NEBOSH OBE Mock Exam
NG1/NGC1/IG1/IGC1
This document contains a full scenario and mock exam for the NEBOSH General Certificate in the same format as the actual exam. The mock exam should only be
attempted once you have completed your studies for the first unit of the course which is assessed in this paper.
Tips for completing
The exam contains 12 tasks worth 100 marks in total, the word limit is 3000 words. It is recommended that you do not complete the exam in full initially, instead
complete answers to a couple of questions and send these to your tutor for marking and feedback. You can complete the questions in any order, type your answer in
the box provided and please include the word count for your answer.
Give 1 answer per mark available (i.e. 10 distinct answers for a 10 mark question)
Each answer should be approximately 30 words in length (3000 words available for 100 marks)
Separate each answer using either bullet points or paragraphs
Where a question and answer is split into multiple parts ensure this is clearly indicated on your answer sheet
Reference the scenario as indicated within the questions
Ensure you answer demonstrates understanding, such as through a brief explanation
If you are unsure of what the question is assessing check the task against the learning outcome contained within the NEBOSH syllabus guidance
SCENARIO
You have recently joined Direct Parcels as a Health and Safety Advisor. Direct Parcels are a national courier and distribution company, delivering thousands of
parcels across the country on a daily basis. The company employs 500 people across 10 sites and is also supported by 1000 couriers who work as self-employed
contractors delivering parcels. Direct Parcels has a mixed reputation for health and safety, it is ISO 45001 certified but has come under increasing media scrutiny
over the past 2 years following reports that Warehouse Operatives are not being given adequate breaks on busy shifts and the volume of deliveries for couriers
means they often earn less than minimum wage.
You work at Ringway Distribution Hub, which is one of Direct Parcels 3 main distribution centres operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and only closing on bank
holidays. The Hub is managed by the Hub Operations Manager, with 4 teams of warehouse operatives working 4 shifts on, 4 days off sorting the parcels for delivery.
The 2 day shift teams which alternate are comprised of 1 Team Leader and 9 Warehouse Operatives who work 10:00 – 22:00, whilst the 2 night shift teams have 1
Team Leader and 19 Warehouse Operatives who work 22:00 – 10:00.
Warehouse Operatives are responsible for sorting parcels for couriers to collect and deliver, with the busiest time during 00:00 and 06:00 as parcels are dropped off
by Direct Parcel’s fleet of lorries and organised for collection by couriers daily between 07:00 and 09:00.
Ringway Distribution Hub was opened 5 years ago and for the first 4 years had a good safety record, with accident rates during those years well below the industry
average. However, over the last 12 months there have been a high number of incidents at the site, several warehouse operatives have experienced musculoskeletal
disorders associated with manual handling and last week a courier suffered a broken leg after being struck by a reversing van driven by another courier in a loading
bay.
You discussed the recent incidents with the Hub Operations Manager who was promoted to the role 2 years ago having worked as a Team Leader at the hub since it
opened. They advised that they had discussed increased workloads over the past 12 months with senior Direct Parcels management, following an increase in online
orders due to a global pandemic, but senior management would not commit to more staff as the distribution sector is currently very competitive and they need to
protect shareholders. The Hub Operations Manager dismissed the injury to the courier, saying; ‘couriers are always trouble, if they had both followed the rules this
wouldn’t have happened, but they’re not our employee so who cares…’.
Following the discussion you decided to work a night shift at the hub so you could see how things operate, as you’re new to the company the Team Leader and
Warehouse Operatives assumed you were an agency contractor covering for an employee currently absent due to a back injury. At the start of the shift the Team
Leader paired you with a Warehouse Operative and told them to show you what to do, the Warehouse Operative told you to move trolleys and pallets of parcels to
the loading bay areas where they would unload them for a courier to load later. During the shift you saw Warehouse Operatives moving multiple trolleys and pallets at
the same time, despite the company risk assessment, training and safe operating procedure advising only 1 should be handled at a time. You barely saw the Team
Leader for the remainder of the shift as they were busy moving trolleys and pallets themselves and checking orders were correct for the couriers to load. Company
policy is that employees should receive a 15 minute break every 2 hours, with a 30 minute break at around 4pm, however during the shift the only breaks were for 5
minutes to go to the toilet or smoking area and a 30 minute break for all at 06:00 once all the day’s parcels had been organised. You saw a number of issues in the
warehouse such as a fire door between areas being propped open so that goods could be carried through it without needing to open it and a pallet truck being used
which had a broken wheel, the emergency exit from the staff room was also blocked by employees’ belongings. Speaking to the operative he’s aware there is a
health and safety policy, but it hasn’t been updated for years and he hasn’t received any further training since he started with the company 3 years ago.
At 07:00 couriers started arriving to collect parcels for delivery, helped with loading by the Warehouse Operatives. Very few of the couriers followed the site rules of
reversing in to the loading bays and wearing high visibility clothing at all times when outside their vehicle. At times the unloading bays were very busy with multiple
vans blocking lighting reducing visibility of operatives and couriers working in the area. You saw one courier driving well above the 5 MPH speed limit of the site, who
you spoke to and explained why they need to slow down to which they replied ‘I’m paid to deliver these as quickly as possible, if you want me to slow down you need
to pay me more’.
At the end of the shift you spoke to the Team Leader and revealed you are the new Health and Safety Advisor. The Team Leader was open and honest and said that
things have slipped over the past year as work volumes continue to increase, they had raised issues with management but received no response and hasn’t seen the
Hub Operations Manager for over 6 months. They also said that a lot of employees are unhappy and looking to leave but feel stuck there due to lack of job
opportunities owing to the global pandemic.
You have requested a meeting with the Hub Operations Manager and Team Leaders to discuss your findings. The Hub Operations Manager told the Team Leaders
not on shift at the meeting time not to attend and information would be shared via email. In passing the Hub Operations Manager said to you ‘It’s the Team Leaders
fault, when I was a Team Leader my team didn’t have accidents, they need to sort themselves out and just get on with it, I don’t have the time to be sorting out their
problems’.
Task 1: Justifying health and safety improvements
1. At the meeting with the Hub Operations Manager and Team Leaders you agreed that you would again ask senior management for increased staffing, what
arguments could you use to justify increased staffing on night shifts in the warehouse?
a) Moral arguments (2)
b) Legal arguments (4)
c) Financial arguments (4)
Note: You should support your answer, where applicable, using relevant information from the scenario.
Your answer: Tutor comments:
Word Count: Score: /10
Task 2: Managing contractors safely
2. Contractors working in the warehouse and as couriers should receive induction training when they start work at the hub. What information should be included in
this training? (10)
Note: You should support your answer, where applicable, using relevant information from the scenario.
Your answer: Tutor comments:
Competency - this my example -
Word Count: Score: /10
Task 3: Duties of employers
The organisation has duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
Comment on how these duties may have been breached under section 2(2). (10)
Note: You should support your answer, where applicable, using relevant information from the scenario.
Your answer: Tutor comments:
Word Count: Score: /10
Task 4: Managing contractors safely
3. The warehouse roof is currently leaking in several places, which you are arranging to be repaired by external contractors. When selecting the external
contractors, what should you consider when assessing their competence for this activity? (10)
Your answer: Tutor comments:
Word Count: Score: /10
Task 5: The benefits of health and safety management systems
4. The organisation is certified to ISO 45001, the most recent surveillance audit from last year indicated a number of opportunities for improvement (OFI). What
are the benefits of maintaining the occupational health and safety management system certification and addressing the OFIs? (10)
Your answer: Tutor comments:
Word Count: Score: /10
Task 6: Health and safety management systems work and what they look like
5. Indicate which of the following stages of the Plan, Do, Check, Act model the following arrangements from ISO 45001 belong to. (5)
a) Control of documented information
b) Continual improvement
c) Consultation and participation of workers
d) Eliminating hazards and reducing OH&S risks
e) Evaluation of compliance
Your answer: Tutor comments:
Word Count: Score: /5
Task 7: Health and safety management systems work and what they look like
6. You are looking at health and safety consultation in the company, what meetings could you plan to improve consultation? (5)
Your answer: Tutor comments:
Word Count: Score: /5
Task 8: Health and safety culture
7. Based on the scenario only, what are the negative indicators of health and safety culture in the organisation? (5)
Your answer: Tutor comments:
Word Count: Score: /5
Task 9: How human factors influence behaviour positively or negatively
8. What human factors might have negatively influenced the behaviour of the injured courier? (5)
Your answer: Tutor comments:
Word Count: Score: /5
Task 10: Assessing risk
9. Based on the scenario only what control measures would you recommend to limit the risk of injury to employees and contractors? (10)
Your answer: Tutor comments:
Word Count: Score: /10
Task 11: Investigating incidents
10. Other than a general improvement of health and safety, what specific reasons are there for this organisation to investigate and learn lessons from incidents?
(10)
Your answer: Tutor comments:
Word Count: Score: /10
Task 12: Review of health and safety performance
11. You plan to conduct a health and safety report based on your findings so far.
a) What unsafe acts and behaviours would you include in your report? (6)
b) What other issues might you include in your report? (4)
Your answer: Tutor comments:
Word Count: Score: /10
