NEBOSH National General Certificate Workplace, Transport and Movement Hazards Syllabus

What is a mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) and give two main types.

A MEWP is powered access equipment that lifts personnel to height on a platform; main types include scissor lifts (vertical movement) and boom/cherry-picker lifts (vertical and horizontal/outreach movement).

Name a key hazard specific to boom-type MEWPs and a control for it.

Catapulting/ejection or crushing/trapping of the operator against an overhead structure; controls include wearing a harness with a short restraint lanyard attached to the basket, secondary guarding/anti-entrapment devices, and trained operators with rescue plans.

What is the difference between an independent tied scaffold and a mobile tower scaffold?

An independent tied scaffold is a fixed structure tied to the building for support, erected by competent persons; a mobile tower is a free-standing, wheeled tower (often prefabricated/aluminium) that can be moved but must have brakes applied and a safe base-to-height ratio when in use.

How frequently must scaffolds be inspected under work-at-height requirements?

Before first use, then at suitable intervals not exceeding every 7 days, and after any event likely to affect strength/stability such as high winds or alteration; results recorded by a competent person.

List three measures to protect people from falling objects.

Toe boards, brick guards and netting on platform edges; exclusion zones/barriers beneath the work; covered walkways and debris chutes; plus not storing materials near edges and securing tools (e.g. lanyards).

What is the purpose of a toe board on a working platform?

To prevent materials, tools and debris from being kicked or rolling off the edge of the platform and falling onto people below; usually used together with guard rails.

What is the recommended minimum height of the main guard rail and maximum unprotected gap on a working platform?

Main guard rail at least $950\,\mathrm{mm}$ above the platform edge, with no unprotected gap exceeding $470\,\mathrm{mm}$ between guard rails (hence the need for an intermediate rail).

Identify four hazards associated with workplace vehicle operations.

Collisions between vehicles and pedestrians, vehicles overturning, being struck by moving/reversing vehicles, falls from vehicles, and loads falling from or shifting on vehicles.

What is the single most common cause of fatal vehicle accidents in the workplace, and a key control?

Pedestrians being struck by vehicles, especially during reversing; key controls include segregation of pedestrians and vehicles, one-way systems, banksmen, reversing aids/alarms and avoiding the need to reverse.

Explain the 'safe site, safe vehicle, safe driver' approach to controlling transport risks.

Safe site = well-designed traffic routes, segregation, signage, lighting and surfaces; safe vehicle = suitable, well-maintained vehicles with guards, lights and visibility aids; safe driver = competent, trained, fit and authorised drivers.

Describe key features of a safe workplace traffic route.

Adequate width and headroom, firm even surfaces, clearly marked and signed, separation of vehicles and pedestrians, suitable crossing points, good visibility at junctions, speed limits, one-way systems, and good lighting.

What measures help control the risk of vehicles overturning?

Avoid steep gradients and uneven ground, fit roll-over protection (ROPS) and seat restraints, avoid overloading or uneven loading, set and enforce speed limits, and provide driver training for site conditions.

What does 'segregation' of pedestrians and vehicles involve and why is it the preferred control?

Physically separating pedestrian and vehicle routes using barriers, separate doors, marked walkways and crossing points; it is preferred because it removes the interaction at the root rather than relying on behaviour, following the hierarchy of control.

What is a 'banksman' and what is their role in transport safety?

A trained signaller who guides vehicle movements (especially reversing) using a recognised, agreed system of signals, keeping themselves visible and out of the danger zone to direct the driver safely.

List four control measures for safe reversing of vehicles.

Eliminate the need to reverse (one-way/drive-through systems), provide reversing alarms and CCTV/mirrors, use a trained banksman, mark and barrier off reversing areas, and exclude pedestrians from those areas.

Under 'driving for work', who is responsible for the safety of employees who drive on the road for the employer's business?

The employer retains health and safety responsibility for work-related driving (managing the risk so far as is reasonably practicable), even though road traffic law also applies, because driving on business is part of work activity.

What are the three main risk factors to assess when managing driving for work?

The driver (competence, health, fatigue, training, licence), the vehicle (suitability, condition, maintenance, safety features), and the journey (route, scheduling, distance, weather, time pressure).

Name four driver-related factors that increase the risk of work-related road accidents.

Fatigue/long hours, distraction (e.g. mobile phone use), poor eyesight or health, alcohol/drugs, lack of training, stress and time/schedule pressure to complete journeys.

How can employers reduce fatigue-related risks for employees who drive for work?

Plan realistic schedules with rest breaks, limit daily driving hours and distances, avoid driving at high-risk times, allow overnight stays for long trips, and train drivers to recognise and act on tiredness.

What journey-planning measures reduce driving-for-work risk?

Selecting safe routes (e.g. motorways over rural roads), allowing sufficient time, avoiding peak/adverse-weather periods, scheduling breaks, combining trips to reduce mileage, and using alternatives such as rail or video conferencing.

What is meant by a 'pre-use (daily) check' for a work vehicle, and give examples of items checked?

A routine driver inspection before use to confirm the vehicle is roadworthy; items include tyres and pressures, lights/indicators, brakes, mirrors, washers/wipers, fluid levels, horn and warning devices, and load security.

Why are washing facilities important where workers handle hazardous substances, and what should be provided?

To allow removal of contamination and prevent ingestion/skin absorption and cross-contamination; provision should include hot and cold (or warm) running water, soap/cleansers, towels or dryers, and showers where heavy contamination occurs.

What are the risks of poor housekeeping in relation to fire?

Accumulated waste, packaging and combustible materials add to the fuel load and can block escape routes, while spilled flammable liquids increase ignition risk; good housekeeping removes fuel and keeps exits clear.

Compare collective protection measures and personal protection measures for work at height.

Collective measures (e.g. guard rails, nets) protect everyone in the area without action by the individual and are preferred; personal measures (e.g. harness/lanyard) protect only the wearer, rely on correct use and fit, and rank lower in the hierarchy.

What factors should be considered when selecting suitable access equipment for work at height?

Duration and frequency of the task, height and conditions, the load to be carried, ground conditions, the competence of users, weather, and the principle of choosing collective fall-prevention over personal protection.

State three environmental conditions that can make work at height more dangerous.

High winds, rain/ice making surfaces slippery, and poor visibility (fog/darkness); extreme temperatures and lightning also increase risk and may require work to be postponed.

What is a 'rescue plan' in the context of work at height using fall-arrest harnesses?

A pre-planned, practised procedure to recover a person quickly after a fall has been arrested, to prevent suspension trauma (orthostatic intolerance) from prolonged hanging in the harness.

What is suspension trauma and why does it make prompt rescue essential?

Suspension trauma (orthostatic intolerance) is the dangerous pooling of blood in the legs when a person hangs motionless in a harness, which can cause unconsciousness and death within minutes, so a rapid rescue plan is essential.

Give two design features that make a workplace traffic route safer at a vehicle/pedestrian crossing point.

Clearly marked and signed crossing points with good visibility/sightlines, and physical aids such as barriers, dropped kerbs, lighting and possibly traffic signals to control the interaction.

What records and documentation support effective driving-for-work management?

Driver licence and eyesight checks, training records, vehicle maintenance and inspection records, risk assessments, journey/route plans, and accident/incident reporting and investigation records.

Why should loads on vehicles be properly secured and evenly distributed?

Unsecured or unevenly distributed loads can shift, fall, or destabilise the vehicle causing overturns, struck-by injuries to pedestrians, and loss of control; proper restraint and weight distribution within rated limits keep the vehicle stable and loads contained.