Saturday, 15 March 2008

Exam Question “Action Verbs”


One of my problems when sitting an exam has always been interpreting exactly what the question is asking, I have found that examiners post questions which always seem to be a little ambiguous in their meaning. Well at the back of my study book "A Study Book for the NEBOSH National Certificate in Construction Health & Safety" I came across a description of what the examiners means by their "action verbs" which a commonly in bold at the beginning of a question.
Define: - provide a generally recognisable or accepted definition

State: - a less demanding form of define, or where there is no generally accepted definition
Sketch: - provide a simple line drawing using labels to call attention to specific features
Explain: - give a clear account or reason for
Describe: - give a word picture
Outline: - give the most important features of (less depth than either 'explain' or 'describe')
List: - produce a list without explanation
Give: - provide without explanation used normally like 'give an example of'
Identify: - select and name
These seem to be the main "action verbs" used other question begin with "what, when, how" etc. When this occurs candidates should give their own explanations.

Thursday, 13 March 2008

Example Examination Questions for Element 1

List Four duties of the CDM coordinator under the (Design and Management) Regulations 2007

  • Advise the client of his responsibilities under the regulations.
  • Notify the HSE on form F10
  • Compile the Project health and safety file
  • Liaise with designers and principle contractor with all matters H$S

Outline the principle duties of a client under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007

The client duties under the CDM 2007 Regs include the assessment of competence of all appointed contractors, it is his duty to ensure there are sufficient resources and time scales for the project to complete safely including the provision welfare facilities. Provide all relevant pre-construction information is passed on to relevant parties.

Additional duties for notifiable projects include the appointment of the Principle contractor and the CDM Co-ordinator whilst ensuring there is a proper project management plan in place, and the construction phase is in place and retains the health and safety plan whilst providing access to the CDM Co-ordinator and other concerned parties.


List Four duties of the Designers under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007

  • Review and remove hazards at the design stage
  • Provide information as to any remaining hazards
  • Advise the client of their duties under the CDM 2007 Regs.
  • Provide information relevant to the CDM coordinator for the H$S file

In relation to the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 outline the meaning of "notifiable Project"

In relation to the CDM 2007 Regs the term "notifiable project" refers to project which a construction phase which is longer than 30 days and or 500 man days, then the project is notifiable to the HSE using form F10 and this is the responsibility of the CDM Coordinator who is required to be appointed for notifiable projects.






Wednesday, 12 March 2008

NCC1 Section 1 Construction Law and Management part 2


Section 1 Construction Law and Management
Responsibilities
The CDM 2007 Regulations place legal responsibilities on the different groups who are involved in a construction project, some of these responsibilities have been around for some time and some are new, but what the CDM regulations try to do here is clarify both the responsibilities and the roles each party has to play on successfully managed project throughout its many phases.
Groups

  • clients
  • designers
  • CDM co-ordinators
  • principal contractor
  • contractors, including the self-employed
Client Responsibilities
  • Check competences of all appointees
  • Allow sufficient time and resources for the Project
  • Ensure there are suitable management arrangements for the project, this would include welfare facilities.
  • Provide any information that is relevant to the project at early stage
Additional responsibilities for notifiable projects,
  • Appoint a CDM Co-ordinator
  • Appoint Principle contractor
  • Provide information relating to H&S to CDM Co
  • Remain custodians but provide access to the Project Health and safety file.
Designers
  • Eliminate hazards wherever possible at the design stage
  • Provide information of any remaining risks
Additional responsibilities for notifiable projects,
  • Ensure the client is aware of his responsibilities and has appointed a CDM Co-ordinator
  • Provide information for the H&S file
CDM –Co-ordinator
  • Advise and assist the client to his duties un CDM
  • Notify the HSE
  • Co-ordinate health and safety aspects of the design and co-operate with all other parties involve with the project.
  • Become the communication route for between all parties for H&S matters
  • Ensure any pre construction information is available to all parties involved
  • Prepare and update the project health and safety file.
Principle contractor
  • Plan, manage and monitor the construction phase
  • Ensure welfare facilities are provided throughout construction phase
  • Develop and provide appropriate site rules
  • Provide any direction to contactors
  • Ensure that every contractor is informed of the mobilisation and project plan
  • Consult with other contractors regarding the construction phase plan
  • Consult with other contractors regarding the construction phase plan
  • Allow contractors sufficient time to comply with the welfare requirements, and preparation for carrying out the work without risk
  • Ensure information for the health and safety file is identified and promptly provided to the CDM Co-ordinator
  • Display the F10 Notification
    so that it can be seen by all working on the contract
  • Prevent unauthorised site access
  • Site induction should include a site specific explanation of the senior management commitment to health and safety, an outline of the project, the individual's immediate line manager and any site specific health and safety risks
Site inductions should also include
  • Site rules
  • Permit to work systems
  • Traffic routes
  • Security arrangements
  • Hearing protection zones
  • Personal protective equipment
  • Housekeeping
  • Materials storage
  • Welfare facilities
  • Emergency procedures
Contractors
  • A contractor must not carry out any construction work unless the client is aware of their duties under the regulations
  • Ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that they have
    reduced health and safety risks by, Planning, managing and then monitoring their work
  • Ensure that other (sub)contractors that they appoint are informed of the minimum amount of time that they will be allowed for planning and preparation before their construction work commences
  • Ensure that construction work can be carried out safely and without risk to health, contractors must provide all workers under their control with information and training, including: a suitable site induction (when not provided by the principal contractor)
  • Provide adequate welfare facilities and ensure they will be maintained for all persons under their control throughout the construction phase.
  • check clients are aware of their duties
  • satisfy themselves that they and anyone they employ or engage are competent and adequately resourced
  • plan, manage and monitor their own work
  • Ensure that workers under their control are safe from the start of their work on site
  • Ensure that any subcontractor are aware of the project plan stages and content of the H&S file
This section of the course goes on to describe competence this will be discussed in a further post.

Monday, 10 March 2008

NCC1 Section 1 Construction Law and Management part 1

Section 1 Construction Law and Management

The element gives an understanding of the law and management of health and safety, by identifying the scope, definition and nature of construction work and activities, outlines the legal, moral and financial consequences of failing to manage health and safety within the construction industry.

It continues on to identify the scope and application of the CDM regulations 2007 and gives clear pointers into obtaining external sources of health and safety information.

Types of work that defined by this section are work of engineering or building, including maintenance and demolition. This can cover a wide range of activities.

Types of work

  • Building
  • Renovations
  • Maintenance
  • Civil engineering
  • Demolition
  • Engineering construction

The activities these work types cover is quite extensive and include

  • Site clearance
  • Demolition
  • Decoration
  • Excavation
  • Fabrication
  • Cleaning
  • Loading, Unloading and storage of materials

This list is by no means complete and only serves to highlight some of the construction activities the CDM 2007 cover.

Domestic Activities are no longer covered by the CDM regulations, all other project are, and in the case of the project exceeding 500 man days or a 30 day construction period these are now required to be notified to the HSE by completion of form F10.

The scope and application of the 2007 CDM regulations places certain responsibilities on groups who control construction activities.

These are namely, client, designer, principle contractor and contractor

Responsibilities

Client

  • Check the competences and resources of all engaged resources
  • Ensure suitable project management strategies and arrangements including welfare facilities.
  • Allow sufficient time and resources
  • Provide any necessary information to designers and contractors

Additional Client responsibilities under notifiable projects.

  • Appoint CDM Coordinator
  • Appoint Principle contractor

ensure the construction starts only when there are adequate

  • Welfare facilities
  • Construction phase plan in place


Designers

  • Eliminate hazards and reduce risks during design
  • Provide information on any remaining identified risks

Under notifiable projects the additional duties of a designer are

  • Check if the client of his duties and a CDM coordinator appointed.
  • Provide information for the health and safety file


To be cont............

Saturday, 8 March 2008

NGC1 Test Paper 2


Management of Health and Safety

1) A contractor has been engaged by a manufacturing company to undertake extensive maintenance work on the interior of the walls of a factory workshop.
a) State the legal duties that the manufacturing company owes the contractor's employees under the Health and Safety at Work act 1974

(4)
The company has the obligation under section 3 of the HSWA'74 to ensure that none of the activities carried out by that employer affect the contractors employed to carry out the works, under section 4 of the Act the company also has the obligation to ensure that all and any equipment used by the contractor is safe and fit for purpose and its use and operation would not cause harm to anyone working with the building.
b) Outline the information relevant to health and safety that should be provided before work commences by:

i) The manufacturing company to the contactor, AND;
(4)
The company should provide detailed plans for the required work, they should highlight any particular hazards that may be present during their operations and any controls that are used i.e. ear defenders if it's a noisy area, they should provide details of entry and exit to the place of work, emergency procedure, location of first aid any amenities that are available for use, most of this information should be included in the health and safety plan for the works.
ii) The
contractor to the manufacturing company
(4)
The contractor should provide detail methods statement on how they intend to do the work have carried out risk assessment and recorded the findings, prepared a health and safety plan for all the works, which should included the contractors information for first aid reporting of incidents emergency contacts and details of amenities.etc.
c) Describe additional procedural measures that the manufacturing company should take to help ensure the health and safety of their own and the contractor's employees
(8)
The company should clearly notify its own employees of what and where the works that is taking place and take steps to ensure that they are kept away by usage of barriers signs etc. For the contractor they company should look at induction training, permit to work systems and keep regular contact with the contracting company and monitor the activities as they develop.
2) a) Giving a practical example , explain the meaning of the term 'human error
(2)
Human error can be defined as a mistake by an operative rather than by a process or machinery i.e. failing to set the chuck guard on a centre lathe and this resulted in an accident it would be due to human error.
b) Outline individual factors that may contribute to human errors occurring at work
(6)
Most human errors that occur can be attributed to things like over confidence and familiarity by operatives, Monotonous or routine of operation, also by lack of training in the process and or lack of supervision. Other factors could be outdated processes and machinery could contribute to the likelihood of human error, or even if workers are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
3) Outline the factors to consider when making an assessment of first-aid provision in a workplace
(8)
When providing first aid in a workplace factors that should be considered include
How many staff are employed, how many trained first raiders are required, what are the main risks with the operation, are there any special risks that require specialist training for first aiders, what type of accident are most likely to occur, Where are the nearest emergency services located,
4)a)Explain, using a relevant example, the circumstance under which a health and safety inspector may serve am improvement notice
(2)
An improvement notice can be issued if an inspector judges that there is a breach of regulations and this breach would continue unless some action was taken, i.e. a company had not completed a risk assessment for an operation or process under the management of Health and Safety regulations 1999
b)Identify the time period within which an appeal may be lodged against an improvement notice AND state the effect the appeal will have on the notice
(2)
The time period in which an appeal can be lodged is 21 days and they operation can continue whilst the appeal is being decided.
c)State the penalties for contravening the requirements of an improvement notice when heard BOTH summarily AND on indictment
(4)
If tried summarily the fine is £20 000 and or 6 months imprisonment
When tries on indictment the maximum fine is unlimited with up to 2 years imprisonment.
5)Outline the criteria that will determine whether a risk assessment undertaken to comply with the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
'Suitable and sufficient
(8)
A risk assessment can be deemed "suitable and sufficient" if it meets the following criteria. That all risks have been identified and they have been assessed all the people who could be at risk have been identified including other employees members of the public or any other groups and the current control measures assess against their effectiveness and any changes to these documented. These all must be relevant to the type of work being undertaken and be sufficient to last a reasonable amount of time.
6)Sate the issues that should be included in a typical workplace accident reporting procedure.
(8)
Accident reporting could be split into two areas Internal and external
For internal reporting the procedure should detail when to fill in accident reports or near misses in to the register, it could detail the procedure to follow depending on the type of accident. Identify who might have to inform next of kin.
For External reporting this would address the responsibilities required under Reporting of Incidents, Diseases or Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR).
Details of who would make such a report and what kind of data should be included; it should also include confidentiality of the data under the data protection act.
7)In order to meet a production deadline, a supervisor instructed an employee to operate a machine, which they both knew to be defected
Giving reasons in EACH case, identify possible breaches of the Heath and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in relation to this scenario
(8)
Several breaches of the Act can be identified here mainly, the company's responsibility to provide and maintain adequate plant and machinery (section 2), also provide adequate supervision, senior management could be at fault here if they knew about the defects and the intention to use the machine. The supervisor and operative failed to comply with act because they failed to take reasonable care and work in a safe manner (sections 7 and 8), the wilful misuse of machinery therefore putting themselves and others at risk.
8) Outline the reasons why an organisation should monitor and review its health and safety performance
(8)
Apart from the fact that monitoring and reviewing of H&S performance being an essential part of any good H&S management system, it also offers insight into how well a company's performance is against targets set or benchmarks and comparison it allows trend analysis to determine possible deficiencies or area of improvement in a process or operation. It also provides the required detail to enable the production of an H&S report for senior management.
9) With respect to the Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977
a)State when a safety representative is legally entitled to inspect the workplace
(6)
After any significant change in legislation that effects the work place at the behest of colleagues if reasonable ground can be given i.e. identified an unsafe practice. Or after either a reportable incident or dangerous occurrence. Written notice to the employer if an inspection has not been carried out in the previous 3 months
b)Describe the facilities that an employer may need to provide to safety representatives
(2)
The employer must provide access to phones and fax provide access to a computer and any relevant data i.e. safety inspection records accident book

10)
Outline the factors that may determine the level of supervision an employee should receive during their initial period within a company


(8)
Determining the amount of supervision an employee should receive would depend on the amount of experience that individual has of the task they are being asked to do their qualifications and knowledge level. Whether they are familiar with the working practices, their age and any special needs they may have or any specific safety concerns
11)Identify the issues that should be contained in the 'arrangements' section of a health and safety policy
(8)
The arrangement section of the H&S policy is the area of the policy where thinks such as risk assessments, reporting of incidents procedure , the wearing of PPE, identification of particular hazards i.e., noise, radiation, it is also the area where the procedure for controlling contractors, work permits , visitors, Emergency procedures for fire or evacuation etc, should also be detailed here