Health and Safety at Work Revision Guide

for the NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety

Ed Ferrett

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9780367482909
• eBook ISBN: 9781000192865
• Edition: 4
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Business General
• Index: Technology & Engineering

This companion to the bestselling Introduction to Health and Safety at Work will help you prepare for the written assessments on the NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety (2019 specification).

It provides complete coverage of the syllabus in bite-sized chunks and will help you learn and memorise the most important areas, with links provided back to the main Introduction to Health and Safety at Work text to help you consolidate your learning.

? Small and portable, making it ideal for use anywhere: at home, in the classroom or on the move

? Includes specimen questions and answers based on recent examination papers

? Everything you need for productive revision in one handy reference source

This revision guide is written by an experienced lecturer and former Vice Chairman of NEBOSH, who has spent many years helping students become accredited by NEBOSH.

Unit NG2

Risk assessment

2.1 Physical and psychological health

Learning outcomes

Outline the health effects associated with exposure to noise and appropriate control measures □

Outline the health effects associated with exposure to vibration and appropriate control measures □

Outline the health effects associated with ionising and non-ionising radiation and outline appropriate control measures □

Outline the meaning, causes and effects of mental health problems at work and appropriate control measures □

Explain the risk factors and appropriate controls for violence at work □

Explain the effects of substance misuse on health and safety at work and control measures to reduce such risks □

Key revision points

The health effects of exposure to noise and vibration □

The legal exposure limits to noise and vibration □

The control measures for excessive vibration and noise □

The hazards and controls associated with ionising and non-ionising radiations □

The meaning, causes and prevention of mental health problems at work and their control □

The causes and prevention of workplace violence □

The effects and control measures for substance misuse in the workplace □

Noise

Human ear:

• Cochlea
• Hair cells – damage irreversible
• Auditory nerve

Effects of noise

Acute effects of noise:

• Temporary threshold shift
• Tinnitus
• Acute acoustic trauma

Chronic effects of noise:

• Noise-induced hearing loss
• Permanent threshold shift
• Tinnitus

Noise assessments

Objective is to identify whether action levels have been reached.

Noise measurement

• Sound pressure level (SPL) – dB(A)
• Peak sound pressure
• Continuous equivalent noise level (L_Eq) – normally measured over an eight-hour period
• Daily personal exposure level (L_EP,d)

Requirements of Noise at Work Regulations

• Assess noise levels and keep records
• Reduce the risks from noise exposure by engineering controls – only use hearing protection as a last resort
• Provide employees with information and training
• If a manufacturer of equipment, to provide information on noise levels of the equipment

Noise action levels

• First action level – daily exposure level of 80 dB(A) – action advised
• Second action level – daily exposure level of 85 dB(A) – action obligatory
• Peak action level – 135 dB(C) and 137 dB(C)
• Exposure limit values – 87 dB(A) and 140 dB(C)

Noise control techniques include

• Reduction of noise at source
• Change equipment or process
• Change speed
• Improve maintenance
• Relocate equipment
• Enclose equipment
• Screens or absorption walls
• Damping
• Lagging
• Silencers
• Isolation of workers
• Suitable warning signs

Personal ear protection

• Ear plugs
• Ear defenders (earmuffs)

Factors to be considered

• Suitability (frequencies).
• Acceptability and comfort.
• Durability.
• Instruction in use.
• Hygiene considerations.
• Beards, hair and spectacles may reduce effectiveness of protection.
• Maintenance and storage.
• Cost.

Vibration

Ill-health due to vibration

Ill-health due to hand–arm vibration

• Hand–arm vibration syndrome (HAVS)
• Vibration white finger (VWF)
• Carpal tunnel syndrome

Ill-health due to whole-body vibration

• Severe back pain
• Reduced visual and manual control
• Increased heart rate and blood pressure
• Spinal damage

Control of Vibration at Work Regulations

The requi...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half-Title
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Preface
• List of principal abbreviations
• Unit NG1 Management of health and safety
• Unit NG2 Risk assessment
• Useful additional construction topics
• Specimen answers to NEBOSH examination questions