Supporting Health and safety at work — Pearson Other Life Skills Qualification Employability & Work Skills Revision

    This element introduces learners to the fundamental principles of workplace health and safety, emphasising legal obligations and practical hazard managemen

    Topic Synopsis

    This element introduces learners to the fundamental principles of workplace health and safety, emphasising legal obligations and practical hazard management. It equips learners with the skills to identify potential risks, evaluate their severity, and implement basic control measures. The focus is on carrying out a simple risk assessment to support a safe working environment.

    Key Concepts & Core Principles

    Exam Tips & Revision Strategies

    Common Misconceptions & Mistakes to Avoid

    Examiner Marking Points

    Supporting Health and safety at work

    PEARSON
    vocational

    This element introduces learners to the fundamental principles of workplace health and safety, emphasising legal obligations and practical hazard management. It equips learners with the skills to identify potential risks, evaluate their severity, and implement basic control measures. The focus is on carrying out a simple risk assessment to support a safe working environment.

    22
    Learning Outcomes
    17
    Assessment Guidance
    16
    Key Skills
    19
    Key Terms
    18
    Assessment Criteria

    Assessment criteria

    Pearson BTEC Level 1 Subsidiary Award in Workskills
    Pearson BTEC Level 1 Award in Workskills
    Pearson BTEC Level 1 Certificate in Workskills
    Pearson BTEC Level 1 Extended Award in Workskills

    Topic Overview

    The Pearson BTEC Level 1 Subsidiary Award in Workskills is designed to equip students with the fundamental employability skills needed to succeed in the workplace. This qualification focuses on developing practical abilities such as communication, teamwork, time management, and problem-solving, which are essential for entering employment or further vocational study. It is ideal for students who want to build confidence and gain a recognised qualification that demonstrates their readiness for the world of work.

    The course covers a range of topics including understanding workplace expectations, applying for jobs, working effectively with others, and managing personal development. Students learn through hands-on activities, case studies, and real-world scenarios, making the content directly applicable to their future careers. By completing this award, students not only gain a qualification but also develop a portfolio of evidence that showcases their skills to potential employers.

    This qualification fits within the broader context of life skills and vocational education, providing a stepping stone to higher-level qualifications such as BTEC Level 2 in Workskills or other vocational courses. It is particularly valuable for students who prefer a practical, skills-based approach to learning and want to improve their employability prospects.

    Key Concepts

    Core ideas you must understand for this topic

    • →Employability skills: The core attributes and abilities that employers value, such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and self-management.
    • →Personal development planning: Setting goals, reviewing progress, and identifying areas for improvement to enhance career readiness.
    • →Workplace expectations: Understanding professional behaviour, dress codes, punctuality, and health and safety requirements.
    • →Application processes: How to complete job applications, write CVs and cover letters, and perform well in interviews.

    Learning Objectives

    What you need to know and understand

    • Explore workplace health and safety requirements.
    • Carry out a simple risk assessment.
    • Identify common workplace hazards across different environments.
    • Describe the legal responsibilities of employers and employees under health and safety legislation.
    • Evaluate risk levels using a simple likelihood and severity matrix.
    • Recommend appropriate control measures to reduce identified risks.
    • Identify common workplace hazards in a given scenario.
    • Describe the purpose of a risk assessment.
    • Conduct a basic risk assessment using a provided template.
    • State the responsibilities of employees under health and safety law.
    • List appropriate control measures for specific hazards.
    • Demonstrate safe manual handling techniques in a practical task.
    • Identify key health and safety legislation relevant to the workplace
    • Describe the roles and responsibilities of employers and employees in maintaining health and safety
    • List common workplace hazards and their potential risks
    • Outline the steps involved in carrying out a simple risk assessment
    • Propose appropriate control measures to reduce identified risks
    • Identify common workplace hazards and their potential risks
    • Describe the key principles of health and safety legislation relevant to the workplace
    • Carry out a simple risk assessment using a recognised five-step approach
    • Suggest appropriate control measures to minimise identified risks
    • Recognise the importance of personal responsibility in maintaining health and safety

    Assessment Criteria

    Key criteria assessors look for in your portfolio

    • Award credit for correctly identifying at least three distinct hazards in a given workplace scenario.
    • Evidence must include a completed risk assessment form with hazard description, risk rating, and proposed control measures.
    • Demonstrate understanding of the hierarchy of control by selecting measures from different levels (e.g., elimination, administrative, PPE).
    • Credit explanation of why both employer and employee have health and safety responsibilities.
    • Expect appropriate use of terminology such as 'hazard', 'risk', 'likelihood', and 'severity'.
    • Award credit for correct identification of at least three hazards in a familiar workplace setting.
    • Look for evidence that the learner can complete all sections of a risk assessment form, including hazard, potential harm, risk rating, and control measures.
    • Credit demonstration of following emergency evacuation procedures accurately in a role-play.
    • Expect clear distinction between hazards and risks in written or verbal explanations.
    • Check for correct selection and justification of control measures (e.g., PPE, signage, training) for identified hazards.
    • Award credit for correctly identifying at least three different types of workplace hazards
    • Credit for demonstrating understanding of the hierarchy of control when suggesting measures
    • Look for evidence of the learner checking existing control measures in a real or simulated workplace
    • Award credit for clear communication of findings, e.g., using a simple risk assessment template
    • Award credit for correctly identifying at least three hazards in a simulated or real workplace scenario.
    • Expect a completed risk assessment form with clear hazard descriptions, risk ratings, and practical control measures.
    • Look for evidence of understanding employer and employee duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
    • Assess the learner's ability to propose control measures that are proportional and directly linked to the identified hazards.

    Assessment Guidance

    Guidance for achieving higher grades

    • 💡Familiarise yourself with key legislation acronyms like HASAWA 1974 and COSHH, and be ready to state their purpose.
    • 💡When conducting a risk assessment, always use the template provided in the assessment and ensure all sections are completed.
    • 💡Practice observing hazards from workplace photographs or videos and writing concise, accurate descriptions.
    • 💡Think about the 'worst-case scenario' when evaluating risk severity to demonstrate thoroughness.
    • 💡Link control measures back to the specific hazards identified, and justify choices using the hierarchy of control.
    • 💡In a risk assessment assignment, ensure you categorize hazards clearly and suggest practical, cost-effective controls.
    • 💡When describing health and safety requirements, always refer to both employer and employee responsibilities, not just a list of rules.
    • 💡For practical demonstrations, talk aloud to explain your actions, showing understanding of why each step is necessary.
    • 💡Use workplace examples from your own experience or case studies to support written answers, as this demonstrates application.
    • 💡Always refer to real-life examples from your work placement or a familiar environment to demonstrate practical application
    • 💡Use a standard risk assessment form (e.g., from the HSE website) to structure your assignment, showing you can follow workplace procedures
    • 💡Remember to mention both employers’ and employees’ duties under health and safety law to show full understanding
    • 💡When conducting a risk assessment, focus on identifying who might be harmed and how, not just listing hazards
    • 💡Use real workplace examples wherever possible; if lacking direct experience, use a familiar environment like a school or shop to make the assessment authentic.
    • 💡Ensure your risk assessment covers both safety and health hazards, including issues like fire safety and repetitive strain injury.
    • 💡Justify why certain control measures are chosen over others, referencing the hierarchy of control to demonstrate depth of understanding.
    • 💡Reference specific legislation such as the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 to strengthen your written evidence.
    • 💡Use specific examples from your own experiences to support your answers. Generic statements won't score highly; real-life scenarios show you can apply skills in practice.
    • 💡Pay close attention to the command words in assessment criteria, such as 'describe', 'explain', or 'evaluate'. Each requires a different level of detail and analysis.
    • 💡Keep a log of your activities and reflections throughout the course. This will make it easier to gather evidence for your portfolio and answer questions about your development.

    Common Mistakes

    Common errors to avoid in your coursework

    • Confusing the terms 'hazard' (source of harm) and 'risk' (likelihood and severity of harm).
    • Overlooking less obvious hazards such as ergonomic, psychosocial, or environmental factors.
    • Providing overly generic control measures rather than specific, practical actions.
    • Failing to review and update the risk assessment after implementing controls.
    • Not involving relevant colleagues or safety representatives in the assessment process.
    • Confusing the terms 'hazard' and 'risk', describing a risk as a hazard.
    • Overlooking less obvious hazards such as manual handling, slips and trips, or poor ergonomics.
    • Forgetting to consider who might be harmed (e.g., visitors, contractors) beyond the employee.
    • Selecting control measures that are unrealistic or not applicable to the specific workplace.
    • Confusing hazard and risk – for example, stating a hazard is the risk, rather than describing the chance of harm occurring
    • Oversimplifying control measures by only suggesting personal protective equipment without considering elimination or substitution first
    • Failing to involve others or report hazards as part of the risk assessment process, treating it as a solitary task
    • Confusing hazards with risks, for example stating 'falling' as a hazard instead of a wet floor.
    • Not prioritising risks correctly, leading to an unrealistic assessment where trivial risks overshadow serious ones.
    • Overlooking long-term health hazards such as manual handling or workplace stress.
    • Failing to provide practical control measures, instead listing vague actions like 'be careful'.
    • Misconception: Workskills is just common sense and doesn't require study. Correction: While some skills may seem intuitive, the qualification requires you to reflect on and evidence your abilities, which involves structured learning and assessment.
    • Misconception: You only need to pass the assessments, not develop real skills. Correction: The qualification is designed to build genuine employability skills; simply memorising answers won't help you in the workplace or in assessments that require practical demonstration.
    • Misconception: Teamwork means just doing your own part. Correction: Effective teamwork involves collaboration, communication, and supporting others. Assessors look for evidence of active contribution and cooperation.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions students ask about this topic

    Before You Start

    Prior knowledge that will help with this topic

    • •Basic literacy and numeracy skills to complete written tasks and understand workplace documents.
    • •An interest in developing personal and professional skills for employment.
    • •No formal prerequisites, but prior experience of group work or part-time work can be helpful.

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    • Legal duties and responsibilities
    • Hazard identification and categorisation
    • Risk evaluation and rating
    • Control measures and hierarchy
    • Practical risk assessment
    • Legal duties of employers and employees
    • Hazard recognition and reporting
    • Risk assessment process
    • Control measures and personal protective equipment (PPE)
    • Emergency procedures
    • Legal responsibilities
    • Hazard identification
    • Risk assessment process
    • Control measures
    • Legal duties and responsibilities
    • Hazard identification
    • Risk evaluation and control
    • Safe working practices
    • Reporting procedures

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