Dear NEBOSH IG learners. The IG1 exam for the 17th of January 2024 will be explained in Arabic and English on this page on the day of the exam. Please be sure to visit this link to watch the recording.
أعزائي متعلمي المؤهل العام للصحة والسلامة الدولية . سيتم شرح امتحان آي جي 1 ليوم 17 يناير 2024 باللغتين العربية والإنجليزية على هذه الصفحة في يوم الامتحان. برجاء التأكد من زيارة هذا الرابط لمشاهدة التسجيل.
Before we get into the topic of manual handling risk assessment, we have to first identify and get to know the meaning of manual handling. The best way to describe it is ”Any work, task or activity which requires bodily force to push, pull, hold, lift, move or hoist any load using only the power of the body”
There are two types of injuries one may suffer from this work. Internal injuries and external ones.
They may include cutting, burning, electrocution some bruising or contusions
They may include twisting of the ankle, spinal injuries, back injuries, prolapsed disks, and other musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) or work-related upper limb disorders WRULDs which are mostly concerned with your joints.
Avoiding doing the task manually can prevent injuries which is the bread and butter of health and safety. Avoiding is basically the elimination step in the hierarchy of risk control
Avoiding doing the task manually also means using mechanical means to do the job. This can include using a crane, a hoisting device, a trolley, or even a crane if it’s required. The more you can avoid manual handling, the better off and safer you’ll be!
This is an acronym for four words (Task, Individual, Load, and Environment). We have to use this in the workplace as an on-the-spot risk assessment or as a Last Minute Risk Assessment – LMRA. The TILE must be followed whenever there is a manual handling task and hopefully, the following information will help you. Let us break down the task risk assessment and make sure it fits the above 4 requirements.
This is when we analyze the task itself and see what it involves. Does it involve carrying, pulling, pushing, lifting, lowering, hoisting, or holding for a period of time? The video goes into great detail to explain each one and gives examples and here is one of them.
Carrying something
If the task involves carrying a box of A-4 papers and taking it to an upper floor, there aren’t any issues here, this is normal. But, if it involves me carrying 2 boxes of A-4 papers and taking them six floors up and the elevator is broken, that’s something else.
Repetitive motion
If the task involves repetitive motion like shoveling using a hand saw or checking out items at the supermarket another consideration must be made here for this job and the video explains a lot of it.
Work above shoulder levels, work in an awkward posture, work that requires holding a pose for a long time, or tasks that require pulling, pushing, standing, kneeling, laying down, or using our bodily force. all these things must be considered when we are analyzing a manual handling task.
Just like we broke down the task, we must now estimate the strength required to do this job. Some readers or viewers of the video may take this the wrong way and assume misogyny has taken place here but that can’t be farther from the truth.
We have to be fair when we choose the person for the job. In health and safety, there is something called ergonomics and one of its points is to always make sure the job fits the worker and not have the worker fit the job. However, in this particular situation, we must choose the right person for the job. It does not go against ergonomics, on the contrary, this is the best solution to avoid a manual handling injury.
There are some jobs that require a man and others that require a woman. to go even further than this, some jobs prefer a young healthy man over an older man who has some health issues. So in short, we have to have the right person for the job at hand.
The load. This is basically the thing(s) that must be moved from one point to another. We took the example of a box of papers above but let us now go a little further. Manual handling tasks require a lot of energy and bodily force, they don’t always require the person to move from one point to another, sometimes, they have to move a load while they are standing in their place for example, unloading a lory by handing the load to each other or pulling the cable from a roll.
We have to also look at the load and analyze it. We have to consider the weight (heavy, light), the shape (is it a geometric shape or not), and whether it has handles. Is it toxic? liquid? powder? chemical? fragile (…..)
This part of the (TILE) focuses on the environment in which the task must be carried out and we need to break down the environment section into two parts.
The environment of the workplace
This is exactly what it sounds like. We have to consider the place where we have to do the work. Is the environment of the workplace dark, or well-lit? Is it noisy? Are there any other tasks taking place while we have to do our job? Will this job affect the other jobs already in progress, or will the other jobs affect this one? Do we have to travel far with the load? is the ground slippery or firm? is it far or near? and many other points that are covered in the video as well.
The environment of the world
Here we must consider the weather. Is it rainy? Foggy? snowy? windy? dusty? is there lightening? will the weather affect our job or be helpful to us?
Next, we must have all the information based on the tile and we have to determine how the job will be done. It is always to have mechanical aids rather than doing the jobs by hand or bodily force but if it’s not possible, we can break down the job into steps or have a rotation of the workforce so people are getting enough rest.
The video has a lot more information that I could cover in this short article. I hope you find the information useful and follow the advice inside.
This video was filmed a couple of years ago in a live broadcast. We discussed over 20 pieces of advice on ladder safety and had a short Q&A session with the viewers.
A ladder is a form of access used to travel from one point to another (mostly vertically). A ladder should not be our first choice to perform work at height tasks. We should use other forms of access that are more secure and stable (scaffolding for example.
We covered more than 20 tips and they were all kind of linked and merged together. I have broken down some of the tips we discussed in the list below.
This is always my first advice. I always tend to ask the crew if they can do the job another way without the need to use a ladder. If they absolutely must use it, then we will allow them.
Using a scaffold is a lot safer than using ladders. Scaffolds can hold more weight and have guard rails whereas ladders (mostly) don’t.
There are a number of ladders out there that you can choose from and it is the responsibility of your employer to provide the right ones for the tasks in your workplace. The video discusses the types of ladders and gives some good examples.
The ladders we use at work must fit certain standards. We cannot use anything that is given to us by employers and ”Make it Work” one more thing to remember is to ”NEVER USE HOMEMADE LADDERS”
Now that you’ve chosen a ladder to do your job, it is important that you perform a thorough inspection on it before you use it. The video covers some important points on this but here is a ladder inspection template for you to use.
Just like in the simple ladder inspection form from the above link, there can be a number of things wrong with the ladder. It is important to remember your role and not engage in fixing broken, damaged, defective, or painted ladders. You must always follow your company’s policy and procedure in discarding broken equipment and not using them
While it appears very simple, it is not allowed for everyone to work at height (including on ladders) unless they have been trained to do so. A number of factors can prevent a person from working at height and these things must be known before selection.
Placing the ladder on uneven, slippery, or sloppy ground can contribute to an accident taking place, especially if it’s being used by an untrained person. Choose the proper location for the ladder and make sure it is not in the line of fire.
Once that is done, you must remember the 4:1 rule when setting up a ladder. This applies to straight and extension ladders. For every 4 meters the ladder is going up, 1 meter has to be away from the wall. So, if it’s an 8-meter ladder, 2 meters must be considered.
DO NOT USE THE TOP 3 RUNGS.
The ladder must be secured from the top and the bottom. As long as the ladder is free from the top, someone must be holding it from below until it is secured from above. When choosing someone to hold the ladder, make sure that that person is also trained on how to hold the ladder and knows not to stand in the line of fire
Another reason why we must only use manufactured ladders from factories is the weight limit. This is normally explained by a sticker on the sides of the ladder or on one of its steps. Your company must have its own procedure to file the ladders and keep a record of them all (for the purpose of inspections and other reasons). Each ladder must be sorted by its duty rating, length, type, brand, and its conductive or non-conductive feature.
NEVER HAVE MORE THAN 1 PERSON ON THE LADDER AT THE SAME TIME
The 3 points of contact rule is very important. You must always have 2 hands and one foot on the ladder or two feet and 1 hand (While climbing). This is to ensure that you are as safe as you can be.
This also means that you must not have any items in your hand(s) while climbing. Having something in your hands will cause you to not have a good grip on the ladder so, leave them empty while climbing.
There are a number of tool belts available in the market (depending on where you are). Choosing the right kind of belts or straps will help your employees perform their tasks a lot safer than usual and reduce the number of incidents, accidents, and near-misses.
I remember seeing workers over-reaching in almost every workplace. Over-reaching is when a worker attempts to reach a point that is farther than his horizontal or vertical limit. There are two solutions for this issue:
1- Change the ladder to a longer one so you can reach where you need to be safely without over-reaching, or
2- Climb down, and reposition the ladder closer to where you want to reach
(horizontally), and continue your work.
Over-reaching can easily cause a ladder to slip and take you down with it. Depending on how high you are and what you’ll fall on will determine what your injuries will be.
The primary hazard to be worried about is electricity and where you stand from its cable (your distance) and the type of ladder and equipment you’re using to do your job. Other than that, you have to consider other operations that are taking place below or above your location.
Another thing is to know if there are any Mobile Elivated Work Platforms (MEWPs) in your work area and if they’ll do any work near you.
Here is the video we’ve been waiting for all this time but I hope you enjoyed reading the article. A lot of time and effort was put into it and I hope it was worth it.
Line of Fire is basically a military phrase used to describe the location of someone or something. So, if a weapon or a gun is firing and someone or something is in the path of the trajectory of that weapon’s round, it will most likely be harmed.
In reality, it applies perfectly in our world. We have countless machines and equipment and we work with them on a daily basis. Take for example a crane, when it has a suspended load and someone walks under it, they are in the line of fire. If someone is using the grinding machine and the sparks are going somewhere, that is the line of fire, if the user’s body is in the way of the grinding machine while it is working, it is in the line of fire. Another example before I leave you with the video is when someone crosses the road while there is traffic, they are in the line of fire.
Energy is basically what drives this planet on more than one front but the energy we are concerned with today varies from that. We will be covering a few types of that energy. We will talk about pneumatic, hydraulic, mechanical, and electrical types of energy.
An 18-year-old worker died after becoming entangled in a portable mortar mixer at a residential construction site. The victim was cleaning the mixer at the end of his shift to prepare it for the following day. A painter working near the victim heard yells for help and saw the victim’s arm stuck in the machine and his body being pulled into the rotating mixer paddles. Emergency medical services were called and responded within minutes. Rescue workers dismantled the drive mechanism to reverse the mixing paddles and extricate the worker. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
(Source: OSHA)
What you’re about to see is a live broadcast on Instagram which was held a while back on my Instagram account. The video covered all the above types of energies and gave some examples from real-life situations and personal experiences. ‘
There are many reasons why we must use it. While the most important one is to save lives, it is also a legal requirement required by many insurance agencies that end up paying the civil suit’s settlements when an employer loses a civil claim in a court of law.
IOSH defines unsafe acts as
Any activity by workers which are not as per the prescribed safety standard or practice and which can cause or likely to cause accidents or risk for self or others at workplace, damage equipment and bring losses in terms of reputations and revenue to employer .
So, in short, let us say that unsafe acts are all of those acts that might cost someone dearly. The loss can be physical, or financial. It might also come in various other forms.
It is well explained in the video below how to make the difference but I’ll write it here as well. Let us say you see an exposed electrical wire (this is an unsafe condition) that needs to be fixed. However, if you see someone DOING that in real-time, that makes it an unsafe act (because you saw it as it was happening).
each organization has its own ways of addressing unsafe acts and unsafe conditions. In some places, employees have received warning letters simply because they engaged in such activities (unsafe acts, or created unsafe conditions). This isn’t always the right way, rather, you can take the person aside and advise them or refuse to take part in this activity because it is unsafe.
As a part of any company’s onboarding program, all employees must participate in the initial onboarding and induction program specific to that company. This mostly focuses on the health and safety rules and procedures in the company and on this location itself. It also explains how employees are expected to report hazards and to whom!
I now leave you with this video which you may use for your own organization. Download it and show it to your workers as it is away from using difficult languages and difficult terminology. It is simply a conversation with the brain and an example of how to spot an unsafe act or unsafe condition
After any/all NEBOSH Open book exams, NEBOSH will conduct a closing interview with all learners who sat the exam. The reason why this will take place is for NEBOSH to be sure that the person who signed up for the exam is indeed the same person who sat the exam
Your IG1 answer sheet will not be marked if you do not conduct this interview. While there are no marks available on the closing interview, your whole IG1 exam depends on you passing it
The closing interview will be arranged by your learning partner (course provider) and someone from NEBOSH or your learning partner will conduct the interview. Due to the huge number of learners sitting the IG1 OBE exams, NEBOSH may not be able to interview everyone who sits the exams which is why they will conduct a very low percentage of them and the rest will be cascaded down to the learning partners
The interview will take place online through one of the video conference/meeting apps available to everyone for free (Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Skype, or Google Meet) Your learning partner will decide which app/program they will use and inform you ahead of time and most learning partners will give you the option to book your closing interview whenever you like (within a set time table)
You must be in a private room by yourself and you are not permitted to have another person in that room at the time of the interview
The exceptions to this are
if you are caring for children or a vulnerable person and you are unable to make safe arrangements for them to be looked after by someone else
if you require another person to be present during the closing interview as part of a reasonable adjustment. You should discuss this in advance with your Learning Partner.
Please note that reasonable adjustments will need to be approved by NEBOSH, so please ensure that you speak with your Learning Partner as soon as possible
You will be required to present a form of government-issued identification that clearly shows your name and photo (preferably in English). The best choice will be a driver’s license, a passport, or a national Identification card
You’ll also need access to a camera phone, tablet, laptop, or computer with a webcam available so the interviewer can see you
What if I do not have access to either a smartphone, tablet, or computer to do the closing interview?You should discuss this with your Learning Partner. It may be possible to arrange for the interview to be done face-to-face. One of the purposes of the closing interview is to confirm your identity
Unfortunately, it is not possible to do this by telephone alone. If alternative arrangements cannot be made, then there is the option to postpone this final stage until it is safe to complete a face-to-face interview
Your mark will not be declared until the closing interview has taken place. You should contact your Learning Partner if you have any questions relating to your closing interview
The Interviewer will introduce themselves. You will be asked to show your identification to the Interviewer, who will cross-check this with your registration details. Show the room you are in if the interview is taking place via video link, the Interviewer needs to see you do not have any notes or electronic devices you can access during the interview. You will also need to sit so that the Interviewer can see the door of the room you are sitting in
The Interviewer will ask you questions based on your open-book examination. This is an opportunity to demonstrate what you have learned during your studies. After that, the Interviewer will close the interview but will not be able to inform you of the outcome
If the Interviewer is happy that the work is your own, your mark will be declared in line with published NEBOSH timeframes. If your Interviewer is not satisfied that the work is your own work, they will notify NEBOSH who then contact you directly to advise the next steps. This may initially be a second interview with NEBOSH , or possibly an investigation in line with NEBOSH’s Policy and procedures for suspected malpractice in examinations and assessments
