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NEBOSH Dip1
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NEBOSH Dip1 -
The purpose of assignments
A total of five assignments (one per study module) must be successfully completed as part of the NEBOSH Diploma assessment process. These assignments are described by NEBOSH as ‘formative’ assignments. They are in fact part of the continuous assessment process.
It is not always easy to distinguish the requirements of Part 1 from those of Part 2 (apart from the obvious difference in the details of the syllabus). In general however Part 1 is knowledge based whereas Part 2 delves more deeply into the concepts and reasoning underlying occupational health and safety practices. Part 1 assignments usually require candidates to demonstrate knowledge of the relevant laws, codes of practice and standards and to demonstrate their ability to apply them in practice.
At least three of the five assignments should involve the candidate in live interaction with a workplace (such as carrying out an investigation, survey, sampling or inspections. These often include the requirement to prepare a report. It is not unusual for candidates to get too immersed in the practical issues involved and forget the underling. The result is often a report that may have some practical value to the organisation concerned, but falls short of it’s objective as an assignment. As with examination questions, it is always helpful for candidates to ask themselves three key questions: -
1. What is the real purpose of this question/assignment?
2. What issues are likely to be in the marking scheme?
3. What standards/laws apply, how can I demonstrate a knowledge of them?
Submit an outline
There is always a risk that candidates will misunderstand the requirements of the assignment brief. If this happens the subsequent assignment is likely to deviate significantly from the marking scheme; a referral becomes inevitable. Candidates are very strongly advised to submit a one-page outline of how they intend to approach the assignment (key topics covered etc.).
Misunderstandings can be corrected at this stage without any penalty.
Presentation of assignments
Assignments get handled many times and by several people before the final moderated results are given. They need to be easily read, to stay in one piece and to clearly show all the relevant references. NEBOSH requires that all assignments are submitted in flat two-hole plastic document covers (booklet style). Do not use individual plastic pockets to present your work. Assignments do not have to be typed but it is far easier to amend an assignment following referral if it has been word-processed.
The length & layout of assignment reports
Part 1 assignments should be 2,500 words (about 4 sides of A4 is word processed with single spacing). Part 2 assignments should be 4,000 words (about 6 sides). Assignments will be downgraded if they exceed these figures by more than 50%. (i.e. 3,750 or 6,000 words for Part 1 and 2 respectively.
All marking schemes are based on the three sections shown below. Only these should be used as main headings (shown below) should be used. No other layout is acceptable. Sub-headings may be used within this framework.
1. Introduction
2. Main body of the report
3. Conclusions and recommendations
These are now considered in more detail.
Introduction
The introduction must clearly state the purpose and objectives of the report.
The introduction should motivate the reader to read the report and should put it into a broad health and safety and/or business context. It is often helpful to spell out the benefits to the organisation.
The introduction should outline the sources of evidence and approach used. Reference to laws, standards etc. is helpful. The introduction need not generally include a summary (although this may be contrary to what you have been taught about reports generally).
Main body
This should deal systematically with all of the relevant issues, it is therefore vitally important to know what these issues are. The best approach is list all points that might be relevant by ‘brainstorming’ and by reference to notes and other sources. Each of these issues should be dealt with (using a sub-heading for each).
Where assignments require you to "evaluate" or "assess the adequacy" of something, in a given work situation, you are really being asked to compare the existing arrangements with the legal requirements/best practice/standards etc. You cannot do this without first referring to these documents. In most cases an adequate synopsis of them will be in your course material. Make reference to the documents in your report. You will need to demonstrate some knowledge of the various requirements; it is not enough to say, "fire extinguishers were provided in accordance with the appropriate standards". The main body will therefore identify the how things should be and how they actually are.
Conclusions/recommendations
The conclusions summarise the key findings from the main body and provide general comments based on those findings. The recommendations should address all significant shortcomings identified in the main body. Generally the recommendations should take the form of brief, concise paragraphs; not much more than bullet points. The conclusions/recommendations must not raise any new issues not covered in the main body of the report. Reference to relevant statutory duties and to how the recommendations fit in with general management systems and business objectives will help to give them credibility.
Action Plan
Many assignments require you to complete an action plan. This should be separate from the recommendations but must be related to it. The recommendations state what needs to be done; the action plan states very concisely how and when it should be done. Action plans should be prioritised by means of a timescale and are often best present in the form of a table.
