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NATIONAL GENERAL

CERTIFICATE Candidate report template


(2009 specification)

UNIT NGC3 THE HEALTH AND


SAFETY PRACTICAL APPLICATION

Student number:

Location: Date of review:

Introduction including overview of area inspected and activities taking place

This report follows an inspection of the building and yard located in . in order to meet the
requirements of the Nebosh NGC 3 practical application.

The areas concerned with this inspection are the works building and one store in the yard and its
immediate surrounding area.

The building consists of a canteen area, an office for admin duties, two toilets, a locker room, a
drying/store room for personal protective equipment (PPE) and a small store room. In the yard is one
store for the storage of various outdoor work materials and tools.

The premises are occupied by up to fifteen staff at any one time. Staff work on a rotation of day and
night shifts and the building is used for messing, completing paper work and planning work.
The yard and store are used for loading and unloading vehicles with work equipment to prepare for
railway work.

There were no members of staff on duty at the time of the inspection.

Executive Summary

Upon completion of the inspection I found there were several areas of concern which lead to breaches
of the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA), the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RRFSO),
the Manual Handling Operations Regulations, the Management of Health and Safety at Work
Regulations (MHSWR) and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER).

The health and safety of the employees who are using the premises may also be at risk if some of
these concerns are not addressed immediately. Failure to address these issues may lead to attention
and possible enforcement action from the HSE and/or the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR).

Breaches of statutory duty or failure to comply with improvement or prohibition notices may
result in court action being taken which may lead to criminal prosecution and fines of up to
20 000 in a magistrates court and the possibility of up to 6 months imprisonment.

A detailed description of the findings is listed below with reference to specific observations given in
brackets.
Main findings of the inspection

Fire precautions

The Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order (RRFSO) requires that fire fighting arrangements must be
provided in the workplace (18). Although there are fire extinguishers located throughout the building
there is an absence of any extinguisher in the office. Therefore there is an urgent requirement to
have extinguishers installed here as employees would be in extreme danger if a fire were to start in
the office.

The RRFSO also states that fire exits must remain free from obstructions at all times (1). The PPE
blocking the fire exit is not only creating a tripping hazard but it is putting the health and safety of the
employees at risk of becoming trapped in the building if a fire were to start.

Management of Health and Safety

Many of the observations are the result of a poor Health and Safety management system which could
easily be rectified by members of staff and at a very low cost to the organisation. (2,3,8,10,12).

Use of rail steel as doorstops presents a significant risk of slips, trips and falls and is a very easy
problem to rectify. Other housekeeping issues such as tangled cables, hand cleaners being stored
near eating and drinking utensils and overflowing waste paper bins are all issues that will present a
very poor image to visitors but are low cost and not time consuming problems to resolve.

These issues may also be in breach of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations
1999.

PPE. Issues

The Personal Protective Equipment regulations state that all PPE must be suitably stored and
maintained (1, 14). The PPE blocking the fire exit must be removed and all the old PPE in the store
room should be disposed of and replaces as it is no longer fit for purpose.

The heater in the drying room (6) also needs urgent attention as its purpose is to dry out PPE used by
employees in wet weather conditions. With the heater not functional this has an impact on the ability
to maintain the PPE to a good standard.

PUWER Issues

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations state that employers must ensure that all work
equipment is suitable, maintained and inspected (7, 17). The old fax machine in the office has been
out of use for quite some time with service tags out of date and there has been no effort to have it
repaired or replaced. It is creating a tripping hazard as well as breaching PUWER.

A similar situation has arisen regarding the water dispenser in the canteen. The employees have
shown their concerns about not being able to use the machine and it is in serious need of repair or
replacement. This is also creating a welfare issue which must be addressed.

Manual Handling Issues

There are some issues concerning heavy materials being stored at ground level (13, 20). This is in
breach of the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 and presents a high risk of a RIDDOR
injury to employees lifting or moving these materials.
As suggested these materials must be stored correctly and at waist level to prevent injuries from
bending and lifting. This will prevent high costs through RIDDOR incidents and loss of productivity.
Conclusions

The building and yard are all of modern design with full refurbishments having been carried out as
recent as 2007. Many of the hazards found were as a result of a lapse in general Health and Safety
management and many of the observations could be rectified by simple maintenance and tidying up
of the building and yard. This is a very low cost practice which in turn could improve the Health and
Safety of the workforce.

The employees have all had a very good level of workplace specific Health and Safety training with
certificates on display on the notice board. However this training counts for little if it is not put into
practice on a daily basis. It appears there have also been many bad habits picked up over the years
such as poor general housekeeping.

Employers and employees should take pride in a clean and safe workplace and it also sets a good
example to any visitors or potential clients. A safe workplace will also reduce the risk of accidents and
ill health to employees and in the long run save money from unnecessary claims, losses of production
and a poor corporate image.
Recommendations:

Recommendation Likely resource implications Priority Target date


Fire exit door should PPE to be removed from exit High Immediate
remain free from area and signs to be erected
obstructions at all times. advising to keep clear.
(1)
Fire extinguisher to be New fire extinguisher, 30, easy High Immediate
installed in the office.(18) to install by a member of staff.

Heater in drying room Wall brackets to be replaced, 1-2 High 1 week


must not be used until it is man hours to fit and reinstate
re-attached to the wall.(6) heater to wall, approx cost 50.

Arrange for repair or Repair could be very expensive, High 1 week


replacement of drinking more practical option may be to
water dispenser.(17) replace. 200 approx. 1 man
hour to install.
Remove battery chargers Install an extra plug socket to Medium 1 month
from power when not in prevent tangling cables under
use, and establish better chairs. Electrician for 1 hour
layout of cables. (8) plus parts. 50 approx
Arrange for a repair to be Hire of a welder for 1 hour. 50 Medium 1 week
carried out on the approx.
entrance handrail. (23)
Dispose of old office Order the correct replacement Medium 1 week
swivel chair from canteen. chair. 30-40
(22)
Bracket for wall mounted New bracket approx 10 and Medium 1 week
first aid kit to be replaced. less than 1 man hour to install.
(12)

Remove cut-offs of rail Source correct doorstops or fit Medium 1 month


steel from doors and keep latches to the walls. Approx cost
doors closed whenever 15 to fit. 1 man hour.
possible.(2)

Yard store flooring to be General clean up and disposal of Medium 1 week then
cleared of obstructions to any disused and waste review each
gain access to shelving. materials. 2 staff hours month
(21)

Steel plates to moved 1-2 staff hours to store on Medium 1 week then
from the yard area into shelving, preventing injuries from review every 3
the store and stored on lifting heavy plates at ground months
shelving at waist height. level.
(20)
Remove spray cans and General clean up of office by Medium 1 week then
all outdoor work staff. Keep all areas around and review each
equipment from office under desks free from clutter. 1- month
area.(9) 2 hours
Install correct hand wash Dispenser costs 5 and takes Medium-Low 1 month
dispenser in canteen. (4) less than 1 man hour to fit.

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