GC 3 Guidance

By: Sohaib Rasool

Marking Criteria
1

Completion of observation sheets

1.1

Range and outline of hazards and consequences

15

1.2
2
2.1
2.2
3
3.1

Identification of suitable control measures and timescales

Report - Introduction and Executive Summary
Introduction providing an overview of the chosen area
Executive summary
Report - Main findings of the inspection
Quality of interpretation of findings
Identification of possible breaches of legislation and/or
standards
Persuasiveness / conciseness / technical content
Report - Conclusions and Recommendations
Clear and concise conclusions which are clearly related to
report findings and are effective in convincing
management to take action
Recommendations which present realistic actions to
improve health and safety in the chosen area
TOTAL MARKS

15

3.2
3.3
4
4.1
4.2

5
5
15
5
10

15
15
100

Outlining of Hazards and Consequence

Outline 20 uncontrolled hazards.
Recommended to highlight more than 20
uncontrolled hazards but not more than 30.
Outline different type of hazards like Fire,
Work at height, ergonomics, health, noise,
transport, electricity, vibration, machine and
welfare etc.
Mention at least one to three good practices.

Common Mistakes
Candidate repeat the hazards, considered as one.
Policies and procedure should not be included as part
of hazard identification.
Must demonstrate how hazard can potentially harm
the person e.g. consequences.
Avoid long sentences and explanation, keep it
concise.
Diversity of hazard's identified always attains more
marks

Hazard:
Consequence:

Another Example

Hazards that can be covered

Issues description
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Electricity
Ergonomics
Falling objects
Fire
First Aid
Good practice
Hazardous substances
Housekeeping
Information
Machinery (mechanical /
non mechanical)
11. Manual handling
12. Noise

13. Obstructions / trailing

cables
14. Personal Protective
Equipment
15. Vehicles / routes
16. Vibration
17. Welfare / hygiene
18. Work at height
19. Work environment
20. Chemical Hazard
21. Biological Hazard
22. Stress
23. Psychological
24. Health Hazards

Control Measure & Timeline

Immediate measures to control the risk on spot.

Medium term measures to further control or reduce the risk (not
required by NEBOSH, we recommend it)
Long term measures to sustain the control of risk , identifying
the root cause.
If you find control measure are adequate, any other measure to
maintain level control (generally for good practice)

Immediate= 0 hour to 1day

Medium=
1day to 7 days
Long term= 1 day to 6 months but 3
months recommended generally

Other Examples

Inhalation of high amount of

Calcium hydroxide in the
production of hydrate lime area
can cause respiratory burns

I-Cover the drums containing the

calcium hydroxide.

15 minutes.

M-Respiratory protective equipment, if

using calcium hydroxide for long time. 1 day.
M- Restrict entry to authorise
3 days
individuals only in the area
L-Frequent rest breaks and job
rotation can reduce the exposure.
L-Training of the employees &
awareness about hazardous
substances.
L- Monitoring of substance at work
L- Health surveillance for workers to
be conducted

After 2 hours
of work
1 Week
2 Weeks
3 months

Example Continue
Location- Cooling Water
area
Hazard- Presence of
Legionella bacteria due
to improper cleaning of
cooling towers and
uncovered drinking water
Consequence- It may lead
to pneumonia, flu, fever
and or fatal to workers
using, handling and
maintaining cooling tower
water.

I-Water treatment to prevent

risk of bacteria
(Chlorination).
M-Proper cleaning of cooling
towers.
L-Fixed guard or provide
cover the cooling towers and
drinking water storage
L-water treatment chemicals
should be used to kill
bacteria
L- Water sampling and
testing through laboratory to
identify the issue if any
proactively
L-Training & awareness of
workers about risks of
legionella bacterial and its
control measures
L- Health surveillance to be
carried for workers of the
area

02 Hrs.
1 Day.

15 Days.

Fortnightly

Monthly

1 week

3 months

Common Mistakes in Control Measures

Hazard not clearly identified No Marks on
Control measure.

Another Example

Example of Timeline in Control

Measures

Whats wrong here?

Introduction
Introduction (should be in one page)
Purpose of visit & company overview(one
paragraph)
State where and when inspection took place. Areas
and purpose of inspection(one paragraph)
Description of chosen area, i.e. Hotel, Retail store,
Construction site etc. Activities of company and
volume of work area(one paragraph)
People working there, e.g. gender, number of
people working, age group, vulnerable persons.
Equipment in use at worksite, departments over
there, work pattern, shift types, (one paragraph)

Example of Introduction of Report

Introduction including overview of area inspected and activities taking place

This inspection took place at the Newco Retail Park in Newtown at approximately
11:20am on 31/05/2013. This site is a retail park comprising 6 steel framed brick
and glass clad units with flat roofs, a large car park with approximately 200 parking
spaces to the front of the property and a service yard to the rear both of which are
accessed via a short service road to the main road junction. This inspection covers
only the external areas for which my company is responsible; the internal areas are
the responsibility of the tenants. There are two full time security staff employed by
us permanently on site, working a day and night shift respectively. All other
employees on site are the responsibility of the tenants (approximately 30 people),
along with constant visitors (approximately 500-1000 per day). The main activities
taking place in the areas our areas of responsibility are movement of customers and
customer vehicles through the car park, movement of delivery vehicles (from small
vans to articulated lorries) through the site and in the service yard, unloading of
deliveries by hand and using forklift trucks, and storage / removal of packing
materials

Executive Summary
Should attract the reader (normally for a busy
manager)
Concise overview of the important points of the
report.
Summarises important points from main hazards,
main findings, conclusion and recommendations.
Usually written as a last thing or at the end of
report.

Example of Executive Summary

Executive Summary
The management of health and safety at Newco Retail Park is
generally of a fair standard. However, inspection of the site
identified a number of significant failings which if not addressed
could result in serious injury or death to our or our tenants' staff
members or any visitors to the site. Along with the immediate risk to
life, breaches were noted in Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974,
the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, the
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, the
Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Regulatory Reform (Fire
Safety) Order 2005, Any one of these breaches could lead to
enforcement action against the company and the potential closure of
the site, along with criminal prosecution with the risk of significant
fines and potential imprisonment.

Major/Main Findings
15 marks are based on quality of interpretation.
5 to 7 hazards or main findings.
Logical progression from observation sheet.
Should not duplicate observation in the main
findings.
Should not include additional hazard those not
outlined in observation sheet.
Should summarize main points on a particular
hazard and possible control with logical cost.
Mostly repeated hazards or serious hazard to start
with first.

Major/Main Findings
Breaches and violation with legal acts and International
Standards.
Reference could be made to ILO Conventions mentioning
their article or sub clause e.g. C155 article 16 requires
employer to etc.
Reference could be made to Acts and regulations for
highlighting legal Breaches (e.g. Factories Act 1934 as
amended 1997 chapter 3; clause 25..)
Reference could be made to ISO/OHSAS Standards in
addition.
Reference could be made to any International law e.g.
HASAWA 1974 section 2 requires etc.

Major/Main Findings
Persuasiveness/Conciseness/Technical Content
Explain Why Management Need to take Action
What are moral, legal, financial reason to take
remedial actions.
Include convincing arguments for action proposed
Can mention cost relevant to specific observation
in the sheet.

Example of Main Findings

1. Movement of vehicles through the site (observation# 01, 04, 08):
Due to the nature of the site and the activities carried out here there is a constant
flow of vehicles through this site, both visitor and business related. However, this
vehicle movement is not adequately controlled. There are no marked pedestrian
walkways to aid segregation of persons from vehicles; speed restriction signage is in
place but has been vandalized, restricting its effectiveness; there are limited
controls in place to protect pedestrians from moving forklift trucks, however these
controls are in the form of PPE to be worn by the pedestrian putting the onus on the
wearer for their own safety rather than by fitting physical control measures to the
forklifts themselves.
Should an impact between vehicle and pedestrian occur there is a high likelihood of
serious injury or even death. Along with this risk there is the a breach of regulation
17 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, as the
workplace has not been organized in such a way that pedestrians and vehicles can
circulate in a safe manner, and of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 in
that a safe place of work with adequate access and egress has not been maintained,

Conclusion & Recommendations

Conclusion & recommendation are of 15 marks
Conclusion (mean result of your inspection)
Concise Summary of the findings
Effective convincing of the management to take
action (referring to moral, legal & financial
argument)
Summary of points from main body, findings etc. to
convince management to take action.

Example of the Conclusion from a

Report
Although this site may seem on the surface to be relatively low risk, a number of
significant hazards and serious breaches of health and safety law were identified.
These issues could potentially lead to the death or serious injury of persons on site,
costly prosecutions or potential fines. However, the costs, both monetary and
resource based, involved in putting in place suitable control measures are relatively
low in comparison. The easier issues to rectify result from poor discipline on behalf
of the site tenants leading to incorrect storage of hazardous substances and
flammable materials; this could be addressed through regular meetings with
tenants and their employees to remind them of their obligations to keep the site
tidy with appropriate storage More difficult and resource-heavy are the issues
relating to pedestrian I traffic segregation; however, the time and money involved
in installing protected walkways and traffic management measures are far less
costly than the resources involved in defending prosecutions, payout of fines,
increased insurance premiums etc.

Recommendation
Recommendation based upon Conclusion
Use table format suggested in the report.
Prioritize recommendation.
Most important issue presenting high level and that
can be done immediately and with less and no cost
should be done 1st.
Timeline should be defined Week, months etc.
Cost should be estimated in Rupee, GBP or USD
(generally in USD or GBP)

Example of recommendation Part

Recommendation

Likely resource implications

Design and implement traffic Night closure of car park / service yard management system - painted /
potential loss of trade / inability to
barriered pedestrian
receive deliveries
segregation in car park and
Cost of employing contractor to mark out
service yard, directional
pedestrian paths / fit barriers - approx.
signage / one way system,
10,000
speed restriction measures /
signage / speed bumps
Fit audible / visible warnings
to forklifts

Priorit Target
y
date
1

3-6
month

1
month

Time required to remove only.

24
hours

Cost of employing contractor to remove

substances - approx. 300

1 week

Rental of replacement truck while work

is carried out - approx. 500
Cost of retrofit to forklift - approx. 500

Remove obstructions from fire

exits / evacuation routes

Remove hazardous substances

stored in service yard and
dispose of responsibly

Fit suitable storage cage with Cost of employing contractor to fit cage chains away from building for
approx. 1000
compressed gas cylinders

Arrange regular meetings

with tenants to remind them
of responsibilities re: storage
of materials and substances

Time required to undertake meetings

only.

3
months
1
month,
then
ongoig

Got 9 out 15 Marks

Reasons:
Target Dates not
clear 3-6 Months
/Long
Range
Short term measure
not addressed at all
How could this have
been better ?
Clear Target dates
like 3months
Address Short term
measures too.
Priorities as per
main findings.
Can
add
short
justification
for
action.

Marking Guide For Observation Sheet

Marks to be awarded
11 - 15

1.1

Range and outline

of hazards and
consequences

Completion of
observation
sheets

4-5 different types of 2-3 different types of

hazards outlined
hazards outlined
14-20 uncontrolled
hazards /
consequences
outlined
11 - 15

1.2
Identification of
suitable control
measures and
timescales

6 10

7-13 uncontrolled
hazards /
consequences
outlined

1- 5

1 type of hazard
outlined
1-6 uncontrolled
hazards /
consequences outlined

6 - 10
1-5
Identification of
Immediate and
immediate and longer
longer- term actions term actions for some
Reference to
identified for majority
of the identified
immediate actions
of hazards
hazards
only
Some recommended
Majority of
Recommended actions
recommended actions actions generally
limited in reducing risk
effective in reducing effective in reducing
and unrealistic in
risk and realistic in risk and realistic in
terms of timescales
terms of timescales terms of timescales

Management Report Main findings of

the inspection
Marks to be awarded
11-15

3
Management
Report
Main findings of
the inspection

3.1
Quality of
interpretatio
n of findings

Logical
progression
from the
observation
sheets does not
duplicate
observation
sheets
Majority of
key issues
identified in
observation
sheets have
been
appropriate
ly selected
and
discussed

6-10

Logical
progression
from the
observation
sheets but some
duplication of
observation
sheets
Some key
issues
identified in
observation
sheets have
been
appropriately
selected and
discussed

1-5

Limited progression
from the observation
sheets and
duplication of
observation sheets

Minority of the key

issues identified in
the observation
sheets have been
appropriately
selected and
discussed

Identification of possible breaches of

legislation and/or international standards

3.2
Identification
of possible
breaches of
legislation
and/or
international
standards

Appropriate
references to
5 possible
breaches of
international
standards with
a clear
understanding
of the reasons
for the
breaches

Appropriate
references to
4 possible
breaches of
international
standards with
a clear
understanding
of the reasons
for the
breaches

Appropriate
references to 3
possible
breaches of
international
standards with a
clear
understanding
of the reasons
for the breaches

Appropriate
references to 2
possible
breaches of
international
standards with
a clear
understanding
of the reasons
for the
breaches

A list of
international
standards
with no
explanation
of how the
international
standards
were
breached, or
how they
relate to the
hazards,
unsafe
conditions or
work
practices
selected

Management Report-Main findings of

inspection
Marks to be awarded

8-10

Manage
ment
ReportMain
findings of
the
inspection

3.3

Persuasiven
ess/
conciseness
/ technical
content

Clear legal,
moral
and
financial
arguments
Convinces
manageme
nt to take
action
Report
is
well
structured
and
appropriate
length

4-7

Some legal,
moral and
financial
arguments

Some
persuasion in
management
action

Report
is
reasonably
well
structured

1-3

Limited
legal, moral
and
financial
arguments

Limited
persuasiven
ess in
management
action

Report is
poorly
structured

Management Report Conclusions and

Recommendations
4

Manageme
nt Report

Conclusions
and
Recommendati
ons

Marks to be awarded
11 61 -5
15
10
4.1
Findings identified in Logical progression from Limited progression
Clear and concise
report summarised
the report
from the report
conclusions which
clearly and concisely
are clearly related
Relevant and
Some key issues
Limited discussion of
to report findings appropriate information identified in report have the key issues identified
and are effective in
provided to persuade
been appropriately
in the report
convincing
management to take
discussed
management to take
actions
actions

4.2
Recommendations
which present
realistic actions to
improve health and
safety in the chosen
area

11 6 10
1 5
15
Recommendations
Most recommendations
based upon conclusions
follow on from the
Limited progression
conclusions
from conclusions
Realistic
recommendations and Most recommendations Recommendations not
target dates
all realistic
are realistic
Appropriately
prioritized
recommendations
Appropriate resource
implications for all
recommendations

Some attempt at
prioritization
Appropriate resource
implications for most
recommendations

No prioritization
Limited resource
implications