NEBOSH IGC Solved Question Paper – March 2025

The NEBOSH International General Certificate (IGC) in Occupational Health and Safety is a globally recognized qualification. The March 2025 Open Book Examination (OBE) presented a scenario-based assessment, requiring candidates to apply their health and safety knowledge.

This article provides a detailed breakdown of the March 2025 NEBOSH IGC scenario and solved questions. The answers are short and structured to help learners understand how to approach the exam. Candidates must write their own responses to avoid NEBOSH malpractice penalties.

Scenario – Prime Plaza Workplace Accident

NEBOSH IGC March 2025 Scenario – The Story of an Avoidable Accident

It was a busy morning at Prime Plaza, a large two-storey department store in the town center. Workers rushed to restock shelves before customers arrived. The store’s warehouse was filled with newly delivered stock, and pressure was high—targets had to be met, and bonuses depended on speed, not safety.

A Culture of Neglect

The Managing Director (MD) rarely spoke about health and safety. To him, it was just "common sense"—not something that needed money or time. The Store Manager (SM) followed this mindset, focusing only on sales figures and financial rewards. Supervisors and workers, motivated by bonuses, took shortcuts, often ignoring risks.

Inside the warehouse, a narrow doorway with rubber curtains separated the stock area from the main store. Workers used a forklift truck (FLT) inside the store, even during business hours. There had been several near misses, but since no accidents had been reported, no action was taken.

The Morning of the Accident

That day, Worker A arrived late. He had been suffering from severe toothache and hadn't slept well. As soon as he walked in, the sales supervisor scolded him for being late, making him frustrated and stressed.

Despite feeling unwell, Worker A climbed into the forklift. A colleague shouted, "Get a move on!" while the supervisor ordered him to restock cleaning products as fast as possible.

As he approached the narrow doorway, Worker A failed to sound the FLT’s horn. Feeling pressured, he turned the corner too fast—not noticing a pile of stacked boxes in his path.

The Moment Everything Went Wrong

With a loud crash, the forklift hit the boxes, sending them tumbling into the aisle. Unfortunately, a customer was walking by at that very moment. The falling boxes struck the customer’s head, causing a serious injury.

The forklift lost balance and tipped over, spilling corrosive cleaning chemicals all over the floor. Worker A scraped his leg, but his bigger injury was the shock—he sat on the ground, frozen.

The Aftermath

A nearby worker shouted for help, and Worker B, the first-aider, rushed over. He assisted the injured customer, while another worker called for an ambulance.

Hearing the commotion, the Store Manager arrived, immediately cordoning off the area and putting up warning signs. He checked on Worker A, offered him a hot drink, and recorded his statement. Photos and videos were taken, and witnesses were interviewed.

Later that day, the customer’s family lodged a complaint, triggering an investigation by the local health and safety authorities.

A Month Later: A Change in Attitude?

The accident forced Head Office to take action. They introduced a Behavioural Safety Program (BSP), aiming to change unsafe habits through observations, feedback, and training. Workers were monitored, unsafe behaviors were challenged, and safety practices were reinforced.

However, not everyone supported this change. The MD and some supervisors were skeptical, seeing it as a waste of resources. But after facing legal scrutiny and reputational damage, there was no choice—safety had to become a priority.

The Lesson

This avoidable accident was caused by a toxic work culture—one that prioritize profits over people. If safety had been taken seriously, the accident would never have happened.

NEBOSH IGC March 2025 – Solved Questions

Below are the official exam tasks with short, structured answers based on the scenario.

Task 1: Behavioural Safety Observations

Question:

What are the benefits of using a checklist during the behavioural safety observations? (14 marks)

Answer:

1. Ensures consistency in safety observations.
2. Identifies unsafe behaviors and trends.
3. Provides documented evidence for safety improvements.
4. Encourages accountability among workers.
5. Helps track progress over time.
6. Aids in hazard identification and risk assessments.
7. Supports safety training needs analysis.
8. Enhances compliance with company policies.
9. Facilitates communication between workers and management.
10. Encourages worker engagement in safety.
11. Reduces subjective judgment in observations.
12. Assists in legal and audit compliance.
13. Helps prevent future accidents.
14. Improves safety leadership involvement.

Task 2: Health and Safety Leadership

Question:

Comment on the poor health and safety leadership of the MD. (8 marks)

Answer:

1. No commitment to safety – focuses only on sales.
2. Fails to allocate safety resources.
3. Ignores near misses and accidents.
4. Creates a culture of risk-taking.
5. Does not promote health and safety training.
6. Fails to engage with workers on safety concerns.
7. Lacks awareness of legal responsibilities.
8. Resists safety improvements like BSP.

Task 3: Workers’ Responsibilities in the Workplace

Question:

Comment on how these worker obligations may not have been followed by Worker A. (6 marks)

Answer:

1. Operated FLT while unfit for work (fatigue, toothache).
2. Failed to follow safety procedures (did not sound the horn).
3. Ignored concerns about customer presence.
4. Did not report feeling unwell before starting work.
5. Did not take proper precautions when turning the FLT.
6. Worked under pressure, compromising safety.

Task 4: Moral Reasons for Managing Health and Safety

Question:

Comment on Prime Plaza’s negative health and safety morals. (10 marks)

Answer:

1. Focuses on profit over worker and customer safety.
2. Encourages unsafe work behavior to meet targets.
3. Fails to provide proper training.
4. Ignores workplace hazards and near misses.
5. No concern for employee well-being.
6. Poor incident response system.
7. Fails to investigate accidents properly.
8. Creates a fear-driven work culture.
9. Neglects moral responsibility towards workers and customers.
10. Only takes action after legal complaints.

Task 5: Accident Investigation

(a) Underlying Causes of the Accident (5 marks)

1. Worker A was unwell and fatigued.
2. Work pressure led to rushed actions.
3. Unsafe FLT operation during customer hours.
4. Lack of supervision and monitoring.
5. No enforcement of safety procedures.

(b) Root Causes of the Accident (5 marks)

1. Poor safety leadership from MD and supervisors.
2. Focus on sales over safety.
3. No FLT risk assessment or safe system of work.
4. Encouraging shortcuts for financial bonuses.
5. Failure to investigate past near misses.

(c) Positive Actions Taken for Evidence Collection (10 marks)

1. Immediate scene examination by SM.
2. Cordoning off the accident area.
3. First-aid response to injured persons.
4. Interviewing Worker A and witnesses.
5. Taking photos/videos of the scene.
6. Documenting worker statements.
7. Calling emergency services.
8. Notifying the head office.
9. Securing damaged FLT and stock.
10. Beginning an internal investigation.

Conclusion

This NEBOSH IGC March 2025 Solved Question Paper provides scenario-based answers to help candidates understand the exam structure. For the actual exam, candidates should:

Write their own answers in detail.

• Use scenario based reasoning in responses.
• Demonstrate a clear understanding of health and safety concepts.
• For more NEBOSH IGC study materials, keep visiting our blog!

Disclaimer:

This article provides a study guide for the NEBOSH IGC March 2025 Open Book Examination (OBE). The scenario-based answers are only short hints for learning purposes and do not represent full model answers.

Important Notes:

Candidates must write their own answers in their own words.

Copying or reproducing answers from any source violates NEBOSH malpractice policies and may lead to disqualification.

NEBOSH strictly prohibits plagiarism and collaboration during exams.

This material is intended to help understand the exam structure and how to approach scenario-based questions.

By using this guide, you acknowledge that these answers are for reference only and should not be submitted as your own work in any NEBOSH assessment.

This disclaimer ensures compliance with NEBOSH policies while helping learners use the guide responsibly. Let me know if you need modifications!