THE IDIOTS GUIDE TO NEBOSH EXAMS

Introduction
Its a well-known fact in health & safety that NEBOSH exams are tough, but thats not to say they are impossible. The guidance that follows is intended to give you some final key pointers for the big day, and coupled with a comprehensive study and revision programme, should get you through just fine.

Action Verbs
Take note of the action verb at the start of each question. As a general rule, if a question asks you to Identify, state or list then a simple list will do. If however, the question asks for outline, describe or explain, then your answer should be in sentences, preferably with an example to illustrate.

Read the Question

The clue is in the question! However simple it may seem, make sure you read the question properly, maybe even underlining key points (you can write on your question papers). It is imperative that you answer the question that has been set, not the one you wish had been set.

Keep it Brief
We have already said that you must comply with the action verb, but do not be tempted to waffle on or give long introductions to your answer this is not required. If a question asks for control measures for working at height, that is what will be on the marking scheme. There will be no marks available for introducing your answer with statistics on numbers injured falling from height. There are no marks for star quality or knowing Lord Robens birthday just answer the question.

Structure
Certain questions allow you to give your answers in a certain structure. Sometimes there will be marks available for just using the structure, but even if they are not, the structure will help you think a little more laterally. As an example, if the question relates to risk assessment, it is helpful to go through the 5 steps of risk assessment. This applies whether the question relates to a specific situation or type of risk assessment e.g. manual handling, fire, COSHH etc. If the question is about human factors, then split your answer into Organisation, Job and Individual factors. For questions about management systems or strategies, split the answer into the elements of HSG65. If the question relates to reasons for improving safety, structure the answer into moral, economic and legal factors.

Plan Ahead
For the longer questions (20 markers or case studies), then an answer plan should be prepared. This is a simple outline of what you will cover in your answer. It might be bullet points, or a mind-map whatever suits you. When youre done, draw a line under it and start putting your plan into proper sentences.

Bankers
This is important. There are certain answers which will be relevant time and time again, for example: risk assessment, training, supervision, PPE etc. Put reproducing this list without relating it to the specific question will not gain marks lets look at some examples to illustrate the point: Outline the precautions to be taken when a minor repair is to be carried out on a fragile roof (NEBOSH Diploma Part One, June 1998).

Carry out a risk assessment 0 marks Carry out an initial risk assessment to identify the hazards from roof work and decide on the necessary precautions 1 mark Provide adequate information, instruction and training 0 marks Provide information, instruction and training on the hazards and associated precautions involved in roof work 1 mark Provide suitable PPE 0 marks Provide PPE for groups at risk, e.g. hard hats for people below 1 mark Provide adequate levels supervision 0 marks Provide adequate supervision to ensure that the method statement/safe system of work is followed 1 mark

Timing
Question timing is vital to success. You cannot afford to spend too long on some questions, to the detriment of others. The approximate timings you should try to stick to are as follows: Diploma 1 Paper 1 Action Read through exam paper 15 Short answer questions (10 marks) Check answers Diploma 1 Paper 2 Action Read through exam paper 5 Long answer questions (20 marks) Check answers
Diploma 2 Paper 1

Timing 5 minutes 9 minutes each 10 minutes

Timing 10 minutes 25 minutes each 15 minutes

Action Read through exam paper 10 Short answer questions (10 marks) Case study (100 marks) Check answers

Timing 5 minutes 8 minutes each 1 hr 20 minutes 15 minutes

Diploma 2 Paper 2

Action Read through exam paper 5 Long answer questions (20 marks) Check answers

Timing 10 minutes 30 minutes each 20 minutes

Of course these are not precise, but are useful as a general guide. Even if you are an expert on a particular subject, there is no benefit on writing reams and reams on the answer use your allocated time and move on. Similarly, if you get a question where you have no idea, try not to leave it blank and move on use your allocated time and try to get something down. Maybe a couple of bankers might be relevant? Those couple of points may just make the difference.

Legislation/Case Law
Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to be a law expert or have a photographic memory to pass NEBOSH exams. What you do need though, is a grasp of fundamental principles of legislation and case law, and be able to relate them to different scenarios. It is not important to remember the precise years of legislation or case law (although if you forget the year of the Health & Safety at Work Act, do you expect to pass????). Neither is it a requirement to learn regulation numbers off by heart if you could say, for example, that the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regs require all employers to carry out risk assessments, or the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regs require all work equipment to be maintained, that will suffice. Abbreviations are fine, but give their title in full to start with e.g. The Personal Protective Equipment Regs (PPE) require employers to provide PPE to employees where required.

Check your Answers

As with any exam, leave yourself some time at the end to go through your answers. Make sure you have answered the question that was asked and add any extra points that have occurred to you it cant hurt, and they may just make the difference!

Worked Example
OK weve talked about all the theory now lets put it all together and try to give a perfect answer to a recent exam question: Volunteers are involved in collecting bags of books, clothes and other donated goods from householders. The bags are loaded into vans for delivery to a chain of charity shops. Explain how the charity should assess the risks to the charity workers, identifying the particular issues that would need to be considered at each stage of the assessment (NEBOSH Diploma Part One, June 2003) First things first look at the action verbs. You are being asked to explain how the problem should be assessed and identify the particular issues at key stages. Re-read the question now, and underline your key signposts: Volunteers (unskilled, no selection criteria?) are involved in collecting bags (manual handling size, weight, shape etc.) of books, clothes and other donated goods from householders (violence, dogs etc.). The bags are loaded into vans (driven by who? Vehicle hazards) for delivery to a chain of charity shops. Explain how the charity should assess the risks (assess the risks, not control them) to the charity workers, identifying the particular issues that would need to be considered at each stage of the assessment (NEBOSH Diploma Part One, June 2003)

As this question is essentially about how to carry out a risk assessment, the 5 steps approach would be a good structure to follow. This question was worth 20 marks, so a plan would be in order: PLAN
1. Identify hazards Manual Handling Violence Animals Contents of bags Vehicles 2. Decide who can be harmed Volunteers old, untrained, health problems, how many? 3. Evaluate risks Probability/severity Frequency/duration Evaluate existing controls Legal requirements 4. Record 5. Review Draw a line under your plan and continue:

ANSWER No need for a flowery intro about how many injuries are cause by manual handling or where risk assessment comes from just get on with it!! IDENTIFY THE HAZARDS The first stage of a risk assessment is concerned with identifying hazards, which in this case may be as follows: Violent assault by members of the public or being attacked by dangerous dogs Musculoskeletal disorders caused by lifting bags or constraints on posture when working inside the vans Injuries caused by the contents of the bags e.g. sharps or chemicals Slips, trips and falls due to uneven surfaces, kerbs, steps etc. Traffic accidents involving the vans, especially if they were poorly maintained or the bags caused an obstruction inside Vans being struck by other road vehicles Poor lighting due to work in the evenings or in autumn/winter Weather conditions could be a problem especially if particularly hot, wet, cold or windy Lone working which may result in a lack of communication between volunteers and their supervisors Manual handling would be the major hazard due to a variety of factors: The bags may have to be carried for long distances and there will be a large amount of repetitive handling. Lots of stooping and twisting may also be required inside the van. The bags themselves may be heavy or bulky, and as their contents are unknown, may be unstable or unpredictable. PEOPLE AT RISK The next stage is to consider how many people are affected by the risk, and who they are.

Volunteers may well be elderly and are likely to be retired. This means that they may have existing health problems and may not be as strong as they once were. Pregnant women or young people would also be at increased risk. EVALUATE THE RISKS To come up with a level of risk, there are several factors which need to be considered: The likely severity of injury if an accident were to happen, for example a slipped disc might be an outcome of a manual handling injury The probability that an accident was going to occur The duration and frequency of exposure to the hazards Existing control measures should be evaluated to assess their effectiveness. These may be things such as manual handling training, supervision, mechanical aids etc. The law should be considered to see if more needs to be done. The relevant law here are the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regs (Risk Assessment) and the Manual Handling Regs RECORD FINDINGS The significant findings of the risk assessment should be recorded and information on these findings should be provided to employees REVIEW The risk assessment should be reviewed when there is reason to believe that it is no longer valid. This may be for a variety of reasons, e.g.: Lapse of time Enforcement action An accident has occurred There you go - 20 marks to start you off with! Too many students didnt use the 5 steps approach so didnt think widely enough to get good marks. Lots also gave long lists of how to control hazards, which was not asked for and so attracted no marks.

Good Luck!