NEBOSH National General Certificate Risk Assessment and Incident Management Syllabus

Risk Assessment and Incident Management syllabus — full chapter and topic list

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

1. 1

   Principles of Risk Assessment

   4 topics

   • Key Terms and Definitions
     • Hazard, risk, likelihood and severity
     • Acceptable and tolerable risk
   • The Five Steps to Risk Assessment
     • Identifying hazards
     • Identifying who might be harmed and how
     • Evaluating risk and deciding precautions
     • Recording, implementing and reviewing
   • Special Cases and Vulnerable Workers
     • Young persons
     • New and expectant mothers
     • Lone workers and disabled workers
   • Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches
2. 2

   The Hierarchy of Risk Control

   4 topics

   • General Principles of Prevention
     • Schedule 1 of the Management Regulations
     • Eliminate, substitute and engineering controls
     • Administrative controls and PPE as a last resort
   • Safe Systems of Work
     • Developing a safe system of work
     • The role of the worker in safe systems
   • Permit-to-Work Systems
     • When permits are required
     • Key elements: issue, work, hand-back, cancellation
   • Emergency Procedures and First Aid
     • Developing emergency procedures
     • First-aid needs assessment and provision
3. 3

   Incident and Emergency Investigation

   3 topics

   • Reasons for Investigating Incidents
     • Preventing recurrence
     • Legal and compliance purposes
   • The Investigation Process
     • Gathering information and securing the scene
     • Interviewing witnesses
     • Identifying immediate and root causes
     • Recommending corrective actions
   • Recording and Reporting Requirements
     • RIDDOR 2013 reportable events
     • Internal recording and accident books
4. 4

   Monitoring, Auditing and Review

   4 topics

   • Active and Reactive Monitoring
     • Leading versus lagging indicators
     • Workplace inspections, sampling and tours
   • Safety Inspections and Checklists
   • Health and Safety Auditing
     • Internal versus external audits
     • Scope and benefits of auditing
   • Reviewing Performance
     • Management review and continuous improvement
     • Reporting to the board

Risk Assessment and Incident Management flashcards for NEBOSH National General Certificate

22 of 61 cards from the Risk Assessment and Incident Management deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. Define 'hazard' as used in occupational health and safety.

   A hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm (e.g. chemicals, electricity, working at height, a slippery floor).

2. Define 'risk' in the context of risk assessment.

   Risk is the likelihood that a hazard will cause harm, combined with the severity of that harm. It reflects both probability and consequence.

3. What is the difference between 'hazard' and 'risk'?

   A hazard is the potential to cause harm; risk is the chance that harm will actually occur and how serious it would be. A hazard can exist with little or no risk if exposure is controlled.

4. Define 'risk assessment'.

   A risk assessment is the formal, systematic examination of work activities to identify hazards, evaluate the risks, and decide on suitable control measures to prevent harm.

5. What is meant by a 'suitable and sufficient' risk assessment?

   One that identifies significant risks, considers who may be harmed and how, evaluates existing controls, is proportionate to the risk, and remains appropriate for the nature of the work over a reasonable period.

6. Define 'competent person' in health and safety terms.

   A person with sufficient training, knowledge, experience and other qualities to enable them to carry out a task or assist with health and safety duties properly.

7. List the Five Steps to Risk Assessment (HSE model).

   1) Identify the hazards. 2) Decide who might be harmed and how. 3) Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions. 4) Record the significant findings and implement them. 5) Review the assessment and update if necessary.

8. In the Five Steps to Risk Assessment, what is required at Step 4?

   Record the significant findings of the assessment, including the hazards, who is affected, existing controls, and any further action needed, and then implement those controls.

9. When should a risk assessment be reviewed (Step 5)?

   After an accident or near miss, when there are significant changes (new equipment, processes, substances or staff), if controls are found ineffective, after a set period, or following new legal/technical information.

10. In risk assessment, what is the formula often used to express the level of risk?

    $\text{Risk} = \text{Likelihood} \times \text{Severity}$

11. Using a 5x5 qualitative risk matrix, what is the maximum risk rating and what does it imply?

    The maximum rating is $5 \times 5 = 25$, representing a very high/intolerable risk that requires immediate action and the work should not start or continue until the risk is reduced.

12. Distinguish between a qualitative and a quantitative approach to risk assessment.

    Qualitative uses descriptive/subjective judgement (e.g. high, medium, low) without numerical calculation; quantitative assigns numerical values to likelihood and severity and may calculate probabilities or rates to give an objective figure.

13. Give one advantage and one disadvantage of a quantitative risk assessment.

    Advantage: gives an objective, comparable numerical result. Disadvantage: it is time-consuming, requires reliable data and specialist expertise, and may give false precision.

14. What is a 'semi-quantitative' risk assessment?

    An approach that combines qualitative descriptions with numerical scores (e.g. multiplying numbered likelihood and severity bands in a risk matrix) to rank and prioritise risks.

15. List four groups of vulnerable workers needing special consideration in risk assessment.

    Young workers, new and expectant mothers, disabled workers, and lone workers (also migrant workers and inexperienced/new starters).

16. Why are young workers considered a special case in risk assessment?

    They lack experience and maturity, may be unaware of risks, are still developing physically and mentally, can be over-enthusiastic or easily influenced, and are less likely to recognise or report hazards.

17. What particular risks must be considered for new and expectant mothers at work?

    Manual handling, exposure to chemicals/biological agents and radiation, standing/sitting for long periods, fatigue, stress, and physical impact or temperature extremes that could harm the mother or unborn child.

18. What additional controls are appropriate for lone workers?

    Regular communication/check-ins, emergency procedures, supervision arrangements, training, knowing whereabouts, panic alarms/lone-worker devices, and ensuring the task is suitable to be done alone.

19. State the General Principles of Prevention in their correct order (first three).

    1) Avoid the risk altogether. 2) Evaluate risks that cannot be avoided. 3) Combat risks at source.

20. In the General Principles of Prevention, what does 'adapt the work to the individual' mean?

    Designing workplaces, equipment, working methods and ergonomics to suit people, reducing monotonous and machine-paced work and its effect on health, rather than forcing the worker to fit the task.

21. What is the correct order of the general hierarchy of control measures?

    Elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls (safe systems of work, training, signage), and personal protective equipment (PPE) as the last resort.

22. Why is PPE considered the last resort in the hierarchy of control?

    It only protects the wearer (not others), relies on correct use and fit, can fail or be uncomfortable, does nothing to remove the hazard, and is the least reliable because it depends on human behaviour.

See more Risk Assessment and Incident Management flashcards →

Planning Risk Assessment and Incident Management for NEBOSH National General Certificate

Risk Assessment and Incident Management (NEBOSH National General Certificate) FAQ