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NEBOSH International General Certificate Paper II Workplace hazards and Control Question and Answers

1. Identify the main hazards associated with demolition work. (8) The main hazards associated with this type of work include working at height; falling debris and premature collapse; use of explosives; contact with and noise from equipment and heavy plant; the presence of dust which might possibly include asbestos; the presence of flammable substances or hazardous materials from previous uses of the building; the presence of cellars or vaults affecting the stability of adjoining premises; the possible presence of services such as electricity, gas and water; biological hazards arising from the presence of vermin and stagnant water; the presence of sharps such as nails and glass and hazards arising during manual handling operations. 2. Repair work is to be carried out on the roof of a school. (a) Identify control measures to reduce the risks to roof workers. (6) (b) Identify TWO control measures to reduce the risks to other persons. (2) Answer (a) The work activity and initially an assessment should be made to gauge the condition of the roof and to check for the presence of fragile materials. It would then be necessary to provide safe means of access, normally by the erection of a scaffold; to use roof ladders or crawling boards; to erect edge protection with guard rails and toe boards to prevent the fall of persons and materials and either to provide barriers and signage round areas on the roof containing fragile materials or to cover them to prevent persons falling through. Other precautions would include provision for transporting tools and materials to the roof and the removal of waste; the use of appropriate personal protective equipment such as hard hats and footwear and the employment of competent personnel. (b) Control measures that would reduce the risks to others include the provision of barriers at ground level to prevent access to the working area by children, teachers or members of the public; scheduling the work so that the more hazardous operations are carried out when the school was unoccupied; the prevention of unauthorized access to the roof by removing or blocking off ladders; introducing a high standard of monitoring and supervision and paying a good will visit to the school to advise on the potential hazards associated with the operation and the precautions that should be taken by staff and pupils. 3. Workers are employed to carry out ground maintenance on a large area of land containing grass, bushes and trees. Outline the hazards to which they may be exposed. (8) 1

Answer Hazards such as those connected with the use of tractor units, mowing machines and hand held strimmers including the possible exposure to noise and vibration; those involved with the manual handling of machinery and refuse; slips, trips and falls including falls from a height when carrying out tree surgery; hazards associated with the handling of fuel, pesticides and other chemicals; the possibility of being bitten by animals and/or insects or coming into contact with animal faeces or discarded drugs paraphernalia; and hazards involving prolonged exposure to the sun or conversely to adverse weather conditions. 4. Outline the precautions that should be taken when using mobile cranes. (8) Answer The precautions include the crane and its attached lifting gear are suitable for the task; that the ground on which the crane is to be sited is flat and firm and that the outriggers of the crane are always correctly positioned; that the driver and slinger to be used in the operation are competent; that there are no obstructions such as overhead power lines or buildings in the vicinity of the lift and that warning signs and barriers are erected to ensure that the area where the lift is to take place is kept clear of personnel not directly involved in the lift. The actual lift should involve carrying the load smoothly at an appropriate height and ideally to an arranged lifting plan though few candidates did refer to this precaution. A maintenance worker regularly uses a hand held grinder, and is exposed to vibration. 5. Excavation work is being carried out on a construction site. Identify the control measures needed to reduce the risk to workers. (8) Answer Control measures that should have been identified include: the detection of underground services by using plans or cable/pipe detectors; supporting the sides of the excavation by shoring or benching; storing materials and spoil away from edge of the excavation; providing means to prevent vehicles falling into the excavation such as stop blocks; providing guard-rails and barriers to prevent people falling into the excavation; providing means of support for adjacent structures to prevent collapse; providing safe means of access/egress into the excavation; .for noxious fumes and providing ventilation if necessary; using pumps to protect against flooding; taking precautions to safeguard the workers from biological hazards or those caused by the presence of contaminated ground and arranging for the excavation to be inspected at regular intervals by a competent person. 6. Outline the main hazards associated with excavation work. (8) Answer This question considered all aspects of excavation work and not just the situation of a person within an excavation who might be harmed by a collapse of the sides, contact

with buried services, ingress of water, build-up of fumes or being struck by falling materials. Broader answers also included the hazards associated with the use of machinery, the effect of the excavation work on adjacent structures, the possibility of vehicles or people falling into unprotected excavations, biological hazards such as leptospirosis, coming into contact with contaminated land and even at this late stage the possible presence of an unexploded bomb. 7. Outline the issues that should be addressed by an organization when developing a system for the safe collection and disposal of its waste. (8) Answer The issues include the identification of waste by its hazardous properties (eg general, biological or special waste) and by its nature (eg solid or liquid); the quantity produced; the need for separation of incompatible wastes; the means for containing waste and its marking and labelling; the provision of safe storage on site and the methods of transportation to and from the storage facility; the appointment of a competent and/or licensed' waste contractor; possible pollution issues arising from spillages; the competence and training of staff; and the keeping of the necessary records. 8. Mobile tower scaffolds should be used on stable, level ground. List EIGHT additional points that should be considered to ensure safe use of mobile tower scaffold. (8) Answer The additional points considered to ensure safe use of scaffold include, ensuring the correct ratio between height and base dimensions of the tower, the use of diagonal bracing, stabilizers and locking wheels, the provision of toe boards and handrails, ensuring that the platform is fully boarded, the prevention of overloading, taking account of overhead obstructions and power lines; the provision of suitable means of access; the need to ensure the tower is not moved when loaded with equipment and/or people. 9. Outline the precautions that might be taken in order to reduce the risk of injury when using stepladders. (8) Answer The precautions include the need to ensure that the stepladder is inspected for defects before use; that it is correctly erected on level ground with its chain or rope fully extended; that it is suitable for the task to be performed and does not involve carrying out work from the top step; that it is footed by a second person when necessary; that it is correctly positioned to avoid over-reaching; and that it is not overloaded. 10. Outline the precautions to be taken when using a mobile elevated platform (MEWP) to reach a high point such as streetlight. Answer: 3

The MEWP must only be operated by trained and competent persons. It must never be moved in the elevated position. It must be operated on level and stable ground The tyres must be inflated and the wheels immobilized. Outriggers should be fully extended and locked in position. Due care must be exercised with overhead power supplies, obstructions and adverse weather conditions. Barriers should be placed to avoid vehicle collisions. Proper maintenance of the MEWP. All workers on MEWPs should wear safety harnesses

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