Introduction to health and safety at work : the handbook for the NEBOSH National General Certificate

HEALTH AND SAFETY FOUNDATIONS 1 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 Some basic definitions 1 1.3 The legal framework for health and safety 3 1.4 The legal system in England and Wales 4 1.5 The legal system in Scotland 5 1.6 European Courts 5 1.7 Sources of law (England and Wales) 5 1.8 Common law torts and duties 6 1.9 Levels of statutory liability 7 1.10 The influence of the European Union (EU) on health and safety 8 1.11 The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 9 1.12 The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 13 1.13 Role and function of external agencies 13 1.14 Moral, legal and financial arguments for health and safety management 14 1.15 The framework for health and safety management 17 1.16 Practice NEBOSH questions for Chapter 1 19 2 POLICY 21 2.1 Introduction 21 2.2 Legal requirements 21 2.3 Key elements of a health and safety policy 22 2.4 Review of health and safety policy 23 2.5 Practice NEBOSH questions for Chapter 2 24 Appendix 2.1 – Health and Safety Policy checklist 25 3 ORGANIZING FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY 27 3.1 Introduction 27 3.2 Control 27 3.3 Employers’ responsibilities 28 3.4 Employees’ responsibilities 28 3.5 Organizational health and safety responsibilities 28 3.6 Role and functions of health and safety and other advisers 29 3.7 Persons in control of premises 31 3.8 Self-employed 32 v 3.9 The supply chain 32 3.10 Contractors 34 3.11 Joint occupation of premises 37 3.12 Cooperation with the workforce 37 3.13 Practice NEBOSH questions for Chapter 3 39 Appendix 3.1 – Typical organizational responsibilities 39 4 PROMOTING A POSITIVE HEALTH AND SAFETY CULTURE 43 4.1 Introduction 43 4.2 Definition of a health and safety culture 43 4.3 Safety culture and safety performance 44 4.4 Human factors and their influence on safety performance 45 4.5 Human errors and violations 50 4.6 The development of a positive health and safety culture 52 4.7 Effective communication 54 4.8 Health and safety training 54 4.9 Internal influences 56 4.10 External influences 57 4.11 Practice NEBOSH questions for Chapter 4 59 5 RISK ASSESSMENT 61 5.1 Introduction 61 5.2 Legal aspects of risk assessment 61 5.3 Forms of risk assessment 62 5.4 Some definitions 62 5.5 The objectives of risk assessment 63 5.6 Accident categories 64 5.7 Health risks 64 5.8 The management of risk assessment 64 5.9 The risk assessment process 65 5.10 Risk control measures 66 5.11 Hierarchy of risk control 66 5.12 Prioritization of risk control 67 5.13 Record of risk assessment findings 67 5.14 Monitoring and review 67 5.15 Special cases 67 5.16 Practice NEBOSH questions for Chapter 5 69 Appendix 5.1 – Hazard checklist 69 Appendix 5.2 – Example of a risk assessment record 70 6 PRINCIPLES OF CONTROL 73 6.1 Introduction 73 6.2 Principles of prevention 73 6.3 Hierarchy of risk control 74 6.4 Controlling health risks 77 6.5 Safe systems of work 79 6.6 Lone workers 82 6.7 Permits to work 82 6.8 Emergency procedures 85 6.9 First aid at work 87 6.10 Practice NEBOSH questions for Chapter 6 89 Contents vi Appendix 6.1 – Fire notice 90 Appendix 6.2 – Job safety analysis form 91 Appendix 6.3 – Essential elements of a permit-to-work form 92 7 MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE AND VEHICLES – HAZARDS AND CONTROL 93 7.1 Introduction 93 7.2 Hazards to pedestrians 93 7.3 Control strategies for pedestrian hazards 95 7.4 Hazards in vehicle operations 98 7.5 Control strategies for safe vehicle operations 99 7.6 The management of vehicle movements 100 7.7 Managing occupational road safety 100 7.8 Practice NEBOSH questions for Chapter 7 104 8 MANUAL AND MECHANICAL HANDLING HAZARDS AND CONTROL 107 8.1 Introduction 107 8.2 Manual handling hazards and injuries 107 8.3 Manual handling risk assessments 108 8.4 Types of mechanical handling and lifting equipment 112 8.5 Requirements for the statutory examination of lifting equipment 117 8.6 Practice NEBOSH questions for Chapter 8 118 Appendix 8.1– Manual handling of load assessment checklist 119 9 WORK EQUIPMENT HAZARDS AND CONTROL 123 9.1 Introduction 123 9.2 Suitability of work equipment and CE marking 123 9.3 Use and maintenance of equipment with specific risks 125 9.4 Information, instruction and training 125 9.5 Maintenance and inspection 126 9.6 Operation and working environment 127 9.7 User responsibilities 128 9.8 Hand-held tools 128 9.9 Mechanical machinery hazards 130 9.10 Mobile work equipment 132 9.11 Non-mechanical machinery hazards 135 9.12 Examples of machinery hazards 135 9.13 Practical safeguards 137 9.14 Other safety devices 139 9.15 Application of safeguards to the range of machines 141 9.16 Guard construction 145 9.17 Practice NEBOSH questions for Chapter 9 146 10 ELECTRICAL HAZARDS AND CONTROL 149 10.1 Introduction 149 10.2 Principles of electricity and some definitions 149 10.3 Electrical hazards and injuries 151 10.4 General control measures for electrical hazards 156 10.5 The selection and suitability of equipment 157 10.6 Inspection and maintenance strategies 159 10.7 Portable electrical appliances testing 160 10.8 Practice NEBOSH questions for Chapter 10 162 Contents vii 11 FIRE HAZARDS AND CONTROL 165 11.1 Introduction 165 11.2 The draft Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RRFSO) – Requirements 166 11.3 Basic principles of fire 168 11.4 Methods of extinction 170 11.5 Classification of fire 170 11.6 Principles of heat transmission and fire spread 170 11.7 Common causes of fire and consequences 172 11.8 Fire risk assessment 173 11.9 Fire detection and warning 177 11.10 Means of escape in case of fire 178 11.11 Principles of fire protection in buildings 180 11.12 Provision of fire-fighting equipment 182 11.13 Maintenance and testing of fire-fighting equipment 182 11.14 Planning for an emergency and training staff 183 11.15 Fire procedures and people with a disability 183 11.16 Practice NEBOSH questions for Chapter 11 184 12 CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL HEALTH HAZARDS AND CONTROL 185 12.1 Introduction 185 12.2 Forms of chemical agent 185 12.3 Forms of biological agent 186 12.4 Classification of hazardous substances and their associated health risks 186 12.5 Routes of entry to the human body 188 12.6 Health hazards of specific agents 190 12.7 Requirements of the COSHH Regulations 193 12.8 Details of a COSHH assessment 194 12.9 The control measures required under the COSHH Regulations 197 12.10 Health surveillance and personal hygiene 204 12.11 Maintenance and emergency controls 204 12.12 Environmental considerations 204 12.13 Practice NEBOSH questions for Chapter 12 206 13 PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH HAZARDS AND CONTROL 209 13.1 Introduction 209 13.2 Task and workstation design 209 13.3 Welfare and work environment issues 214 13.4 Noise 216 13.5 Heat and radiation hazards 221 13.6 The causes and prevention of workplace stress 224 13.7 Causes and prevention of workplace violence 225 13.8 The effects of alcohol and drugs 228 13.9 Practice NEBOSH questions for Chapter 13 230 14 CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES – HAZARDS AND CONTROL 233 14.1 Introduction 233 14.2 The scope of construction 233 14.3 Construction hazards and controls 234 14.4 The management of construction activities 239 14.5 Working above ground level or where there is a risk of falling 242 14.6 Excavations 247 14.7 Practice NEBOSH questions for Chapter 14 249 Appendix 14.1 – Inspection report 250 Contents viii 15 INCIDENT INVESTIGATION, RECORDING AND REPORTING 253 15.1 Introduction 253 15.2 Reasons for incident/accident investigation 254 15.3 Which incidents/accidents should be investigated? 255 15.4 Investigations and causes of incidents 256 15.5 Legal recording and reporting requirements 259 15.6 Internal systems for collecting and analysing incident data 260 15.7 Compensation and insurance issues 261 15.8 Practice NEBOSH questions for Chapter 15 262 Appendix 15.1 – Injury report form 263 Appendix 15.2 – Information for insurance/compensation claims 265 16 MONITORING, REVIEW AND AUDIT 267 16.1 Introduction 267 16.2 The traditional approach to measuring health and safety performance 267 16.3 Why measure performance? 268 16.4 What to measure 269 16.5 Measuring failure – reactive monitoring 270 16.6 Proactive monitoring – how to measure performance 270 16.7 Who should monitor performance? 272 16.8 Frequency of monitoring and inspections 272 16.9 Report writing 273 16.10 Review and audit 274 16.11 Practice NEBOSH questions for Chapter 16 277 Appendix 16.1 Workplace inspection exercises 277 Appendix 16.2 – Basic checklist of items to be covered in an area inspection 279 17 SUMMARY OF THE MAIN LEGAL REQUIREMENTS 281 17.1 Introduction 281 17.2 The legal framework 281 17.3 List of Acts, Order and Regulations summarized 282 17.4 Health and Safety at Work etc. Act (HSW Act) 1974 283 17.5 Environmental Protection Act 1990 286 17.6 Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 2002 291 17.7 Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 294 17.8 Construction (Design and Management) (CDM) Regulations 1994 and Amendment Regulations 2000 296 17.9 Construction (Head Protection) Regulations 1989 300 17.10 Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) (CHSW) Regulations 1996 301 17.11 Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996 303 17.12 Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 2002 and 2005 Amendment 304 17.13 Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR) 2002 308 17.14 Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 311 17.15 Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 313 17.16 Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969 and Regulations 1998 316 17.17 Draft Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 317 17.18 Health and Safety (First aid) Regulations 1981 325 17.19 Health and Safety (Information for Employees) Regulations 1989 325 17.20 Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999 325 17.21 Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 as amended in 2002 327 17.22 Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 as amended in 2003 331 Contents ix 17.23 Manual Handling Operations Regulations (MHO) 1992 as amended in 2002 333 17.24 Noise at Work Regulations 1989 336 17.25 Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 as amended in 2002 338 17.26 Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (except part IV) as amended in 2002 341 17.27 The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 346 17.28 Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977 348 17.29 Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 349 17.30 Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 1992 352 17.31 Draft Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 355 17.32 Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 as amended in 2002 358 17.33 Work at Height Regulations 2005 360 17.34 Other relevant Regulations in brief 364 18 INTERNATIONAL ASPECTS OF HEALTH AND SAFETY 367 18.1 Introduction 367 18.2 Major occupational health and safety management systems 369 18.3 Other key characteristics of a health and safety management system 374 18.4 The role of the regulatory authorities 377 18.5 The benefits and problems associated with occupational health and safety management systems 378 18.6 Conclusions on the three health and safety management systems 379 18.7 Other minor additions to the International General Certificate 379 18.8 Practice NEBOSH questions for the International General Certificate 380 19 STUDY SKILLS 19.1 Introduction 383 19.2 Finding a place to study 383 19.3 Planning for study 383 19.4 Blocked thinking 384 19.5 Taking notes 384 19.6 Reading for study 384 19.7 Organizing for Revision 384 19.8 Organizing information 385 19.9 How does memory work? 386 19.10 How to deal with exams 387 19.11 The examiners’ reports 388 19.12 Conclusion 389 19.13 References 389