NEBOSH IG1 exercise
Unit IG1 – Element 1: Why We Should Manage Workplace Health and Safety
NEBOSH will send you the question on a scenario and the questions will be related to the scenario.
In general, one mark is given for each correct technical point that is clearly demonstrated.
Scenario
You are working as HSE manager at Al Mahmoud construction company.
An incident happened when one of your contractor workers fell and got hand broken injury,
the worker was using unsafe scaffold while building the wall.
The company did not provide full body harness for the worker and
The supervisor was far from the area and did not provide a safe system of work, the worker only received safety orientation training and did not receive work on heights training in addition the wind was strong and dusty,
the scaffold was built on soft sandy ground, was not equipped with a handrail, and it was overloaded by bricks.
Due to lack of manpower, the worker was forced to work for long hours after the end of the official working hours and without breaks, and that made the worker fatigued.
The worker was distracted due to psychological fatigue as the supervisor was bad-tempered and constantly threatened workers with dismissal.
The company is old and does not keep seek modern technologies to meet health and safety legal requirements.
After the worker fell from the scaffold, the scaffold fell on the wall and damaged the new building.
Due to the accident your company decided to select a new contractor to complete this project.
Task 1
Explain to the contractor’s obligations of employers to workers
1- What are employer obligations are likely to have been contravened, in this scenario? (10)
You only need to consider those obligations placed upon employers under
Recommendation 10 of International Labour Organization R164 -
Occupational Safety and Health Recommendation,1981 (No. 164).
Note: You should support your answer, where applicable, using relevant
information from the scenario
Example of Answer
The employer’s obligations that have been contravened in the scenario are as the following:
1- The Recommendation R 164 article 10 has obligated the employers to provide safe workplaces, (as per the scenario the scaffold was built on soft sandy ground which was not suitable to erect a scaffold on it, so the employer has to provide a safe workplace which he has not done)
2- The Recommendation R 164 article 10 has obligated the employers to provide safe machinery and equipment which has no health risk. (As per the scenario the scaffold had no handrail or mid rail, which makes it unsafe work equipment)
3- The Recommendation R 164 article 10 has obligated the employers to provide safe work methods which has no health risk. (And this was not met as the scaffold collapsed).
4- The employers must provide the suitable information and training. (as per the scenario the worker received an induction training, and did not receive work at height training)
Master Mariner I Marine Superintendent QHSSE I Marine Operations I Marine Consultant
2moThat is an Awesome Article ! Suggest integration of some additional perspectives in this connection : - A well-designed SMS should be built with human factors in mind, ensuring that procedures are clear, practical, and achievable under real-world conditions. - Regular feedback loops between the workforce and management are essential. These loops help to identify discrepancies between "work as imagined" and "work as done, This dynamic approach can prevent complacency and improve overall safety performance. - A culture that prioritizes safety values employee input, and encourages open communication is more likely to see its SMS succeed. A culture where safety is not just a priority but a core value, ensuring that all employees feel responsible for maintaining safety standards, to be fostered. - Finally, ongoing training and competence development are critical to bridging the gap between SMS and human performance. Regular, targeted training ensures that employees not only understand the SMS but are also skilled in applying it effectively in various scenarios. This continuous development reinforces the SMS and empowers the workforce to perform their duties safely and efficiently.