NEBOSH General Certificate NGC - Practice papers Full title: 'Having investigated the pattern of NGC1 and NGC2

examination questions in recent years, you should now obtain copies of Examiners' reports, attempt our Practice papers and then obtain feedback from your tutor.' NEBOSH offer four national sittings of the Certificate examination per year (December, March, June and September) and after a few months, the examination papers are made publicly available, as are the Examiners reports, both of which you can purchase from the NEBOSH 'shop'; we also have some loan copies available at the Chichester office. Analysis of questions in past examinations Our analysis of past questions are supplied to you as electronic files ... NGC1 Analysis of questions Dec05 to Sep07 NGC2 Analysis of questions Dec05 to Sep07 ... and so on, up to the most recent examinations.

the first two sets of past paper analyses look like this ... and the most recent analyses (September 2009 - ) like this ...

When familiarising yourself with past questions, for obvious reasons you should concentrate on examinations from recent years (ie 2009 onwards). However, if you happen to have to hand some examination papers from a few years ago, you will find that the majority of the questions will still be relevant. The most recent revision has reduced the syllabus coverage of bricks and mortar construction matters, although scaffolding remains in the syllabus, as do the CDM Regulations - now to be found in the first element of all - and these Regulations will surely continue to be a popular question topic. (That is, popular with the examiners; not always the same thing as popular with candidates.) ... continued ...

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NEBOSH NGC Past papers, Practice papers

Towards the start of your studies, you may feel inclined to attempt some past Certificate questions with the appropriate study books open before you. However, as you build towards the examination, there will come a time when you will need to attempt the questions under as near examination conditions as you can manage; this of course means no access to any study material or to reference sources and it also means working within the question by question time constraints which you will face in the actual examination. As the NEBOSH examiners have frequently commented in their examiners reports: Time management is very important in the examination. For the one 20 mark question, the Examiners expect an answer to take 25 minutes to write (a page and a half, as an approximate guide). For the ten short-answer questions (8 marks each), the Examiners suggest that an appropriate answer of half a page should be written in about 8 minutes. Such examiners comments come up again and again demonstrating that, year by year, candidates mis-manage their time and have to rush through the last three or four 8 mark questions with insufficient time to do themselves justice. Over the years we have worked hard to create good study material and to keep it up to date so providing you with appropriate coverage of the syllabus; complementing this study material is our commitment to mark and comment on any past NEBOSH papers which you submit to us ... there is no substitute for attempting past papers. We have often commented to students that, particularly towards the end of their studies, it is better to spend time tackling past papers than revising a particular topic for the second or third time. The problem of course is that, when you are tired and it is late in the evening, it is much easier to sit in your comfy chair and doze your way through one of our books than it is to sit at your desk and spend, perhaps, 40 minutes attempting one long-answer and two or three short-answer questions. It is of course tempting to claim that I dont have time to do the whole paper, so Ill do some revision instead. It is no secret - and our analyses demonstrate - that many of the same basic questions will, slightly modified, occur again and again; and why not, there are certain basic principles upon which NEBOSH lay great stress so they have every right to keep checking the candidates knowledge in these areas. Hopefully, we have now made our point about attempting past questions and submitting them for comment. These are the steps to take ... Step 1 Purchase a few past examiners reports from NEBOSH and attempt some or all of the questions under examination conditions. Use a wide margin on your answer sheet, leaving room to Step 2 Check your own answers against your study material and note in the margin any improvements which you are now able to make to your answer(s). Submit your work to your tutor (having made a photocopy if possible). Step 3 We will look through your original answer and your subsequent added improvements and see if there is any more we can say. Normally, we will discuss your work over the phone, as this is quick and flexible.

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NEBOSH NGC Past papers, Practice papers

Imagine that a student has attempted the following short-answer (8 mark) Certificate question: (a) Explain the meaning of the term 'workplace exposure limit' WEL stating the legal requirements relating to WELs. (b) Explain the additional legal requirements with respect to WELs for carcinogenic and asthma-causing substances. (6) (2)

This is how steps 13 would work. (For clarity, the example below is shown in mock-handwriting.) First, here is the answer which the student has written ... Workplace exposure limits are listed for all industrial and commercial substances in the Health and Safety Executive publication EH 40. EH 40 comes out every year. A workplace exposure limit must not be exceeded and the legal requirement is that exposure must be reduced as far below the workplace exposure limit as possible. Illnesses are acute if they are caused by short exposures, for example to a poisonous gas such as sulphur dioxide or chronic if they are caused by long exposure to a chemical such as hard wood dust which can cause nasal cancer. Workplace exposure limits are set by the Health and Safety Executive and can be used in courts of law to prosecute companies. Depending on where you are in your studies (in particular whether or not you have completed element NGC2/7, which deals with the subject of workplace exposure limits), we would not necessarily expect you to be able to judge the quality of this answer - although you might question why the student has wasted time by writing WEL and HSE each time in full. (It crossed our minds that the student might be trying to use up time and space in this way.) This answer is worth one or two marks at most, mainly because it hasnt actually answered the question. While the student has come across the HSE publication EH 40, it is fairly obvious that s/he hadnt, at the time, done much detailed studying. The second part of the question hasnt been attempted at all - indeed, there is no attempt to divide the answer into parts (a) and (b) and, while marks might still be given even if you dont, it is always a good idea to try to keep the examiner on your side - and setting your answer out clearly is a straightforward way of doing this. ... continued ...

In a real examination, answers can be in either black or blue ink.

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NEBOSH NGC Past papers, Practice papers

Now its time for the student to read the question again and to check his / her answer against the study material (element NGC2/7), starting by crossing out the bits that are either incorrect (for example, EH 40 hasnt been updated annually for many years now) or not asked for, such as the information regarding acute and chronic conditions Workplace exposure limits are listed for all industrial and commercial substances in the Health and Safety Executive publication EH 40. EH 40 comes out every year. A workplace exposure limit must not be exceeded and the legal requirement is that exposure must be reduced as far below the workplace exposure limit as possible. Illnesses are acute if they are caused by short exposures, for example to a poisonous gas such as sulphur dioxide or chronic if they are caused by long exposure to a chemical such as hard wood dust which can cause nasal cancer. Workplace exposure limits are set by the Health and Safety Executive and can be used in courts of law to prosecute companies. Theres not much left now so its time to add some information in order to produce an improved answer (a) WELs are listed for most common industrial and commercial substances in the HSE publication EH40. They are limits for airborne concentrations of substances that must not be exceeded. They are average concentrations measured over a period of time, either 15 minutes (short-term exposure) or 8 hours (long-term exposure). They form part of the requirements of the COSHH Regulations in order to control exposure to hazardous substances. WELs are set by the HSE and can be used as evidence in criminal prosecutions.

(b) For carcinogens and asthmagens, airborne concentrations must be reduced to a level below the WEL that is as low as is reasonably practicable. This new answer could well be worth full marks and could quite easily be written in eight minutes - particularly by using acceptable abbreviations (the acronym WEL was given in the question; HSE is always accepted by NEBOSH without spelling it out in full; and COSHH is also acceptable but could be written out in full to demonstrate further knowledge to the examiner - provided it is correct!). By mentioning airborne concentrations, the answer now addresses the question of What is a WEL?. The answer also identifies the relevant legislation with respect to WELs since you can hardly describe the legal requirements without mentioning where the requirements are to be found! And the answer is now clearly divided into two parts to match the question - with both parts answered. ... continued ...

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NEBOSH NGC Past papers, Practice papers

It is debatable whether the statement that WELs can be used in prosecutions would gain any further marks - but it does no harm and at least its a correct statement (unlike the previous statement regarding annual updates of EH 40). It is worth noting, though, that marks are never subtracted for irrelevant, peripheral or incorrect statements. However, factual inaccuracies will not inspire confidence in the examiner, who may then be reluctant to give marks where there is a degree of doubt over a candidates answer. An examiner will be much more willing to award marks to a candidate who demonstrates a good knowledge of the subject rather than where the examiner has to scratch around to find something that might possibly be worth some credit. It is worth remembering, though, that throwing in some additional information at the end of a question, time allowing, may help and can sometimes, provided it is correct, attract a mark or two. But it must be relevant to the question, at least to some extent. While we now already have the makings of a good answer, there are still a couple of possible improvements that would clinch it. The first would be to say that WELs are expressed in units of either mg/m3 or parts per million (ppm) - or both. The second would be to say, in part (b), that deciding what is reasonably practicable involves weighing the risk against the cost of reducing the risk (in time, trouble and money) - see element NGC1/1. When we are talking about cancercausing substances, it is likely that the bar will be set high and much may be needed to meet the reasonably practicable requirement. We hope to demonstrate here how important it is for the student to move from a position of ignorance shown by the first attempt to the one of substantial knowledge shown by the final attempt. In the examination, a candidate without appropriate knowledge of the topics in the Certificate syllabus will struggle - and it only needs the candidate to completely mess up a couple of questions (perhaps only gaining one mark out of eight on each) for failure to loom. If the candidates ignorance coincides with the subject matter of the 20-mark question, then failure is almost certain. Candidates with more experience of health and safety, and of examinations in general, of whom we have had many over the years, almost always pass but sometimes without the credit that they feel their knowledge deserves. You can guess why - they spend too long on some questions and run short of time. We cannot emphasise enough that the Certificate is not a vehicle for demonstrating a deep knowledge of a topic (although it helps if you possess this); rather, it is looking for pithy, straight-to-the-point answers that demonstrate a good knowledge in a concise way. Practice papers Having looked at past papers, and hopefully had a go at least some of the questions, the time will come when you need to attempt complete papers - either real past papers or our concocted (but still real) practice papers. See the next page ...

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NEBOSH NGC Past papers, Practice papers

As we said earlier, the first examinations that you should attempt are the December 2009 NGC1 and NGC2 papers which are duplicated as Sample examination papers in your Syllabus Guide. Discuss your attempts at some or all of the questions with your tutor who will supply you with the model answers we have prepared. This is how the NGC1 paper starts ... SECTION 1 1 You are advised to spend about half an hour on this section which contains ONE question. The results of a safety audit have identified weaknesses in the organisations safety management system and in particular their permit-to-work system. (a) Outline the key elements in the safety management system which would have been examined during the audit. (b) Identify FIVE typical work tasks that might require a permit-to-work, giving reasons in EACH case for the requirement.

(5) (5)

SECTION 2

(c) Identify the key information which should be found on a permit-to-work.

(10)

You are advised to spend about one and a half hours on this section, which contains TEN questions. 2 Employers have a common law duty of care for the health, safety and welfare of their employees. Giving an example in EACH case, identify what an employer must provide in order to fulfil this common law duty of care.

(8)

and then the NGC2 paper ... SECTION 1 1

You are advised to spend about half and hour in this section, which contains ONE question. As part of a general refurbishment, air conditioning units are to be installed on the roof of a two-storey office building. The units will be lifted onto the roof by a mobile crane that is situated at ground level.

(a) Outline the control measures that will be necessary to carry out the lifting operation safely.

SECTION 2

(b) Outline the control measures that will be required to protect the safety of the workers on the roof.

(12) (8)

You are advised to spend about one and a half hours on this section, which contains TEN questions. 2 In order to improve the safety of pedestrians in vehicle manoeuvring areas, identify the rules that should be followed by: (a) drivers

(4)

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NEBOSH NGC Past papers, Practice papers

On the following pages you will find three sets of our own Practice papers, NGC1 + NGC2. Every question is based on a real past question and the particular mix of questions that we have chosen in these Practice papers is intended to encompass subject areas which we know have caused problems for candidates. Starting with NGC1 Practice paper A ... SECTION 1 You are advised to spend approximately half an hour on this section which contains ONE question. 1 (a) Draw a flowchart to show the relationships between the six elements of the health and safety management system model in HSEs 'Successful Health and Safety Management', HSG 65. (4) (12) (4)

(b) Outline the part that EACH element of the HSG 65 model plays within the health and safety management system. (c) Outline the economic benefits that an organisation may obtain by implementing a successful health and safety management system.

SECTION 2

You are advised to spend about one and a half an hours on this section which contains TEN questions. 2 Outline the general duties placed on employees by: The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (4) (4) (8) (8) (2) (6)

3 4 5 6

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

Outline the issues which should be considered to ensure the health and safety of cleaners employed in a school out of normal working hours. Outline the measures an employer might consider to minimize the risk of violence against employees. (a) In relation to employee involvement in health and safety, explain the differences between informing and consulting.

(b) Outline the health and safety matters on which employers must consult their employees under the Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996. (a) Explain the meaning of the term competent person. (b) Outline the organisational factors that may cause a person to work unsafely even though they are competent.

(2)

7 8 9

Outline, giving an example of each, the differences between health and safety regulations and HSE Codes of Practice.

(6) (8) (8)

Name and describe FOUR classes of safety sign prescribed by the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996. Identify EIGHT sources of information that might usefully be consulted when developing a safe system of work. Outline the main features of an: health and safety inspection health and safety audit

10 11

Outline the initial actions to take following a major injury accident at work.

(8)

(8) (4) (4)

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NEBOSH NGC Past papers, Practice papers

From now on we will not include the instructions that you will see on the examination papers ... 'you are advised to spend approximately half and hour ...'. We assume that you know this. Next, NGC1 Practice paper B ... SECTION 1 1 A newly established company is to refurbish existing office accommodation before recruiting staff. Outline: (a) the welfare facilities that should be considered when planning the refurbishment. (8) (6) (6) (4) (4) (8)

(b) the main issues to be addressed in a general health and safety induction programme for the new staff. (c) the procedures that might be needed in order to ensure the health and safety of visitors to the premises during working hours.

SECTION 2 2 (a) Identify FOUR factors relating to the individual that might increase the risk of accidents at work.

3 Explain the difference between Approved Codes of Practice and HSE guidance, giving an example of EACH. 4 5 6 (a) Explain, using an example, the meaning of the term risk. (b) Outline the key stages of a general risk assessment.

(b) Give reasons why maintenance operations may pose particular risks to those undertaking them.

(a) Outline the legal requirements whereby employers must prepare a written statement of their health and safety policy.

(6)

(2)

(b) Outline the circumstances that may give rise to the need for a health and safety policy to be revised. (a) Explain the circumstances under which an employer must form a health and safety committee.

(2) (6) (2)

7 Identify EIGHT sources of information that might usefully be consulted when developing a safe system of work. 8 (a) Give the meaning of the term health and safety culture. (b) Identify ways in which the health and safety culture of an organisation might be improved.

(b) Give reasons why a health and safety committee may be ineffective.

(6)

(2)

(8)

9 10 11

Outline the reasons why an organisation should monitor and review its health and safety performance.

(6) (8)

With reference to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, 1995:

(a) State the legal requirements for reporting a fatality resulting from an accident at work to an enforcing authority (b) Outline THREE further categories of work-related injury (other than fatal injuries) that are reportable.

(5) (3) (8)

Outline the factors to consider when making an assessment of first-aid provision in a workplace.

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NEBOSH NGC Past papers, Practice papers

Here is the third of your NGC1 Practice papers, NGC1 Practice paper C. Again, you should discuss your answers with your tutor who will supply you with a set of prepared answers. SECTION 1 1 A factory manager intends to introduce a new work process for which a risk assessment is required under regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. (a) Outline the factors that should be considered when carrying out the risk assessment. (8) (b) Explain the criteria that must be met for the assessment to be deemed suitable and sufficient. (4) (c) Identify the various circumstances that may require a review of the risk assessment at a later date. (8) SECTION 2 2 Explain why it is important to use a variety of methods to communicate health and safety information in the workplace. (8) 3 With reference to the Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996: (a) Identify the particular health and safety matters on which employers must consult their employees (4) (b) Outline the entitlements of representatives of employee safety elected under the Regulations. (4) 4 (a) Outline the circumstances under which a written health and safety policy is legally required. (2) (b) Identify the purposes of EACH of the following sections of a health and safety policy document: (i) statement of intent (2) (ii) organisation (2) (iii) arrangements (2) 5 Outline the ways in which employers might motivate their employees to comply with health and safety procedures. (8) 6 (a) Define the term permit-to-work system. (2) (b) Outline THREE types of work situation that may require a permit-to-work system, giving reasons in EACH case for the requirement. (6) 7 An organisation uses various types of personal protective equipment (PPE). Outline the general issues relating to the requirements, benefits and limitations of PPE. (8) 8 (a) Outline FOUR powers available to an inspector when investigating a workplace accident. (4) (b) Identify the TWO types of enforcement notice that may be served by an inspector, stating the conditions that must be satisfied before EACH type of notice is served. (4) 9 Outline the factors that may increase risks to pregnant employees. (8) 10 (a) State the requirements for reporting an over three-day injury under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995. (2) (b) Giving reasons in EACH case, identify THREE categories of persons who may be considered a useful member of an internal accident investigation team. (6) 11 Outline FOUR proactive monitoring methods that can be used in assessing 24 Stirling Road, Chichester, 7DS of an organisation. NEBOSH NGC the health and safety PO19 performance (8)
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Past papers, Practice papers

Turning now to NGC2, here is NGC2 Practice paper A ... SECTION 1 1 (a) Outline the four main categories of guards and safeguarding devices that may be used to minimise the risk of contact with dangerous parts of machinery. (b) Outline a hierarchy of control measures which may be used to prevent contact with dangerous parts of machinery. (c) Identify FOUR non-mechanical hazards that may be encountered on woodworking machines and outline the possible health and safety effects from exposure in EACH case. SECTION 2 2 In relation to the ill-health effects from the use of vibrating hand-held tools: (a) Identify the typical symptoms that might be shown by affected individuals (b) Outline the control measures that may be used to minimise such effects 3 (a) Describe the possible effects of electricity on the body (b) Outline FOUR factors that may affect the severity of injury from contact with electricity 4 (a) In relation to the classification of fires, give an example of a material (fuel) that falls within each of the classes A, B, C, D (b) Identify TWO methods of heat transfer and explain how each method contributes to the spread of fire 5 In relation to occupational dermatitis: (a) Identify TWO causative agents (b) Describe the typical symptoms of the condition (c) Outline specific measures designed to prevent the occurrence of occupational dermatitis 6 For EACH of the following agents, outline the principal health effects AND identify a typical workplace situation in which a person might be exposed: (a) hepatitis virus (b) chlorine (c) carbon dioxide (d) silica 7 (a) Identify the persons that an employer may need to appoint in order to comply with the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999 (b) Outline the means of controlling exposure to ionising radiation 8 An assessment has concluded that the person carrying out a particular manual handling task is fit and capable of lifting the loads involved. Outline the factors associated with the task and the work environment that would need to be considered in order to complete the assessment. 9 Outline the precautions to be taken when using a mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) to reach a high point such as a streetlight. 10 Outline the precautionary measures that may be needed to prevent slip and trip hazards in an engineering factory. 11 List EIGHT rules to follow when a fork-lift truck is left unattended.
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(8) (4) (8)

(4) (4) (4) (4) (4) (4) (2) (2) (4) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (6)

(8) (8) (8) (8)

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NEBOSH NGC Past papers, Practice papers

Next, NGC2 Practice paper B ... SECTION 1 1 An employee is required to use a petrol-driven strimmer to trim roadside grass verges. (a) Describe the potential hazards faced by the employee in carrying out this task. (b) List FIVE items of personal protective equipment that should be provided for and used by the employee in carrying out this task. (10) (5) (5)

SECTION 2 2 3 4 5 6 7

(c) Outline measures other than the use of personal protective equipment that might be necessary to ensure the health and safety of the employee. Outline the main precautions that must be used when excavation work is being carried out.

A large item of equipment, situated within a factory, is to be cleaned manually with a solvent. Outline the precautions to minimise the risks to persons involved in cleaning the equipment.

(8) (8) (8)

With regard to work-related upper limb disorders (WRULDs):

Outline EIGHT precautions that should be considered to prevent accidents to children who might be tempted to gain access to a construction site.

Identify the typical symptoms that might be reported by affected individuals. (4) Outline the factors that could increase the risk of a worker developing WRULDs. (4) (8)

(a) Explain the meaning of the term dilution ventilation.

Outline the health and safety considerations when a fork-lift truck is to be used to unload palletised goods from a vehicle parked in a factory car park.

8 9 10 11

(b) Outline the types of circumstances in which the use of dilution ventilation may be appropriate.

(2)

A worker is required to install some glass-fibre insulation in a loft.

Outline the measures that should be taken to minimise the fire risk from electrical equipment.

(6) (8) (2) (6) (8) (8)

(a) Identify TWO hazards connected with the use of the glass-fibre.

(b) Outline the precautions that could be taken to minimise harm to the worker carrying out this operation. Identify suitable measures to protect against people and / or materials falling from a mobile tower scaffold. Outline the main requirements for the safe escape of personnel from a building in the event of the outbreak of a fire.

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NEBOSH NGC Past papers, Practice papers

And finally, NCG2 Practice paper C ... SECTION 1 1 A contractor is to be selected to drain and clear a section of canal.

(a) Identify the information that might be required to establish the suitability of the contractor.

(b) Describe the hazards associated with the draining and clearing operation.

SECTION 2 2 3

(c) Outline suitable controls to minimise the risk from the hazards identified. Outline measures to be taken to prevent accidents when pedestrians are required to work in vehicle manoeuvring areas. (a) List FOUR respiratory diseases that could be caused by exposure to dust at work.

(8)

(8)

(4)

(8) (4)

4 5 6 7 8

(b) Identify the possible indications of a dust problem in a workplace.

(a) For EACH of the following types of non-ionising radiation, identify a source and state the possible ill health effects on exposed individuals: (i) infrared radiation (ii) ultraviolet radiation

(4)

(2) (2) (4) (8) (4)

(b) Identify the general methods for protecting people against exposure to non-ionising radiation.

Outline a procedure for the safe lifting of a load by a crane, having ensured that the crane has been correctly selected and positioned for the job.

(a) Identify the types of hazard against which gloves could offer protection. Outline the health and safety risks associated with welding operations. A cleaner is required to polish floors using a rotary floor polisher. (a) Identify the hazards that might be associated with this operation. State the items that should be included on a checklist for the routine inspection of portable electrical appliances.

(b) Outline the practical limitations of using gloves as a means of protection.

(4)

(8)

9 10

(b) Outline suitable control measures that might be used to minimise the risk. (4)

(4)

(a) Outline the possible health risks associated with working in a seated position for prolonged periods of time. (b) Outline the features of a suitable seat for sedentary work. List EIGHT ways of reducing the risk of a fire starting in a workplace.

(8) (4)

11

(4)

(8)

Remember that your tutor has prepared answers for all eight of the Sample and Practice papers contained in this leaflet.

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NEBOSH NGC Past papers, Practice papers