International General

Certificate in Occupational
The National Examination
Board in Occupational Safety
and Health (NEBOSH)
Dominus Way,
Meridian Business Park,

Health and Safety

Leicester LE19 1QW
Tel: +44 (0) 116 263 4700
Fax: +44 (0) 116 282 4000
Email: info@[Link]
[Link]
Version: 2
Specification date: June 2025
Qualification guide for Learning Partners
Publication date: January 2026
Registered Charity Number: 1010444
© NEBOSH. All rights reserved. No part of this publication
may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted
in any form, or by any means, electronic, electrostatic,
mechanical, photocopied or otherwise, without the express
permission in writing from NEBOSH.
Course Qualification overview
Overview
Contents Qualification key features 4
Qualification summary
Introduction 6
Syllabus development and review 7
Notional learning hours 7
Teaching of the syllabus content 7
Minimum standard of English required for learners 7
Qualification type 7
Assessments 8
Achieving the qualification 8
Qualification grading and issue of qualification parchment 8
Re-sitting unit(s) 9
Re-sitting GIC1 to improve the grade 9
Individual learner feedback 9
Conflict of interest 9
Available resources 9
Syllabus
Syllabus summary 11
Learning outcomes and assessment criteria 12
Syllabus content 14
Qualification overview
Qualification

Qualification key features

Unit prefixes and Unit GIC1: Management of health and safety
title/s Unit GIC2: Risk assessment
overview Assessment Assessment Type Assessment Time
Unit GIC1 Open book examination (OBE) 5 hours
Unit GIC2 Practical assessment 4 hours
Taught (face-to-face), open and distance learning
Part-time
Modes of study
Block release
eLearning
Unit GIC1: 49 hours
Notional learning
Unit GIC2: 63 hours
hours
(See ‘Notional learning hours’ section for more)
Qualification level and SCQF Level 6 (Equivalent to RQF Level 3)
number of credits Unit GIC1: 5 credits, Unit GIC2: 6 credits
Entry requirements None
Recommended
Learner: International English Language Testing System 6.0 or higher
minimum standards of
Tutors: International English Language Testing System 7.0 or higher
English
English, Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Russian, Spanish (European)
and Turkish
Languages available
Note: Open book examinations in languages other than English cannot be
taken in the UK
Assessment dates Standard date
The provisional pass mark for GIC1 is 45%
Pass standard The pass standard for GIC2 is contained in the GIC2 guidance
More information on how provisional marks are set can be found in our FAQs
The qualification grade is based on the result from Unit GIC1
Distinction: 75 marks or higher
Qualification grades
Credit: 65 - 74 marks
Pass: 45 - 64 marks

NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety 4

Qualification summary

5
Qualification Introduction
The International General Certificate in Occupational Health
summary and Safety (IGC) was launched in 2006 and is recognised
around the world. There are now over 265,000 people
worldwide who have passed this qualification.
The qualification looks at general workplace issues and
can be applied in many sectors. On completion of the
qualification, your learners will be able to:
• justify the need for health and safety improvements;
• advise on the main duties for health and safety in the “The NEBOSH IGC provided a strong
workplace; foundation in risk management,
• help their organisation to manage contractors; workplace hazards, and legal
• work within a health and safety management system; compliance—key competencies
• positively influence health and safety culture and I needed to excel in health and
behaviour; safety…. [it] was a game-changer. It
• carry out a general risk assessment (using a 5-step gave me credibility and boosted my
approach) of their workplace; confidence in engaging with senior
• recognise workplace changes and their impacts and leaders on safety matters. It also
understand how to minimise these impacts; helped me secure more significant
• develop basic safe systems of work that include roles where I could influence
emergency arrangements and know when to use a workplace safety culture. Beyond
permit-to-work system; that, the knowledge I gained allowed
• take part in incident investigations; and me to implement practical and cost-
• help their employer check the effectiveness of the health effective safety solutions that had a
and safety management system through monitoring, direct impact on reducing workplace
auditing and review. risks.”

Abanum Isakpa

NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety 6

Qualification Syllabus development and review Teaching of the syllabus content
The syllabus has been developed by NEBOSH following Although the syllabus sets out the elements in a specific
summary extensive consultation with key stakeholders, notably order, your tutors can teach the elements in any order
Learning Partners, employers, standards-setting organisations, they feel is appropriate. You will need to reflect this in the
past and present learners and subject experts. NEBOSH timetables which are submitted for approval as part of the
would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who accreditation process.
participated in the development of the revised IGC, but in
Elements 5 to 11 are assessed only by the practical (Unit
particular the following: GIC2).
• ARM cement PLC;
Minimum standard of English required for
• Traffic Tech (Gulf) W.L.L; learners
• Sainsbury’s; The standard of English required by learners studying
for the IGC must be such that they can both understand
• Kier group; and and articulate the concepts contained in the syllabus. It is
important to stress that the onus is on you to determine
• SEGRO. your learners’ standards of proficiency in English.

Notional learning hours Qualification type

NEBOSH qualifications are categorised as ‘Other’
Unit Notional learning hours Credits qualifications by SQA Accreditation in Scotland. These are
Taught Self-study Assessment categorised as Vocationally-Related Qualifications (VRQs) in
hours hours hours England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
GIC1 24 20 5 5 credits VRQs provide the knowledge and practical skills required
(49 hours) for particular job roles through a structured study-based
training programme, which combines the assessment of
GIC2 39 20 4 6 credits knowledge and understanding in written examinations with
(63 hours) practical application
of learning in the workplace.
A full-time block release course would take approximately
VRQs are a popular type of qualification because they
9½ days, and a part-time day release course would be spread
are nationally recognised, flexible and offer routes for
over approximately 10 weeks. For learners studying by open
progression to employment or further study.
or distance learning, the tuition hours should be added to
the recommended private study hours to give the minimum
number of hours that this mode of study will require.

NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety 7

Qualification Assessments
The GIC1 assessment is an open book examination (OBE).
summary Please see the NEBOSH website for assessment dates. Further
details on the OBE can be found on the NEBOSH website.
The GIC2 assessment is a risk assessment that should be
carried out in the learner’s workplace. Please refer to the
Unit GIC2: Risk assessment – Guidance and information for
learners and Learning Partners document which can found on
the NEBOSH website.

Achieving the qualification

The IGC has two unit assessments (see ‘Qualification
key features’ for details on the assessments and the pass
standards); your learners must achieve a ‘Pass’ in each unit in
order to be awarded the qualification. “I decided on a career in Health and Safety
because it allows me to make a positive im-
Your learners will have five years to complete their
qualification. The five-year period starts from the date pact on people’s lives by ensuring their well-
that they passed their first successful unit (we call this the being in the workplace… Having the NEBOSH
‘declaration date’). Any unit that is five or more years old will International General Certificate in Occupa-
not count towards the qualification; your learner will need
to retake this/these unit(s) if they still want to complete the tional Health and Safety (IGC) significantly
qualification. benefited my career by enhancing my exper-
tise in health and safety management, mak-
Qualification grading and issue of qualification ing me more competitive in the job market.
parchment
The IGC is a globally recognized certification
The qualification grade is based only on the result from the that demonstrates my commitment to main-
question paper (Unit GIC1). But your learners need to achieve
a ‘Pass’ in both units (GIC1 and GIC2) before the parchment taining high safety standards and my ability
can be issued. The grading boundaries are as follows: to implement effective safety practices. After
obtaining this certificate, I received my first
75+ Distinction job offer, underscoring the value employers
placed on this qualification.”
65-74 Credit
Asila Al Shukri
45-64 Pass
0-44 Refer

NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety 8

Qualification When your learners have completed both units, they
are normally considered to have completed the whole
Individual learner feedback
For more information on the assessment feedback provided
summary qualification. We will send out the qualification parchment
within 40 working days of their final successful unit. We will for this qualification, please visit the NEBOSH website.
only issue individual unit certificates on written request.
Once we issue the result of the second successful unit, your Conflict of interest
learners will have 20 working days to either: Your employees (eg head of Learning Partner, tutors,
• tell us in writing that they want to re-sit a successful unit administrators, examinations officers, invigilators, etc) must
to improve their grade (see ‘Re-sitting unit(s)’ for further declare in writing to NEBOSH any employee and/or family,
information); or spouse or other close personal relationship with any person
undertaking a NEBOSH examination or assessment. Further
• submit an Enquiry About Result (EAR) request; please see information can be found in the ‘Instructions for conducting
the EAR policy for further information. examinations’ document.

Re-sitting unit(s) Available resources

Your learners can re-sit a unit for the following reasons: In addition to this guide, the following resources are
• they have unit(s) with a ‘Pass’ that are five or more years downloadable from the NEBOSH website:
old, and the learner still wants to achieve the qualification; • GIC2 Guidance for Learning Partners and learners;
• they were ‘Referred’; or • Assessment pack for Unit GIC2;
• they want to re-sit Unit GIC1 so that a higher grade can be • Leaflet;
achieved (Unit GIC2 is ‘Pass’ or ‘Refer’ and does not count
• Case studies.
towards the qualification grade).
There is no limit to the number of times a learner can re-sit
unit(s) within the five-year period. A refund will not be given
if the learner registers to re-sit a unit before an original unit
result is known. If the learner’s re-sit result is lower than the
original mark, they will keep the original mark awarded for
the unit. Re-sit marks are not capped.

Re-sitting GIC1 to improve the grade

If your learner wants to try to improve their grade in Unit
GIC1, they will need to tell us in writing within 20 working
days of the declaration date of their second successful unit.
Otherwise, a qualification parchment will automatically be
issued showing the original declaration date.

NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety 9

Syllabus
 Syllabus summary
Syllabus Element Recommended Recommended
Assessment
tuition hours self-study hours

1 Why we should manage workplace health

3
Open book examination
and safety (OBE)

Unit GIC1:
2 How health and safety management systems
3 Management of health
work and what they look like
20 and safety
3 Managing risk – understanding people and
12 Elements 1.1, 1.2, 2 and
processes 3 are also assessed by the
practical assessment
4 Health and safety monitoring and measuring 6 (Unit GIC2)

Element Recommended Recommended

Assessment
tuition hours self-study hours

5 Physical and psychological health 7

6 Musculoskeletal health 5

7 Chemical and biological agents 6 Practical

assessment
8 General workplace issues 9 20
Unit GIC2:
9 Work equipment 5 Risk assessment

10 Fire 4

11 Electricity 3

NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety 11

 Learning outcomes and assessment criteria

Syllabus Learning outcome

The learner will be able to:
Related
content
Assessment criteria Assessment

Understand how to justify 1.1–1.2 Discuss the moral, financial and legal reasons for
health and safety improvements managing health and safety in the workplace
GIC1, GIC2
using moral, financial and legal
Recognise how health and safety is regulated
arguments
Understand when the main 1.3 Recognise the main health and safety duties of different GIC1
duties for health and safety groups of people at work
apply to the workplace and the
Describe how contractors should be selected, monitored
important role that contractors
and managed
undertake in the workplace and
how they should be managed
Work within a health and safety 2.1–2.2 Identify the key components of a health and safety GIC1, GIC2
management system, and know management system (ISO 45001 and ILO-OSH2001)
what an effective health and
Recognise the benefits and limitations of different types
safety policy should look like
of health and safety management systems
Recognise the key components of an effective health and
safety policy
Positively influence health and 3.1–3.3 Recognise how health and safety culture influences GIC1, GIC2
safety culture and behaviour to performance
improve performance in their
Recognise how to improve health and safety culture at
organisation
work
Outline how human factors influence behaviour in a way
that can affect health and safety
Assess general workplace risks 1.1 Apply the principles of the risk assessment process GIC1, GIC2
1.2 and
3.4
(5–11) Produce a suitable and sufficient risk assessment

NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety 12

 Learning outcome Related Assessment criteria Assessment
The learner will be able to: content
Syllabus Understand the impact of
workplace changes and on health
3.5 Describe how change can have significant health and
safety impacts and how to manage those impacts
GIC, GIC2

and safety and how these can be

managed
Develop safe systems of work 3.6–3.8 Outline what to consider when developing and GIC, GIC2
and emergency procedures, implementing a safe system of work for general work
and know how to use them activities
appropriately
Identify the role, function and operation of a permit-to-
work system
Understand typical emergency procedures (including
training and testing), and how to decide what level of
first aid is needed in the workplace
Take part in incident 4.1 Recognise why and how incidents should be investigated, GIC1
investigations recorded and reported
Help their employer to monitor 4.2–4.4 Recognise how to monitor the effectiveness of GIC1
the effectiveness of their health management systems
and safety management system
Recognise why and how audits are used to evaluate a
management system
Recognise why regular reviews of health and safety
performance are needed and how they are carried out
Understand a range of common 5–11 Describe hazards present in the workplace and associated GIC2
workplace hazards and their risks
associated risks and recommend
Outline existing control measures
suitable control measures.
Evaluate existing control measures
Explain suitable additional control measures

NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety 13

 Syllabus content
Use of the term ‘incident’
Syllabus There are various terms that can be used interchangeably when referring to incidents. This includes accident (generally used
when there has been actual harm/ill-health/damage caused) or near miss/close call (generally used when there has been the
potential for harm/ill-health/damage to be caused but it did not actually occur in that instance).
NEBOSH has, therefore, adopted the approach taken in the ‘Occupational health and safety management systems’ (ISO
45001) standard in that an incident is: ‘An event that happens in the workplace that causes (or has the potential to cause)
harm, injury, ill-health or damage’.
When the term ‘incident’ is used in an assessment, the context of the question and other supporting information will provide
context for the term. For example, if a question in a scenario-based assessment is asking about the outcome of an incident,
information will be provided in the scenario to give context. This could be something like ‘the worker fell from a ladder and
broke their leg’.
The term ‘accident’ may still occur in the syllabus if this is a recognised term or part of a title, eg, Reason’s model of accident
causation etc.

Element 1: Why we should manage workplace health and safety

1.1 Morals and money
• Moral and societal expectations of good standards of health and safety
> The right to a safe and healthy working environment (ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights
at Work)
• The financial cost of incidents (insured and uninsured costs, direct and indirect costs).
1.2 Regulating health and safety
• What enforcement agencies do and what happens if you don’t comply
• The part played by international standards (like ISO 45001)
• The International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Convention C155 and Recommendation R164:
> employers’ responsibilities (C155 Article 16 and R164 recommendation 10)
> workers’ responsibilities and rights (C155 Article 19 and R164 recommendation 16)
• Where you can find information on national standards.
1.3 Who does what in organisations
• Roles of directors/managers/supervisors
• How top management can demonstrate commitment by:
> making resources available to design, implement and maintain the occupational health and safety
management system

NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety 14

 2)

Element 1: Why we should manage workplace health and safety

1.3 > defining roles and responsibilities
Syllabus > appointing senior managers with specific responsibility for health and safety
> appointing competent people (internal and external, including specialists) to help the organisation meet its
health and safety obligations
> reviewing health and safety performance
• Responsibilities of organisations who share a workplace to work together on health and safety issues (C155
Article 17, R164 Recommendation 11)
• How clients and contractors should work together:
> the duties they owe each other (‘Safety and health in construction’, ILO Code of Practice - Chapter 2)
> effective planning and co-ordination of contracted work
> pre-selection and management of contractors.

Element 2: How health and safety management systems work and what they look like
2.1 Key components of health and safety management systems
• The structure of a health and safety management system: the ‘Plan, Do, Check, Act’ model (see ISO 45001 and
ILO-OSH2001)
• The benefits and limitations of having formal/certified and informal health and safety management system.
2.2 Key components of a health and safety policy
• The occupational health and safety policy (see clause 5.2 ISO 45001:2018):
> role
> typical content
> proportionate to the needs of the organisation
• Responsibilities – all workers at all levels of an organisation have responsibility for health and safety
• Practical arrangements for making it work:
> setting overall objectives and quantifiable targets (specific, measurable, achievable, reasonable, timebound
– SMART principles)
> the importance of stating the organisation’s arrangements for planning and organising, controlling
hazards, consultation, communication, monitoring compliance, assessing effectiveness
• Keeping it current: when you might need to review, including passage of time, technological, organisational or
legal changes, and results of monitoring.

NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety 15

 Element 3: Managing risk – understanding people and processes
3.1 Health and safety culture
Syllabus • Meaning of the term ‘health and safety culture’
• Relationship between health and safety culture and health and safety performance
• Indicators of an organisation’s health and safety culture:
> incidents, absenteeism, sickness rates, worker turnover, level of compliance with health and safety rules
and procedures, complaints about working conditions
• Influence of peers on health and safety culture.
3.2 Improving health and safety culture
• The impact of the following on health and safety culture:
> Gaining commitment of management
> Leadership involvement in health and safety and appropriate use of disciplinary procedures
> Competent workers (including the role of training)
> Good communication within the organisation:
- benefits and limitations of different methods of communication (verbal, written and graphic)
- use and effectiveness of different types of internal communication
- co-operation and consultation with the workforce and contractors, including:
» benefits of worker participation (including worker feedback)
» the role of health and safety committees.
3.3 How human factors influence behaviour positively or negatively
• Organisational factors, including: culture, leadership, resources, work patterns, communications
• Job factors, including: task, workload, environment, display and controls, procedures
• Individual factors, including: competence, skills, personality, attitude and risk perception
• Link between individual, job and organisational factors.
3.4 Assessing risk
• Meaning of hazard, risk, risk profiling and risk assessment
• Risk profiling: What is involved? Who should be involved? The risk profiling process
• Purpose of risk assessment and the ‘suitable and sufficient’ standard it needs to reach
(see HSG65: ‘Managing for health and safety’)

NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety 16

 Element 3: Managing risk – understanding people and processes
3.4 • A general approach to risk assessment:
Syllabus > identify hazards:
- sources and form of harm; sources of information to consult; use of task analysis, legislation,
manufacturers’ information, incident data, guidance
- identify people at risk, including workers, contractors, visitors and public
> assess the risk (taking account of what you already do) and decide if you need to do more:
- likelihood of harm and probable severity
- possible acute and chronic health effects
- risk rating
> control the risks:
- principles to consider when controlling risk (section 3.10.1 ILO-OSH 2001 – ‘Guidelines on
occupational safety and health management systems’)
- practical application of the principles – applying the general hierarchy of control (clause 8.1.2 of ISO
45001)
- application based on prioritisation of risk
- use of guidance; sources and examples of legislation
- applying controls to specified hazards
- residual risk; acceptable/tolerable risk levels
- distinction between priorities and timescales
> record findings
> review the controls
• Application of risk assessment for specific types of risk and special cases:
> examples of when and why they are required, including fire, display screen equipment, manual handling,
hazardous substances, noise
> why specific risk assessment methods are used for certain risks – to enable proper, systematic consideration
of all relevant issues that contribute to the risk
> special case applications to young people, expectant and nursing mothers; also consideration of disabled
workers and lone workers.

NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety 17

 Element 3: Managing risk – understanding people and processes
3.5 Management of change
Syllabus • Typical types of change faced in the workplace and the possible impact of such change, including: construction
works, change of process, change of equipment, change in working practices (cross-reference 5.4)
• Managing the impact of change:
> communication and co-operation
> risk assessment
> appointment of competent people
> segregation of work areas
> amendment of emergency procedures
> welfare provision
• Review of change (during and after).
3.6 Safe systems of work for general work activities
• Why workers should be involved when developing safe systems of work
• Why procedures should be recorded/written down
• The differences between technical, procedural and behavioural controls
• Developing a safe system of work:
> analysing tasks, identifying hazards and assessing risks
> introducing controls and formulating procedures
> instruction and training in how to use the system
• Monitoring the system.
3.7 Permit-to-work systems
• Meaning of a permit-to-work system
• Why permit-to-work systems are used
• How permit-to-work systems work and are used
• When to use a permit-to-work system, including: hot work, work on non-live (isolated) electrical systems,
machinery maintenance, confined spaces, work at height.

NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety 18

 Element 3: Managing risk – understanding people and processes
3.8 Emergency procedures
Syllabus • Why emergency procedures need to be developed
• What to include in an emergency procedure
• Why people need training in emergency procedures
• Why emergency procedures need to be tested
• What to consider when deciding on first aid needs in a workplace:
> shift patterns
> location of site
> activities carried out
> number of workers
> location relative to hospitals/emergency services.

Element 4: Health and safety monitoring and measuring

4.1 Investigating and reporting incidents
• The different levels of investigations: minimal, low, medium and high (see HSG245)
• Basic incident investigation steps:
> step one: gathering the information
> step two: analysing the information
> step three: identifying risk control measures
> step four: the action plan and its implementation
• How occupational accidents and diseases are recorded and notified by the organisation (Recording and
notification of occupational accidents and diseases, ILO Code of Practice – chapters 4–7)
4.2 Active and reactive monitoring
• The differences between active and reactive monitoring
• Active monitoring methods (including health and safety inspections, sampling and tours) and their usefulness:
> differences between the methods; frequency; competence and objectivity of people doing them;
use of checklists; allocation of responsibilities and priorities for action
• Reactive monitoring measures (including ill health, incident data, and incident investigations) and their usefulness
• Why lessons need to be learnt from beneficial and adverse events
• The difference between leading and lagging indicators.

NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety 19

 Element 4: Health and safety monitoring and measuring
4.3 Health and safety auditing
• Definition of the term ‘audit’ (clause 3.32, ISO 45001:2018)
Syllabus • Why health and safety management systems should be audited, including:
> negative: identifying failing of a management system
> positive: organisational learning and assurance
• Difference between audits and inspections
• Types of audit: product/services, process, system
• Advantages and disadvantages of external and internal audits
• The audit stages:
> notification of the audit and timetable for auditing
> pre-audit preparations, including competent audit team, time and resources required
> information gathering
> information analysis
> completion of audit report.
4.4 Review of health and safety performance
• Why health and safety performance should be reviewed
• What the review should consider:
> level of compliance with relevant legal and organisational requirements
> incident data, corrective and preventive actions
> summarised results of inspections, tours and sampling
> absences and sickness
> quality assurance reports
> audit results
> monitoring data/records/reports
> external communications and complaints
> results of participation and consultation
> whether objectives have been met
> actions from previous management reviews
> legal/good practice developments
> assessing opportunities for improvement and the need for change
• Reporting on health and safety performance
• Feeding review outputs into action and development plans as part of continuous improvement.
NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety 20
 Element 5: Physical and psychological health
5.1 Noise
Syllabus • The physical and psychological effects of exposure to noise
• The meaning of commonly used terms: sound pressure, intensity, frequency, the decibel scale, dB(A) and dB(C)
• When exposure should be assessed; comparison of measurements to exposure limits established by recognised
standards
• Basic noise control measures, including: isolation, absorption, insulation, damping and silencing; the purpose,
use and limitations of personal hearing protection (types, selection, use, maintenance and attenuation factors)
• Role of health surveillance.
5.2 Vibration
• The effects on the body of exposure to hand–arm vibration and whole-body vibration
• When exposure should be assessed; comparison of measurements to exposure limits established by recognised
standards
• Basic vibration control measures, including: alternative methods of working (mechanisation where possible);
low-vibration emission tools; selection of suitable equipment; maintenance programmes; limiting the time
workers are exposed to vibration (use of rotas, planning work to avoid long periods of exposure); suitable PPE
• Role of health surveillance.
5.3 Radiation
• The types of, and differences between, non-ionising and ionising radiation (including radon) and their health
effects
• Typical occupational sources of non-ionising and ionising radiation
• The basic ways of controlling exposures to non-ionising and ionising radiation
• Basic radiation protection strategies, including the role of the competent person in the workplace
• The role of monitoring and health surveillance.
5.4 Mental ill-health
• The frequency and extent of mental ill-health at work
• Common signs of stress, depression, anxiety/panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• The causes of, and controls for, work-related stress (see the HSE’s Management Standards):
> demands
> control
> support
> relationships
> role
> change

NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety 21

 Element 5: Physical and psychological health
5.4 • Home–work interface: commuting, childcare issues, relocation, care of vulnerable relatives
Syllabus • Recognition that most people with mental ill-health can continue to work effectively, with appropriate support
where necessary.
5.5 Violence at work
• Types of violence at work including: physical, psychological, verbal, bullying
• Jobs and activities which increase the risk of violence, including: police, fire, medical, social workers, those in
customer services, lone workers, those working with people under the influence of drugs and alcohol, those who
handle money or valuables
• Control measures to reduce risks from violence at work.
5.6 Substance abuse at work
• Risks to health and safety from substance abuse at work (alcohol, legal/illegal drugs and solvents)
• Control measures to reduce risks from substance abuse at work.

Element 6: Musculoskeletal health

6.1 Work-related upper limb disorders
• Meaning of musculoskeletal disorders and work-related upper limb disorders (WRULDs)
• Possible ill-health conditions from poorly designed tasks and workstations
• Avoiding/minimising risks from poorly designed tasks and workstations by considering:
> task (including repetitive, strenuous)
> environment (including lighting, glare)
> equipment (including user requirements, adjustability, matching the workplace to individual needs of
workers).
6.2 Manual handling
• Common types of manual handling injury
• Good handling technique for manually lifting loads
• Avoiding/minimising manual handling risks by considering the task, the individual, the load and the working
environment.
6.3 Load-handling equipment
• Hazards and controls for common types of load-handling aids and equipment: sack trucks and trolleys; pallet
trucks; people-handling aids; fork-lift trucks; lifts; hoists for loads and people; conveyors and cranes
• Requirements for lifting operations using mechanically-operated load handling equipment:
> strong, stable and suitable equipment
> positioned and installed correctly
> visibly marked with safe working load
NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety 22
 Element 6: Musculoskeletal health
6.3 > lifting operations are planned, supervised and carried out in safe manner by competent persons
> special requirements for lifting equipment used for lifting people
Syllabus • Periodic inspection and examination/testing of lifting equipment.

Element 7: Chemical and biological agents

7.1 Hazardous substances
• Forms of chemical agent: dusts, fibres, fumes, gases, mists, vapours and liquids
• Forms of biological agents: fungi, bacteria and viruses
• Difference between acute and chronic health effects
• Health hazard classifications: acute toxicity; skin corrosion/irritation; serious eye damage/eye irritation; respiratory
or skin sensitisation; germ cell mutagenicity; carcinogenicity; reproductive toxicity; specific target organ toxicity
(single and repeated exposure); aspiration hazard.
7.2 Assessment of health risks
• Routes of entry of hazardous substances into the body
• The body’s defence mechanisms
• What needs to be taken into account when assessing health risks
• Sources of information:
> product labels
> safety data sheets (who must provide them and information that they must contain)
• Limitations of information used when assessing risks to health
• Role and limitations of hazardous substance monitoring.
7.3 Introduction to occupational exposure limits
• Purpose of occupational exposure limits
• Long-term and short-term limits
• Why time-weighted averages are used
• Limitations of exposure limits
• Comparison of measurements to recognised standards.
7.4 Control measures
• The need to prevent exposure or, where this is not reasonably practicable, adequately control it
• Common measures used to control exposure to hazardous substances (‘Ambient factors in the workplace’, ILO
Code of Practice – chapters 4.3–4.5)
• Additional controls that are needed for substances that can cause cancer, asthma or genetic damage that can be
passed from one generation to another.
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 Element 7: Chemical and biological agents
7.5 Specific agents
Syllabus • Health risks, controls and likely workplace activities/locations where the following specific agents can be found:
> asbestos (excluding removal and disposal)
> blood-borne viruses
> carbon monoxide
> cement
> Legionella
> Leptospira
> silica
> wood dust.

Element 8: General workplace issues

8.1 Health, welfare and work environment
• Health and welfare:
> supply of drinking water, washing facilities, sanitary conveniences, accommodation for clothing,
rest and eating facilities, seating, ventilation, heating and lighting
• The effects of exposure to extremes of temperature; control measures.
8.2 Working at height
• What affects risk from working at height, including vertical distance, fragile roofs, deterioration of materials,
unprotected edges, unstable/poorly maintained access equipment, weather and falling materials
• Hierarchy for selecting equipment for working safely at height:
> avoid working at height by, for example, using extendable tools to work from ground level; assembly of
components/equipment at ground level
> prevent a fall from occurring by using an existing workplace that is known to be safe, such as a solid
roof with fixed guardrails; use of suitable equipment such as mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs),
scaffolds; work restraint systems
> minimise the distance and/or consequence of a fall, by collective measures such as safety nets and airbags
installed close to the level of work, and personal protective measures such as fall-arrest systems
• Main precautions necessary to prevent falls and falling materials, including proper planning and supervision of
work, avoiding working in adverse weather conditions
• Emergency rescue
• Provision of training, instruction and other measures

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 Element 8: General workplace issues
8.2 • General precautions when using common forms of work equipment to prevent falls, including: ladders,
Syllabus stepladders, scaffolds (independent tied and mobile tower), MEWPs, and guardrails
• Prevention of falling materials through safe stacking and storage.
8.3 Safe working in confined spaces
• Types of confined spaces and why they are dangerous
• The main hazards and associated risks with working within a confined space
• What should be considered when assessing risks from a confined space
• The precautions to be included in a safe system of work for confined spaces.
8.4 Lone working
• What a lone worker is and typical examples of lone working
• Particular hazards of lone working
• Control measures for lone working
• What should be considered when assessing risks of lone working.
8.5 Slips and trips
• Common causes of slips and trips, including: uneven or unsuitable surfaces, trailing cables, obstructions in
walkways, unsuitable footwear
• Main control measures for slips and trips, including: non-slip surfaces, maintenance, housekeeping.
8.6 Safe movement of people and vehicles in the workplace
• Hazards to pedestrians:
> being struck by moving, flying or falling objects
> collisions with moving vehicles
> striking against fixed or stationary objects
• Hazards from workplace transport operations (vehicle movement, non-movement)
• Control measures to manage workplace transport:
> safe site (design and activity)
- suitability of traffic routes (including site access and egress pedestrian-only zones and crossing points)
- spillage control
- management of vehicle movements
- environmental considerations: visibility/lighting, gradients, changes of level, surface conditions (use of
non-slip coatings)
- segregating pedestrians and vehicles and measures to be taken when segregation is not practicable

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 Element 8: General workplace issues
8.6 - protective measures for people and structures (barriers, marking signs, warnings of vehicle approach
Syllabus and reversing)
- site rules (including speed limits)
> safe vehicles
- suitable vehicles
- maintenance/repair of vehicles
- visibility from vehicles/reversing aids
- driver protection and restraint systems
> safe drivers
- selection and training of drivers
- banksman (reversing assistant)
- management systems for assuring driver competence.
8.7 Work-related driving
• Managing work-related driving:
> plan
- assess the risks
- policy
- top management commitment
- roles and responsibilities
> do
- co-operation between departments (where relevant)
- adequate systems in place, including maintenance strategies
- communication and consultation with the workforce
- provision of adequate instruction and training
> check
- monitor performance (ensures the policy is working correctly)
- ensure all workers report work-related road incidents
> act
- review performance and learn from experience
- regularly update the policy

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 Element 8: General workplace issues
8.7 • Work-related driving control measures:
Syllabus > safe driver (competence – checks on level of skill/experience, validity of driving licence; provision of
instruction; fitness to drive)
> safe vehicle (vehicles fit for purpose for which they are being used; maintained in a safe condition;
adequate safety devices; maximum load weight not exceeded; adequate restraints for securing goods)
> safe journey (planning of routes; realistic work schedule – enough time to complete the journey safely,
allowing for driving breaks; consideration of weather conditions; consideration of legal driving hours
where relevant)
• Hazards associated with the use of electric and hybrid vehicles:
> silent operation/pedestrians not being aware of vehicles manoeuvring
> availability and location of charging points
> electric shock for high voltage components and cabling
> retained electrical charge in components even when the vehicle is switched off
> unexpected movement of the vehicle or engine components due to the motor’s magnetic forces
> potential for the release of explosive gases and harmful liquids from damaged batteries.

Element 9: Work equipment

9.1 General requirements
• Providing suitable equipment
• Preventing access to dangerous parts of machinery
• When the use and maintenance of equipment with specific risks needs to be restricted
• Providing information, instruction and training about specific risks to people at risk, including users, maintenance
staff and managers
• Why equipment should be maintained and maintenance conducted safely
• Emergency operation controls, stability, lighting, markings and warnings, clear workspace.
9.2 Hand-held tools
• General considerations for selecting hand-held tools (whether powered or manual):
> requirements for safe use
> condition and fitness for use
> suitability for purpose
> location to be used in (including flammable atmosphere)
• Hazards of a range of hand-held tools (whether powered or manual) and how these hazards are controlled.
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 Element 9: Work equipment
9.3 Machinery hazards
Syllabus • Potential consequences as a result of contact with, or exposure to, mechanical or other hazards
(see ISO 12100:2010 (Table B.1))
• Hazards of a range of equipment:
> manufacturing/maintenance machinery (including bench-top grinder, pedestal drill)
> agricultural/horticultural machinery (including cylinder mower, strimmer/brush cutter, chainsaw)
> retail machinery (including compactor)
> construction machinery (including cement mixer, bench-mounted circular saw)
> use of aerial drones in the workplace.
9.4 Control measures for machinery
• The basic principles of operation, advantages and limitations of the following control methods:
> guards: fixed, interlocking and adjustable/self-adjusting
> protective devices: two-hand, hold-to-run, sensitive protective equipment (trip devices), emergency stop
controls
> jigs, holders, push-sticks
> information, instruction, training and supervision
> personal protective equipment
• Use of the above control methods for the range of equipment listed in 9.3
• Basic requirements for guards and safety devices:
> compatibility with process
> adequate strength, maintained
> allow for maintenance without removal
> do not increase risk or restrict view
> are not easily bypassed.

Element 10: Fire

10.1 Fire principles
• The fire triangle: sources of ignition; fuel and oxygen in a typical workplace; oxidising materials
• Classification of fires (different local classifications will be accepted)
• Principles of heat transmission and fire spread: convection, conduction, radiation, direct burning
• Common causes and consequences of fires in workplaces.

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 Element 10: Fire
10.2 Preventing fire and fire spread
• Control measures to minimise the risk of fire starting in a workplace:
Syllabus > eliminate/reduce quantities of flammable and combustible materials used or stored
> control ignition sources, including suitable electrical equipment in flammable atmospheres
> use of safe systems of work
> good housekeeping
• Storage of flammable liquids in workrooms and other locations
• Structural measures to prevent the spread of fire and smoke: properties of common building materials
(including fire doors); compartmentation; protection of openings and voids.
10.3 Fire alarms and fire-fighting
• Common fire-detection and alarm systems
• Portable fire-fighting equipment: siting, maintenance and training requirements
• Extinguishing media: water, foam, dry powder, carbon dioxide, wet chemical; advantages and limitations
• Access for fire and rescue services and vehicles.
10.4 Fire evacuation
• Means of escape: travel distances, stairs, passageways, doors, emergency lighting, exit and directional signs,
assembly points
• Emergency evacuation procedures
• Role and appointment of fire marshals
• The purpose of fire drills, including roll call
• Provisions for people with disabilities
• Emergency escape routes to be recorded in building plans.

Element 11: Electricity

11.1 Hazards and risks
• Electric shock and its effects on the body; what affects severity: voltage, frequency, duration, resistance, current
path; electrical burns (from direct and indirect contact with an electrical source)
• Workplace electrical equipment, including portable: what is likely to lead to incidents or electrical fires (unsuitable
equipment; inadequate maintenance; use of defective/poorly maintained electrical equipment; use of electrical
equipment in wet environments, overheating of portable equipment when charging)
• Secondary effects, including falls from height
• Work near overhead power lines; contact with underground power cables during excavation work.

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 Element 11: Electricity
11.2 Control measures
Syllabus • Protection of conductors
• Strength and capability of equipment
• Advantages and limitations of protective systems: fuses, earthing, isolation of supply, double insulation, residual
current devices, reduced and low voltage systems
• Use of competent people
• Use of safe systems of work (no live working unless no other option; isolation; locating buried services;
protection against overhead cables)
• Emergency procedures following an electrical incident
• Inspection and maintenance strategies: user checks; formal inspection and tests of the electrical installation and
equipment; frequency of inspection and testing; records of inspection and testing; advantages and limitations of
portable appliance testing (PAT).

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