RoSPA’s NEBOSH
e-book
Contents:
What is NEBOSH?
3
NEBOSH in Numbers
7
OSH Career: Insider Tips
8
NEBOSH Command Word Guide
11
RoSPA’s Guide to NEBOSH Past Papers
12
DOs and DONTSs for GC3
24
How to Maximise Marks in Diploma Unit D
28
Top-Tips for NEBOSH Exams
33
Where Will a NEBOSH Qualification Take You?
37
Course Funding Options Explained
38
More about RoSPA
41
What is NEBOSH?
Idiot’s guide explains all…
Known by its acronym, NEBOSH
stands
for
‘the
National
Examination Board in Occupational
Safety and Health’. NEBOSH is a
regulated awarding body, which
accredits course providers, such as
RoSPA, who in turn train candidates
in
preparation
for
NEBOSH
qualifications.
Those working in health and safety
are often required to hold the
appropriate NEBOSH qualification
for their job role, and for many,
career progression is closely linked
to enhanced NEBOSH qualifications.
The
qualifications
are
also
recognised
by
professional
membership bodies including the
Institution of Occupational Safety
and Health (IOSH), the International
Institute of Risk and Safety
Management (IIRSM) and the
Chartered Institution of Water and
Environmental
Management
(CIWEM).
// Page 3
This chart maps the relationship between NEBOSH qualifications
and IOSH Membership:
NEBOSH Health & Safety at Work Qualification
Affiliate Member
NEBOSH Certificate / NEBOSH Fire Certificate
/NEBOSH Construction Certificate / NEBOSH
International Certificate / NEBOSH
Environmental Certificate.
Technician Member
(TechIOSH)
NEBOSH Diploma in Occupational Safety &
Health
Graduate Member
(GradIOSH)
Skills portfolio and professional peer review
Chartered Member
(CMIOSH)
A NEBOSH qualification does not automatically equate to an IOSH
membership level though. For example, you must submit both your
NEBOSH certificate and your CV to IOSH so that they can check that
you have the qualifications and experience necessary for TechIOSH.
Likewise, your NEBOSH Certificate must be dated after 2002 in order
for it to be considered.
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“
What is the
NEBOSH
Certificate?”
The NEBOSH Certificate is the UK’s
most popular health and safety
qualification. Because it’s so well
known and highly regarded it’s
ideal if you’re looking to launch a
career in safety.
The course consists of three units,
the first two are assessed by exams
and the third by a practical
assessment. Once successfully
completed candidates meet the
academic
requirements
for
Technical Membership of IOSH
(Tech
IOSH)
and
associate
membership of the IIRSM.
For those working overseas, there’s
the increasingly popular NEBOSH
International Certificate. It’s now
also possible to add separate fire,
or construction modules on to the
first unit to create additional stand
alone qualifications.
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“
What is the
NEBOSH
Diploma?”
The NEBOSH Diploma is a
prestigious and highly respected
qualification, ultimately enabling
Chartered
(CMIOSH)
status.
Divided into four units (three
assessed by exams and one by an
assignment), it’s a rigorous and
demanding course which never
the less grows in popularity as
safety professionals continue to
recognise the benefits of holding
such a qualification.
There are alternative routes to
CMIOSH status but arguably the
diploma remains the most highly
regarded and transferable across
job role and sector and therefore
stands candidates in good stead
for the future.
// Page 6
NEBOSH in Numbers:
The stats behind the success
Qualifications
are available
in 6
languages.
// Page 7
OSH Career:
Insider tips
In keeping with their commitment to helping professionals find health and
safety jobs, Shirley Parsons Associates (the largest privately owned
specialist Health, Safety and Environmental recruitment business in the
UK) offers the following insider tips to help you make the next move:
1.) Can you name three key attributes that employers look for in a health, safety or environmental
candidate?
Qualifications – the NEBOSH Certificate is considered a minimum for an entry level health and
safety role, and the Diploma is almost always necessary for safety management roles.
Track record – demonstrating what you’ve achieved in your working career as a whole, not
necessarily just in any safety-related roles.
Be the ‘right fit’ – admittedly difficult to assess, this relates to attitude. Experiences outside of work
can be a useful gauge.
2.) Do you have any tips for anyone putting together their CV? How could they best ensure they
stand out from the crowd?
Your CV must be clear and concise. It must be easy to read, so bullet points are useful and not more
than 2-3 pages in length. You should present your CV how you would wish to present yourself:
smart, logical and clear. Obviously typing or spelling mistakes are a big no-no. Also, be descriptive in
each role when outlining the environments you have worked in and your achievements.
3.) Are cover letters essential, and if so what should they include?
If you’re applying directly then you should include a cover letter but make sure it’s 100% relevant to
the job you are applying for and not generic! It must state why you want the role and what skills and
attributes you would bring.
If you’re applying via a specialist agency they will put together a summary sheet to send with your
application which will explain why you’re suitable for the role.
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“
For all HSE roles, NEBOSH offer the
most recognised qualifications”
4. What advice would you give to anyone looking to move into their first health, safety and
environmental role?
Ensure your CV is very well presented and includes any experience you have (no matter how small),
as this gets you through the door. Beyond that, make sure you prepare comprehensively for
interviews – research what questions you may be asked and what questions you wish to ask.
Ideally, you also really need to get a NEBOSH Certificate under you belt – even if it means selffunding it as unless you’re moving internally employers almost always consider this a prerequisite for
a role in safety.
5. What about candidates looking to progress into managerial or specialist safety roles?
Read around the subject (be it a technical specialism or management skills) and take on whatever
responsibility you possibly can. Speak to people doing the job already and tap into their first hand
knowledge.
Really you’ll need the NEBOSH Diploma as in order to manage a team you’ll need the credibility that
this qualification affords. There are instances where those with very good management skills lead a
team of individuals who are equally, or even better qualified, than themselves but this is rare.
The NVQ 5 of course offers an alternative route to apply for CMIOSH status but it is our experience
that employers prefer the NEBOSH route.
6. In your experience are NEBOSH qualifications sought after by employers? If so, in which sectors,
and for which roles?
Yes, definitely! For all HS&E roles, in all sectors , NEBOSH offer the most recognised qualifications.
// Page 9
“
The job market generally has picked
up across the board”
7. What trends do you expect to see played out
in the field of health and safety over the next
few years, and how should candidates best
ensure they’re able to respond?
The job market generally has picked up across
the board and is currently buoyant. We’re seeing
more opportunities, particularly in construction,
which is bolstered by roles created by large-scale
infrastructure projects. As is typical we’re
busiest in the South-East but generally there’s a
lot going on nationwide.
Candidates should make sure that they keep
their CV, qualifications and CPD (continuing
professional development) up to date. Also, as
most recruitment processes will involve a
presentation at some stage it’s a good idea to
practise these skills at any opportunity.
We’re also seeing an increased shift towards
behavioural safety as firms raise their standards
from achieving compliance to creating a health
and safety culture. Candidates should look to
develop in being able to deliver in this area as
much as possible.
// Page 10
NEBOSH Exams:
Your Command Word Guide
A quick look at the examiner’s comments from past NEBOSH Certificate
exams reveals that candidates frequently fail to answer the question as it is
set. This handy guide should help anyone sitting a NEBOSH Certificate
avoid this common pitfall.
“Identify”
To give reference to an item, which could be its name
or title. Normally a word or phrase will be sufficient,
providing the reference is clear.
“Give”
To offer for consideration, acceptance, or use of another.
For example, “Give an example of”; “Give the meaning
of”.
“Outline”
To indicate the principal features or different parts of. An
exhaustive description is not required. Instead opt for a
brief summary of the major aspects.
“Describe”
To give a detailed written account of the distinctive
features of a subject. The account should be factual,
without any attempt to explain. When describing a
subject (or object) a test of sufficient detail would be
that another person would be able to visualise what you
are describing.
“Explain”
To provide an understanding. To make a idea or
relationship clear. This is testing the candidates ability to
know or understand why or how something happens. It
is often associated with the words “how” or “why”.
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RoSPA’s Guide to
NEBOSH Past Papers:
NEBOSH Certificate Questions 1
Here we look at questions similar to those that appear in the NEBOSH
General Certificate . We don’t provide answers as such as rote learning is
not advisable, instead we offer you top-tips for maximum marks, plus
points for inclusion.
The marks available are shown in brackets.
Advantages of using an internal auditor include pre-existing knowledge of critical areas of
concern; the ability to easily and quickly find information; the ability to drill down into key
areas; possible cost savings. Disadvantages may however include a lack of awareness of
standards required by legislation or other external bodies; a lack of impartiality; a possible
reluctance to create problems for management and the inability to review with a fresh pair
of eyes.
External health and safety auditors are experienced and bring both their expertise and an
independent view not influenced by internal pressures and loyalties. This independence is
considered best practice by the International Labour Organisation, and may be a
requirement when tendering for work. External auditors are also likely to be aware of best
practice across sectors.
There may however be problems relating to the external auditor’s lack of knowledge of the
business, which may result in more people being asked more questions and therefore
greater disruption to the business. Other disadvantages include the external auditing system
employed may not fit the organisation; additional training may be required and additional
costs accrued.
// Page 12
“
Use a highlighter to mark keywords– it
will help keep you focussed”
In answering this 2 part question attention should be given to the fact that examples are required in
the answer.
The term Hazard is commonly termed as “the potential of a substance, person, activity or process to
cause harm.”
Typical Hazards may include such things as:
• Electricity
• Working at height
• Chemicals.
The term Risk means the probability/likelihood that an unwanted event will occur and the possible
severity in terms of injury or damage should it occur. It would be best practice for the exam to utilise
the already recognised hazards as the basis for the answer to this element e.g.
• Electrocution
• Falling from height
• Poisoning.
The second part of this question may again link to the hazards and risks already identified to
maintain continuity if it is thought applicable. My recommendation would be to concentrate on
the Chemical hazard as this would allow you to quote such things as:
• Inexperience
• Slow effects
• Lack of training
• Inappropriate warnings
• Over familiarity.
// Page 13
“
Timing is key - allow approximately 9
minutes for each 8 mark question”
A question such as this asking you to ‘Outline’
something requires you to cite a number of areas
of influence, with fairly minimal descriptive
responses – therefore a broad brush approach is
appropriate. However, merely outlining the
powers of the HSE will not be enough to
adequately answer this question, instead you
must read the question carefully and answer
accordingly.
The HSE can influence the health and safety
performance of an organisation in the following
ways: (For clarity I’ve used bullet points, but
remember that in an exam your answer should
be presented in a paragraph.)
• Conducting campaigns (reducing noise at work
and campaigns aimed at particular business
sectors)
• Providing information (guidance notes, leaflets,
codes of practice, statistics)
• Carrying out inspections
• Carrying out accident investigations
• Investigating following complaints
• Provide advice on interpretation of laws
• Issue improvement notices
• Issue prohibition notices
• Prosecute those failing to comply with
legislation
• Interpret accident statistics
• Provide feedback on accident trends
• Provide feedback on ill health trends.
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4a.) Again, consider the command word for each part of the question. Part a. asks you to identify two
specific work activities for which a permit-to-work might be needed, so simply choose two from the
following:
•Work in confined spaces
•Work in flammable atmospheres
•Work on live electrical equipment
•Hot work
•Maintenance work on dangerous process plant or production machinery.
4b.) The answer to the second part of the question should be based on standardised formats in
general use throughout industry, so if this is not something that you are exposed to in the workplace,
a common sense approach should be adopted giving consideration to the “Hazards” and “ Risks”
associated to one of the answers from the first part of the question and should include issues such as:
•Work to be completed
•Positive ID of the plant/location to be worked on etc.
•The person allocated to the task
•The person in control of the plant/location
•The controls in place e.g. lock offs etc.
•Potential hazards that remain
•The precautions to be taken against these (e.g. PPE)
•The time/date of issue and commencement of work
•The duration of the permit
•The Safe System Of Work (SSOW) to be followed
•Statement that all measures for safety are in place (signed)
•Signature of competent person carrying out SSOW under permit
•Provision for hand-back after work completed
•Work completed signature
•Cancellation signature.
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“
Leave your rough work on paper;
don’t cross it through as it just might
gain you a valuable extra mark”
5.) This is a straightforward question on the
fundamental aspects of the Health and Safety at
Work etc. Act 1974 and as such should not hold
any fear for the vast majority of candidates. Full
marks would NOT be obtained by only quoting
Sections 2.1 and 2.2 a – e as set out below,
instead you must include the other elements
which form the rest of section 2 – highlighted in
bold below. Also, remember that as the
question uses the command word “outline” you
will need to expand on the list below, as bullet
points alone will not accrue full marks.
1. General duty to ensure health, safety and
welfare
2. Provision and maintenance of plant and Safe
Systems of Work (SSOW)
3. Safe use / handling / storage and
transportation of substances and articles
4. Provision of information, instruction, training
and supervision
5. Safe place, access and egress
6. Safe and healthy working environment /
welfare.
Health and safety policy – organisation and
arrangements
Consult with safety representatives
To form a safety committee (when requested, in
writing, by two or more TU appointed safety
representatives).
// Page 16
NEBOSH Certificate Questions 2
Here I’ve used my experience as a RoSPA Trainer delivering the NEBOSH
Certificate courses to guide you through questions similar to those you
would find in NEBOSH Unit GC1, The Management of Safety and Health.
1.) When attempting a question about the costs of accidents to an organisation, it is best to think
in terms of insured costs (such as those associated with loss of production or damage to
materials), and uninsured costs (such as a detrimental effect on employee morale, resulting in
more down time and higher staff turnover).
You can also answer in terms of the direct and indirect costs of the accident to the
organisation. Indirect costs (such as increased insurance premiums, uninsured criminal and civil
actions and damage to the organisation’s image) are usually far higher than anticipated by an
organisation and therefore more marks could be gained by focusing on this area. Remember that
in this question it is important to focus on the costs to the organisation, and not to other parties.
2.) This question would be best answered by splitting it into two with one paragraph on
Improvement Notices and one on Prohibition Notices. You can then identify the characteristics of
the two types of notice to gain the marks. The key difference to remember is that an
improvement notice may be served where an inspector is of the opinion that there is a breach of
a statutory health and safety duty, or that there has been such a breach which is likely to continue
or be repeated.
The more serious prohibition notice may be served only where, in the inspector’s opinion, there is
a risk of serious personal injury. In the latter case, a breach need not have occurred for the notice
to be served.
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“
Stick to your timings – you can always
add more detail at the end of the
exam if you have time to spare”
3.) To make your answer clearer you should
mirror the question and number your answer in
three sections.
As always, with regulations and ACOPs it is
important to focus on their legal status and with
guidance it is important to focus on it being
good practice. Therefore, for part (i), you should
state that regulations dictate minimum legal
standards. Breaches of regulations constitute
criminal offences that can lead to enforcement
action, with the possibility of prosecution and
the imposition of fines; that most health and
safety regulations are made under the Health
and Safety at Work etc. Act by the Secretary of
State after consultation with HSC; and that they
often implement EC Directives that are aimed at
protecting employees and others.
For part (ii), duty holders must comply with the
requirements of an ACOP or be able to show
that the chosen means of control are equally
effective. ACOPs are approved by the HSC with
the consent of the Secretary of State and their
purpose is to provide practical interpretations of
legal requirements in specific areas.
For part (iii), HSE guidance has no formal legal
standing, is generally more informative and
practical than an ACOP, and is intended to give
advice on good practice.
// Page 18
4.) Again, split your answer into three parts to
mirror the question.
For part (a), negligence is doing something a
reasonable person wouldn’t do, or failing to do
something a reasonable person would do. In
essence, it’s a lack of reasonable care or
conduct.
For part (b) examples of negligent acts by
employers can include a failure to provide a safe
system of work, a failure to provide safe
equipment or a failure to provide the necessary
safety training.
For the final part of the question (c), the role of
the civil courts with respect to health and safety
matters is to rule on actions for damages, to
establish liability and to award compensation
where appropriate.
There is a hierarchy of appeal:
• Cases are referred from the County and/or
High Courts to a Court of Appeal
• Appeals from the Court of Appeal are heard by
the House of Lords, whose decision sets the
precedent for all courts below it.
// Page 19
NEBOSH Certificate Questions 3
These next four NEBOSH past paper questions are from Unit GC2, Controlling
Workplace Hazards.
1.) This workplace transport question will allow you to outline the main controls that can be used to
separate people and vehicles. It may help to imagine a number of workplace scenarios such as a
warehouse, factory and loading dock. You could group your answer into the areas suggested in HSG
136: safe person, safe vehicle and safe site. Things to consider include:
•Traffic management systems to segregate people and vehicles
•Lighting, mirrors and transparent doors to aid visibility
•High visibility clothing
•Signage
•Refuges
•Road surfaces and markings
•Staff safety training and adequate supervision.
2.) This question is also a workplace transport question but focusing on reversing vehicles. More
detail is required, and it may be useful to look at a hierarchical response to risks:
•You could start with one-way systems and turning circles to restrict the need for reversing.
•You would then considering pathways and barriers to segregate people and vehicles
•Move on to discuss vehicle and workplace design methods such as reversing alarms, the use of
mirrors, lighting and refuges
•Then consider procedural measures such as driver training and banksman training and deployment.
// Page 20
3.) Familiarity with different types of work equipment will help to ensure there are no surprises in the
exam. On this occasion as many of the relevant hazards and safeguards apply to other work
equipment that may appear in a NEBOSH exam question your familiarity in this area can help you in
others.
For part (i), describe the possible hazards faced by employees using a petrol-driven strimmer on grass
verges on the roadside. To gain maximum marks it is therefore important to consider not just the
work equipment but also the activity. These include:
• Contact with the moving parts of the strimmer
• The possibility of being struck by flying stones or other material
• Slips/trips/falls
• Manual handling hazards and musculoskeletal disorders
• The danger posed by moving traffic
• The potential dangers of noise and vibration, dust and fumes
• The hazards associated with the storage, transfer and use of petrol.
For part (ii), focus on PPE that may guard against the hazards you have already suggested. To check
you haven’t missed any start at the head and work your way down the body considering all the PPE
that may be available, such as:
•Ear defenders
•Eye protection
•Respiratory protection (dust mask)
•Gloves
•Gaiters
•Safety footwear
•Overall protection from the weather (be it sun or rain).
For part (iii), outline measures that are not related to PPE such as regular breaks, job rotation, traffic
control measures, maintenance of equipment, safety training and health surveillance.
// Page 21
NEBOSH Certificate Questions 4
This past paper question is a further example of questions you can expect to
find in the NEBOSH Certificate.
1a) The first thing to do is identify the command word, as this decides how you’ll answer the
question. In this instance:
Outline = “Indicate the principal features or different parts of”, which immediately tells you that in
order to gain the maximum 4 marks available they’re not looking for an exhaustive description, just
an outline.
In terms of the answer itself, you should first recognise that the accident was reportable under
RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences regulations) since the injured
visitor was taken directly to hospital. As such, the responsible person within the organisation should
notify the authorities by the quickest practicable means, (be it phone, fax or e-mail) and follow this
up with a written report on a F2508 form within 10 days.
You can answer a four point question in a brief paragraph, but not bullet points and I’d advise against
anything too lengthy or wordy as really you ought to be looking to pick up the necessary points and
move on.
// Page 22
1b.) Plan your answer carefully so that you don’t bounce around the question answering a bit here
and a bit there. As the question is divided into two parts you should follow suit by answering in two
parts, in order, with each part clearly labelled. This question is asking for specifics on the employer,
and then on the supervisor so keep your answers in the same order; it makes it easier to mark!
Also remember that NEBOSH exams are positively marked, which means that the examiner is actively
looking to award points for correct answers, rather than deduct points for incorrect answers.
1bi) When answering the first part of the exam question you should explain that the employer has a
general duty of care under section 2.1 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA).
That duty is to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health safety and welfare of its
employees.
In this scenario the employees were exposed to the same risk as the visitor. Under section 2.2 of
HASAWA there is a further duty owed to provide a safe place of work, safe access and egress, a safe
working environment and adequate supervision, information, instruction and training.
In this example, as it was a non employee that was injured, section 3 of HASAWA has been breached.
This section states that the employer has an equal duty of care to ensure that persons not in his
employment should not be exposed to risks to their health and safety.
1bii) The second part of the question relates to the supervisor and so you should make the point that
they could be held in breach of section 7 of the Act for failing to take care for the health and safety of
themselves and others who could be affected by their acts or omissions.
Further marks could be gained by mentioning sections 36 and 37, if it could be shown that the
supervisor might be held responsible for the breaches of section 2 and that these breaches were due
to their act or default, and if the supervisor fell within the category of officer as mentioned in section
37. (Remember that in smaller companies a supervisor may well also carry managerial
responsibilities).
// Page 23
“
Avoid the temptation to structure
your answer as a list unless specifically
requested to do so”
1c) First consider the action word:
Identify = “give a reference to an item (could be
its name or title)”
Then use this to inform the level of detail you go
in to, for example, you would provide more
information for a question asking you to
‘outline’, than one asking you to ‘identify’. In
this instance there are two marks available, but
although it’s reasonable to assume that you can
earn these by naming the two relevant
authorities requested, it is worth including more
if you can as this way you’ll be demonstrating
the ‘breadth of knowledge’ that NEBOSH
examiners seek (something that could earn you
a valuable few extra marks overall).
Furthermore, when delivering NEBOSH Training
we caution delegates to stick to the command
verb, and avoid the temptation to answer in a
list format. Therefore for this question I would
simply expand the ‘list’ of relevant authorities
into a short paragraph, punctuated with semicolons:
“Government employers that could prosecute
the employer include The Health and Safety
Executive; Local Authorities; the Office of the
Rail Regulator; the Director of Public
Prosecutions and in Scotland, the Procurator
Fiscal.”
// Page 24
NEBOSH Practical:
RoSPA’s GC3 DOs and DON’Ts
As the name implies, Unit GC3: Health and Safety Practical Application
allows you to demonstrate your NEBOSH NGC1 and GC2 accumulated
knowledge by applying it to real examples from within your place of work.
It’s where the theory becomes a reality, and where you get to see what
risk reductions your knowledge can bring about.
So, if you’re currently working towards the NEBOSH Certificate, these DOs
and DON’Ts are for you.
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“
// Page 26
Don’t scrimp on your Observation
Sheets – they’re where 30% of your
mark will come from”
// Page 27
“
// Page 28
Don’t forget to sign the declaration
form. ”
NEBOSH Diploma:
How to Maximise Marks in Unit D
For this final part of the diploma, you are required to bring together the
knowledge and understanding you have gained in NEBOSH Units A, B and
C, all of which are assessed by exam, to undertake a detailed health and
safety review of a workplace or organisation and then produce an action
plan to improve performance. While this might initially sound intimidating,
with the right planning there is really nothing to stop you gaining high
marks and achieving maximum success in this unit!
1. Plan for Success
Before you even pick up a pen, think carefully about the workplace or organisation you are choosing
to base your assignment on. It should be large enough to provide an opportunity for a review of the
health and safety management system as well as providing a sufficiently wide range of hazards in
the areas covered by Units B and C as these will be identified and prioritised in your report. If the
organisation you have chosen is very large, why not make your study more manageable by looking
at a limited department or division rather than the entire organisation?
Once you have pinpointed the organisation you wish to use, start by making sure you fully
understand the brief and then come up with a plan of how you intend to approach your study,
which you can then discuss with your NEBOSH tutor. While they will not be able to read and amend
your review, they should be able to tell you whether or not your proposal has sufficient depth and
breadth of content to meet the NEBOSH Diploma level.
2. Style and Substance
The style in which you present your report is going to have a dramatic impact on your success in
Unit D. You should be writing in a formal style, however, the report should be as easy to read as
possible, so resist the temptation of using unnecessary technical jargon when a clear and concise
explanation will suffice – remember, it’s a human being and not a machine that will be marking your
work!
It’s also worth bearing in mind that the purpose of the report is to demonstrate that you have a firm
understanding of the subject matter, so think about how you choose to present information.
Sometimes bullet points or a table will be enough to convey a point, sometimes not – the important
thing is to organise your work into paragraphs so that chunks of text are avoided and to try and
think outside the box in terms of presentation in order to keep your report stimulating and reader
friendly.
// Page 29
3. Think Marks!
“
Your executive summary should be no
more than one side of A4 using singlespaced Arial font ”
Even though Unit D is a written report rather than an exam, it is still good practice to approach the
assignment as you would a test paper. This means you should be aware that marks are awarded both
for the range of factors considered and the quality of treatment and so you need to ensure an
appropriate balance between range and depth. It is important to remember that a large range of
factors treated superficially will not be rewarded with high marks – think quality not quantity!
4. Executive Summary
For those a little confused about the Executive Summary, you can simply think of it as an overview of
the important points of your work, with a summary of the main conclusions and recommendations
of your review.
It should be targeted at a person who is not necessarily an expert in the field and very briefly state
the implications of your review for the organisation; including any costs involved and inform the
reader of the proposed cause of action and the benefits – all presented in a non-technical, readerfriendly style, suitable for a busy senior manager to read on the fly. If in doubt the golden rule is
‘simple but persuasive’.
The Executive Summary should be written after the rest of your report and then inserted at the
beginning. It is also the only part of the report which is length limited and should be no longer than
one side of A4 using single-spaced Arial font. 10% of the marks available for the Executive Summary
will be deducted for text covering up to an additional one-quarter of a page, with a further 10% for
each additional quarter of a page submitted as part of the executive summary, so always be sure to
plan ahead and keep it succinct if you don’t want to drop unnecessary marks.
// Page 30
“
You are required to outline legislation
and case law relevant to your
organisation – but an exhaustive list is
not expected. ”
5. Clear Introduction
They say that first impressions count, and the
introduction to your report is no different. Your
introduction should clearly set out your aims and
objectives, which will help orientate the reader
as well as keeping you on track. A good
introduction will also help when it comes to
writing your conclusion, providing you with a
clear benchmark of objectives to refer back to
and evaluate your success.
Your introduction should also include a clear
description of your methodology, including your
methods of research, as well as providing a
description of your chosen organisation or
workplace in order to set the context for the
report. This should include the size and nature of
the organisation, the employment profile, the
work patterns and production schedules
employed, as well as any special situations that
are likely to have an impact on health and safety.
You are also required to outline legislation and
case law relevant to the organisation and this can
also be included in your introduction. However,
remember you are being marked on your ability
to put these in the context of the development
of an effective health and safety management
programme. An exhaustive list of statutes,
regulations etc. is not expected.
// Page 31
6. Know your Hazards
As part of the assignment, you are required to identify at least 15 significant hazards from across a
range of categories and prioritise them. You can then justify the choice of each hazard by using a
system to assign levels of importance to each of the hazards identified. Remember: A full risk
assessment is not needed for each hazard.
Once you have identified these hazards (which should be across a range of categories relevant to the
organisation), you then need to assign two as high priority – one physical hazard and the other
relating to health and welfare. As a rule you should consider physical hazards as those covered in
Unit C and health and welfare hazards as those covered in Unit B .
7. Specify Risks
The risk assessments that are required for the unit must be completed on the chosen hazards you
have previously identified. You then need to evaluate the effectiveness of the organisation in
controlling the risks and offer proposals to further control the hazard and reduce the risks – be sure
to make use of any existing data for hazards that have already been quantified, for example noise
control.
Also, make sure to briefly describe the methodology you adopted for each risk assessment and be
sure to reference any relevant publications, legislation, ACOPs and other technical documents you
consulted.
8. Summing up
It almost goes without saying, but your conclusion should offer a concise summary of your findings in
the main body of the report – this is not the time to introduce any new ideas! A good conclusion
should start by referring back to the aims and objectives you set out at the beginning of your report,
evaluating how well they were achieved. The rest of the conclusion should follow on logically from
the findings in the main body, being sure to cover every finding in the main report. A good tip is to
print out a rough copy of the report and highlight all of your findings – that way you can be sure you
don’t miss any.
// Page 32
9. Recommendations Vs Action Planning
10.Last but not least …Relax!
Like your conclusion, recommendations should
lead on logically from your report and not come
as a complete surprise to the reader.
Recommendations need to be justified, complete
(i.e. cover all the main findings), practical and
include a cost benefit analysis – in other words
what the organisation will gain set against the
costs involved.
Unit D is all about bringing together the
knowledge and understanding you have gained
during units A, B and C. As long as you plan
ahead and manage your time effectively
there’s no reason you shouldn’t achieve
success in the NEBOSH Diploma.
Recommendations also need to be prioritised –
for example you could look at which hazards
represent the highest risk, or which will be the
easiest, or most cost efficient to implement.
However you choose to prioritise your
recommendations, make sure you explain the
system you have used.
Action planning on the other hand is the tool
through which your recommendations will be
implemented. Your action plans should include
actions that need to take place to reduce the
risks associated with the hazard, outlining the
person responsibility for implementing the
action, cost and timescale. Remember – staff
time costs money.
While there is no set format to present your
action plans, a table is often the most successful
format because it is easy to see that all of the
requirements have been included.
Finally, try and make your targets SMART
(Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and
Time bound) and don’t forget to address every
recommendation with an action plan – there’s no
point in making a recommendation then not
doing anything about it.
// Page 33
Additional Diploma Unit D guidance available
form the NEBOSH website.
NEBOSH Exams:
RoSPA’s Top-Tips
If you’re currently working towards a NEBOSH exam here’s some top tips
from from RoSPA trainers (who also have experience marking NEBOSH
exams) and recent RoSPA delegate, Roxanne. They helped her to pass her
NEBOSH exam – with distinction no less - so hopefully they’ll help you
too!
1.) Keep your eye on the prize
Yes, it’s a lot of work, and yes it’s usually on-top of all your work work, but the reality is that these
days, and in this economic climate, the right qualifications are more important than ever.
In the latest poll, 88% of RoSPA Members’ agreed that a nationally recognised health and safety
qualification helps career progression, and you only need to spend a few minutes scouring the
Institute of Safety and Health’s jobs pages to be reassured that a NEBOSH qualification really will
help open doors.
With this in mind, focus on the task in hand and prioritise accordingly. Far better to pass first time
than to waste time re-sitting.
2.) Know what you’re getting yourself in to
The National General Certificate is divided into 3 units, the first two of which, NGC1 and GC2 are
assessed by written exam. In order to maximise your point earning potential you need to
understand how marks are generated.
Remember:
•Each exam lasts two hours
•Each consists of 10 short answer questions and 1 long answer question
•The short answer questions are each worth 8 marks, and the long answer question is worth 20
marks
•Time wise, this means that you should give yourself 8-10 minutes for the short answer questions
and 20 minutes for the long answer question. Our delegates tell us they find it useful to take their
own watch into the exam, and have it visible on their desk, it helps them keep to time
•All questions are compulsory.
// Page 34
3.) Remember that the examiner is looking to
give you points
The NEBOSH Certificate exam is positively
marked, with marks awarded for the correct
application of knowledge, rather than deducted
for incorrect answers. Therefore, if in doubt,
have a go!
This marking system means that it’s your job to
make it as easy as possible for the examiner to
find places to award you marks. This means
legible writing; clearly numbered answers (if a
question consists of different sub-sections make
sure you number each sub section and address
it separately within your answer, e.g. 1a, b and
c.); and an answer for every question (though
you may ‘warm up’ by starting with those that
you feel most confident about rather than
working chronologically through the paper).
4.)
Attend a NEBOSH Certificate Revision
course
If at all possible we strongly recommend
candidates attend a revision course. By putting
you in an environment where you’re face to
face with both an expert tutor and your peers, a
revision course allows you to practice exam
questions; get feedback on your performance
and to ask any outstanding questions. Tutors
expect there to be things that you’re still unsure
of, so if in doubt, just ask. Many organisations,
including RoSPA, will accept candidates on their
NEBOSH Certificate revision courses even if they
studied elsewhere and, for the reasons outlined
here, attendance is something that we can’t
emphasise enough.
// Page 35
5.) Answer the question that has been set, not
a question that you’d like to answer
A quick look through NEBOSH’s Examiners’
Reports reveals that it is frustratingly not
uncommon for candidates to miss marks simply
by failing to answer the question as set.
Comments such as: “Some candidates fail to
answer the question set and instead provide
information that may be relevant to the topic but
is irrelevant to the question and cannot therefore
be awarded marks”, or variations thereof,
regularly feature in the ‘Common pitfalls’
section. A good Revision Course will again help
you with this, as indeed will a few deep breaths
to calm yourself before reading each question –
twice.
6.) Apply the command words
Another common pitfall is failure to apply the
command words when answering a question.
Print the guide on page 11 and refer to it as you
revise.
7.) Condense your notes
There’s a time for reading through reams of
notes with a highlighter in hand but the days
immediately prior to the exam are not this time.
As the date approaches you should concentrate
on condensed excerpts that you can actually
commit to memory. Use your own revision cards
to create these, or purchase Ed Ferrett’s revision
cards to augment your course notes. Remember,
minutes of concentrated learning will prove
more valuable than hours of reading that you
can’t later recall.
// Page 36
8.) Revise the subjects that you like least
That says it all really, but suffice to say that
although it’s tempting to delve further into the
topics that you enjoy and understand, when it
comes to revision it’s the areas that you don’t
like, or even understand, that really deserve
your attention.
“
Sitting a mock exam will help you
understand how much time you have
per question”
9.) ‘Always be prepared’
Make sure you’re equipped with pens and a
watch and that you’ve double checked the exam
date, time and location and are fully au fait with
travel arrangements. Do this thoroughly, and
then put it out of mind, so that you can better
concentrate on the substance of the exam.
10.) Practice your exam technique
The example questions on pages 12– 23 will
really help, and you will also look at more
examples as part of RoSPA’s NEBOSH Certificate
course. These are the best way to assess the type
of questions that you will face and by submitting
them to your tutor you’ll be able to gauge the
depth of response required. We also recommend
that you take the opportunity to sit a mock exam
in its entirety prior to the actual exam as this will
help you understand how much time you have
per question, as well as to allow you to practice
writing for that length of time.
11.) Keep up-to-date
Try to keep abreast of developments within the
safety community, as doing so will mean you can
stand out from the crowd by including topical
examples and pertinent issues into your exam
answers.
Finally…good luck!
// Page 37
NEBOSH Qualification:
Where will it take you?
NEBOSH qualifications really do open doors., but don’t take our word for it. Here’s
what a selection of our recent successful delegates had to say:
My NEBOSH qualification…
“Has made me more respected. It’s a recognised qualification, which I
insisted upon when taking on additional health and safety responsibilities.
I’m now more aware of the practical application of health and safety law, and
this has helped me successfully push for enhanced safety measures.”
Jeff Scotford, QA Manager and Health & Safety officer, Barton Firtop Engineering Co Ltd.
// Page 38
Course Funding:
1. Current and ex-forces options
In a recent blog ‘Why a career in health and safety might be your ideal spot
on Civvy Street’ RoSPA Chief Executive, Tom Mullarkey, outlines seven key
reasons why Forces personnel make ideal leaders in health and safety. So,
having established that NEBOSH qualifications really do open doors the
next step is to secure funding for the training. Options include:
The MOD's Enhanced Learning Credits Administration Services (ELCAS) is an initiative to promote
lifelong learning amongst members of the Armed Forces. ELCAS provides financial support in the
form of a single up-front payment in each of a maximum of three separate financial years. You must
plan ahead and allow at least five weeks between submitting your claim and starting your course.
ELCAS funding is only available for pursuit of higher level learning (i.e. Level three or above on the
National Qualifications Framework in England and Wales, a Level six or above on the Scottish Credit
and Qualifications Framework - or an approved international equivalent qualification), which both
the NEBOSH certificate and Diploma are.
The Career Transition Partnership was set up by the Ministry of Defence to provide eligible Service
leavers with free, comprehensive guidance and information about life after the Forces – including
training grants.
The British Legion’s Civvy Street website helps you build a CV, gives advice about interviews, tells
you how to retrain and provides financial support to help you into a job. Their Employment Support
Grant Scheme provides assistance to ex-forces personnel who are currently out of work.
RoSPA’s Chief Executive ,Tom Mullarkey,
served in the Royal Artillery for 20 years
including postings in Germany, Canada
and India as well as operational tours in
Northern Ireland and Rwanda.
// Page 39
Course Funding:
2. Sector-specific options
If you work in construction,
engineering or the not-for-profit
sector it may be worth considering
the following routes to funding:
Accordign to NEBOSH, if you work in construction
for a levy paying member of the CITB
(Construction Industry Training Board) in
Northern Ireland you can get 75% off the cost of
NEBOSH qualifications. Contact the CITB in
Northern Ireland on 028 9082 5466 or
info@citbcsni.org.uk.
Companies in other areas who are registered
with the CITB and have met the full criteria of the
grant can claim for an A09 – Technical AND
Professional Attendance grant for approved offthe-job training courses such as the NEBOSH
Construction Certificate and NEBOSH General
Certificate.
The ECITB (Engineering Construction Industry
Training Board) provides skill enhancing grants to
ECITB registered companies. See their website
for more details.
NEBOSH and the Charities Safety Group (CSG)
assist small charities, and voluntary sector
organisations in providing scholarships for the
NEBOSH Certificate. The scheme has been
running for a number of years and many charities
have achieved the qualification through this
route. Application forms are available from the
Charity Safety Group website www.csg.org.uk.
// Page 40
Course Funding:
3. Options by region
Wales
The Redundancy Action Scheme (ReAct) is a programme of funding for training provided by the
Welsh Assembly Government to help people in Wales who are facing redundancy or who have been
made redundant within the last six months. A contribution of up to £1,500 per person is available to
provide vocational training. Further details are available from the ReAct team on 01792-765888, or
react.team@wales.gsi.gov.uk
GO Wales provide 50% funding for qualifications from £300 to £1500. The funding is available to
any graduate employee of SMEs in Wales.
More advice is available from Career Wales on 0800 100 900.
Scotland
The Scottish Government website provides details on potential education/ training funding options.
Careers Scotland provide information & advice about funding for training and claiming benefits .
Learn Direct Scotland gives advice on bursaries and loans for further education.
More advice is available from My World of Work on 0808 100 1050.
England
The Job Centre Plus Rapid Response Team can help people facing, or in the first 13 weeks of
redundancy who may be eligible to funding for retraining.
If you’re 24 or older you can apply for a 24+ Advanced Learning Loan to help with the costs of a
course.
Professional and Career Development Loans are bank loans to pay for courses and training that help
with your career or help get you into work. You may be able to borrow between £300 and £10,000.
You can find out which banks offer the loan and order an application pack by calling the National
Careers Service on 0800 100 900.
// Page 41
About RoSPA
RoSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) is a registered
charity and the UK’s leading safety organisation. Through our workplace
safety training, consultancy, fleet, awards and membership services, we
work with organisations within the UK and overseas.
Why choose RoSPA NEBOSH training?
• Exceptional pass rates and consistent positive delegate feedback
• Expert tutors, many with experience as NEBOSH examiners
• Wide portfolio of NEBOSH courses
• Revision Courses also open to external candidates
• Flexible modes of study include classroom training and e-learning
• Training venues throughout the UK
• NEBOSH courses also delivered in-company, both in the UK and globally
• Prices start at just £490 +VAT with RoSPA Members enjoying discounts.
Which NEBOSH courses do RoSPA offer?
NEBOSH Health and Safety at Work
NEBOSH Certificate
NEBOSH International Certificate
NEBOSH Fire Certificate
NEBOSH Construction Certificate
NEBOSH Distance Learning
NEBOSH Diploma
NEBOSH Revision
NEBOSH Exams
RoSPA
RoSPA House
28 Calthorpe Road
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 1RP
RoSPA Scotland
Livingston House
43 Discovery Terrace
Edinburgh
EH14 4AP
www.rospa.com