2.1 Key components of a management system

Written by Imran Qureshi (NEBOSH)

NEBOSH IGC · Health and safety management · 15 questions

Name: ____________________ Date: ____________

The four stages of the model used by ISO 45001 are:
- A Plan, Do, Check, Act
- B Policy, Organise, Control, Audit
- C Prepare, Perform, Review, Repeat
- D Identify, Assess, Control, Record
A limitation of a formal certified management system is:
- A It has no structure
- B It cannot be audited
- C It is not recognised by customers
- D Cost and paperwork
A benefit of a formal system is:
- A A consistent structure and credibility with customers
- B No records are needed
- C Freedom from audits
- D No need for management commitment
In the Plan, Do, Check, Act cycle, the stage in which audits and monitoring take place is:
- A Act
- B Check
- C Plan
- D Do
Setting the policy and objectives belongs to which stage?
- A Check
- B Act
- C Do
- D Plan
Training workers and applying controls belongs to which stage?
- A Plan
- B Do
- C Act
- D Check
Which two documents describe a health and safety management system with Plan, Do, Check, Act?
- A HSG245 and C155
- B ISO 45001 and ILO-OSH 2001
- C ISO 12100 and R164
- D HSG65 and ISO 9001 only
The Act stage of the cycle means:
- A Writing the policy
- B Carrying out inspections
- C Reviewing results and improving before the cycle starts again
- D Buying the equipment
A formal system certified to ISO 45001 is audited by:
- A The supplier of the equipment
- B An outside certification body
- C The local newspaper
- D The workers only
A benefit of a certified system is:
- A No further cost
- B No need for audits
- C Credibility with customers
- D No paperwork
A risk of a formal certified system is that the organisation:
- A Has a clear improvement cycle
- B Gains a consistent structure
- C Focuses on the certificate rather than real safety
- D Cuts all costs
A benefit of an informal system is that it:
- A Is always more reliable
- B Is recognised by all customers
- C Can be cheaper and more flexible
- D Needs no people to run it
A weakness of an informal system is that it:
- A Is accepted by all regulators without question
- B Always costs more than a formal system
- C May depend on a few individuals
- D Has independent audits
Which of these is the best description of a health and safety management system?
- A A list of injuries
- B A single policy document
- C A set of connected arrangements used to control risks
- D An annual party
A question asks for the benefits and limitations of a formal management system. The best answer gives:
- A Only the cost
- B Limitations only
- C Points on the benefits and on the limitations
- D Benefits only

Answer key

1. A, 2. D, 3. A, 4. B, 5. D, 6. B, 7. B, 8. C, 9. B, 10. C, 11. C, 12. C, 13. C, 14. C, 15. C

This is the PDCA cycle.
Certification can be costly and can focus on documents.
Formal systems give a consistent and credible framework.
Check covers monitoring, investigation and audit.
Plan covers policy, risk assessment and objectives.
Do covers organising, training, communicating and applying controls.
Both give the PDCA cycle for management systems.
Act takes the learning from Check into improvement.
Certification involves an independent external audit.
Certification is often needed to win contracts.
Paperwork for the certificate can replace real control of risk.
Informal systems are simpler but may lack consistency.
If the key people leave, the system can fail.
A system links policy, organisation, planning, controls and review.
The study tip is to give both sides when asked.