NEBOSH International General Certificate IG1 Notes

NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety Unit IG1

Introduction to Unit IG1

  • The unit covers workplace health and safety management.

  • Containing four key elements:

    • Element 1: Reasons for managing workplace health and safety

    • Element 2: Health and Safety Management Systems

    • Element 3: Managing Risk – Understanding People and Processes

    • Element 4: Health and Safety Monitoring and Measuring

Element 1: Why We Should Manage Workplace Health and Safety
Morals and Money

  • Organizations must manage health and safety for moral, financial, and legal reasons.

    • Moral: Duty of care to ensure worker safety.

    • Financial: Cost implications of accidents (direct and indirect costs).

    • Legal: Compliance with health and safety laws.

Key Terms

  • Health: Absence of disease (physical and psychological).

  • Safety: Absence of risk of serious personal injury.

  • Welfare: Access to basic facilities (e.g., toilets, rest areas).

Responsibilities

  • Employers: Ensure safe working conditions, provide training, and manage health and safety systems.

  • Workers: Look after their own safety and that of others, comply with safety instructions.

Element 2: How Health and Safety Management Systems Work
Overview

  • Systems help organizations systematically manage health and safety.

  • Two key standards: ILO-OSH 2001 and ISO 45001 (follow the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle).

Health and Safety Policy

  • Essential for setting organization-wide health and safety standards and responsibilities.

Parts of a Health and Safety Policy

  1. General Statement of Intent: Commitment to health and safety.

  2. Organisation section: Defines roles and responsibilities.

  3. Arrangements section: Specific methods for achieving health and safety goals.

Element 3: Managing Risk – Understanding People and Processes
Health and Safety Culture

  • Defined as shared attitudes towards health and safety.

    • Positive culture leads to fewer accidents; negative culture leads to higher risk.

Human Factors Influencing Behavior

  • Organizational Factors: Commitment from management; resources; training.

  • Job Factors:/p Nature of work; workload; environment; procedures.

  • Individual Factors: Skills, knowledge, personal attitudes, perceptions of risk.

Risk Assessment Process

  1. Identify hazards.

  2. Identify who might be harmed.

  3. Evaluate risks and decide on precautions.

  4. Record findings.

  5. Review and update as necessary.

Element 4: Health and Safety Monitoring and Measuring
Active and Reactive Monitoring

  • Active Monitoring: Checking standards before accidents happen (e.g., inspections).

  • Reactive Monitoring: Learning from accidents and incidents to improve safety performance.

Incident Investigation

  • Investigate incidents to understand causes and improve safety measures.

  • Types of incidents: Accidents, near misses, dangerous occurrences, and cases of ill health.

Auditing

  • Health and Safety Auditing: Systematic evaluation of health and safety management systems to identify strengths and weaknesses.

  • Gathering data through documents, interviews, and observation.

Final Reminders for Exam Preparation

  • Exam consists of 11 questions, including 1 long-answer (20 marks) and 10 short-answer questions (8 marks each).

  • Prepare by understanding key concepts, practicing past exam questions, and developing revision aids.

  • Incorporate knowledge of laws, safety practices, and incident investigation processes.

Study Tips

  • Organize study materials.

  • Review topics multiple times and relate learning to real-life situations.

  • Create summary notes, mind maps, and practice flashcards.

  • Use active revision techniques such as discussing topics with peers or teaching back to others.