Courses Available Online, Virtually and Classroom
Fully Certified NEBOSH, IOSH, IEMA Accredited
7-Day Customer Service
Andrew Froude B.Eng (Hons), CMIOSH, MIIRSM, OSHCR

Workplace Scenario: Risk Assessment

Workplace Scenario: Risk Assessment.We’ve outlined a real-life scenario which shows the application of learning outcomes from different modules in the NEBOSH General Certificate syllabus.

September 2017

This blog was updated in August 2022.


Studying for the NEBOSH General Certificate can be a challenge, but it can prove even harder if you don’t have any practical knowledge of a particular concept covered in the course. This can make it a struggle to understand how that topic can be applied to a real-world situation, or indeed appreciate how important it may be in protecting people at work.

To help you understand how key concepts can be applied in the modern workplace, we’ve outlined a real-life scenario which shows the application of learning outcomes from different modules in the NEBOSH General Certificate syllabus.

Learning outcomes and assessment criteria

NG1/IG1

Positively influence health and safety culture and behaviour to improve performance in your organisation.

3.3 Summarise the human factors which positively or negatively influence behaviour at work in a way that can affect health and safety

Do a general risk assessment in your workplace

3.4 Explain the principles and practice of risk assessment

NG2/IG2 

7.2 Assessment of health risks

  • Routes of entry of hazardous substances into the body
  • The body's defence mechanisms
  • Sources of information
  • Limitations of information used when assessing risks to health
  • Role and limitations of hazardous substance monitoring

For a complete guide on how to pass the NEBOSH General Certificate NG2/IG2 Risk Assessment, take a look at our blog.

Workplace Scenario

Background


The example refers to activities carried out at a scrap metal recycling facility. The facilities receive and recycle many forms of scrap metal (construction steel, copper pipework, washing machines, car parts etc.) and process these metals into reusable raw materials. The raw material is then supplied to steelworks and foundries to make new steel or metals.

One activity at many metal recycling facilities is known as hot/flame cutting, or “burning”. This involves resizing construction steel by manually hot cutting (or burning) the material into appropriate lengths using hot cutting equipment – usually an oxygen and propane cutting torch. This process, however, generates fumes as the steel melts, which not only contains fumes from the melting

This process, however, generates fumes as the steel melts. This not only contains fumes from the melting steel, but also fumes from any coatings or covering which is on the steel as the steel is hot cut. One such steel coating which is commonly found on old construction steel is lead-based paint.

Legal requirement

In the UK, exposure to lead is controlled by the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002, which set an “action level” and “suspension level” for the amount of lead allowed in the human body. This is measured by the amount of lead in either urine or in blood.

If lead levels reach the action level, the employer has to investigate why this has happened and try to reduce it.

On reaching the suspension level, the person has to be referred to an occupational doctor (or similar person) who will repeat the test. If this confirms the result of the first test, the doctor will usually decide that the employee should not carry on working with lead. Action must be taken on the doctor’s decision, and the employee will not be able to work with lead again or be exposed to it until the doctor considers it safe to do so.

Identifying the risk

At one particular metal recycling facility, the process of hot cutting was being used. The management at the facility had carried out a risk assessment for this activity and, as part of this risk assessment, personal measurements had been taken to determine the operator’s exposure to hot metal fume (including the exposure to lead fume).

Control measures

It was not reasonably practicable to prevent exposure by other means. So, in order to ensure that personal exposure limits were not exceeded, the risk assessment identified the need to select and introduce respirators to adequately protect the operator from the inhalation of metal fumes, including lead.

Appropriate respirators were selected and the operator was also trained in its correct use, it’s cleaning, storage and replacement of filters. Face fit testing was also carried out.

A programme of blood lead sampling was set up to regularly sample the operator’s blood for lead levels, to ensure that neither of the lead levels in the Regulations was being exceeded.

Further investigation

Not long after the control measures were introduced and the blood lead sampling programme put in place, it was noted that the operator’s blood levels went above the Action level set in the Regulations.

This caused the management at the facility to carry out a review of the risk assessment, together with checks on the respirator, and a repeat of the personal exposure measurements. All of these checks did not identify why the blood lead levels had increased.

It wasn’t until a supervisor suggested that the activity should be observed to establish how the task was being carried out, that the potential cause of the overexposure was identified.

Analysing human behaviour

On observing how the operator was carrying out the task, it was determined that the method of hot cutting the steel was indeed correct; the operator was correctly wearing all the required personal protective equipment. However, when observing what the operator did during breaks, or in between hot cutting different items of steel, the cause of the problem became evident.

One issue when working in a metal recycling facility and handling scrap metal is the issue of getting skin and hands dirty and contaminated from the material, even though appropriate gloves are provided and worn. The operator in question also smoked cigarettes, and these cigarettes he would make (or roll) himself.

When the operator was taking a cigarette break, or going for lunch, it was observed that his hands were highly contaminated. He wasn’t washing them before rolling and smoking his own cigarettes or eating his sandwiches, resulting in lead poisoning through poor hygiene practices.

The issue of personal hygiene was sensitively raised and addressed with the operator and blood lead levels began to decrease.

Conclusion

It’s clear that management at the facility had carried out a reasonable risk assessment, but had not involved the operator in determining exactly how the activity was to be carried out. Nor had they observed in enough detail how the task was actually being performed to determine if the risk assessment was adequate and the control measures were effective.

The example illustrates the importance of:

  • The consideration of human behaviour in the way a task is being carried out.
  • The involvement and observation of the person who is going to carry out (or is already carrying out) the activity in the risk assessment.
  • Ensuring that all routes of entry are taken into consideration (both theoretical and actual) when carrying out or reviewing a risk assessment relating to the exposure to hazardous substances.

Our NEBOSH General Certificate course provides both the knowledge and skills to assist employers in conducting a workplace risk assessment. Click to button below to view the product page!

Related Blogs

  • 2023 Was the Hottest Year on Record: Scientific Report Image
    Enock Ebbah

    2023 Was the Hottest Year on Record: Scientific Report

    2023 was the hottest calendar year since records began. Join our environmental and net-zero expert, Enock Ebbah, as he breaks down how this has happened and the devastating consequences for the planet.
    21.03.24
  • How to Create a Safe Work Environment for Employees Image
    William Gaunt

    How to Create a Safe Work Environment for Employees

    Follow our crucial principles for the safe movement of people in the workplace to create a safe work environment for your employees. Read on to learn more.
    19.03.24
  • What Is the Paris Agreement? And Why Is It Important? Image
    Enock Ebbah

    What Is the Paris Agreement? And Why Is It Important?

    For years to come, the Paris Agreement will be considered one of the most critical milestones in preventing global warming. Learn about the main points of the treaty and how it will shape the future of our planet.
    14.03.24
  • Top 10 Interesting Careers the NEBOSH Diploma Gets You Image
    William Gaunt

    Top 10 Interesting Careers the NEBOSH Diploma Gets You

    Wondering where the NEBOSH Diploma can take you in your career? We’ve compiled a list of exciting careers you can pursue, thanks to its broad spectrum of applications. Read on to find out where your career could land next!
    12.03.24
  • How to Identify and Manage Hazards: Free Risk Assessment Template Included Image
    William Gaunt

    How to Identify and Manage Hazards: Free Risk Assessment Template Included

    Learn how to identify and manage hazards in the workplace and gain exclusive access to your free copy of our risk assessment template.
    29.02.24
  • Why is There a Massive Financing Gap to Prevent Climate Change? Image
    Enock Ebbah

    Why is There a Massive Financing Gap to Prevent Climate Change?

    The United Nations has warned that funding to protect against the severe consequences of climate change is ‘woefully inadequate’. Find out the implications of short-changing climate change mitigation and what this means for the future of our planet.
    29.02.24
Section Curve
Case Studies

Real Life Stories

Find out how learners look back on their training with Astutis. Our case studies give our learners, both individual and corporate, a platform to share their Astutis experience. Discover how training with Astutis has helped past learners and delegates make the world a safer place, one course at a time.
More Image
Bottom Curve
What People Say

Hear What Our Learners Have To Say

We're always there for our customers. 98% of our learners rated their overall experience as good or outstanding. We will always pride ourselves on our customer service. But don’t take our word for it, here is what our customers have to say
  • "The platform is great, interactive and easy to navigate, I totally enjoyed the experience, recommended!"

    Igor
    25.03.2024
  • "I didn't purchase the course myself, the organization did, however I think it is fair to say it was an overall positive outcome."

    Igor
    25.03.2024
  • "Helpful staff, easy to use portal etc."

    Luke
    19.03.2024
  • "Easy to use portal, Good course."

    Luke
    19.03.2024
  • "The course was very informative. Whilst it was quite a full on 4 days it was good to have the breakout sessions to share learnings. The course materials were great to refer to as revision"

    13.03.2024
  • "The course was paid for by my employer"

    13.03.2024
  • "Great tutor and valuable study webinars prior to exams. The content notebooks need some work to update and check the content."

    Sarah
    11.03.2024
  • "Content needs work but tutor was brilliant and study webinars very valuable"

    Sarah
    11.03.2024
  • "Generally the course covers basic health and safety across many industries at a level which is both useful but not TOO in depth. I work in bio-sciences but understood the sections referring to construction well and found much of the course to be quite transferable. Speed of learning is good. Certain parts of the course (asbestos springs to mind) made questionable claims however the course allows this sort of thing to be flagged as feedback."

    Peter
    05.03.2024
  • "Good. You have a year to complete and this is about the right pace."

    Peter
    05.03.2024