A Marker’s Perspective – NEBOSH GC3 – Practical Assessment

1. Observe 25 – 30 hazards and write them down giving some explanation of the hazard. To maximise your marks find 30 hazards

1. Don’t make these up, write down the hazards you see. A common mistake is to only give 15 – 20 hazards.

Don’t include mention of legal breaches in the observation sheets.

1. Ensure every hazard has a consequence that is properly explained – explain the consequence usually in terms of an injury or ill health.

1. For the consequence don’t just say fire risk or electrical risk.

• Every hazard must have an immediate action and a longer term action.

1. Don’t just give one action – this will decimate the mark awarded.

• Give suitable timescales for the actions – an immediate action should have a timescale of 2 days or less. Longer term actions could be a number of months.

1. Don’t make the immediate timescale greater than 2 days (or this isn’t immediate).

1. State where and when the inspection took place.

1. Don’t give a date that is outside the dates supplied to you by RRC

• Explain the main function of the company, number of workers – those involved in the areas you are inspecting. Could mention lone workers, vulnerable people etc.

1. Don’t just give the name of the company, it is its function that is important.

• Describe the area and the main activities being undertaken and the equipment being used at the time of the inspection.

1. Don’t be too brief – give a clear description of the chosen area and the activities actually occurring. Describe the equipment used.

1. Write a concise view of the most important points of your conclusion.

1. Don’t miss out important findings.

• Include the recommendations.

1. Don’t forget to include the recommendations.

• Persuade managers to take action eg mention the costs of accidents etc.

1. Don’t write too much – this section is worth 5 marks.

1. Write about the main hazards on your Observation sheets and show discussion of these. (3.1)

1. Don’t duplicate the Observation sheets – ‘discuss’ the hazards. Don’t include anything new.

• Try to write about at least 5 main hazards or hazard groups.

1. Don’t skimp on this – give good descriptions of the hazard(s).

• For each hazard (or group of hazards) explain the legal breaches. (3.2)

1. Don’t just give a list of the legislation eg breach of HASAW Act, but say how the law is breached.

• Give clear legal, moral and financial reasons why management should take action. Give a reason for the breach. (3.3)

1. Don’t forget to mention something relating to legal, moral and financial reasons.

1. Make sure, in your main findings, that you convince management to take action. (Legal, moral & financial) (3.3)

1. Don’t forget to mention fines, loss of business, etc

1. Summarise the main points you have written about in the main findings.

1. Don’t use the same words as you used in the main findings.

• Try to persuade management to take action eg explain the consequences of not taking action.

1. Don’t include anything that is not in the main findings.

1. The recommendations MUST come from the conclusion. (Column 1)

1. Don’t include points you haven’t mentioned in your conclusion or you will be awarded 5 marks.

• The Resource implications MUST be given in terms of cost and/or time. (Column 2)

1. Don’t write ‘No cost as this is done internally’ – there is ALWAYS a cost.

1. Prioritise the recommendations in terms of High, Medium or Low. (Column 3)

1. Don’t try to prioritise these as 1, 2, 3 etc.

1. Give a realistic timescale. (Column 4)

1. You don’t need to be too specific here.