NEBOSH IDP IA6 – Questions & Answers
Simple Questions
The main risk management strategies are:
- Avoidance or elimination.
- Reduction.
- Risk retention – with or without knowledge.
- Risk transfer.
- Risk sharing.
Control measures are categorised into three different types:
- Technical – the hazard is controlled or eliminated by designing a new machine or process, or by producing some guarding measure.
- Procedural – such as a safe method of work, e.g. introducing permit-to-work systems as part of a safe system of work.
- Behavioural – will involve education and training of operatives, putting up notices and signs, using protective equipment and generally making workers aware of the risks – changing the ‘safety culture’ of the organisation.
The factors to be taken into account when choosing control measures are:
- Long/short term.
- Applicability.
- Costs.
- Proportionality.
- Effectiveness.
- Legal requirements/standards.
- Competence and training requirements.
A permit to work is a formal written document of authority to undertake a specific procedure and is designed to protect personnel working in hazardous areas or activities.
Risk assessment may be used to develop a safe system of work through:
- Analysing the task – identifying the hazards and assessing the risks.
- Introducing controls and formulating procedures.
- Instructing and training people in the operation of the system.
- Monitoring and reviewing the system.
Complex Questions
Question 1.
A maintenance worker was asphyxiated when working in an empty fuel tank. A subsequent investigation found that the worker had been operating without a permit to work.
- Outline why a permit to work would be considered necessary in these circumstances. (3)
- Outline the possible reasons why the permit-to-work procedure was not followed on this occasion. (7)
(a) A permit to work would be considered necessary in these circumstances because:
- Risk assessment of the work identified its need.
- It is a high risk task in a confined space.
- Additional hazards might develop as the work progresses therefore the job needs a structured approach.
- A permit to work for this type of work could be a legal or national requirement.
(b) Possible reasons why the permit-to-work procedure was not followed on this occasion include:
- There was no permit-to-work system available.
- The initial risk assessment was inadequate and therefore the potential hazards were not fully understood or identified.
- The organisation had a poor health and safety culture and therefore violations of work systems and permits to work were routine.
- The permit system was thought to be too bureaucratic and complicated.
- There was pressure to complete the work quickly and following the permit prevented this.
- There was difficulty organising controls before starting work due to lack of a competent person to authorise the permit.
- The controls to be followed were not clear or specific.
- Management failed to stress the importance of using a permit in such circumstances and did not communicate this to workers.