Level 2 Award in Supervising Staff Safely 2014 Specification Version 1 For assessments in 2014 Accredited by the Qualifications Regulators at Level 2 in the Qualifications and Credit Framework Qualification Accreditation Number: 501/1299/5
Publishing Policy for Specifications Level 2 Award in Supervising Staff Safely: 2014 Specification (Version 1) Specifications are published on 1 September each year to allow centres adequate time to prepare for the delivery of the qualification from 1 January the following year. For all British Safety Council specifications, the electronic version on the British Safety Council website is definitive in the case of any difference between it and a previously printed version. The electronic version on the website is updated if any significant changes are made during the lifetime of a specification. All significant changes to a specification are side barred, irrespective of whether they are changes to the subject content, the assessment or the administrative arrangements. The exceptions are presentational changes or correction of typographical errors. Side bars are used to indicate any changes from the previous version only; side bars in Version 3 indicate changes from Version 2, but not changes from Version 1. Centres and candidates are advised to check that this printed version of the specification is the latest version by visiting www.britsafe.org Acknowledgements This specification has been developed in consultation with the Health and Safety Executive and the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health. The British Safety Council recognises and values all those who contribute their time and expertise to the development of its specifications. Version 1 published on 1 September 2013 Qualifications Department British Safety Council 70 Chancellors Road London W6 9RS Telephone: 020 8741 1231 Facsimile: 020 8741 5907 E-mail: qualifications@britsafe.org Website: www.britsafe.org British Safety Council 2013 2
Level 2 Award in Supervising Staff Safely: 2014 Specification (Version 1) Contents The British Safety Council 4 The Level 2 Award in Supervising Staff Safely 5 Relationship to National Occupational Standards 5 Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria 6 Credit 6 Entry Requirements 7 Arrangements for Learning 7 Arrangements for Assessment 7 Language of Assessment 7 Authentication 7 Online Assessment Task 8 Marking Scheme 10 Reasonable Adjustments 12 Special Consideration 12 Malpractice 12 Marking, Awarding and Reporting of Results 12 Result Enquiries and Appeals 13 3
The British Safety Council Level 2 Award in Supervising Staff Safely: 2014 Specification (Version 1) The British Safety Council is one of the world s leading advocates of workplace health and safety. Our vision is that no-one should be injured or made ill at work. We are a leading charity and everything we do is for public benefit. We currently use the surplus from our revenue generating activities to provide free health and safety e-learning courses to employees of our member organisations. We are a government-regulated awarding body and, as such, must comply with a wide range of conditions set by the regulator so that rigour and consistency in the awarding of qualifications is maintained. The British Safety Council is the only UK awarding body to offer a complete suite of health and safety qualifications from Entry Level to Level 6 in the Qualifications and Credit Framework. BSC Entry Level Award in Workplace Hazard Awareness BSC Level 1 Award in Health and Safety at Work BSC Level 2 Award in Supervising Staff Safely BSC Level 2 Award in Risk Assessment BSC Level 2 Award in COSHH Risk Assessment BSC Level 2 Award in DSE Risk Assessment BSC Level 2 Award in Fire Risk Assessment BSC Level 2 Award in Manual Handling Risk Assessment BSC Level 3 Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health BSC Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Safety and Health Specification development is guided by steering committees comprising representatives from professional bodies, standard setting bodies, enforcement bodies, employers and trade unions. Through focus groups, the British Safety Council further consults with employers and approved centres. Specifications are then developed with the help of independent chartered health and safety practitioners. Assessments are marked by independent examiners. 4
Level 2 Award in Supervising Staff Safely: 2014 Specification (Version 1) The Level 2 Award in Supervising Staff Safely In 2012/2013, in UK workplaces, 148 workers were killed and over 24,000 seriously injured. 1.3 million people suffered from an illness they believed was caused or made worse by their current or past work and 28.5 million working days were lost as a result of occupational injury and ill-health. In addition to the tragic loss of life and personal suffering, employers found themselves faced with court fines and costs, increased insurance premiums, compensation claims, reduced productivity, damaged reputation and lower staff morale. The vast majority of occupational injuries and incidents of ill-health can be avoided by good health and safety management. With this in mind, the British Safety Council offers the Level 2 Award in Supervising Staff Safely, a nationally-recognised qualification aimed at those with responsibility for the health and safety of others. The qualification is ideal for supervisors, team leaders, department heads and junior managers, providing them with the practical knowledge and understanding necessary to their role in promoting health and safety in the workplace. The online assessment task relates directly to the candidate s workplace and tests the application of learning in a practical context. The Level 2 Award in Supervising Staff Safely is accredited by the Qualifications Regulators in the Qualifications and Credit Framework. While the Level 2 Award in Supervising Staff Safely is a stand-alone qualification, it also provides a progression route to the Level 3 Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health, aimed at managers with responsibility for organisational health and safety and, further, to the Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Safety and Health, aimed at full-time health and safety managers and practitioners. Relationship to National Occupational Standards The content of the Level 2 Award in Supervising Staff Safely has been mapped to Units HSS1 and HSS6 of the National Occupational Standards for Health and Safety. 5
Level 2 Award in Supervising Staff Safely: 2014 Specification (Version 1) Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria The qualification comprises one mandatory unit (Supervising Staff Safely M/602/4243). The learning outcomes state what a candidate will be expected to know, understand or be able to do and the assessment criteria describe the requirements that a candidate is expected to meet to demonstrate a learning outcome has been achieved. Learning Outcome (the learner will...) 1. Know the legal requirements that relate to supervising staff safely 2. Understand the objectives of management systems to support health and safety in the workplace 3. Examine workplace procedures to minimise the threat of hazards and risks 4. Carry out health and safety monitoring activities in the workplace Assessment Criteria (the learner can...) 1.1 Describe the legislation relating to health and safety in the workplace 1.2 Explain the role and of those involved in maintaining a healthy and safe workplace 1.3 Explain the role and of organisations that enforce health and safety legislation 1.4 List the main penalties for failure to comply with health and safety legislation 2.1 Describe the arrangements for provision of a health and safety policy in an organisation 2.2 Describe the role and duties of the supervisor in a health and safety management system 2.3 Explain the emergency evacuation procedures for workers and visitors 2.4 Identify methods of improving the health and safety practices and culture of an organisation 3.1 List risks and hazards that could be present in the workplace 3.2 Explain how to assess risks to health and safety in the workplace 3.3 Describe control measures that can be used to manage risk in the workplace 3.4 Explain when a review of risks would be required 4.1 Conduct a health and safety inspection of a work area and record the findings 4.2 Explain the process for reporting and investigating accidents and near misses 4.3 Review the health, safety and welfare of employees for whom they are responsible Credit Successful achievement of the learning outcomes for the above unit will earn a candidate two credits. 6
Entry Requirements Level 2 Award in Supervising Staff Safely: 2014 Specification (Version 1) There are no formal entry requirements for the Level 2 Award in Supervising Staff Safely. However, it is expected that candidates will have a level of literacy adequate to cope with the assessment. It is recommended that candidates first complete the Level 1 Award in Health and Safety at Work, which provides a solid grounding in basic health and safety knowledge and a useful springboard for study leading to the Level 2 Award. Candidates may enter direct with the British Safety Council or be entered by an approved centre. Arrangements for Learning Candidates may either self-study or undertake a programme of study with an approved centre. Arrangements for Assessment Candidates and centres book and pay for their assessments online via the British Safety Council website. They are granted access to an online qualifications system where the assessment task is completed online. Candidates may visit the online system as many times as they like, adding to their answers and saving their work as they go. Once the candidate submits their work for marking, they can no longer edit their answers. There is no deadline for submissions. Completed assessment tasks are marked online by independent examiners. As soon as an examiner has marked a task the candidate or centre receives an e-mail inviting them to access the system and view their result online. Results are issued within 20 working days and certificates follow by post. Language of Assessment The online assessment task is presented in English and candidates must respond in English. Candidates for whom English is a second language are advised that their reading and writing skills should be equivalent to at least Level 4 of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Test for Non-Native Speakers of English. Information on this language testing service is available on the IELTS website (www.ielts.org). Authentication The completed task must be entirely the candidate s own work. Candidates are responsible for identifying a senior work colleague, normally their line manager, to authenticate their work. This individual must provide contact details to the British Safety Council to permit checks to be made. These contact details should be entered at the start of the online assessment task. Plagiarism is a serious form of malpractice, and candidates found guilty of it will be disqualified from this and other British Safety Council qualifications. At the same time, it represents a lost opportunity for the candidate s organisation to benefit directly from the work undertaken to complete assessment tasks. Line managers, or individuals authenticating candidates work, are expected to make checks to ensure that the work is indeed the candidate s own. 7
Online Assessment Task Level 2 Award in Supervising Staff Safely: 2014 Specification (Version 1) The online assessment task comprises fifteen short questions which test the assessment criteria on page 6 of this specification. Each question is worth 3 marks. The maximum mark is 45 and candidates are required to achieve 30 marks in order to gain the qualification. A specimen assessment task is provided below. Candidates are advised to write about 100 words per answer although, in some cases, less than 100 words will suffice. The boxes in the online system expand to accept the candidate s answer. 1. Describe your employer s main in relation to health and safety in the workplace. 2. Describe the main content of the written health and safety policy in your workplace. 3. Describe the main of a supervisor in relation to health and safety in the workplace. 4. Describe the main of staff in relation to health and safety in the workplace. 5. Describe the role of ONE external organisation that is responsible for enforcing health and safety in your country. 6. Outline the main penalties for failure to comply with health and safety legislation in your country. 7. Describe the main hazards that that are present in your workplace. 8. Describe the main control measures that are in place to protect people in your workplace. 8
Level 2 Award in Supervising Staff Safely: 2014 Specification (Version 1) 9. Describe how you would carry out a health and safety risk assessment in your workplace. 10. Outline THREE circumstances in which you would review a health and safety risk assessment. 11. Describe how you would carry out a health and safety inspection in your workplace. 12. Describe the process for reporting accidents and near misses in your workplace. 13. Describe the emergency evacuation procedures in your workplace. 14. Describe THREE things that you would expect to find in an organisation with a good health and safety record. 15. Describe THREE things that you could do to improve the health, safety and welfare of your team. 9
Level 2 Award in Supervising Staff Safely: 2014 Specification (Version 1) Marking Scheme 3 2 1 0 1. Employer s A good range of employer clearly An adequate range of employer A limited range of employer 2. Health and safety policy The main content of the health and safety policy clearly Most of the main content of the health and safety policy Omissions in terms of the main content of the health and safety policy. 3. Supervisor s A good range of supervisor clearly An adequate range of supervisor A limited range of supervisor 4. Staff A good range of clearly An adequate range of A limited range of 5. Enforcement agency Good description of the role of a named enforcement agency. Adequate description of the role of a named enforcement agency. Limited description of the role of a (possibly unnamed) enforcement agency. 6. Penalties Good description of the main penalties for non-compliance. Refers to penalties for individuals and to organisations. Adequate description of the main penalties for non-compliance. Limited description of the main penalties for non-compliance. 7. Hazards A good range of significant hazards clearly An adequate range of significant hazards A limited range of hazards 8. Control measures A good range of significant control measures clearly An adequate range of significant control measures A limited range of control measures 10
Level 2 Award in Supervising Staff Safely: 2014 Specification (Version 1) 9. Risk assessment Good description of a valid risk assessment process. Adequate description of a valid risk assessment process. Limited description of a valid risk assessment process. 10. Review of risk assessment Three valid circumstances clearly outlined. Two valid circumstances clearly outlined. One valid circumstance outlined. 11. Workplace inspection Good description of a valid inspection process. Adequate description of a valid inspection process. Limited description of a valid inspection process. 12. Reporting accidents and near misses Good description of the process for reporting accidents and near misses. Adequate description of the process for reporting accidents and near misses. Limited description of the process for reporting accidents and near misses. 13. Emergency evacuation procedures Good description of the emergency evacuation procedures. Adequate description of the emergency evacuation procedures. Limited description of the emergency evacuation procedures. 14. Health and safety culture Three positive cultural characteristics clearly Two positive cultural characteristics clearly One positive cultural characteristic 15. Health, safety and welfare of team Three realistic actions clearly Two realistic actions clearly One realistic action 11
Reasonable Adjustments Level 2 Award in Supervising Staff Safely: 2014 Specification (Version 1) When necessary, the British Safety Council approves reasonable adjustments for candidates with particular requirements to enable them to have access to fair assessment and to demonstrate achievement. Candidates may require reasonable adjustments for a number of reasons including a permanent or temporary disability or medical condition. Reasonable adjustments are made to ensure that candidates receive recognition of their achievement without compromising the equity, validity and reliability of the assessment. They are not concessions to make assessment easier for candidates, nor advantages to give candidates a head start. The Reasonable Adjustments Policy can be found at www.britsafe.org/about-us/awarding-body Special Consideration Special consideration involves procedures that may result in an adjustment to the marks of candidates who have not been able to demonstrate attainment because of exceptional circumstances during the examination itself. The Special Consideration Policy can be found at www.britsafe.org/about-us/awarding-body Malpractice The fairness of the assessment process depends upon all parties acting in good faith and adhering to the highest professional standards of conduct. Any evidence of deviation from such standards may lead to disqualification of candidates and/or withdrawal of centre approval. In the event of proven malpractice, the British Safety Council may notify the qualifications regulators and other awarding organisations. The Malpractice Policy can be found at www.britsafe.org/about-us/awarding-body Marking, Awarding and Reporting of Results Assessment tasks for the Level 2 Award in Supervising Staff Safely are externally marked by examiners appointed and trained by the British Safety Council. Rigorous standardisation procedures, including regular examiner meetings, ensure that all examiners apply the marking scheme in exactly the same way and that all tasks are marked to the same standard. The pass mark is 30 out of 45. Candidates results are reported as pass or fail. A pass grade reflects the fact that the candidate has met the assessment criteria on page 6 of this specification. Results are issued online within 20 working days of the candidate submitting their completed task. Certificates follow by post within 10 working days. The regulators logos on the qualification certificate indicate that the qualification is accredited in England and Wales. Candidates wishing to resubmit their assessment task must make a new booking. 12
Result Enquiries and Appeals Level 2 Award in Supervising Staff Safely: 2014 Specification (Version 1) The British Safety Council endorses the right of individuals to enquire about their result and to appeal against the outcome of that enquiry. Procedures are in place to ensure that result enquiries and appeals are dealt with thoroughly and fairly. A result enquiry or an appeal can result in a grade being confirmed, raised or lowered. Where a grade is changed, the new grade will replace the original grade, whether it is higher or lower. The Result Enquiries and Appeals Policy can be found at www.britsafe.org/about-us/awarding-body 13