ISPON HSE Level 2 Exam Flashcards

Q: Does ISPON publish an HSE Level 2 exam blueprint?

No. ISPON's public course table names HSE Level 2 and gives a N120,000 training fee, but no current ISPON source publishes a Level 2 item count, duration, assessment mode, passing score, domain weights or retake rule. Treat any third-party claim of '100 questions, 120 minutes, 60% to pass' as unverified.

Q: Is HSE Level 2 the same as General HSE?

No. ISPON's course table lists them as separate courses at separate fees - General HSE at N150,000 and HSE Level 2 at N120,000 - alongside HSE Level 1 (N100,000) and HSE Level 3 (N150,000). Confirm which offering you are actually booking before you pay.

Q: Who is ISPON HSE Level 2 aimed at?

Marana Global Services, listed on ISPON's course page as an accredited training provider, describes HSE Level 1 and Level 2 as four-day training for undergraduates, OND holders and senior school certificate holders, and states the Level 1-2 route is not suitable for HND or BSc degree holders. Degree holders are directed to General HSE and HSE Level 3, which are the certificates ISPON's membership requirements name.

Q: Does HSE Level 2 qualify me for ISPON membership?

Not on its own. ISPON's published individual-membership requirements list an HND or BSc in a relevant discipline plus General HSE and HSE Level 3 certificates awarded by ISPON, a CV, a project report, an MISPN referee and success in the membership examination and screening. Level 2 is not named in that list.

Q: Which ISPON website should I trust?

Both currently respond. The isponact.com.ng homepage carries a notice that ispon.gov.ng is unavailable and that official information is at isponact.com.ng until further notice, while ispon.gov.ng also publishes notices naming itself as the verified site. Verify the branch, course and payment instructions by phone with an ISPON branch office before sending documents or money.

Q: What do these flashcards cover if there is no official Level 2 syllabus?

They follow the seven review areas already used for this exam ID: hazard identification and risk assessment, HSE management systems, permit to work and isolation, operational and mechanical safety, fire safety and emergency response, occupational health and environment, and security and community relations. Every factual claim is tied to a Nigerian statute or regulation (Factories Act Cap F1, ISPON Act 2014, Employees' Compensation Act 2010, NESREA and NOSDRA rules) or to a recognised standard such as ISO 45001, BS EN 2 and BS EN 3.

Q: Is it illegal to practise safety in Nigeria without ISPON registration?

ISPON states that a person who holds themselves out as a registered safety professional without being on its register commits an offence under the ISPON Act 2014, carrying a fine of up to N100,000 or up to six months' imprisonment for an individual, and not less than N500,000 for a corporate body.

Question 1

Hazard vs risk

Accepted Answer

A hazard is the source with potential to cause harm - a live 415 V panel, an unguarded trench, a drum of solvent. Risk is how likely that harm is and how severe it would be. You eliminate or control a hazard; you rate and accept a risk.

Question 2

The four stages of HEMP (Hazards and Effects Management Process)

Accepted Answer

Identify the hazards, Assess the risk, Control the risk, and Recover if control fails. The Recover stage is what separates HEMP from a plain risk assessment: it forces you to plan emergency response and mitigation for the case where your controls do not hold.

Question 3

How a 5x5 risk matrix produces a decision

Accepted Answer

Likelihood (1-5) is plotted against severity (1-5). The band the cell falls into, not the arithmetic score, sets the action: red means stop and re-engineer, amber means extra controls plus management approval, green means manage by routine procedure. Two jobs can score 9 and need completely different responses.

Question 4

ALARP - and when you may stop adding controls

Accepted Answer

As Low As Reasonably Practicable. You keep adding controls until the cost, time and effort of the next one is grossly disproportionate to the risk it removes. Above the intolerable line the work must not proceed whatever the cost of fixing it.

Question 5

The five levels of the hierarchy of controls, strongest first

Accepted Answer

Elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, PPE. The first three change the workplace, so they keep protecting when someone forgets or rushes; the last two depend on correct human behaviour every single time.

Question 6

What a Job Safety Analysis actually produces

Accepted Answer

The task is broken into its sequential steps; each step gets its own hazards, its own controls and a named person responsible. A document that lists site hazards without the step-by-step sequence and owners is a hazard list, not a JSA.

Question 7

Inherent risk vs residual risk

Accepted Answer

Inherent risk is the risk before controls. Residual risk is what remains once the chosen controls are in place and actually working. Sign-off is given against residual risk, which is why a control that exists only on paper makes the whole assessment false.

Question 8

What the accident ratio triangle says about near misses

Accepted Answer

Bird's study found roughly 1 serious injury for every 10 minor injuries, 30 property-damage events and 600 near misses. The base of the triangle is free data: near misses expose the same system failure before anyone is hurt, so a falling near-miss count is usually a reporting problem, not a safety win.

Question 9

Active vs latent failures in the Swiss cheese model

Accepted Answer

Every defence layer has holes. Active failures are the front-line errors made seconds before the loss. Latent failures are the earlier management decisions - poor design, understaffing, weak procedures, deferred maintenance - that cut the holes months before. Blaming only the active failure leaves the holes open.

Question 10

ISO 45001:2018 and the end of OHSAS 18001

Accepted Answer

ISO 45001 replaced OHSAS 18001, whose certificates ceased to be valid after a migration deadline extended to 30 September 2021. It uses the Annex SL high-level structure and the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle, and makes consultation and participation of workers a system requirement, not an optional extra.

Question 11

Leading vs lagging HSE indicators

Accepted Answer

Leading indicators measure prevention before loss - inspections closed out, permits audited, toolbox talks held, actions overdue. Lagging indicators count outcomes after loss - LTIFR, fatalities, spill volumes. A site judged only on lagging numbers quietly learns to under-report.

Question 12

Workplace inspection vs management-system audit

Accepted Answer

An inspection checks physical conditions at a point in time: guards, housekeeping, PPE, access. An audit tests whether the system works, by sampling records, interviewing people and comparing what is actually done against the written procedure and the standard.

Question 13

Immediate cause vs root cause in an investigation

Accepted Answer

The immediate cause is the unsafe act or condition at the moment of loss. The root cause is the management-system failure behind it - no training, no management of change, no maintenance regime. Actions closed out at the immediate cause guarantee a repeat event.

Question 14

What the ISPON Act 2014 requires of safety practitioners

Accepted Answer

The Act (No. 2 of 2014) establishes the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria and its statutory register of safety professionals. ISPON states that holding yourself out as registered when you are not, or falsifying the register, is an offence carrying up to N100,000 or six months' imprisonment for an individual and not less than N500,000 for a corporate body.

Question 15

What the Factories Act, Cap F1, LFN 2004 covers

Accepted Answer

Nigeria's principal workplace safety statute, enforced through the factory inspectorate of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment. Its eleven Parts run from registration of factories through health, safety and welfare provisions to notification of accidents, offences and administration.

Question 16

Which accidents must be notified under section 51 of the Factories Act

Accepted Answer

Any accident in a factory that causes loss of life, or that disables an employed person for more than three days from doing the work they were employed to do. The occupier must send written notice forthwith, in the prescribed form, to the inspector of the district; failing to report is an offence.

Question 17

The reporting clocks in the Employees' Compensation Act 2010

Accepted Answer

The employee, or the dependant where there is a death, must inform the employer within 14 days. The employer must report the injury to the NSITF Board and the nearest office of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health within 7 days, and must report a death immediately.

Question 18

What the employer pays under the Employees' Compensation Act 2010

Accepted Answer

A minimum monthly contribution of 1.0 per cent of total monthly payroll into the Compensation Fund managed by the NSITF. The scheme pays scheduled compensation for work injury and occupational disease from that fund, so an injured worker does not have to prove employer negligence to be compensated.

Question 19

What a permit to work is - and what it is not

Accepted Answer

A written authorisation that one specific job, in one specific place, within a stated time window, may proceed under stated controls. It is not a risk assessment and it cannot make an unsafe job safe. The job is not finished until the permit is handed back and formally closed.

Question 20

The permit roles that must never be held by one person

Accepted Answer

The performing authority does the work, the issuing authority verifies conditions at the worksite and signs the permit, and the area or asset owner accepts the job into their operating area. Self-issue destroys the independent check that the whole system exists to provide.

Question 21

Lockout/tagout: why every exposed worker fits their own lock

Accepted Answer

Isolate, de-energise, dissipate stored energy, lock, tag, then attempt a start to prove zero energy. Each person exposed applies a personal lock to the hasp or group lockbox, so equipment cannot be re-energised until the last worker has removed their own lock.

Question 22

Gas-test acceptance criteria before confined space entry

Accepted Answer

Oxygen between 19.5 and 23.5 per cent, flammable gas below 10 per cent of the LEL, and every toxic gas below its exposure limit. Test in that order - oxygen first - because combustible and toxic sensors give unreliable readings in an oxygen-deficient atmosphere.

Question 23

Positive isolation vs a closed valve

Accepted Answer

A closed valve can pass, be reopened by someone else, or fail. Positive isolation physically breaks the path: a spade or blind inserted, a spool piece removed, or double block and bleed with the bleed left open and monitored so any leak shows itself.

Question 24

What makes a hot work permit valid on site

Accepted Answer

Combustibles removed or protected within the work radius, a gas test at zero per cent LEL before ignition and repeated after breaks, an extinguisher and a dedicated fire watch with no other duties, and that fire watch maintained for at least 60 minutes after work stops (NFPA 51B 2019 raised this from the old 30 minutes), with the area monitored afterwards, because slag can smoulder unseen.

Question 25

The fall height that triggers protection under Nigeria's Factories Act

Accepted Answer

Section 28(7): where a person works somewhere they are liable to fall more than two metres, fencing or other means must be provided so far as is reasonably practicable, unless the place gives secure foothold and handhold. Do not quote the American six-foot trigger on a Nigerian site.

Question 26

Which lifting gear needs a six-monthly thorough examination in Nigeria

Accepted Answer

Hoists and lifts, and all chains, ropes and lifting tackle in use, must be thoroughly examined at least once in every period of six months by a competent person under the Factories Act, with the outcome entered in the statutory register kept for that equipment.

Question 27

Which equipment gets a fourteen-month statutory examination in Nigeria

Accepted Answer

Cranes and other lifting machines - once every fourteen months and after any substantial alteration or repair. Steam boilers and all their fittings - by an authorised boiler inspector at least once every fourteen months and after extensive repairs. Both intervals come from the Factories Act.

Question 28

Fixed guard vs interlocked guard

Accepted Answer

A fixed guard has no moving parts and needs a tool to remove. An interlocked guard cuts power or brakes the motion when opened and stays locked until dangerous motion has stopped. The Factories Act separately requires every prime mover and dangerous part of machinery to be securely fenced.

Question 29

How often a scaffold must be inspected

Accepted Answer

Before first use, after assembly or alteration, after any event that could affect stability such as impact or high wind, and at intervals not exceeding seven days while in use - by a competent person, and recorded. The seven-day rule comes from the UK Work at Height Regulations 2005 and is the interval most Nigerian sites adopt; the Factories Act sets no scaffold interval.

Question 30

Why PPE is the last line of defence

Accepted Answer

PPE leaves the hazard in place and only works if it is the right type, correctly fitted, actually worn and maintained - and it fails silently. Section 47 of the Factories Act requires the employer to provide and maintain suitable protective clothing and appliances where a process involves excessive wet or injurious or offensive substances.

Question 31

Nigeria's permissible workplace noise levels

Accepted Answer

The National Environmental (Noise Standards and Control) Regulations 2009 set 85 dB(A) Leq for 8 hours daily (40 hours weekly) in a factory or workshop, then halve the permitted time for every 3 dB rise: 88 dB(A) for 4 hours, 91 for 2 hours, 94 for 1 hour, 97 for 30 minutes and 100 for 15 minutes.

Question 32

The NIOSH load constant for manual lifting

Accepted Answer

23 kg (51 lb) is the most that should be lifted under ideal conditions - load at knuckle height, held close to the body, no twisting, good grip, infrequent lifting. The recommended weight limit falls steeply as horizontal distance, twist, frequency or grip quality get worse.

Question 33

Fire triangle vs fire tetrahedron

Accepted Answer

The triangle is fuel, oxygen and heat - remove any one and the fire dies. The tetrahedron adds the uninhibited chemical chain reaction, the fourth side that dry powder and clean agents attack chemically, which is why they knock flame down without mainly cooling or smothering.

Question 34

The fire classes in the European/UK system (BS EN 2)

Accepted Answer

A solids such as wood, paper and textiles; B flammable liquids; C flammable gases; D metals; F cooking oils and fats. Electrical is not a class - it is a live ignition source, so you choose an agent that is safe on live equipment, such as CO2.

Question 35

Extinguisher colour codes on a red body (BS EN 3)

Accepted Answer

The body is red and a colour band names the agent: water red, foam cream, dry powder blue, CO2 black, wet chemical yellow. Wet chemical is the Class F agent for cooking oils; CO2 leaves no residue but can asphyxiate in an enclosed space and its horn causes cold burns.

Question 36

PASS - and the decision to walk away instead

Accepted Answer

Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the flames, Squeeze the handle, Sweep side to side. Only fight a fire if the alarm has been raised, the fire is small and not spreading, you have the correct extinguisher and training, and your escape route is clear behind you.

Question 37

Why the muster-point roll call matters more than a head count

Accepted Answer

A roll call names who is unaccounted for, which is the only information that can justify sending rescuers back inside; a bare head count cannot. Visitors and contractors must be on the list, and lifts are never used in evacuation because power loss traps occupants and the shaft carries smoke.

Question 38

First-aid provision required in a Nigerian factory

Accepted Answer

Section 43 of the Factories Act requires a readily accessible first-aid box of the prescribed standard, with one additional box for every further 150 persons employed, nothing but first-aid items kept inside, and a named responsible person available in working hours whose name is posted in the workroom.

Question 39

The 16-section Safety Data Sheet and which sections you use first

Accepted Answer

A GHS-aligned SDS always has sixteen sections in a fixed order. In an incident go straight to Section 4 first aid, Section 5 fire-fighting and Section 6 accidental release; for day-to-day control use Section 7 handling and storage and Section 8 exposure limits and PPE.

Question 40

The GHS pictogram most often misread

Accepted Answer

A flame over a circle means oxidiser, not flammable. An oxidiser supplies its own oxygen, so it will drive a fire even where air is excluded and must be segregated from fuels, solvents and organic material in storage.

Question 41

Why the smell of hydrogen sulphide is not a warning device

Accepted Answer

H2S smells of rotten eggs at trace levels, but around 100 ppm it paralyses the sense of smell within minutes, so the warning vanishes exactly as the danger peaks. 100 ppm is also the NIOSH IDLH; ACGIH sets 1 ppm as the 8-hour limit and 5 ppm short-term. Trust a calibrated detector, never your nose.

Question 42

TWA vs STEL vs ceiling limit

Accepted Answer

A TWA is averaged across an 8-hour shift, so short peaks can hide inside a compliant average. A STEL is a 15-minute average that must not be exceeded. A ceiling must not be exceeded at any instant. Meeting the TWA is no evidence that the STEL was met.

Question 43

The waste management hierarchy, best option first

Accepted Answer

Prevent, reduce, reuse, recycle, recover energy, and dispose only as the last resort. Segregation at source is what keeps the upper options available: once hazardous waste is mixed into a general stream, the entire stream must be handled and paid for as hazardous.

Question 44

NESREA or NOSDRA - which Nigerian agency do you report to?

Accepted Answer

NESREA enforces environmental standards and regulations in every sector other than oil and gas. An oil spill goes to NOSDRA, which must be notified in writing within 24 hours; failing to report attracts N500,000 for each day of default, and failing to clean up the impacted site attracts a further N1,000,000.

Question 45

Security survey vs security audit

Accepted Answer

A survey is the baseline assessment of a site's assets, threats and vulnerabilities that recommends what protection is needed. An audit tests compliance with the security plan and standards already in force. You survey first, then audit what was actually implemented.

Question 46

Threat, vulnerability and consequence in a security vulnerability assessment

Accepted Answer

Threat is an adversary's capability and intent, which you cannot change. Vulnerability is the weakness that lets the threat succeed, which you can. Consequence is what is lost if it does. Because security risk combines all three, controls are aimed at vulnerability and consequence.

Question 47

The four functions of layered physical security

Accepted Answer

Deter, detect, delay, respond. Each layer buys time, and the design rule is that total delay must exceed the response time of the guard force. If it does not, the layers merely record the loss on CCTV instead of preventing it.

Question 48

What a journey management plan actually controls

Accepted Answer

An assessed and approved route, an authorised driver and a checked vehicle, departure and arrival call-in times with an overdue trigger, rest breaks and maximum driving hours, and a no-night-driving rule in high-risk areas. The overdue trigger is the element that actually raises the alarm when something goes wrong.

Question 49

The role of a Community Liaison Officer

Accepted Answer

The CLO is the formal two-way channel between the operation and the host community: logging grievances, communicating planned work such as flaring or heavy haulage, and managing local content expectations. A documented grievance mechanism with response deadlines is what stops disputes escalating into site shutdowns.

Question 50

First actions in a kidnap or hostage incident

Accepted Answer

Activate the crisis management team and route everything through one trained spokesperson, notify the security agencies, and follow the plan - never ad-hoc negotiation or payment arranged by colleagues. Establish proof of life, and preserve every call log, message and note as evidence.

Free ISPON HSE Level 2 Exam Flashcards

Filter by Topic

Jump to Card

About These ISPON HSE Level 2 Flashcards

Topics Covered

Frequently Asked Questions

ISPON HSE Level 2 Training Course

Explore More Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON)

ISPON HSE Level 3 (Supervisory HSE) Examination

ISPON HSE Level 1 (Basic HSE) Examination

ISPON Professional Membership Examination