NEBOSH IGC Past Questions

and Suggested Answers

Paper IGC2
Controlling Workplace Hazards

Identify the four possible routes of entry of

toxic substances into the body and, in each
case, describe a circumstance in which an
employee might be at risk of such exposure (8)

The routes of entry are: through the lungs by inhalation;

through the digestive system by ingestion, absorption
through the skin and by injection
Entry by inhalation might occur due to the build up of fumes
or gas either as part of a process or by accident, for
example, escape of a toxic gas into the workplace.
Ingestion may occur by eating with contaminated hands, or
swallowing dust breathed in through the mouth.
Absorption might be by entry through a wound in the skin
or by even by contamination with a chemical that is easily
absorbed through intact skin.
Injection may occur by handling contaminated sharps in a
hospital or by exposure to a high pressure jet of air or fluid.

Identify FOUR different types of hazard that

may necessitate the use of special footwear,
explaining in EACH case how the footwear
affords protection (8)

Among the types of hazard would be the following

four:
Falling objects - which may crush or bruise the foot.
Steel toecaps are incorporated into footwear to
protect against this type of injury.
Treading on sharp objects such as nails projecting
from wooden planks. Steel insoles will protect the
wearer from penetration into the sole of the foot.
Burns from hot materials heat resistant boots with
gaiters are available to protect the wearers feet,
ankles and shins from this hazard.
Wet environments, where employees may suffer from
wet feet or slip on wet floors. The use of rubberised
boots or shoes with non-slip soles will reduce the risk
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of this sort of accident.

Define the term target organ within the

context of occupational health. (2)
Outline the personal hygiene practices that
should be followed to reduce the risk of
ingestion of a hazardous substance (6)

Target organ is the organ in the body upon which

a toxic material has its effects. For example, many
solvents absorbed into the body will damage the
liver.
Ingestion is the swallowing of harmful substances,
so hygiene practices to reduce this risk should
include the washing the hands before eating.
Eating and drinking and smoking in the workplace
should be prohibited. Employees should be able
to use facilities provided for removing and cleaning
contaminated clothing. Respiratory protective
equipment should be kept clean, so that
contamination cannot get on the face and hence
into the mouth. There should be appropriate use
of gloves and hair covering. Hand-to-mouth
contact should be avoided where there is a risk
that hands are contaminated.
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Explain the term respirable dust (2)

Outline the ways in which the levels of dust in
a workplace can be assessed (6)
ACT Pg 160

Pg. 160
Respirable dust is the fraction of inhaled dust of a small
enough size to enter the lungs without being trapped in the
nose or the lungs dust defences.
There are several qualitative and quantitative ways of
measuring the levels of dust: qualitative methods include
visual inspection for the presence of dust in the workplace
or using a dust lamp to highlight and define dust clouds
around a process. Quantitative sampling may be carried
out on the individual or for the working area where dust is
being generated. A basic method of dust measurement
entails collecting a sample of dust over a known period in a
known quantity of air and obtaining the weight of the dust.
The concentration of airborne dust can then be determined.
Direct reading instruments are also available for making
spot measurements of dust levels over short periods.
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A large item of process machinery is to be cleaned

manually with a flammable solvent before being
partially dismantled for repair
1. Identify FOUR possible health effects from
exposure to the solvent. (4)
2. Outline the safety precautions that should be
taken when using such flammable solvents. (8)
3. Outline further precautions that might be
needed in order to ensure the health and safety
of those carrying out the maintenance work (8)

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Most organic solvents can cause or

aggravate dermatitis, and narcotic effects
such as drowsiness, dizziness,
unconsciousness or even death. There
may be an inability to focus the eyes
properly. The eyes and mucous
membranes in the respiratory tract may
be irritated by solvent vapours.
Absorption into the body may lead to
damage of target organs such as the
kidneys or central nervous system.
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Safety precautions that should be taken include the

following:
Potential sources of ignition should be excluded from
the site of the work and adequate ventilation (natural
or forced) should be provided.
The quantity of solvent in the area and in use should
be limited. Solvents should be transferred and stored
in suitable properly marked containers
Suitable fire fighting equipment should be available,
capable of dealing with fires involving solvents.
Suitable personal protective equipment should be
provided, such as gloves, goggles and masks.
The employer should ensure adequate information,
training, instruction and supervision in the procedures
for the safe use of solvents and safe disposal of waste
materials.
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Further precautions would depend on other hazards

involved in the maintenance work.
Precautions should be taken against machinery
hazards; mechanical such as entanglement or
crushing; non-mechanical such as very hot or cold
surfaces.
Safe access to and egress from the work site should
be ensured, along with need to issue a permit-to-work
(ptw) for the job.
Items to be included in the ptw could be; isolation of
the machinery from sources of energy and other
services; releasing stored energy; segregation of the
area to prevent access by unauthorized persons.
Good levels of lighting and ventilation should be
provided. Other items of ppe such as hard hats, and
safety boots may also be required.
Personnel should be competent and trained to deal
with emergencies.
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Occupational health hazards can be classed

as chemical, physical, biological and
ergonomic.
(a) Give an example of a specific workplace
hazard for each class (4)
(b) State the primary health effect of exposure
for each of the examples given (4)

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Chemical hazard asbestos, organic

solvents, lead compounds
Physical hazard noise, vibration, nonionising radiation, ionising radiation, heat,
cold
Biological hazard bacteria such as
legionella, virus such as hepatitis, fungus
such as that which causes Farmers Lung
Ergonomic hazard stresses on the human
body from poorly designed workplaces,
lifting, repetitive tasks
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Chemical hazard asbestos. The lung diseases

asbestosis and mesothelioma
Physical hazard noise. Noise induced hearing
loss and tinnitus
Biological hazard legionella. Pneumonia like
disease of the lungs.
Ergonomic hazard lifting. Back injuries, muscle
sprains and strains

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Explain the following terms in relation to noise

exposure at work:
noise-induced hearing loss (2)
Tinnitus (2)
Identify four limitations of personal hearing
protection as a means of protecting against the
effects of noise (4)
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(a) Noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) is normally caused

by prolonged exposure to high noise levels causing
damage to the hair cells of the inner ear and leading to
a permanent threshold shift at particular frequencies,
which gets worse with continued exposure. Tinnitus is
typified by ringing, crashing, or rushing sounds heard
by the sufferer, caused by over-stimulation of the hair
cells. It can be acute or chronic, intermittent or
continuous.
(b) The main limitations of hearing protection include poor
fit, unwillingness of the user to wear it, incompatibility
with other items of ppe such as safety spectacles,
interference with speech communication, hygiene
problems, choice of hearing protection of which does
not protect against the most intense and damaging
frequency bands of noise; noise conduction through
the skull.
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In relation to the ill-health effects from the use

of vibrating hand-held tools:
Identify typical symptoms that might be shown
by affected individuals (4)
Outline the control measures that may be used
to minimise the risk of such effects (4)

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Typical symptoms are: numbness and blanching of

the fingers and swollen painful joints in the hands,
leading to a reduction in manual dexterity and tactile
sensation.
To minimise these effects, it may be possible to: alter
the work process to eliminate or reduce the use of
vibrating tools, or perhaps reduce the pressure
exerted by the user on the tool; select suitable
machinery designed to reduce the degree and
characteristics of vibration transmitted to the user;
ensure the regular maintenance of tools. Risk can
also be reduced by: limiting the time that operators
are exposed; ensuring users have the opportunity to
warm themselves when working conditions are cold;
introducing a health surveillance and health
promotion programme (e.g. warning workers of the
susceptibility of smokers to vibration-induced
syndromes); use of appropriate ppe such as warm
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clothing and gloves.

Mobile tower scaffolds should be used on

safe, level ground.
List EIGHT additional points that should be
considered to ensure safe use of a mobile
tower scaffold (8)

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Ensure the correct ratio between the height and

the base dimensions of the tower
The use of diagonal braces, stabilisers and locking
wheels to ensure the stability of the platform
The provision of toe-boards and handrails
Ensure that the platform is fully boarded
Prevent overloading
Take account of overhead obstructions and power
lines
Provide suitable means of access to the platform
Ensure that the tower is not moved when loaded
with materials or with people

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Outline the issues that should be addressed

by an organisation when developing a
system for the safe collection and disposal
of its waste (8)

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The organisation would have to address the

following issues:
The waste should be identified by its properties, for
example classifying it as general waste, or
hazardous waste, and also by its form, e.g. liquid,
dust, solid. The quantity of waste would need to
be known. Different wastes may need to be
segregated if they were incompatible. Waste
should be kept in suitable containers such as steel
drums or in a covered skip, in a secure place
resistant to sabotage and trespassers. Waste
should be properly marked and labelled before for
transport. A suitable licensed waste carrier should
be identified who is authorised to removes the
waste from site. Other issues would include
measures to prevent spills and fires and prevent
pollution. Staff should be trained to competence in
handling waste safely, and records should be kept
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of the transfer of waste off the site.

Fluorescent tubes in the roof space of a busy warehouse

are to be replaced by maintenance workers using a
mobile elevating work platform (MEWP).
i. Identify the potential hazards associated with the
task
(8)
ii. Outline the measures to be taken to ensure the
safety of the maintenance workers and others who
may be affected by the work
(12)

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i.

Hazards would include working at height with the

possibility of falling. The MEWP or workers may
come into contact with live electrical fittings. The
MEWP may be unstable because of incorrect siting
on uneven or sloping floors, or because the workers
have not fully extended the outriggers. The workers
may be struck by roof members if the MEWP is
being moved in an elevated position. Materials may
fall from the platform, and used fluorescent tubes
would pose the hazards of tripping and of broken
glass if discarded on the floor of the platform.
There may be a excessive heat near the ceiling of
the building, and if the lighting is electrically isolated,
inadequate lighting for the job.
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ii.

The following control measures could be taken.

The work should if possible be carried out when the
warehouse is empty of other persons.
The MEWP should be positioned on level, even floors, and
should be moved with due regard to stability, avoiding the risk
of the maintenance workers being struck by roof members.
Outriggers if fitted should be extended and locked when the
MEWP is in position. Guard rails on the platform should be in
good repair, and workers should wear restraint belts to
prevent them from overstretching from the cage.
Arrangements for rescue should be made in the event of
emergencies, such as failure of the MEWP while the platform
is elevated, and what to do if a worker falls from the platform
and is suspended by the restrain harness.
There should be safe storage on the platform for new and
used tubes.
Barriers and warning signs should be erected to prevent
other persons from entering the area of danger beneath the
MEWP.
The maintenance workers should receive suitable and
sufficient information, instruction and training to ensure their
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competence.

Employees who work for a computer manufacturer are

required to solder components, some of which are less
than 2mm in size, onto printed circuit boards for up to
eight hours a day.
i. Giving reasons in each case, identify the risks to
the health and safety of persons undertaking the
work.
(4)
ii. Outline the measures to take to minimise the risks
identified in (i)
(4)

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i.

Risks would include the possibility of upper limb

disorders caused by prolonged and repetitive work
with the small components. Back injury may be
caused by adopting a poor working position at a
badly designed workstation, and headaches and
eye-strain may be caused by prolonged
concentration and close working, especially if the
lighting is inadequate.
Respiratory illnesses may result from the inhalation
of fumes from the soldering process, and burns and
scalds from contact with the hot solder and soldering
iron. Workers may be at risk from splashes of
molten solder in the eyes.
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ii.

The best control measure would be to automate the

process and thus eliminate human contact. If this
was not possible, then other measures could be
taken.
Provide correctly designed workstations and chairs,
with suitable lighting. Introduce job rotation to
reduce the physical and psychological stresses of
long periods spent on one task.
Provide local exhaust ventilation to remove harmful
fumes.
Provide gloves and eye protection to employees.
Arrange for health surveillance with periodic eye
tests to detect early signs of work related injuries or
illness.
Provide employees with suitable and sufficient
information, instruction and training on the hazards,
risks and control measures involved in30 the work.

Outline the precautions necessary for the safe storage

and handling of small containers of flammable solvents.
(8)

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Precautions that should be considered include the following.

Suitable containers should be selected. They should be labelled
clearly with information about their contents. The amounts stored
and used should be restricted to only those necessary for
uninterrupted work.
The storage area should be separate from work areas, secure
against unauthorised entry or vandalism, if possible constructed of
fire resisting materials and marked to warn of the presence of
flammable substances.
Empty containers should be tightly closed and stored securely but
separate from full containers.
Measures should be taken by forced or natural ventilation to
prevent build up of vapours. Spills should be contained by trays
or bunds. Spill kits should be available to deal safely with spilt
solvents. Fire prevention measures should be in place, such as
the exclusion of ignition sources and hot work, and fire detection
and fire fighting measures should be provided.
Workers should have suitable and sufficient information,
instruction and training to enable them to understand the hazards
and risks, and use appropriate safety measures.
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Outline a range of checks that should be made to ensure

electrical safety in an office environment.
(8)

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Checks would include the following.

Cables, plugs and sockets should be visually checked
regularly by employees for such things as damage to
insulation or evidence of overheating.
Sockets should not be overloaded, and equipment
should be sited so as to be as close as possible to the
power source.
Suitably competent persons should check that
equipment is suitable for the task and conforms with
recognised standards (e.g. EC marking). Additionally,
competent persons should check periodically that fuses
are of correct rating, and carry out suitable test
procedures for portable appliances.
There should also be a procedure in place for reporting
defects and damage and for putting defective equipment
out of use until repaired.
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a) With respect to the health effects on the body from a

hazardous substance, explain the meaning of:
i.
ii.

An acute effect
A chronic effect

(2)
(2)

b) Give two acute and two chronic effects on the body

from exposure to lead.
(4)

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a) In the case of acute health effects, the

adverse effect on, or reaction by the body
appear quickly after a single or short term
exposure to the substance. Acute effects
cease when the substance is removed.
Chronic effects usually result from repeated
or prolonged exposure. The response is
normally gradual, often progressive and
irreversible, and may go unrecognised for a
long period of time.

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b) Acute Effects
Exposure to lead will cause, headaches,
constipation and stomach pain, nausea and
vomiting, in the short term.
Chronic Effects
Exposure to lead over prolonged or a
repeated periods will result in anaemia and
weight loss, kidney damage, embrittlement of
bones and brain damage.

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Outline the precautions that should be taken to reduce

the risk of injury during lift operations with a mobile
jib crane
(8)

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The precautions would include the following.

The crane and associated lifting gear should be suitable
for the task and in satisfactory condition.
The ground on which the crane is sited should be flat
and firm, away from the sides of excavations and from
underground voids.
The outriggers, if present, should be fully extended and
locked in position.
The driver, slinger and banksman should be suitably
experienced and competent for the work.
Work should not take place near overhead lines, or
where public thoroughfares are likely to be in the work
area. Signs and barriers should be used to keep
unauthorised persons out of the area.
The lift should be carried out smoothly, avoiding
swinging of the load, at an appropriate height, with due
consideration for wind speed and direction, and to an
arranged lift plan. Recovery plans should be in place for
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such things as partial loss of load.

Newspapers are printed, bundled and placed on roller

conveyors at a publishers where they are transported to
an area for despatch to the customer.
Identify eight hazards to which employees involved with
the transport of the newspapers from the printing room
to the despatch room may be exposed.
(8)

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Hazards would include the following eight.

Mechanical hazards trapping between the
rollers and load, and entanglement with driven
rollers. Workers might also be struck by bundles
falling from the conveyor.
Electrical hazards may exist from unsafe
electrical conductors and motors.
There may be excessive noise from the conveyor
system and other equipment in the print room.
Handling of the bundles of newspapers may
cause manual handling injuries and hand injuries
from the straps holding the bundles together.
Boredom with the work may result in work-related
depression.
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Outline the main hazards that may be encountered

during the demolition of a multi-storey building. (8)

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The main hazards would include the following.

Hazards associated with work at height would include falls from
height and falling debris.
There may be a danger of premature collapse of the building if the
work does not follow a suitable safety plan.
Explosives may be used, with the attendant risks of injury to
people and damage to nearby buildings.
Hazards would arise from noise, and vibration from from contact
with heavy machinery and vibrating tools.
Dusts would be a breathing hazard, and may contain hazardous
substances such as asbestos.
The building may contain harmful materials, infectious substances
or waste from previous occupations. Pest infestation may bring
with it diseases such as Weils Disease.
Cellars may be bring the risk of unexpected collapse when heavy
machinery is used on the site. Collapse may also be caused to
adjacent buildings because of undermining of foundations.
There may be services under or across the site, such as gas or
electricity, with the attendant risk of fire, explosion or electrocution.
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a) Identify the possible effects on health arising from

exposure to ionising radiation
(4)
b) Outline possible means of ensuring that workers are
not exposed to unacceptable levels of ionising
radiation
(4)

44

a) Effects on health would include reddening,

blistering and ulceration of the skin, cataracts
in the eyes, loss of hair, radiation sickness,
sterility, mutation and other damage of body
cells, and cancers affecting all parts of the
body.
b) Control measures should be applied to a
hierarchy as follows. Isolation of the source;
segregation of the source and persons liable
to exposure, shielding of the source or of
working areas, reduced time of exposure of
workers to the source, personal protective
equipment, good hygiene arrangements,
health surveillance and monitoring.
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Outline the measures to be taken to reduce the risk of

accidents associated with the routine maintenance of
machinery.
(8)

46

Measures can be taken during the design of work

equipment to reduce the risks associated with
maintenance. For example, sealed bearing will reduce
the need for repeated lubrication in difficult or dangerous
parts of the equipment.
A permit-to-work system can be used to reduce the risks
associated with exposure to energy sources or
hazardous substances.
Access to the maintenance area can be restricted by the
use of barriers and signs.
The competence of maintenance workers should be
ensured by suitable and sufficient information,
instruction and training. Supervision should be
considered in very hazardous maintenance, such as
working on live electrical conductors.
Suitable personal protective equipment, such as gloves,
and eye protection should be provided as necessary.
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List eight rules to follow when a fork-lift truck is left

unattended during a drivers work break (8)

48

1. Fork-lift should be returned to a designated

area
2. Should be parked on firm level ground
3. Mast should be tilted forward and forks resting
on the floor
4. Power should be isolated
5. Ignition key removed
6. Key kept securely
7. Truck should be parked away from emergency
exits
8. Truck should not obstruct vehicle routes or
walkways.
49

A joiner has received an electric shock from a hand-held,

230v drill while fitting floorboards to an upstairs room of
a new property. The drill is five years old and has not
been tested during this time. The injury to the joiner was
fortunately not serious.
i. Identify the factors that may have limited the severity of injury
on this occasion.
(4)
ii. Outline the physical effects on the body that such contact with
electricity could have caused under different circumstances (4)
iii. Describe the types of inspection and/or test to which the drill
should have been subject, identifying the particular features
that should be checked for each type, and the factors that
might affect the frequencies required.
(12)
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i.

Factors would include the following.

There would have been a high resistance path through wood
or composite flooring, which would have lessened the current
flow through the joiners body.
The shoes and clothing worn by the joiner would also have
increased the resistance path.
The length of time that current flowed through the body may
have been shortened by the action of a fuse or circuit
breaker.
The health and age of the joiner would be factors affecting
the seriousness of the effects. If the joiner had an existing
heart condition, this would increase the likelihood of heart
failure.
The incidence of the shock in relation to the hearts pumping
cycle would have altered the effect.

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ii. Physical effects on the body would include

the following. Tissue burns may be present at
the entrance and exit point of current flow,
and internal organs may also be damaged.
Nerve and muscle action would be disrupted,
with muscle spasms. Interruption of heart
and lung function may occur, with cardiac
arrhythmia or arrest leading to death.

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iii. Three types of inspection will minimise the risk of

electrical equipments becoming unsafe.
a.

b.

The joiner could carry out a visual inspection of the drill

every time it is used, checking the power cord, plug and
socket, and the body of the drill for damage such as
burn marks, cracks in the drill body indicating that it has
been dropped or crushed, exposure of bare wires or
bent plug pins. Any irregular function of the drill should
be also noted at that stage, such as unpredictable
variations in speed, sudden stops, or malfunction of the
drill trigger.
A more formal inspection should take place at intervals
dependent on the extent or conditions of use. In the
case of a drill used in construction, this should be
weekly. In addition to the factors in (a) above, the plug
should be opened (unless a moulded plug is fitted)
check that the wires are firmly secured. In any case, a
check that the plug has a correct fuse rating should be
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made.

c. The third type is a combined inspection and test

(PAT), carried out by a competent person at
intervals of three or six months, a year, or even
three years. In the case of the drill, three months
would be suitable.
In addition to the inspections carried out in (a) and
(b), this inspection would detect hidden faults such
as poor earthing, breakdown of internal insulation
and possible tracking of electricity along dirt or
degraded surfaces in the drill.
d. The factors which might affect frequency of
inspections, apart from the frequency and rigours
of use, would include the age and robustness of
the equipment, the type of cable fitted, the number
of users and their competence, manufacturers
recommendations, foreseeable misuse or abuse,
and the results of previous inspections.
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In relation to the use of electrical cables and plugs in the

workplace:
i. Identify FOUR examples of faults and bad practices that could
contribute to electrical accidents (4)
ii. Outline the corresponding precautions that should be taken for
EACH of the examples identified in (i)
(4)

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i.

The Examples could include:

a)
b)
c)
d)

Selecting the wrong equipment for the environment (e.g.

armoured or heat resistant cable might be required in
aggressive environments)
Fuses may be incorrect e.g. Rated too high to force the
equipment to draw more current and power.
Poor earth connection, leading to the risk of live metal
casing
Overloading of socket outlets, leading to overheating or
arcing.

ii. Precautions would include:

a)
b)
c)
d)

Carry out a risk assessment on the task environment to

determine the best options
Prevent employees from changing fuses. Improve
inspection regime
Use a Residual Current Device to detect earth fault and
disconnect the equipment; improve inspection and
maintenance regime
Provide more individual sockets; ensure mains circuit is
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rated to take the load required