world including air, water, land and natural resources,flora,
fauna and human beings and their inter-relationships.
Hazard: - Something with the potential to cause loss or harm of any kind
such as: injury to people / damage to equipment.
Example: Electricity, Welding machine, Noise, or Vibration
Risk: - Combination of the likelihood of harm to occur and the severity of
that harm this harm could be injury to people or damage to equipment
(Risk = Likelihood X Severity)
Example: Working at heights, Confined space entry or Welding
Accident: - An unwanted, unplanned event which results in a Loss
of any kind such as: injury to people, damage to equipment
Example: An employee tripped over a cable, fell down & broke his leg.
Occupational Accident: - An unwanted & unplanned event which
results in a Loss or harm of any kind such as: injury to people, damage
to equipment AND IT HAPPENED OUT OF OR IN THE COURSE OF
WORK.
Example: An employee tripped over a cable INSIDE THE WORKPLACE
fell down and broke his leg.
Incident/Near miss: - An unwanted & unplanned event that had the
potential to result in a loss of any kind such as: injury to people or
damage to equipment, BUT it didnt result in ANY kind of loss.
Example: An employee tripped over a cable, fell down BUT without any
injuries or any loss happening at all.
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Dangerous Occurrence/HiPo: - An unwanted, unplanned event that

had a HIGH potential to cause a SEVERE loss of any kind such as:
severe injury, death to people or severe damage to equipment BUT it
didnt result in ANY kind of loss what so ever.
Example: big load dropping from a crane just missing a large group of
workers without any injuries to them & without any damage to the load
or the crane.
Why manage health & safety (Reasons for maintaining good
standard of health & safety in any organisation) MLF
o Moral reasons:
Duty of care : it is the duty / responsibility of the employer to
protect the employees from any harm by providing safe work
place (to improve morale / motivation and to Reduce / prevent
suffering of the employees caused by accidents and ill health as 2
million employees die every year from occupational accidents &
ill-health and hundreds of millions suffer injuries and diseases)
o Legal & Social reasons:
- Its a legal requirement & social expectation to manage health &
Safety
- To avoid prosecutions & legal actions against the Company
Such as fines, penalties & emprisonment
o Financial reasons:
To reduce / prevent COSTS of accidents such as:
1- Stopping the work / lost working time / work delays
2- Loss of products & raw material
3- Compensation payment to the injured person
4- Repairs & replacement of damaged equipment,
5- Replacement & retraining injured workers
6- Medical expenses e.g first aid, hospitalization & surgical
operations
7- Legal expenses e.g. lawyers fees, fines & penalties 8Sick leave payment
9- Extra wages, overtime payments, temporary workers
10- Cleaning & repairing the site / plant
11- Decreased productivity due to the decreased morale of
the employees
12- Cost & time of accident investigation 13Increase of insurance premiums,
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14-

Loss of business reputation losing future contracts,

Customers & clients

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Latency Period:
Over the next 25 years; 250,000 UK employees are expected to die
following asbestos exposure.
So, the latency period is the period of time between the initial exposure
to the hazardous substance (asbestos) and when the effect takes place
e.g. cancer or death
Laws: - Civil and Criminal
Aims (Objectives):Civil law: - to compensate an individual / organisation for loss suffered
such as injury, death or damage to property
Criminal law: - To punish individuals / Organisation for behaving in a
way that society has decide is unacceptable, punishment could be fines,
penalties imprisonment or even death
Fault Liability civil law (3 standard conditions required to win a
case of negligence against an employer)
1- Duty of care owed by the defendant (employer) to the claimant
( the injured party / employee): its the duty of the company to
care about their workers and protect them from harm by providing
safe work place
2- This duty of care was breached: the company didnt provide
reasonable care / enough protection for their workers e.g. didnt
provide the required PPE such as googles
3- This breach caused the loss: an evidence (such as medical
report) should prove that the loss suffered was caused by that
breach
No Fault Liability civil law:
Its assumed that the employer is liable and compensation is paid
accordingly.

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Frameworks for regulating the Health & Safety (3 legal models)

1- European model (Goal Setting)
2- American model (Prescriptive)
3- Common model by the ILO (producing conventions &
recommendations)
Reasons for Variation of level of enforcement between countries
(Reasons for difference in legal implementation)
o Different legal systems & standards
o Different laws & legislations
o Varying degree of reporting to enforcing authorities
o Different penalties for violations
o Religious beliefs, level of education & cultural issues o
Funding & other resources of enforcement authority o
Competence & number of enforcers
o Degree of monitoring
o Political pressure
o Corruption in the society

Sources of Information:
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

Internal
Risk assessments & JSA
Policies & procedures
Audit / Inspection reports
Health and safety committee
Health & Safety practitioners e.g. advisors
Health & Safety representatives
Workers & supervisors
Maintenance logs
Training records
Accident, incident & ill health records

o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

External
Government bodies
National safety organisations
Suppliers, Designers and manufacturers
Consultants, experts and specialists
Insurance companies
Trade unions
Internet
Laws & local legislations

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o International standards e.g. OSHA, HASAWA, EU (European

Union) and publications by HSE (Health & Safety Executive)

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Element 2:- Health & Safety management

systems 1 - Policy
o Components (elements) of the health & safety management
system
o Successful Management Systems: HSG 65 / OHSAS 18001
POPIMAR
1) Policy:- A business plan for health & safety to prevent / reduce loss in
the organisation
- Consisting of 3 sections (Statement of intent, Organisation &
Arrangements)
2) Organising:o Identify Channels of communication within the organisation (chain
of command: who is reporting to whom)
o Identify the health & safety roles & responsibilities of everyone in
the company e.g. job descriptions (5Cs: Competence,
Commitment , Control, Co-operation, Communication)
3) Planning 4) Implementation: - Identify hazards, assessing risks,
and decide how risks can be eliminated or controlled, and Set
standards against which performance can be measured.
This should be implemented & enforced all over the organisation
5) Monitoring (Measuring performance):- to determine the extent
to which health & safety policy and its objectives are being
implemented, Monitoring should be both reactive e.g. Accident
investigation and proactive e.g. Audits
6) Audit:- Systematic examination of the whole health & safety
management system to ensure UAE , using 3 evidences:
inspections (physical observation), documents checks & staff
interviews
7) Review:- Analysing data gathered through monitoring to see
whether performance is adequate or not, developing the action
plan and recommendations needed for improvements

Also see the diagram

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What is a health and Safety policy: - A business plan for health &
safety to prevent / reduce loss in an organisation.
The policy is consisting of 3 sections or elements
1) Statement of intent:- Its a legal requirement to have a written
statement establishing the importance of health and safety in the
organisation; one side of A4 page, usually dated and must be
signed by the most senior manager:
Showing the management commitment to continual
improvement of health & safety
Providing the general health & safety objectives of the
organisation
2) Organisation: Identify the health & safety roles and responsibilities of
everyone in the organisation ; who does what (e.g. Job
descriptions)
Identify the channels of communication within the
organisation ; who is reporting to whom (e.g. organisational
chart)
3) Arrangements: - How the policy will be implemented :
The practical means for achieving the Health & Safety objectives
identified in the policy statement.
Contents of Arrangements Section
Risk assessments
Inspections & audits (Frequency & the form used)
Emergency response plan (Evacuation / emergency procedures & drills)
Permit to work
Confined space entry
Driving
Hot work
Safe use of DSE
Management of contractors
Safety of visitors
Hazardous chemicals policy
Substance abuse / alcohol & drugs policy
Working at heights
Training
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

When to review the Policy / Reasons to review the policy

(The 4 points)
1- If the policy is no longer valid e.g. after a major or repeated
accident or ill health
2- Following a significant change e.g. new activity, new working
method, new technology used or new tool / equipment, new
information becomes available, new management (CEO) and
new legislation in the country.
3- As a result of monitoring or reviewing performance i.e. if
recommended by an Audit, enforcer or insurance company.
4- Periodically; after a reasonable period of time e.g. annually.

Causes of Ineffective policy

No management commitment
No objectives set to implement policy
Health and safety not given priority
Resources not provided to implement action e.g. financial, time,
or competent people
o Aims and objectives not understood by employees o
Too much emphasis on employee responsibilities o
No measurement that objectives are being met
o Management unaware of their health and safety role
o No management training to achieve the policy objectives
o No review for the policy (whether periodically or when needed
after any change)
o
o
o
o

Element 3:- Health & Safety management

systems 2 - Organising
Duties of Employers (Duty of care)
1- Duty of care: Providing Safe working environment i.e. safe access
and egress , Safe systems of work , Safe plant and equipment
2- Providing it is (Information , Training , Instructions & Supervision) 3Consultation with the employees (getting feedback)
4- Providing Welfare facilities e.g. food, drinking water, bathrooms ,
& accommodation
5- Providing adequate Emergency procedures & equipment
6- Providing Suitable PPE and not charging the employees for them
Duties of employees
1- Duty of care towards themselves and towards their colleagues i.e.
not to put themselves or their colleagues at risk.
2- Attend training sessions provided by the employer and follow their
instructions.
3- Cooperate actively with each other & with their employer AND
Report any incident or accident happening in the workplace.
4- Using the welfare facilities in a good way and keep them in a
good condition.
5- Follow the emergency procedures and participate in any practices
or drills planned by the employer.
6- Using the PPE and the equipment in the same way they were
trained for, maintain them and keep them in a good condition.
Duties of Designers, Manufacturers and Suppliers
o Ensure equipment & substances are safe and without risks when
being used
o Deliver the product on time and per the clients specifications
o Carry out any necessary tests, researches and update the client
o Provide information e.g. Manuals & MSDS
o Provide training and maintenance if needed and take reasonable
steps to provide further information if new serious risks appear
Responsibilities of Health & Safety Advisors
o Be competent enough to do their job (properly trained & qualified) o
Maintain adequate information systems, training, risk assessment o
Be able to interpret the law applying to their organisation in order
to give the legal advice to the management
o Establish and maintain procedures for reporting, investigating,
recording and analysing accidents and incidents
o Have good relationships inside & outside the organisation (with
enforcing authorities, insurance company, contractors,
consultants, clients, customers, media & members of public)

Management of Contractors (5 steps)

1- Select the suitable contractor : considering factors such as
2- Plan the job: deciding the scope of work , duration of the job,
number & type of equipment and tools used in the job, duration of
the job & policies and standards used in the job)
3- Control contractor on site: by keeping open channels of
communication with the contractor such as radio, phone calls,
emails or having a client representative on site with the
contractor.
4- Checking contractors work: measuring the performance of the
contractor by carrying out regular audits & inspections by
competent people.
5- Review contractors performance: Producing action plan with
recommendations for improvements, assigned to responsible
persons to be followed up within a time frame.
Factors considered when selecting the suitable Contractor
o Experience in the type of work and industry
o Competence of the workers
o Suitable references / Reputation among previous & current
customers
o History of Enforcement
o Quality and content of Health & Safety policy
o Accident and ill-health records
o Records of equipments maintenance
o Membership of trade/professional bodies
o Arrangements for selecting their sub-contractors
o Risk assessments and safe system of work for the activities
o Insurance

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Health & Safety culture is The product of individual and group

values, attitudes, competencies and patterns of behaviour that
determine the commitment to, and the style and proficiency of, an
organisation's health and safety programmes
Benefits of a positive culture
Increased levels of compliance with rules and procedure
Increased staff morale
Reduced staff complaints
Reduced staff turnover
Reduced absenteeism
Reduced sickness and accident rates
Factors that may lead to Negative culture
Job insecurity
Reorganisation
Poor example set by management
Poor management decision making
Inadequate supervision
Poor working conditions
Internal influences on Health and safety
Competence
Commitment and Control
Co-operation
Communication
Production/service demands
External Influences on Health and Safety
Society expectations
Political priorities
Legislation and enforcement
National or International agencies
Pressure groups
Insurance Companies
Workers unions
Stakeholders
Economic conditions

Good Health & Safety performance is depending mainly on

Hardware (Safe equipment)
Software (Safe working procedures - SSOW)
Human factor (Safe competent worker)
Human behaviour is influenced & affected by
Organizational factors (health & safety culture of the company,
management commitment, Policy & adequate resources)
Job Factors (Type of work, hazards, time pressure, work load,
time, duration & frequency of the job)
Individual factors
Individual Factors
Physical characters (Age, height, health condition, disability And
sensory defects)
Social & cultural characters (Language, level of education, health
& safety culture and religious believes)
Psychological characters
Psychological characters

Attitude: - The way an individual believes they will respond in a

given situation

Aptitude: - The natural predisposition towards an ability

Perception: - The way in which a person interprets and makes
sense of presented information from their surroundings using the
5 senses
Factors which may affect perception
o Sensory defects e.g. hearing loss or uncorrected poor eyesight
o The nature of the hazard (hidden or obvious)
o it is / competence of the workers
o Previous experience
o Feeling of being in control / overconfidence / over familiarity
o Peer group pressure
o Confidence in others
o Personal characteristics such as age or disabilities
o Poor environmental factors such as poor lighting
o Being under the influence of Drugs or alcohol
o Fatigue & Exhaustion
o Distractions / lack of concentration

Motivation: - is the driving force behind the way a person

acts in order to achieve a goal
EXAMPLE: financial reward in the form of a bonus
What motivates people?
(Page 14)
Causes of unsafe behaviour / Why person may fail to comply with
safety procedures
o Unrealistic working procedures
o Lack of management commitment
o Over familiarity / over confidence
o Repetitive work leading to boredom
o Lack of motivation
o Peer group pressure
o Work stress / time pressure
o Fatigue and exhaustion
o Being under the influence of drugs & alcohol
o Lack of it is (incompetence & lack of adequate supervision)
o Job insecurity
o Wilful disregard
Human failures:
o Errors
-

Skill based errors: Slips (attention) AND Lapses (memory)

Mistakes: knowledge based mistakes AND rule based mistakes

o Violations (Routine, situational & exceptional)

Reducing human failures:
Automate or mechanise the job
Skilled competent workers (providing it is)
Adequate levels of supervision
Well motivated employees
Clear roles and responsibilities
Clear information and instructions
Drug and alcohol prevention policies
Adequate breaks to avoid fatigue & exhaustion
Good environmental conditions e.g. lighting, noise etc.
Avoiding monotonous work

Promoting Safe behaviour

Discipline
Reward
Informing & Involving the employees
Facilitate
Train
To Promote safe behaviour / improve culture / improve
performance / motivate workforce etc.
o Showing the management commitment (Leading by example)
o Ownership of health and safety at every level
o Effective communication and consultation
o it is for all levels of employee
o Involving the employees in different health & safety activities to
gain knowledge & experience
o Balance between health & safety and production
o Establishing a no blame culture
o Identify clear health & safety responsibilities for everyone
o Setting SMART health & safety objectives for all of the employees
o Learning from experience through monitoring and review
o Providing the required resources
o Job security (satisfaction)
o No blame culture
o Establishing suggestions / complaints scheme
o Rewarding scheme / bonus
o Discipline (NOT MOTIVATING)
Competence
Knowledge (Qualifications)
Abilities (Skills)
Training
Experience
PLUS knowing their limitations

Checks to assess competence

Qualifications & Membership of professional/trade organisations
Level of training
Undertaking written or practical assessments Seeking
references, recommendations or evaluations
When is additional training needed?
Same 4 points mentioned in page 8

Methods of communication
Written
Newsletters
Emails
Meetings minutes
Policies / Standards / codes of practice / Written work instructions
Memos
Notices & notice boards
Oral / Verbal
Team briefings
Induction and other training sessions
Safety committee meetings
Tool box talks
Verbal instructions
Visual / Graphic
Posters
Signs
Videos
Hand signals

Written Communication
Advantages
. Written record (documented)
. Can be referred to
. Can convey complex ideas
. Provide analysis
. Many people in different
locations
. Can clarify or confirm oral
. Forms basis of contracts

Disadvantages
. May not be read
. may be too complex with jargon
. Time to produce and expensive
. Tends to be formal and distant
. Does not provide feedback
. Difficulty to modify
. Does not allow for interaction
& exchange of views

Oral communication
Advantages
. Direct
. Close physical proximity
. Allows for interaction
. Provides instant feedback
. May be more effective
. Allows for contribution

Disadvantages
. No written record
. Difficult to control
. May reduce the quality of
decision making through lack
of time
. Attitude

Visual communication (Posters)

Advantages
- Low cost
- Flexible & could be displayed all over the workplace
- Brief & easily understood by everyone
- Overcoming language barriers
- Used to enforce written instructions
- Constant reminder
- Grab peoples attention if well designed with colours, photos, or
sketches
- Employees could be involved in making the posters
Disadvantages
- Need to be changed on regular basis to maintain attention
- May become soiled or defaced e.g. weather conditions
- Can become out of date
- May be seen as trivialising serious matters
- May alienate people
- Provide no direct way for feedback
- Could be used by some managers to replace proper training
- Could be used by management to shift responsibility to workforce
Barriers to oral / verbal communication
The receiver
o Sensory impairment (hearing loss)
o Learning difficulties o
Lack of experience o
Lack of motivation
o PPE Interference (ear plugs)
The sender / message
o Too much jargon, technical or advanced terms
o Ambiguity of the message
o Too complex / long / boring message
o Incompetence of the sender o
Different language or accent o
Low / monotonous voice
o Lack of feedback
The place
o High noise levels

o Distractions

Rights of Safety Representatives (ILO Convention) C155

o Have full access to all parts of the workplace
o To be able to communicate with all of workers
o Protection from dismissal & other prejudicial measures for
practicing their job
o To contribute to the decision making process in the committee
o Free to contact enforcement agencies
o Contribute to negotiations in health and safety matters in the
company
o Given appropriate training to become competent
o Given reasonable time to exercise their health and safety
functions
Safety Committees Agenda
Study of recent accident/incident reports & statistics
Examination of audit & inspection reports
Visits & reports from enforcing authorities
Reports from workers representatives
Suggestions & complaints raised by the workforce
Assist in the development of policies / procedures
Monitoring the effectiveness of training
Monitoring safety communications
Provide link with the enforcing authority
Health & safety objectives and targets
Recent changes in local legislation or company policies
Rewards & monthly health and safety ceremony
Factors to ensure effective Safety Committee
Right number & mix of members
Adequate authority
Right knowledge and expertise (competent members)
Good communications
Suitable level of formality with effective chairing
Input from outside specialists
Limited individual input
Identified and agreed priorities
Avoid trivial matters
Proactive & reactive meetings
Documented minutes distributed to the workforce
Follow up for the previous meetings recommendations
Ineffective Committee = opposite of the above

Why
o
o
o

young workers are at more risk

Lack of enough experience and training
Not fully developed yet (mentally & physically)
More likely to take risk (perceiving risk as exciting more than
dangerous)
o Easily responding to peer group pressure
o Being over enthusiastic, highly active & full of energy

Contents of Induction training programme for new employees

o Health and safety policy
o Culture of organisation
o Emergency response plan
o Reporting procedures
o Hazards of the workplace
o Alcohol & substance abuse policy
o Welfare facilities
o High risk & restricted areas
o PPE
o Job related training
o Organisational chart & chain of command
o Key personnel (fire warden, first aider, health & safety
representative, health & safety manager)
Factors affecting the level of supervision for new employees
Workers competence
Age
Persons attitude and aptitude
Employees communication skills
Nature and complexity of the task including the hazards
The equipment & tools used in the job
The work environment (weather conditions & environmental factors)
Work conditions (as example if its lone working)
Any special needs they may have
Policy of the company & the work procedures
Local legislations
International standards

Personal factors that might place an individual at greater risk of

harm while at work
- Poor attitude to work
- Low motivation
- Poor Physical capabilities e.g. disability or pregnancy
- Medical problems (ill health or sensory defects)
- Age related factors (young or very old age)
- Poor perception of risk
- Drugs or alcohol problems
- Fatigue & Exhaustion
- Incompetence (poor Levels of training or experience)
Factors to consider when preparing a Health and safety training
- Identify the training needs
- Identify the training objectives
- The target audience & their competence
- Training methods & the competence of the lecturer
- How to evaluate effectiveness of training
- - Number of trainees
- Location
- Time available
- Training aids & facilities required
- Suitability of training facilities, room size etc.

- Course rules and administration

- The skills required by trainer (competence)
- Evaluations

Importance of emergency procedures

All organisations are required to have written emergency procedures to
comply with legal requirements.
Examples of emergency procedures: First aid, medical evacuation,
fire, explosions, bomb threat, man lost, man overboard, chemical
spillage, gas leak, desert storm & other adverse weather conditions.
Aims & functions of first aid:Preserve life of the injured person: Minimise consequences of serious
injury & provide CPR if needed
Prevent deterioration of the case: Treat injuries and stop any bleeding
and lessen effects of medical shock
Promote recovery of the casualty: Reassurance and put in recovery
position
Remember the 3 Ps
Factors to consider in first aid Assessment
o The nature of the work / type of hazards
o The size of the organisation and Number of employees
o Past history of accidents & ill health
o The nature and distribution of the workforce & the need of
travelling, remote or lone workers
o Remoteness of site from emergency medical services
o Shared sites
o Planned and unplanned absence of first aiders due to holidays,
etc...
o Local legislations and legal requirements in the country

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Element 4:- Health & Safety

management systems 3 Planning &
Implementation
Importance of planning & setting SMART objectives:

SMART Objectives & Targets

Specific
Measurable
Agreed
Realistic (Achievable)
Time frame
Risk Assessment is a logical process of collecting information &
making judgments against standards to establish whether or not risks
are adequately controlled
Or Risk Assessment is Evaluating & analyzing the risks arising from
hazards, and checking the existing control measures & identifying
additional controls if needed
5 Steps of Risk Assessment
1- Define the activity & identify the hazards:
Sources used to identify hazards
- Task observation
- Accident, ill-health & near miss records
- Experts & workers carrying out the assessed task
- Workplace inspections, Job safety analysis (JSA)
- Local legislations & legal standards
- Company policies & work procedures
2- Decide who might be harmed and how:
- Consider both employees & non-employees (contractors,
visitors & members of the public)
- Consider groups at special risk (pregnant women, young and
old workers & disabled workers)
3- Evaluate, analyze the risk and check the existing precautions
& control measures:
- Estimate, analyze & rank the risk considering both likelihood
and Severity of the harm using risk assessment matrix (5X5)

-Check the existing control measures & decide whether they are
adequate or additional precautions are needed

4- Record the findings:

Everything should be recorded & documented; such as
- The details of the assessors
- Date, time & location of the assessment,
- Description of the assessed activity & types of hazards
- People who might be harmed
- Level of the risk and control measures that should be taken
5- Review the assessment and revise if necessary:
- After any change such as new equipment used in the activity or
a new legislation or periodically
Factors to ensure suitable & sufficient risk assessment
o Completed by competent risk assessors (team work)
o Be proportionate to the level of the risk
o Ensure that all aspects of work activity are covered
o Cover the non routine activities
o Take account of the way the work is organised o
Identify all of the significant hazards and risks o
Evaluate the risks properly
o Identify the adequate practical control measures
o Enable priorities to be set
o Low residual risk
Competence of Risk Assessors (KATE)
o Knowledge of process or activity being assessed & hazards
involved
o Technical knowledge of the plant or equipment
o Good communication skills and report writing skills
o Ability to interpret legislation and guidance
o Good attitude to health & safety
o Practical training & Experience in risk assessment techniques &
hazard identification
o Know their limitations
Composition of Risk Assessment team
The risk assessment should be carried out through a team of
competent people, brain storming from the people working in the
activity being assessed, this team should be supervised by a
competent health & safety advisor
When assessment should be reviewed
Same 4 points mentioned in page 8

General Hierarchy of Control ERIC PD

Eliminate:
Remove the hazard or avoid the whole activity e.g. get rid of kerosene
from the workplace or avoid entering the confined space by doing the
job from outside using long tools
Reduce:
Decrease the job by decreasing the duration & frequency of exposure to
the hazard or reducing the amount of the hazardous substance or the
number of workers exposed to the hazard
Isolate:
Putting barriers between the worker & the hazard
o Isolate the worker from the hazard by building a ventilated control
room so the worker will be doing the work from inside the room
isolated from the hazard
o Isolate the hazard from the worker by total enclosure of the
machine e.g. inside a glove box
Control:
o Engineering controls: technical modifications of the machine ,
preventive maintenance , LEV (local exhaust ventilation) or
extractor fans
o Administrative controls: administration tools such as it is , permit
to work system , job rotation and frequent breaks
PPE:
Discipline:
Clear rules & Strict system where any violation or error must be
investigated and the suitable disciplinary action should be taken e.g.
warning letter No exceptions
Benefits of PPE
Often low cost
Can be used as short term measure
Portable for worker away from base
Disposable PPE reduces risk of infection
Remarkably decrease in the severity of the accident

Why PPE should be last resort / last option / last line of defence
Limitations of PPE:
o Does not eliminate the hazard
o Only protects the wearer
o Always fail to danger
o May introduce new hazards
o Relies on the worker to use it
o Usually uncomfortable & affecting sensation
o Will be ineffective & provide NO protection if wrong size, if used
while damaged, if not well maintained, if not suitable for the
hazard or not worn correctly
o Management may not enforce wearing
o May lead to complacency or false sensation of safety
o Also its a legal requirement to start with the other control
measures (ERIC)
Factors affecting the selection of PPE
Type of hazards
Type of equipment
Made to suitable standards
Comfort
Compatibility with other PPE
Age & characters of the wearer
Storage
Training
Cost
Time needed
Factors affecting wearing of PPE
Size
Health of worker
Period of use
Comfort
Maintenance
Training
Interference with other types of PPE
Main types of PPE
Head protection (Crash helmet,Helmet with chin strap, bump cap
& hair net)
Eye protection (Safety glasses, goggles & face mask)
Foot protection (Steel toe cap, Anti pierce, Anti static & Chemical
resistant)
Hand and arm protection (gloves made of kevlar, stainless steel,
leather, rubber, latex, Neoprene, cotton & PVC (Poly Vinyl
Chloride)
Body protection (Chemical & heat resistant suit, Reflective vest,
Overalls & Aprons)

 Respiratory protection (Respirators & Breathing apparatus)

Safety Signs
Prohibition (Circular, Red, white background)
Warning (Triangular, Yellow black edging)
Mandatory (Circular, Blue white symbols)
Safe Condition (Green, White symbols)
Fire (red symbols)
Safe System of Work (SSOW) is A step by step procedure for
carrying out a task safely, taking into account hazards, the risks, control
measures, equipment needed, environment, emergencies & the
competence needed by the workers
Developing safe systems of work / JSA
Select the task to be studied
Record each logical step
Evaluate the risks for each step considering MEEP
Develop a safe working procedures considering MEEP
Implement the system
Monitor its effectiveness
MEEP: Materials, Equipment, Environment & People
Permit to Work is a documented control system requiring written
confirmation that certain actions have been carried out to eliminate or
control risks before a high risk or non-routine activity is carried out
Examples for activities needing Permit to work (PTW)
Confined space entry, working on Electricity especially live work
Hot work, working on / nearby cranes, working at heights, excavation,
working on pressurised systems

Confined Space is any space of an enclosed nature where

- There are Specified risks arising because of the nature
of the Space
- Its Not designed for people to live or stay in for long time
- Theres No easy access or egress

examples of confined space : a chamber, tank, silo, pit, trench,

pipe, well , mines or other similar space.
What
o
o
o
o

are the specified hazards in a confined space?

Fire & explosion
Flooding
Oxygen deficiency & oxygen enrichment
Suffocation due to free flowing solids / gases / oxygen depletion

o Loss of consciousness due to increased body temperature or

Asphyxiation

Control measures / Precautions for working in a confined space

o Avoid entry by modifying the confined space so entry not required
OR have work done from outside using long tools or robots
o Issue permit to work
o Competent staff
o Appoint a supervisor (watcher)
o Isolate source of energy
o Ensure suitable size of entry & safe access / egress
o Gas purging
o Continuous testing of the atmosphere (Gas & oxygen levels)
o Special tools such as non-spark hammers
o Suitable environmental conditions such as adequate lighting &
good ventilation
o PPE such as breathing apparatus, gloves & safety shoes
o Ensure good means communications between the watcher & the
workers inside the confined space
o Limit working time
o Emergency procedures in place
Lone workers Those who are working by themselves without close
or direct supervision e.g. in remote areas.
Factors to be considered during lone working
Work location
Type of work & hazards in this work
The equipment & tools used
Manual handling risk
Competence / sex of the worker
Emergency facilities
Lack of Supervision
Means of communication
Weather & environmental conditions
Security level
Precautions to ensure the safety of lone workers
it is : Information on hazards, Training on how to deal with hazards
Means of Communication
Regular visits by supervisors
First aid kits, Emergency procedures & Automatic warning devices
Check the worker has returned home safely
PPE

Element 5:- Health & Safety management

systems 4 Monitoring, Audit & Review

Active monitoring tools before the accident measuring the

progress of the health & safety performance of the organisation.
examples: Audits, inspections, benchmarking & health
surveillance.

Reactive monitoring tools after the accident measuring the

failures of the health & safety management system
examples: accident investigation, statistics of civil claims,
And enforcement actions.

Health & Safety inspections:

Is a physical observation for the workplace including the
identification of workplace hazards; the observation of unsafe
conditions as well as the identification of good practice and
compliance with agreed procedures.
Types of workplace inspections
1234-

General workplace inspections

Statutory inspections
Compliance inspections
Commissioning inspections

Types of General workplace inspections:

1- Safety Sampling
A regular exercise in which assigned observers walk within a
timescale noting any health and safety defects using preprepared sheets (regarding a certain part of specific health &
safety aspect) such as: inspecting fire extinguishers for the fire
safety
2- Safety survey
A formal, structured examination possibly by a team of people
(Examining a whole health & safety aspect) such as: Fire safety a
Whole
3- Safety Tour
Unscheduled, Unplanned & non recorded less formal workplace
examination to check general workplace standards.

A tour can be carried out by a Manager and demonstrates

commitment to health & safety.

Limitations of inspections
Some hazards are not visible
Some hazards or unsafe practices are not always present / seen
Observations may not be mentioned in the inspection sheet
Management may not pay attention to what is mentioned in the sheet
People who may carry out inspections
Managers & supervisors
Health and Safety advisors
Health and Safety representatives
Enforcement officers
Insurance company

Health & Safety Audit

Is a systematic critical examination of the whole health and safety
management system.
To identify strengths & weaknesses THEN Action plan should be made
with suitable reccommendations to correct any non-conformity.
Aim of the audit is to ensure that the management system is UAE:
Used
Adequate
Existing
Using
123-

THREE evidences:
Inspection (physical observation)
Documents checks
Staff interviews

Internal Audits

External Audits

Advantages

Disadvantages

Cheaper
Easier to arrange
Less threatening
Disadvantages

More expensive
More time required
to organise
More threatening
Advantages

Influenced by
internal
relationships
Not taken seriously
May be biased,
Assumptions may

Less knowledge of
internal relationships
Increased formality
Independent of
internal competition
Assumptions are less likely

Audits

Inspections

Tests the existence,

adequacy and use of
safety management
systems
Includes physical
inspection, interviews
and documentation
checks
Identifies organisational
failures which are root
causes of accidents and
ill- health
Very proactive

Identifies hazards that are

not controlled to a standard
Physical inspection only

Identifies unsafe conditions

and some unsafe actions
which are immediate causes
of accidents
largely reactive as they lead
to quick fix of immediate
causes rather than corrective

Reasons to investigate / report / record accidents & incidents

o Prevent future accidents by identifying and eliminating the root
causes.
o Demonstrate concern about peoples health and safety.
o Improve workers morale (motivation).
o Identify weaknesses in management system, review
assessments & Prevent business losses.
o Comply with the law as its a legal requirement to investigate /
report / record accidents & incidents
o Collect data & information needed to defend criminal cases &
compensation claims.
o Collect data & information needed for statistics & benchmarking
Why consider near misses
Near misses indicate that the potential for serious accidents is present
and what happened this time without any loss could result next time in
any harm or loss, so the near miss should be investigated and proper
action should be taken to prevent its reoccurrence and prevent it from
becoming an accident in the future.
Domino Theory:- It has been suggested that the events leading up to
an accident are like a row of dominos and by removing dominos the
accident will not occur.
Direct / Immediate cause of an accident
Obvious direct reasons that caused the accident (Unsafe acts and/or
unsafe conditions)
Root / Underlying / Basic cause of an accident
The failures in management systems or procedures that have led to the
accident (Individual factors and/or job factors)
Actions following Accident:
Immediate / Initial / Short term actions
o Apply first aid / medical treatment for injured person & transfer to
the hospital if needed
o Make the area safe to prevent any further accidents in the same
place
o Secure the area to preserve the scene for investigation and keep
all of the evidences
o Take photographs for the accident scene & identify witnesses to
be interviewed as soon as possible
o Initiate the emergency response plan ; notify the location
manager, the health & safety manager, the local authorities if
needed and the family of the injured person (next of kin)
PSTC (www.pstconsultant.com, info@pstconsultant.com, 0514303707,03355033003-4

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Longer Term actions

o Complete the final investigation report highlighting the root
causes & any breaches for the law or the company policy
o Interview the witnesses and include their statements in the
investigation report
o Examine & review the related documents such as risk
assessments, training records & safe working procedures
o Report details to the insurance company
o Produce safety alert with the learning lessons to be distributed all
over the organization
Information in accident report
o Details of the injured persons
o Details & the extent of the injury or loss
o Details of Equipment & tools involved in the accident and any
damage occurred
o Time, date & location where the accident happened
o Description of the accident (how it happened)
o Related documents to be attached e.g. risk assessment & SSOW
o Evidences
o Photos & sketches of the accident scene & details
o Details of the witnesses & copies of their statements
o Possible direct & root causes of the accident
o Any breach of the law or the company polices or work procedures
o Details of the members of the accident investigation team
o Recommendations & action plan
Composition of Investigation team
o Supervisors and line managers from department where accident
occurred
o Location manager / line manager
o A senior manager from another department o
Employees experienced in the work activity o
Health and Safety practitioner
o Health and Safety Representative
o Specialists / external consultants / technical expert e.g. Engineers
o Enforcement authority
o Insurance company

FOUR steps to complete the accident investigation:

1- Collect the information: such as details of injured people &
damaged equipment, date, time & location of the accident,
description of the accident, etc...
2- Analyze this information: to find out the immediate & root
causes of the accident and any possible breaches of the law
3- Check the risk control measures: to decide whether they
are adequate or additional controls are needed
4- Take action: Produce action plan with recommendations to
eliminate the root causes of the accident and take the suitable
effective steps to prevent similar accidents in the future.

The end of week 1