NEBOSH National General Certificate Foundations of Health and Safety Management Syllabus

Foundations of Health and Safety Management syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Foundations of Health and Safety Management in NEBOSH National General Certificate, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Why We Should Manage Workplace Health and Safety

   4 topics

   • The Moral, Legal and Financial Case
     • Moral reasons: human cost of accidents and ill health
     • Legal reasons: preventive, punitive and compensatory dimensions
     • Financial reasons: insured versus uninsured costs
   • Accident and Ill-Health Statistics and Trends
     • HSE and ILO injury and fatality data
     • Common causes of workplace fatalities
     • Costs of accidents to society and the organisation
   • The Iceberg Model of Accident Costs
     • Direct (insured) costs
     • Indirect (uninsured) costs
   • Barriers to Good Standards of Health and Safety
     • Behavioural, organisational and resource barriers
     • Production and cost pressures
2. 2

   The Legal Framework and Enforcement

   5 topics

   • Sources and Types of Law
     • Criminal versus civil law
     • Statute law and common law
     • Standard of proof in each system
   • Key UK Legislation
     • Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
     • Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
     • Absolute, practicable and reasonably practicable duties
   • Duties of Employers and Employees
     • Sections 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8 of HSWA
     • Duties to non-employees and the self-employed
   • The Role of the Enforcing Authorities
     • HSE and Local Authority responsibilities
     • Powers of inspectors under Section 20
     • Improvement and prohibition notices
     • Prosecution, penalties and sentencing guidelines
   • Employers' Liability and Civil Claims
     • Tort of negligence and the duty of care
     • Vicarious liability
     • Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act
3. 3

   Managing and Improving Health and Safety

   3 topics

   • The Plan-Do-Check-Act Management Cycle
     • HSG65 framework
     • Continuous improvement principles
   • Health and Safety Management Systems
     • ISO 45001 structure and benefits
     • Internal versus external drivers for a system
   • Benefits and Limitations of Management Systems

Foundations of Health and Safety Management flashcards for NEBOSH National General Certificate

25 of 51 cards from the Foundations of Health and Safety Management deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What are the three components of the 'business case' (reasons) for managing health and safety?

   The Moral case, the Legal case, and the Financial (economic) case.

2. Describe the MORAL case for health and safety management.

   An ethical/humanitarian duty: employers should not expose workers to harm, given the unacceptable scale of deaths, injuries and ill-health caused by work. People expect to come home from work in the same condition they arrived.

3. Describe the LEGAL case for health and safety management.

   Employers must comply with statutory law (e.g. HSWA 1974, regulations). Failure can lead to enforcement action (notices), criminal prosecution, fines and imprisonment, plus civil claims for compensation.

4. Describe the FINANCIAL (economic) case for health and safety management.

   Accidents and ill-health cost money. Good management reduces losses; poor management leads to direct and indirect costs (sick pay, lost production, damage, fines, claims, higher insurance, reputational damage).

5. In accident statistics, what is the key advantage of using a RATE rather than a raw number of accidents?

   A rate relates accidents to the number of people exposed (or hours worked), allowing meaningful comparison between organisations or periods of different size/exposure.

6. State the formula for the Accident Incidence Rate (per 1,000 employees).

   $$\text{Incidence Rate} = \frac{\text{Number of accidents in period}}{\text{Average number of persons employed}} \times 1000$$

7. State the formula for the Accident Frequency Rate (per million hours worked).

   $$\text{Frequency Rate} = \frac{\text{Number of accidents in period}}{\text{Total hours worked}} \times 1{,}000{,}000$$

8. State the formula for the Accident Severity Rate.

   $$\text{Severity Rate} = \frac{\text{Total days lost}}{\text{Total hours worked}} \times 1{,}000{,}000$$

9. What general trend has the long-term rate of fatal and major workplace injuries shown in Great Britain over recent decades?

   A broad long-term downward (decreasing) trend, though improvement has slowed/plateaued in recent years.

10. Distinguish between a 'leading' and a 'lagging' health and safety indicator.

    Lagging (reactive) indicators measure outcomes after they occur (e.g. injury/accident rates). Leading (active/proactive) indicators measure activity before harm occurs (e.g. inspections done, training completed).

11. Explain the Iceberg Model of accident costs.

    It illustrates that visible insured/direct costs are only the small 'tip' above the waterline, while the much larger hidden uninsured/indirect costs lie below the surface.

12. In the Iceberg Model, give examples of DIRECT (insured) costs.

    Costs covered by insurance: employer's liability claims/compensation, damage to buildings, plant and equipment, and certain medical costs.

13. In the Iceberg Model, give examples of INDIRECT (uninsured) costs.

    Hidden costs: lost production/time, sick pay, accident investigation, recruitment/training of replacements, overtime, loss of reputation, fines, and legal costs.

14. Why are uninsured (indirect) costs often said to be far larger than insured costs in the Iceberg Model?

    Because the many small hidden losses (lost time, investigation, replacement, reputation) accumulate and cannot be transferred to an insurer, often estimated at several times the insured costs.

15. List four common BARRIERS to achieving good standards of health and safety in an organisation.

    Complexity (of workplaces/processes), conflicting demands (e.g. production vs safety), behavioural issues (worker/management attitudes), and resource constraints (cost, time, expertise/competence).

16. How can 'conflicting demands' act as a barrier to good health and safety standards?

    Pressure to meet production targets, deadlines or cost savings can compete with safety, leading managers/workers to cut corners and prioritise output over safe practice.

17. What are the two broad SOURCES of law in England and Wales relevant to health and safety?

    Statute law (Acts of Parliament and regulations made under them) and Common law (developed through court decisions/precedent).

18. Distinguish between CRIMINAL law and CIVIL law in a health and safety context.

    Criminal law punishes breaches of statutory duty (state prosecutes; outcome = fine/imprisonment). Civil law resolves disputes between individuals, allowing an injured party to claim compensation (damages) from the duty-holder.

19. What is the standard (burden) of proof in criminal versus civil cases?

    Criminal: 'beyond reasonable doubt' (higher standard). Civil: 'on the balance of probabilities' (more likely than not).

20. What is the difference between an 'Act' and a 'Regulation' in UK statute law?

    An Act is primary legislation passed by Parliament (e.g. HSWA 1974). Regulations are secondary/delegated legislation made under the powers of an Act, giving more detailed requirements.

21. What is an Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) and its legal status?

    Practical guidance approved by the HSE giving advice on complying with the law. It has special legal status: not following it can be used as evidence of a breach unless equal compliance is shown by other means.

22. Name the principal piece of UK health and safety legislation and its year.

    The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSWA).

23. Under Section 2 of HSWA 1974, what is the employer's primary general duty?

    To ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all their employees.

24. Under Section 3 of HSWA 1974, to whom does the employer owe a duty?

    To persons not in their employment (e.g. visitors, contractors, the public) who may be affected by their work, so far as is reasonably practicable.

25. What does Section 7 of HSWA 1974 require of EMPLOYEES?

    To take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and others affected by their acts/omissions, and to co-operate with the employer on health and safety matters.

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