NEBOSH are now focusing hard on using more new questions in their exam papers to try to ensure that students learn the syllabus instead of just memorising set answers to frequently asked questions. This is because they want to ensure that students actually understand the topics and are able to analyse and discuss the issues involved. One of the new questions in the recent IDIP Unit B paper was about precautions to prevent being bitten by snakes and the first aid procedures to follow in the event of a snake bite. Most of the answers submitted showed that despite this being a part of the current syllabus, it is an…
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Noise, Football and Apps
There’s been a huge increase in the number of smart phone apps recently (1). In July 2015, Android users had 1.6 million apps to choose between, with users of Apple’s App Store close behind with 1.5 million. All very interesting, but what’s this got to do with noise and football? Here we go, here we go, here we go. A pilot study by NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) noise researchers in 2014 (2) aimed to assess the functionality and accuracy of smartphone sound measurement apps to determine whether they can be relied on to conduct participatory noise monitoring studies in the workplace. They found that certain noise…
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The Risk of Malaria
Most people will have seen the recent news coverage of the problems being caused by the Zika virus, and the way it affects the foetus during the early stages of pregnancy. The Zika virus is mainly transmitted by female Aedes mosquitoes during the daytime. However, there is a much more widespread and deadly disease transmitted by mosquitoes, and one that we need to know about as part of the International Diploma syllabus – malaria. Although it’s covered in element IB5.1, not many students were able to answer a recent exam question set on the topic of malaria. So in this post I’ll be covering everything you need to know. Malaria…
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NEBOSH Diploma Syllabus Revision News #30
Having finished looking at topics from the individual units and elements, we will now tackle the teaching and learning approach. There can be a perception that gaining the NEBOSH diploma is just a case of memorising a whole lot more facts to impress your friends, practising a few exam questions and performing well in the exams and assignment. That’s inevitably part of it, but it’s a whole new way of thinking. A big step up to being an independent safety professional who can give sound, proportionate advice to a client or employer, and make a difference. Of course, experience adds a great deal to this, but fundamentally it’s about approach…
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NEBOSH Diploma Syllabus Revision News #29
We now come to the final element in Unit C. This element was previously on the same topic – workplace transport and driving as part of work. But we get a subtle change in that we are now calling the latter part managing work-related road risk. Both parts of the C10 are greatly re-organised. Workplace transport risk assessment is now based explicitly around the UK HSG136 guidance. It was in the list of references in the previous syllabus, but now the HSG136 structure has been brought into the syllabus organisation itself. This turns what used to be a random set of issues into a collection of issues framed around the site,…
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NEBOSH Diploma Syllabus Revision News #28
Element C9 surrounds construction work and again, you’ll be glad to know that this also has changed little. It turns out that construction work does not generally contain any specific hazards that haven’t already been covered elsewhere. To some then, it may always seem an odd feature of qualifications like this that give it a special place in the syllabus. But, context is everything. The thing that makes construction sites so special is the constantly changing nature. A hole opens up in the ground where there wasn’t one yesterday. The bricks you were laying at ground level last week are today being laid one storey up. And that’s not all,…
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NEBOSH Diploma Syllabus Revision News #27
As I write this, RRC is just about to release their sample trainer packs. These comprise samples of PowerPoints, textbooks, lesson plans and activities from selected elements. You get a whole element in each case. There are six in total – one element from each taught unit of each diploma qualification (national and international). The E-learning examples are not far behind. Now we come to element C8. This takes a foray into the world of electricity. Not much has changed in terms of content here – it still covers the hazards of electricity, electrical systems (installation, use), safe working in high voltage systems and, finally portable electrical equipment. Of course…
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NEBOSH Diploma Syllabus Revision News #26
Like C5 and C6, C7 is also about machinery and equipment. But this time mobile, lifting and access equipment. When I was working for a large chemical company in a former life, I remember being amazed at the very high reach (compared to a standard fork lift truck) of the narrow aisle reach trucks we used. The warehouse for our raw materials and finished products was “stack ‘em high”. So the racks were packed with pallets of chemicals that looked like a menacing post-apocalyptic scene. The standard fork lift trucks we also used had all manner of attachments, cages and what not that meant they could be adapted to lift…
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NEBOSH Diploma Syllabus Revision News #25
In Unit C/IC, element 6 is notable more for what has moved or been removed rather than additions. I’ve mentioned some of these already in our trek through the diploma. The failure modes (stress, fatigue etc) that used to be here have moved and been consolidated with the wizened and deflated pressure systems section in C5. The same is true of the information and warnings section – moved to C5. The systems failures and reliability has moved to A7 (national) or IA5 (International). There are now little or no calculations in Unit C. That said, the reliability questions that were in the Unit C exam (and now in Unit A) are…
