Top 50 NEBOSH IGC Questions You Must Know (With Answers)
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Q1. What are the main reasons why organizations should manage health and safety?
A1. Organizations manage health and safety for three main reasons:
- Moral: Employers have an ethical duty to prevent harm. Workers should return home safe and healthy every day.
- Legal: Governments enforce health and safety laws, and non-compliance may result in fines, imprisonment, or closure of operations.
- Financial: Accidents lead to costs such as compensation, downtime, equipment damage, increased insurance premiums, and loss of business reputation.
👉 Example: A factory with frequent accidents will spend more on legal cases and compensation, while a safe workplace improves productivity and saves money.
Q2. Define the terms hazard, risk, and risk assessment.
A2.
- Hazard: Something with the potential to cause harm. Example: Wet floors.
- Risk: The likelihood that harm will occur and its possible severity. Example: Risk of slipping on the wet floor.
- Risk Assessment: A structured process of identifying hazards, evaluating risks, and implementing controls. Example: Identifying a wet floor hazard, assessing the chance of slips, and controlling it by putting “Caution Wet Floor” signs and cleaning quickly.
Q3. What are the main elements of a health and safety management system?
A3.
- Policy: Written commitment from top management.
- Organizing: Defining roles, responsibilities, and communication.
- Planning & Implementing: Hazard identification, safe systems of work, training, emergency procedures.
- Measuring Performance: Active (audits, inspections) and reactive (accident investigations).
- Reviewing: Continuous improvement based on results.
👉 Example: ISO 45001 follows the same structure of Plan–Do–Check–Act.
Q4. What is the difference between proactive and reactive monitoring?
A4.
- Proactive Monitoring: Checking controls before incidents occur, e.g., inspections, safety audits, near-miss reporting.
- Reactive Monitoring: Learning from events that already happened, e.g., accident investigation, sickness data, damage reports.
👉 Example: A company doing weekly fire extinguisher checks is proactive; investigating after a fire is reactive.
Q5. Explain the difference between incident, accident, and near miss.
A5.
- Incident: Any unplanned event disrupting work.
- Accident: An incident that results in injury, ill health, or damage.
- Near Miss: An event that could have caused harm but did not.
👉 Example: A brick falling and hitting a worker = accident. A brick falling but missing the worker = near miss.
Q6. What are the benefits of good health and safety culture?
A6.
- Reduced accidents and ill health.
- Improved morale and trust between management and workers.
- Lower costs from fewer claims and less downtime.
- Enhanced company reputation with clients and regulators.
👉 Example: A construction company with a strong safety culture reports higher productivity and fewer project delays.
Q7. What are the main costs of workplace accidents?
A7.
- Direct Costs: Medical treatment, compensation, repair costs, fines.
- Indirect Costs: Training replacement staff, reduced morale, productivity loss, damage to reputation, insurance increases.
👉 Example: An accident costing $1,000 in direct medical care may result in $10,000 indirect losses due to project delays.
Q8. Explain the term “reasonably practicable” in health and safety.
A8. “Reasonably practicable” means balancing the level of risk against the measures needed to control it, considering cost, time, and effort. If the risk is high, more investment is justified.
👉 Example: Spending $100 on guardrails to prevent fatal falls is reasonable, but spending $10 million to eliminate a very minor risk may not be.
Q9. What are the roles of a safety officer in an organization?
A9.
- Conduct risk assessments and safety inspections.
- Ensure compliance with legal requirements.
- Deliver training and toolbox talks.
- Investigate accidents and recommend corrective actions.
- Promote a positive safety culture.
👉 Example: A safety officer ensures all workers wear PPE on site and reports unsafe conditions.
Q10. What is the difference between active and reactive monitoring techniques?
A10. Active monitoring = proactive checks (inspections, audits). Reactive monitoring = after-event reviews (accident investigations). Both are essential to measure performance.
👉 Example: A monthly safety tour is active, while investigating a chemical spill is reactive.
Q11. List types of workplace hazards with examples.
A11.
- Physical: Noise, heat, radiation.
- Chemical: Solvents, acids, toxic fumes.
- Biological: Viruses, bacteria, fungi.
- Ergonomic: Poor workstation design, repetitive strain.
- Psychosocial: Stress, bullying, long shifts.
Q12. What are the principles of prevention in health and safety?
A12.
- Avoid risks.
- Evaluate unavoidable risks.
- Combat risks at source.
- Adapt work to individual (ergonomics).
- Replace dangerous with less dangerous.
- Plan prevention into all work.
- Provide training and instruction.
Q13. Explain the hierarchy of controls with an example.
A13.
- Elimination – Remove hazard.
- Substitution – Replace with safer alternative.
- Engineering Controls – Isolate hazard.
- Administrative Controls – Training, supervision.
- PPE – Last line of defense.
👉 Example: Controlling noise – Eliminate machine, replace with quieter one, install enclosures, rotate staff, provide earplugs.
Q14. Why should workers be involved in health and safety management?
A14.
- Workers know the hazards best.
- Involvement builds trust and cooperation.
- Increases compliance with procedures.
- Encourages reporting of unsafe conditions.
👉 Example: A company introducing new PPE involves workers in trials to ensure comfort and compliance.
Q15. What is the purpose of safety training?
A15.
- Improve awareness of hazards.
- Teach correct procedures.
- Encourage safe behaviors.
- Reduce accidents and ill health.
👉 Example: Fire drill training prepares workers to evacuate quickly during emergencies.
Q16. Describe the difference between hazard control and hazard elimination.
A16.
- Hazard Control: Reducing risks to acceptable levels using protective measures.
- Hazard Elimination: Completely removing the hazard.
👉 Example: Controlling chemical fumes with ventilation is control; replacing the chemical with a safer one is elimination.
Q17. What are the main types of personal protective equipment (PPE)?
A17.
- Head protection (helmets).
- Eye protection (goggles).
- Hearing protection (earplugs).
- Respiratory protection (masks).
- Hand protection (gloves).
- Foot protection (safety boots).
- Body protection (overalls, aprons).
Q18. What are the limitations of PPE?
A18.
- Provides protection only to the wearer.
- Can be uncomfortable and reduce efficiency.
- Relies on correct use and maintenance.
- May fail if damaged or poorly fitted.
👉 Example: Wearing a dust mask incorrectly allows inhalation of harmful particles.
Q19. What is a safe system of work (SSoW)?
A19. A safe system of work is a formal procedure designed to eliminate or control hazards. It involves step-by-step instructions, training, and supervision.
👉 Example: Permit-to-Work system for confined space entry ensures safety through gas testing, supervision, and rescue plans.
Q20. Explain the importance of emergency planning.
A20. Emergency plans prepare organizations for unexpected events like fires, explosions, or chemical spills. They ensure:
- Quick response.
- Protection of life and property.
- Coordination with external emergency services.
👉 Example: A refinery’s emergency plan includes evacuation routes, fire teams, and communication with local hospitals.
Q21. What are the main stages of risk assessment?
A21. A typical risk assessment follows five stages:
- Identify Hazards: Look for anything with the potential to cause harm (e.g., moving machinery, chemicals, working at height).
- Decide Who Might Be Harmed and How: Consider employees, contractors, visitors, and vulnerable groups.
- Evaluate Risks and Decide on Controls: Use the hierarchy of control to reduce risks to an acceptable level.
- Record Findings: Document hazards, risks, and controls. For organizations with more than five employees, this is a legal requirement in many countries.
- Review and Update: Revise assessments when there are changes in processes, equipment, or after an incident.
👉 Example: In welding work, the hazard is UV radiation, the affected group is welders, the risk is eye damage, and the control is using a welding shield and proper PPE.
Q22. What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative risk assessment?
A22.
- Qualitative: Based on judgment and descriptive scales such as “low, medium, high.” Common for routine tasks.
- Quantitative: Uses numerical values, probabilities, or exposure data to measure risk levels. More detailed and often used in complex industries like nuclear or oil and gas.
👉 Example: A small office may use a qualitative risk assessment for slips, while a chemical refinery may use quantitative data (ppm levels, probability of explosion) for process risks.
Q23. What are safety signs and why are they important?
A23. Safety signs are standardized symbols used to communicate hazards, instructions, or emergency information. Their importance includes:
- Quickly conveying safety messages without language barriers.
- Complying with legal requirements (e.g., ISO 7010).
- Preventing accidents by warning workers.
Types of signs include: - Prohibition (Red): “No Smoking.”
- Mandatory (Blue): “Wear Hard Hat.”
- Warning (Yellow): “High Voltage.”
- Emergency (Green): “First Aid.”
👉 Example: A warehouse displaying “Forklift Operating Area” warning signs prevents pedestrian accidents.
Q24. What are the differences between acute and chronic occupational diseases?
A24.
- Acute Disease: Occurs suddenly due to short-term exposure. Example: Inhalation of ammonia causing immediate breathing difficulty.
- Chronic Disease: Develops over a long period due to prolonged exposure. Example: Hearing loss from years of noise exposure or lung disease from silica dust.
👉 Importance: Employers must monitor both immediate and long-term health effects to protect workers.
Q25. Explain the term “permit to work system” and its benefits.
A25. A Permit-to-Work (PTW) system is a formal written authorization that ensures specific high-risk activities are carried out safely.
- It identifies the job, hazards, and required precautions.
- Ensures competent persons are authorized.
- Prevents simultaneous conflicting activities.
Benefits: - Provides clear communication.
- Reduces risk of accidents during dangerous tasks.
- Ensures supervision and accountability.
👉 Example: Hot work permits are used for welding in areas with flammable materials, ensuring fire extinguishers and fire watch are available.
Q26. What are the main types of fire extinguishers and their uses?
A26.
- Water (Red): For Class A fires (wood, paper). Not suitable for electrical fires.
- Foam (Cream): For Class A and B (flammable liquids).
- Dry Powder (Blue): For most types including flammable gases and electrical.
- Carbon Dioxide (Black): Best for electrical fires and flammable liquids.
- Wet Chemical (Yellow): For cooking oil/fat fires.
👉 Example: A kitchen uses wet chemical extinguishers, while an office uses CO₂ extinguishers for electrical fires.
Q27. What are the main causes of workplace stress?
A27. Causes include:
- Excessive workload or unrealistic deadlines.
- Lack of control over work.
- Poor communication or unclear roles.
- Bullying or harassment.
- Job insecurity.
- Long working hours or shift work.
👉 Example: A call center employee under constant performance monitoring with little autonomy is at high risk of stress-related illness.
Q28. What measures can employers take to prevent manual handling injuries?
A28.
- Avoid Manual Handling: Use mechanical aids like forklifts, trolleys.
- Assess the Task: Evaluate load weight, distance, and posture required.
- Redesign the Job: Reduce bending, twisting, and carrying heavy loads.
- Training: Teach correct lifting techniques.
- Team Lifting: For heavy or awkward loads.
👉 Example: A warehouse installs conveyor belts to minimize manual lifting of boxes, reducing back injuries.
Q29. What are the key components of a good accident investigation?
A29.
- Immediate Response: Make the area safe, provide first aid.
- Information Gathering: Collect facts, witness statements, and evidence.
- Analysis: Identify immediate, underlying, and root causes.
- Recommendations: Suggest corrective and preventive measures.
- Implementation & Follow-up: Ensure actions are completed.
👉 Example: Investigating a fall from height may reveal immediate cause (no guardrail), underlying cause (poor supervision), and root cause (weak safety culture).
Q30. What is the difference between active failures and latent failures in accidents?
A30.
- Active Failures: Unsafe acts or errors made by workers that have an immediate effect. Example: A worker bypassing machine guards.
- Latent Failures: Hidden weaknesses in the system, often made by management, that lie dormant until combined with other factors. Example: Lack of training or poor maintenance procedures.
👉 Together, these contribute to accidents, as explained in the “Swiss Cheese Model” of accident causation.
Q31. What are the main types of emergency drills, and why are they important?
A31.
- Fire Drills: Practice evacuation and firefighting.
- Chemical Spill Drills: Contain and neutralize hazardous releases.
- First Aid Drills: Practice medical emergencies like CPR.
- Natural Disaster Drills: Response to earthquakes, floods, or storms.
Importance: - Tests the effectiveness of emergency plans.
- Trains workers to respond quickly.
- Identifies weaknesses in systems.
👉 Example: A hospital runs a mass-casualty drill to test readiness for accidents.
Q32. Explain the importance of health surveillance in the workplace.
A32. Health surveillance involves regular monitoring of workers’ health to detect early signs of work-related illness.
Importance:
- Identifies ill-health at an early stage.
- Confirms effectiveness of control measures.
- Ensures legal compliance.
Examples: - Audiometry for workers exposed to noise.
- Lung function tests for those exposed to dust.
- Skin checks for workers exposed to chemicals.
Q33. What is the difference between hazard identification and risk evaluation?
A33.
- Hazard Identification: Finding potential sources of harm. Example: Identifying a moving forklift as a hazard.
- Risk Evaluation: Determining how likely harm will occur and how severe it could be. Example: Assessing the chance of collision between a forklift and pedestrians.
Q34. What are the duties of employers under international safety standards?
A34. Employers must:
- Provide safe plant and equipment.
- Ensure safe systems of work.
- Provide training and supervision.
- Maintain safe workplaces and welfare facilities.
- Consult workers on safety matters.
👉 Example: Under ILO conventions and OSHA standards, employers are legally responsible for worker safety.
Q35. What are the duties of employees regarding health and safety?
A35. Employees must:
- Take reasonable care of their own health and safety.
- Cooperate with employer safety rules.
- Use PPE correctly.
- Report hazards, accidents, and unsafe conditions.
👉 Example: A worker not wearing provided ear protection is violating their duty.
Q36. What are the main causes of slips, trips, and falls?
A36.
- Slippery floors (oil, water).
- Poor housekeeping (obstacles, cables).
- Uneven surfaces.
- Poor lighting.
- Inappropriate footwear.
👉 Example: An office worker trips over an electrical cable left across a walkway.
Q37. What preventive measures reduce slips, trips, and falls?
A37.
- Keep walkways clean and dry.
- Provide good lighting.
- Use slip-resistant flooring.
- Ensure proper footwear.
- Conduct regular housekeeping checks.
👉 Example: A supermarket uses anti-slip mats near entrances to prevent falls on rainy days.
Q38. What are confined spaces and what risks do they pose?
A38. A confined space is an enclosed area with limited entry and exit that may contain hazardous conditions.
Examples: Tanks, silos, tunnels, sewers.
Risks:
- Oxygen deficiency.
- Toxic gases.
- Fire and explosion.
- Restricted movement for rescue.
👉 Example: A worker in a sewer may be exposed to methane and lack of oxygen.
Q39. What control measures are required for confined space entry?
A39.
- Permit-to-work system.
- Gas testing before and during entry.
- Continuous ventilation.
- Trained standby person outside.
- Emergency rescue plan.
- Full PPE including breathing apparatus when needed.
👉 Example: Before tank cleaning, gas detectors check oxygen levels to ensure safe entry.
Q40. What is the importance of accident statistics in safety management?
A40. Accident statistics help:
- Monitor trends in workplace incidents.
- Identify problem areas and recurring hazards.
- Evaluate effectiveness of safety programs.
- Provide evidence for legal and insurance purposes.
👉 Example: A rise in hand injuries may indicate poor glove policy or unsafe tools, prompting corrective action.
Q41. What is the difference between “frequency rate” and “incidence rate” in safety performance measurement?
A41.
Frequency Rate (FR):
Measures how often accidents occur, based on the number of hours worked.
Formula:
FR = (Number of Lost Time Injuries × 1,000,000) ÷ Total Manhours Worked
Incidence Rate (IR):
Measures the number of lost time injuries per 1,000 workers in a given period.
Formula:
IR = (Number of Lost Time Injuries × 1000) ÷ Average Number of Workers
👉 Example: A company with 5 LTIs in 2,000,000 manhours worked would calculate FR, while another with 5 LTIs among 500 workers would calculate IR. Both metrics allow comparison of safety performance across organizations of different sizes.
Q42. What is the purpose of health and safety audits?
A42.
A health and safety audit is a systematic examination of an organization’s safety management system. Its purposes include:
- Identifying strengths and weaknesses in policies and procedures.
- Ensuring compliance with legal standards.
- Monitoring effectiveness of control measures.
- Providing recommendations for continual improvement.
👉 Example: A construction company conducts annual third-party audits to ensure scaffolding, permits, and emergency systems meet international standards.
Q43. Explain the term “reasonably foreseeable risk” with an example.
A43.
A reasonably foreseeable risk is a hazard that a competent person could predict based on experience, industry knowledge, or circumstances. Employers are legally obliged to protect against such risks.
👉 Example: If rain is forecast, it is reasonably foreseeable that outdoor walkways may become slippery, so the employer should arrange anti-slip mats or warning signs.
Q44. What are the key features of an effective safety policy?
A44.
A good safety policy has three key parts:
- Statement of Intent: Signed by top management, showing commitment to health and safety.
- Organization: Defines roles, responsibilities, communication, and accountability for safety.
- Arrangements: Practical details such as risk assessments, training, emergency planning, PPE, inspections, and audits.
👉 Example: A mining company’s safety policy includes a zero-tolerance approach to unsafe acts, mandatory training, and regular reviews.
Q45. How can workplace culture influence safety performance?
A45.
Workplace culture refers to shared values, beliefs, and behaviors of employees. A positive culture encourages safe practices, while a negative culture tolerates unsafe shortcuts.
- Positive Culture: Open communication, active reporting, strong leadership, and teamwork.
- Negative Culture: Blame, fear of reporting, poor supervision.
👉 Example: In a positive culture, a worker reports a near miss immediately. In a negative culture, workers hide incidents for fear of punishment.
Q46. What are the differences between civil and criminal liabilities in health and safety?
A46.
- Criminal Liability: Brought by government/regulator for breaking laws. Penalties include fines, imprisonment, or closure of operations.
- Civil Liability: Brought by injured parties seeking compensation for damages. Outcomes usually involve financial settlements.
👉 Example: After a fatal accident, a company may face criminal prosecution for violating safety laws and a civil claim by the victim’s family for damages.
Q47. What is the importance of accident root cause analysis?
A47.
Root cause analysis looks beyond immediate causes to identify underlying system failures. Its importance includes:
- Preventing recurrence of similar accidents.
- Improving organizational systems and controls.
- Reducing hidden risks across operations.
👉 Example: A worker’s hand injury caused by missing machine guard may reveal root causes like inadequate training, poor supervision, and weak maintenance policies.
Q48. Describe the main steps in implementing a safety management system (SMS).
A48.
- Commitment from Top Management: Allocate resources and leadership.
- Policy Development: Clear statement of objectives and responsibilities.
- Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment: Comprehensive evaluation of workplace hazards.
- Control Implementation: Use hierarchy of control to reduce risks.
- Training & Communication: Build competence at all levels.
- Monitoring & Review: Regular audits, inspections, and performance measurement.
👉 Example: A logistics company implements ISO 45001 as an SMS, leading to 30% fewer injuries within a year.
Q49. What are the benefits of involving workers in safety committees?
A49.
- Encourages cooperation between management and workers.
- Improves identification of hazards through worker experience.
- Increases acceptance of safety measures.
- Enhances communication and reduces conflict.
👉 Example: A worker-management safety committee in a manufacturing plant identifies machine guard issues faster than management alone, preventing accidents.
Q50. Why is continual improvement important in occupational health and safety management?
A50.
Continual improvement ensures safety systems adapt to new hazards, technologies, and legislation. Its benefits include:
- Maintaining compliance with evolving legal requirements.
- Increasing efficiency by updating outdated practices.
- Reducing incidents through proactive changes.
- Enhancing reputation and worker trust.
👉 Example: A company introduces wearable sensors for monitoring worker fatigue as part of continual improvement, reducing fatigue-related incidents significantly.
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