NEBOSH GIC2 Practical Assessment: The Complete Guide to Passing Your Workplace Risk Assessment

What is the NEBOSH GIC2 Assessment?

The GIC2 is the practical component of the NEBOSH IGC qualification. Worth 50% of your overall grade, it requires you to conduct a real workplace risk assessment and submit it for NEBOSH marking.

Unlike the GIC1 exam (which is scenario-based), the GIC2 is conducted in an actual workplace — your own or one you have access to. This is where you demonstrate that you can apply what you've learned.

GIC2 Assessment Requirements

What You Must Submit

1. A completed NEBOSH GIC2 risk assessment using the official template
2. An observation sheet recording the hazards you identified
3. A risk assessment table with hazards, risks, existing controls, and recommendations
4. A management summary (executive brief) communicating findings and priorities
5. Supporting evidence — photographs are strongly recommended

Time Allowed

• You have a set window to complete the assessment (typically aligned with your course schedule)
• The actual workplace inspection should take approximately 1-2 hours
• Writing up the assessment: 4-8 hours
• Total effort: approximately 1-2 days of focused work

Marking Criteria

• Clear identification of workplace hazards
• Appropriate risk assessment methodology
• Relevant existing controls noted
• Practical, prioritised recommendations for improvement
• Professional communication in the management summary
• Evidence of a systematic approach

Step 1: Choose Your Workplace

Ideal Workplaces

The best workplaces for GIC2 have visible, diverse hazards across multiple categories:

Excellent choices:

• Construction sites (active)
• Manufacturing workshops
• Warehouses and logistics centres
• Vehicle workshops / garages
• Food processing facilities
• Agricultural operations
• Mining surface operations
• Hospital / healthcare facilities

Acceptable choices:

• Office environments (if you look carefully, there are hazards)
• Retail spaces
• Schools or educational facilities
• Hotels and hospitality venues

Avoid:

• Empty or unused buildings (insufficient operational hazards)
• Highly controlled environments with minimal hazards
• Workplaces you don't have genuine access to

Permission

Always obtain written permission from the workplace manager before conducting your assessment. Explain:

• You're completing a NEBOSH qualification
• You need to inspect the premises and take photographs
• Your assessment is for educational purposes
• You'll share findings if they wish (good practice)

Step 2: Plan Your Inspection Route

Don't wander randomly. Plan a logical, systematic route that covers:

External Areas

• Car park (vehicle/pedestrian interaction, lighting, surfaces)
• Loading bays (vehicle movement, manual handling)
• External walkways (trip hazards, lighting, weather exposure)
• Waste storage areas (chemical segregation, fire risk, vermin)

Entry and Common Areas

• Reception / entrance (visitor management, emergency information)
• Corridors (obstruction, fire escape routes, lighting)
• Stairs and ramps (handrails, non-slip surfaces, visibility)
• Welfare facilities (toilets, canteen, rest areas)

Operational Areas

• Main workspace (machinery guarding, noise, lighting, ventilation)
• Storage areas (stacking, shelving, hazardous substances)
• Electrical systems (distribution boards, trailing cables, isolation)
• Maintenance areas (tools, equipment condition, chemical storage)

Emergency Provisions

• Fire exits (clear, unlocked, signposted)
• Fire extinguishers (serviced, accessible, correct type)
• First aid (supplies, trained aiders, accessibility)
• Assembly points (identified, accessible)

Step 3: Identify Hazards Systematically

Aim for 15-20 Distinct Hazards

NEBOSH expects a comprehensive assessment. Don't identify only the obvious ones — look deeper:

Categories to Cover

Physical hazards:

• Noise levels (machinery, vehicles)
• Temperature extremes (heat, cold)
• Lighting quality (too dark, glare)
• Vibration (tools, machinery)

Mechanical hazards:

• Unguarded machinery parts
• Damaged tools or equipment
• Vehicle movement in pedestrian areas
• Pressure systems

Chemical hazards:

• Unlabelled containers
• Missing or outdated MSDS/SDS
• Inadequate ventilation near chemicals
• Incorrect chemical storage

Electrical hazards:

• Damaged cables or plugs
• Overloaded sockets
• Missing earth connections
• Water near electrical equipment

Fire hazards:

• Blocked fire exits
• Expired fire extinguishers
• Combustible materials near ignition sources
• Missing fire signage

Ergonomic hazards:

• Poor workstation setup
• Manual handling without training
• Repetitive task design
• Working posture issues

Housekeeping hazards:

• Untidy work areas
• Obstructed walkways
• Poor waste management
• Spillages on floors

Working at height:

• Unsecured ladders
• Missing edge protection
• Workers on roofs without protection
• Unprotected openings

Step 4: Complete the Risk Assessment Table

For Each Hazard, Document:

1. The hazard Be specific: "Unguarded rotating shaft on the lathe machine in the workshop" — not just "machinery."

2. Who might be harmed and how "Machine operators and passing workers could suffer entanglement injuries, including lacerations, fractures, or amputation of fingers/hands."

3. Existing controls already in place Be honest about what's already there: "A warning sign is posted above the machine. Operators have been verbally instructed not to wear loose clothing."

4. Risk rating Use Likelihood × Severity to rate the risk (refer to your course materials for the specific matrix NEBOSH uses).

5. Recommended additional controls Follow the hierarchy:

• Can the hazard be eliminated or substituted?
• Can engineering controls be added? (e.g., machine guard)
• Can administrative controls help? (e.g., permit to work, training)
• Is PPE needed as a last resort?

6. Priority and timescale

• Immediate action (within 24 hours) for high/extreme risks
• Short-term (within 1 week) for significant risks
• Medium-term (within 1 month) for moderate risks
• Ongoing review for lower risks

Step 5: Write the Management Summary

This is where many students lose marks. The management summary is a brief, professional communication to management — typically 200-400 words.

What to Include:

1. Introduction

• When and where the assessment was conducted
• Purpose of the assessment

2. Key Findings Summary

• Total number of hazards identified
• Breakdown by risk level (how many high, medium, low)
• The most significant risks identified

3. Priority Recommendations

• Top 3-5 recommendations requiring urgent action
• Brief justification for each
• Estimated resources or costs if applicable

4. Positive Observations

• Note things that are being done well — this demonstrates balanced professional judgement

5. Conclusion

• Overall assessment of workplace safety
• Recommended review date

Tone and Style

• Write as a professional safety advisor, not as a student
• Be constructive, not confrontational
• Use business language that a manager would understand
• Be concise — managers don't read lengthy reports
• Prioritise — don't give management 20 equal priorities; highlight the top 3-5

Step 6: Take Photographs

While not always mandatory, photographs significantly strengthen your GIC2:

Photography Tips

• Take photos that clearly show the hazard — get close enough
• Include context — show the surrounding area so the examiner understands the location
• Annotate photos where helpful (arrows, labels)
• Don't photograph people's faces — respect privacy
• Take before and after photos if any immediate corrections are made
• Ensure photos are well-lit and in focus

Photo Suggestions

• Wide shots of work areas showing overall conditions
• Close-ups of specific hazards (damaged equipment, missing guards, trailing cables)
• Fire safety issues (blocked exits, expired extinguishers)
• Chemical storage problems
• Housekeeping issues
• Good practices (to show balanced assessment)

Common GIC2 Mistakes to Avoid

1. Too few hazards — aim for 15-20, covering diverse categories
2. Generic hazards — be specific to the actual workplace, not textbook lists
3. Missing the hierarchy of controls — don't jump straight to PPE for every recommendation
4. No prioritisation — treating all risks as equally urgent
5. Poor management summary — either too brief or too detailed
6. No photographs — missing an opportunity to strengthen your evidence
7. Not using the NEBOSH template — always use the official format provided
8. Plagiarism — NEBOSH checks for copied content; your assessment must be original
9. Ignoring existing controls — always note what's already in place
10. Unprofessional presentation — spelling errors, poor formatting, handwritten submissions

Prepare with OHS Compliance Group

Our NEBOSH IGC course includes comprehensive GIC2 preparation:

• Practice risk assessments during the course before your real submission
• GIC2 workshops specifically focused on practical assessment technique
• Template guidance — exactly how to use the NEBOSH format
• Management summary masterclass — learn to write like a safety professional
• Facilitator feedback on practice assessments before your final submission
• Real South African workplace examples — contextualised to our environment

With our Exam preparation and tutor support, you can be confident your GIC2 preparation meets the standard NEBOSH examiners expect.

Start your NEBOSH IGC from R13,500 online — and let us guide you to a first-time pass.