Introduction to Health and Safety at Work - for the NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety - Sixth Edition

Oct 4, 2026

A sixth edition NEBOSH-endorsed introduction to occupational health and safety for the National General Certificate. It clarifies responsibilities, legal duties, moral and financial reasons, and the regulatory framework, including key Health and Safety at Work legislation and management regulations. The book also outlines health and safety management systems using PLAN and DO structures, including policy setting, organisational roles, and contractor-related principles, supported by revision questions and appendices.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages676

Reading Time28 h 24 min

AccessFree to download

List of illustrations

Preface

Acknowledgements

About the authors

How to use this book and what it covers

List of principal abbreviations

Safety signs

1. Foundations in health and safety

1.1 The scope and nature of occupational health and safety

1.2 Moral, legal and financial reasons for promoting good standards of health and safety

1.3 The legal framework for the regulation of health and safety including sources and types of law

1.4 The scope, duties and offences of employers, managers, employees and others under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

1.5 The scope, duties and offences of employers, managers, employees and others under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations

1.6 The legal and organisational health and safety roles and responsibilities of clients and their contractors

1.7 The principles of assessing and managing contractors

Appendix 1.1 Checklist for supply chain health and safety management

Appendix 1.2 Pre-construction information

Appendix 1.3 Construction phase plan

Appendix 1.4 The health and safety file

2. Health and safety management systems – PLAN

2.1 Key elements of a health and safety management system

2.2 Purpose and importance of setting a policy for health and safety

2.3 Key features and appropriate content of an effective health and safety policy

Appendix 2.1 Health and Safety Policy checklist

3. Health and safety management systems – Organising – DO 1

3.1 Organisational health and safety roles and responsibilities of employers, directors, managers and supervisors

Introduction to Health and Safety at Work This publication is endorsed by NEBOSH as offering high quality support for the delivery of NEBOSH qualifications. NEBOSH endorsement does not imply that this publication is essential to achieve a NEBOSH qualification, nor does it mean that this is the only suitable publication available to support NEBOSH qualifications. No endorsed material will be used verbatim in setting any NEBOSH examination and all responsibility for the content remains with the publisher. Copies of official specifications for all NEBOSH qualifications may be found on the NEBOSH website – [www.nebosh.org.uk](www.nebosh.org.uk) Sixth Edition Introduction to Health and Safety at Work For the NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety Phil Hughes MBE, MSc, CFIOSH Chairman NEBOSH 1995–2001. President of IOSH 1990–1991 Ed Ferrett PhD, BSc (Hons Eng), CEng, MIMechE, MIET, CMIOSH Vice Chairman NEBOSH 1999–2008 Endorsed by NEBOSH Sixth edition first published 2016 by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN and by Routledge 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business First edition 2003 Reprinted 2003 (twice) Second edition 2005 Reprinted 2006 Third edition 2007 Fourth edition 2009 Reprinted 2010 Fifth edition 2011 © 2016 Phil Hughes and Ed Ferrett. All rights reserved. The right of Phil Hughes and Ed Ferrett to be identified as authors of this work has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Notice No responsibility is assumed by the publisher for any injury and/or damage to persons or property as a matter of products liability, negligence or otherwise, or from any use or operation of any methods, products, instructions or ideas contained in the material herein. Because of rapid advances in the medical sciences, in particular, independent verification of diagnoses and drug dosages should be made. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Hughes, Phil (Phillip W.), 1946- , author. Introduction to health and safety at work : for the NEBOSH national general certificate in occupational health and safety / Phil Hughes and Ed Ferrett. --Sixth edition. p. ; cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. I. Ferrett, Ed, author. II. Title. [DNLM: 1. National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health. 2. Occupational Health--Great Britain--Examination Questions. 3. Safety Management--Great Britain--Examination Questions. WA 18.2] T55 658.3’82--dc23 2015008873 ISBN: 978-0-415-72308-4 (pbk) ISBN: 978-1-315-85789-3 (ebk) Typeset in Univers LT by Servis Filmsetting Ltd, Stockport, Cheshire Contents List of illustrations viii Preface xvi Acknowledgements xviii About the authors xix How to use this book and what it covers xx List of principal abbreviations xxiv Safety signs xxvii 1. Foundations in health and safety...........................1 1.1 The scope and nature of occupational health and safety ..............................................................2 1.2 Moral, legal and financial reasons for promoting good standards of health and safety ....4 1.3 The legal framework for the regulation of health and safety including sources and types

FAQs

What endorsement does NEBOSH provide for this publication?

The publication is endorsed by NEBOSH for delivering support for NEBOSH qualifications. The endorsement does not mean the publication is essential or the only suitable support, and no endorsed material is used verbatim in examinations.

Who are the authors and what edition is this book?

The book is authored by Phil Hughes and Ed Ferrett, and it is the Sixth Edition.

What topics are covered in the early chapters?

The contents begin with foundations in occupational health and safety, including legal frameworks and responsibilities. It then covers health and safety management systems, including PLAN (policy and key system elements) and moves toward Organising (DO 1) responsibilities.

Oct 4, 2026

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