ProQaul Level 3 NVQ Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety

1 be able to identify the
hazards and evaluate the
risks in the workplace.
1.1 identify workplace instructions that are relevant to
them and their job role.
1.2 identify working practices and hazards in the
workplace that could be harmful.
1.3 evaluate the hazards and prioritise in risk order.
1.4 report hazards to the responsible person.
2 be able to reduce the risks to
health and safety in the
workplace.
2.1 perform work activities at own level of competence
in accordance with identified health and safety:
• workplace policies
• instructions and procedures
• suppliers and manufacturers’ information and
• relevant legal requirements.
2.2 manage hazards in accordance with workplace
instructions and legal requirements.
2.3 report any differences between workplace
instructions and supplier/manufacturer
instructions.
3 know how to reduce risks to
health and safety in the
workplace.
3.1 explain their responsibility in remaining alert to
hazards and risks.
3.2 describe own responsibilities and scope for action
in controlling risk.
3.3 explain the importance of adhering to health and
safety policies and practices.

3.4 describe where and when to get additional health
and safety assistance.
3.5 describe the importance of personal presentation
and behaviour in maintaining health and safety in
the workplace

1 be able to develop procedures
for maintaining a healthy and
safe workplace
1.1 identify existing health and safety procedures.
1.2 agree realistic objectives for maintaining a
healthy and safe workplace for everyone.
1.3 develop health and safety procedures which:
a) are based on risk assessment and
consultation
b) meet legal requirements
c) are appropriate to the type of work carried
out and to the workplace
d) identify individuals to whom people must
report incidents and health and safety risks,
and who they can go to for first aid.
1.4 develop a health and safety training plan that
meets the needs of:
a) the workplace
b) the people in the workplace
c) legal requirements
1.5 disseminate the Health and Safety training plan
to people in the workplace
2 be able to review the
effectiveness of health and safety
procedures in the workplace.
2.1 identify changes in the workplace and legal
requirements to current health and safety
procedures.
2.2 provide other people with opportunities to give
feedback about current health and safety
procedures.
2.3 review all relevant health and safety reports
and data to identify any opportunities to
improve workplace health and safety
procedures.
2.4 identify and obtain feedback and advice from
reliable sources of expertise.
2.5 record accurately:

a) the details of any review carried out
b) how the review meets legal responsibilities
c) how the review meets the requirements of
workplace instructions.
3 be able to communicate health
and safety procedures to others
in the workplace.
3.1 report the results of own review to the relevant
people.
3.2 alert everyone in the workplace, promptly, to
the revised health and safety procedures.
3.3 set effective measures for monitoring the
revised health and safety procedures.
4 know the legal responsibilities for
health and safety.
4.1 identify responsibilities for health and safety as
required by:
a) current legislations
b) legislation covering own job role
c) the particular health and safety risks present
in own job role and the precautions to be taken
d) the specific organisational health and safety
instructions for own job role.
4.2 explain the importance of:
a) remaining alert to hazards in the workplace.
b) dealing with and promptly reporting risks.
c) knowing the hazards that exist in the
workplace.
d) knowing the different types of working
practices present in the workplace.
4.3 explain own awareness of others in the
workplace to include:
a) the roles and responsibilities of others in the
workplace.
b) commonly used working practices.
c) channels of communication and consultation
in the workplace.

4.4 explain the need for health and safety
information in the workplace to include:
a) the instructions that may be required about
health and safety in the workplace.
b) where to find the health and safety
information that may be available in the
workplace.
c) how to prepare and write specific
instructions and procedures.
d) measures to check the different types of
health and safety procedures.

1 Be able to check that health
and safety instructions are
followed.
1.1 Keep up to date with health and safety regulations
and workplace instructions, making sure that
information is from reliable sources.
1.2 Conduct monitoring of the workplace at agreed
intervals and in accordance with workplace
instructions.
1.3 Confirm that workers are health and safety
competent as defined in their job role and that
identified health and safety training needs have
been met.
1.4 Communicate workplace instructions and receive
feedback.
2 Be able to recommend
changes to health and safety
workplace instructions.
2.1 Respond to any breaches of health and safety
instructions in a way which meets workplace and
legal requirements
2.2 Make recommendations for any changes to health
and safety workplace instructions to the
responsible people.
3 Be able to make sure that
hazards and risks are
controlled safely and
effectively.
3.1 Maintain accurate records of workplace risks.
3.2 Check other people are aware of the hazards/risks
and know the action(s) to be taken to minimise
them.
3.3 Confirm that appropriate precautions to control
risks have been agreed with the people responsible
for health and safety.
3.4 conduct a review to make sure all recommended
action has been taken.
3.5 Report any conflicts that still exist between
workplace and legal requirements.

4 Know how to monitor
procedures to safely control
work operations
4.1 Explain employers’ and employees’ legal
responsibilities for health and safety in the
workplace.
4.2 Explain the difference between ‘hazard’, ‘risk’ and
‘control’.
4.3 Describe the types of information available from
reports and records covering the workplace.
4.4 Explain the importance of evaluating information
from reports and records covering the workplace.

1 Be able to develop plans to
promote a health and safety
culture in the workplace.
1.1 Identify where any improvements and changes
may be necessary.
1.2 Identify how information on health and safety
instructions and regulations are currently
communicated.
1.3 Identify current level of workforce understanding
and support for health and safety instructions
and procedures.
1.4 Develop a plan based on the findings, to include
performance measures, review dates and
resources.
1.5 plan opportunities for promoting the advantages
and legal necessity of following health and safety
procedures.
2 Implement the plan to promote
a health and safety culture in
the workplace.
2.1 Present the plan to the responsible people for
the workplace to gain their support.
2.2 identify those in the workplace who will require
information and advice about the plan to
promote a health and safety culture in the
workplace.
2.3 Ensure that relevant information and advice is
provided at in a timely way and provide
opportunities for encouraging ideas on good
practice.
2.4 Measure the effectiveness of the plan against
past and present performance.
3 Be able to monitor and review
plan to promote health and
safety culture in the workplace.
3.1 research and be aware of the legal and moral
responsibilities implied.
3.2 instigate performance measures to monitor the
effectiveness of the plan and review
opportunities for further improvements.

4 Know reasons for promoting a
health and safety culture in the
workplace.
4.1 explain employers, employees and moral and
legal responsibilities for health and safety.
4.2 explain own legal responsibilities for health and
safety in their job role.
4.3 explain how to interpret workplace health and
safety data.
4.4 explain how to assess the level of understanding
of workplace health and safety data.
4.5 identify the information needs of those affected
by the plan, to include:
a) sources of information on health and safety
b) the importance of keeping people informed
and discussing their involvement
c) the communication and consultation
requirements in the workplace.
4.6 explain the awareness of:
a) workplace hazards that exist and the
importance of remaining aware of them
b) the importance of dealing with or promptly
reporting risks
c)the particular health and safety risks present in
own job role and roles of others
d) limitations within own job role.

1 Be able to prepare for a
workplace risk assessment.
1.1 Evaluate the workplace to decide areas for risk
assessment.
1.2 Select the method of hazard identification
appropriate to the workplace being assessed and in
line with legal requirements.
1.3 List the hazards in a way which meets legal, good
practice and workplace requirements.
1.4 Recognise own limitations and seek expert advice
and guidance on operational controls when
appropriate.
2 Be able to identify hazards in
the workplace
2.1 Make sure the hazard investigation fully identifies
those areas in the workplace where hazards with a
potential for serious harm to health and safety are
most likely to occur with impact on:
a) people in the workplace and
b) other people.
3 Be able to conduct a risk
assessment of the
workplace.
3.1 Carry out risk assessment of the hazards identified
using appropriate documentation.
3.2 Assess the level of risk and how risks can be
controlled to minimise harm.
3.3 Assess the level of risk, identifying those that could
not be eliminated.
3.4 prioritise hazards which could result in serious harm
to people at work and other people.
3.5 Identify control measures and implement and
record them, include actions with expected
completion dates.

3.6 Identify changes to policies and practices resulting
from the risk assessment.
3.7 Deliver findings of the risk assessment with actions
identified.
4 Be able to review risk
assessment.
4.1 Instigate a review that compares the latest risk
assessment to current workplace and working
practices and identify any significant differences
between previous and new working practices.
4.2 Plan action to be taken resulting from the findings
and:
a) identify new hazards arising from change.
b) make changes to the risk assessment to include
them.
c) promptly inform everyone affected by the
changes.
5 Know the employer’s
responsibility for risk
assessments as required by
current legislation.
5.1 Explain own responsibilities for health and safety as
defined by current legislation and:
a) specific legislation covering own job role.
b) particular health and safety risks which may
affect own job role and precautions required.
5.2 Identify resources for the risk assessment to take
place and:
a) how and where to find expert advice and
guidance.
b) the work areas and people for whom the learner
is carrying out the risk assessment.
c) the work activities of the people in the workplace
where the learner is carrying out the risk
assessment.

5.3 Describe the purpose, legal implications and
importance of carrying out risk assessments and:
a) the methods of identifying hazards including
direct observation, examining records and
conducting interviews.
b) the workplace hazards most likely to cause harm.
c) the importance of remaining alert to the
presence of hazards in the workplace.
d) the importance of dealing with or promptly
reporting risks.
5.4 Apply effective communication methods.

1 Be able to investigate and report
workplace incidents and
complaints in accordance with
legal and workplace requirements.
1.1 Establish prior to the investigation:
a) the required documentation and support
materials.
b) the way people involved will be briefed to
ensure understanding of the purpose and the
expected outcome.
c) how people involved will have the
opportunity to clarify any points about the
investigation.
1.2 Carry out an investigation by gathering
accurate and comprehensive information from
the people involved in a supportive way and
review for inconsistencies.
1.3 Prepare a report containing details of
incidents and complaints and forward to those
requesting it in the agreed format, timescale
and accordance with legal regulations and
workplace requirements.
2 Be able to make
recommendations as a result of
workplace investigations.
2.1 Recommend improvements to health and
safety based on accurate and detailed analysis
of reports, advice, and support material
collected during the investigation.
2.2 Develop recommendations which comply
with:
a) current working practices.
b) relevant legislation and workplace health
and safety instructions.
2.3 Propose recommendations for improving
health and safety, which are workable and
include measures for review.
2.4 Present recommendations to the appropriate
people with realistic and achievable plans for
implementing them.

2.5 Produce an action plan to include a review
process for checking implementation of the
recommendations.
3 Know the employers’ and
employees’ legal responsibilities
for health and safety in the
workplace.
3.1 Explain the responsibilities of employers and
employees for health and safety as defined by
legislation, to include:
a) own capabilities and scope in own job role.
b) the work areas and job roles where the
learner is carrying out the investigation.
3.2 Explain the workplace requirements for
conducting and reporting investigations
including:
a) what hazards may exist in the workplace.
b) the importance of dealing with and
promptly reporting risks.
c) workplace budgets in relation to carrying
out an investigation.
d) roles of external regulatory and research
organisations.
3.3 Explain how to write actions plans and:
a) apply analytical techniques.
b) requirements for maintaining
confidentiality of reports.

1 Be able to identify risks to the
environment arising from the
workplace.
1.1 Identify people in the workplace to whom
environmental matters are reported.
1.2 Confirm they are up to date on environmentally
friendly working practices relevant to the
workplace.
1.3 Identify any current working practices in own job
role that could cause harm to the environment.
1.4 Identify materials, products or equipment in any
part of own job role which could cause harm to
the environment.
1.5 Report any differences between legal regulations
and workplace instructions and the actual use of
materials and products hazardous to the
environment.
1.6 promptly report to the people responsible for
environmental matters the hazards that present
high risks.
2 Be able to minimise the risks to
the environment arising from
the workplace.
2.1 Research the relevant legal requirements and
workplace environmental instructions for own job
role
2.2 Define within own capability and the scope of job
responsibilities how to:
a) control the environmental hazards
b) promptly report environmental risks that the
learner is unable to deal with
c) pass on suggestions for limiting risks to the
environment to the responsible person
2.3 apply the correct instructions for:
a) handling materials and products that can be
harmful to the environment
b) their proper disposal.

3 Know the legislation relating to
environmental matters that
affect own workplace.
3.1 Explain own responsibilities for the environment
as defined by any specific legislation covering
own job role and:
a) responsibility for controlling hazards to the
environment.
b) particular risks to the environment that may be
present in own workplace and job role.
c) how to use resources and materials effectively
and efficiently.
d) the importance of remaining alert to the
presence of hazards to the environment in the
whole workplace.
e) the responsibility for items (materials and
equipment) that can be hazardous to the
environment.
f) the specific workplace environmental
instructions covering own job role.
g) specific working practices covering own job
role
3.2 Explain the importance of dealing with, or
promptly reporting risks to the environment and
communicating who the responsible people are.
3.3 Describe the substances and processes
categorised as hazardous to the environment.
3.4 Explain workplace instructions for handling
hazards to the environment that the learner is
unable to deal with.

1 Be able to undertake a
review of health and
safety in the workplace.
1.1 Obtain authorisation for the review from the person
responsible for the workplace.
1.2 Agree work schedule, purpose, scope, timescales and
priorities for the review with the responsible person
for the workplace.
1.3 Identify areas in the workplace to be reviewed and the
methods to be used.
1.4 Identify suitable resources and documentation for the
workplace under review.
1.5 Brief other people involved in the review to make sure
they understand its purpose and the process
undertaken.
2 Be able to carry out a
review of workplace
health and safety.
2.1 Identify and use appropriate protective clothing and
equipment that is suitable to the workplace under
review.
2.2 Research working practices to make sure the review
covers all areas including those that may need special
checking.
2.3 Record differences between previous review findings
and the current situation.
2.4 List the health and safety hazards that could cause
serious harm in the workplace.
2.5 Consult with the responsible person to list any noncompliances with health and safety in priority order
and make recommendations to control hazards.
2.6 Produce an action plan for improving health and
safety to include follow up for monitoring and
implementation of recommendations and corrective
action.
2.7 Evaluate and report findings:

a) in accordance with established instructions
b) in accordance with the action plan
3 Know how to review
health and safety
procedures in workplaces.
3.1 Explain the employers and employees legal and moral
responsibilities.
3.2 Explain own responsibilities for health and safety as
defined by
a) specific legislation covering own job role
b) the structure of the organisation and
c) people responsible for health and safety in the
workplace under review and:
i) how to select and use personal protective
equipment.
ii) what particular health and safety risks may be
present in peoples’ job roles.
iii) the work areas and job roles the learner is
planning to review
3.3 Explain what notice period needs to be given before
the review takes place.
3.4 Explain the importance of knowing the hazards and
risks which may arise in the workplace.
3.5 Describe the resources needed to carry out a review
and:
a) select effective communication techniques.
b) apply effective interviewing techniques.
c) possess presentational and communication skills.
3.6 Describe appropriate post review plans and the
recording and reporting procedures.

1 Prepare for and receive a
trainee in the workplace.
1.1 Define his/her responsibilities for a trainee entering
the workplace.
1.2 Prepare for the trainee to enter the workplace by:
a) delivering or organising a planned induction.
b) defining a clear job role or programme of work
activities for the trainee.
c) obtaining available information to assess the
suitability of the workplace for the specific trainee.
d) making sure work equipment and personal
protective equipment are available and the trainee
knows how to use it.
e) ensuring the trainee understands their
responsibilities and what is expected of them relative
to their own health and safety and that of others in
the workplace
1.3 Identify and report to the responsible person all
control measures needed to ensure the health and
safety of the trainee in the workplace.
1.4 Confirm that the trainee can demonstrate
understanding of safe working practices prior to
entering the workplace, and has been provided with
health and safety information and training in line
with:
a) employers’ requirements
b) health and safety legislation
1.5 Inform all others who will be involved with the
trainee of their responsibilities for their health, safety
and welfare.
1.6 Produce and implement a plan for the supervision of
the trainee to include arrangements to cover
absences and that they are recorded.

2 Supervise, monitor and
review the health, safety
and welfare of a learner in
the workplace.
2.1 Explain to the trainee the responsibilities for
supervising and monitoring health, safety and welfare
in the workplace.
2.2 Check the trainee:
a) understands their job role or programme of work.
b) knows, understands, and follows instructions and
safe working practices.
2.3 Provide ongoing information, advice and support to
the trainee in relation to safe working practices and
organisational instructions.
2.4 Identify additional training needs relative to health,
safety and welfare of the trainee and that they are
recorded and met.
2.5 Assess the trainee’s understanding of, and
compliance with, health and safety requirements are
reviewed on a regular basis.
2.6 Liaise with others to support the trainee’s progress.
2.7 Contribute to reviews and ensure that the supervision
plan is regularly updated and recorded.
2.8 Inform the person responsible of any concerns
regarding the trainee’s performance relative to
health and safety.
3 Know how to introduce a
trainee to the workplace.
3.1 explain what information is necessary and available
to assess the suitability of the workplace for the
trainee that the learner is supervising in the
workplace and:
a) specific learning barriers to the trainee, e.g.
physical, communication, prohibited areas.
b) specific risk assessments and control methods
relating to a trainee.
c) health, safety and welfare training and support
required by the trainee during induction
d) employers’ instructions and procedures in relation
to the health, safety and welfare of the trainee.

e) own responsibilities relative to supervising the
trainee.
3.2 Explain the need to check the trainee’s understanding
of health and safety relative to their job role:
a) reviewing with the trainee their understanding of
health and safety relative to their job role.
b) identifying effective communication methods
available and when appropriate to be used.
3.3 Explain how to respond to incidents, development
needs and achievements of the trainee relating to
health and safety.
3.4 Identify others involved in the trainee’s programme,
their role and responsibilities.
3.5 Understand the terms ‘hazard’ and ‘risk’ as applied to
health and safety.