NEBOSH HSE Certificate in Health and Safety Leadership Excellence

Unit HSL1: Health and safety leadership

Lesson plan
Contents
General information .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1
Element 1.1: Reasons for health and safety leadership, organisational health and safety vision and business benefits of excellent health and safety leadership ........... 2
Assessment Activity 1 ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 3
Element 1.2: The moral, legal and financial reasons for good health and safety leadership ............................................................................................................................ 3
Element 1.3: How leaders can gain assurance that health and safety is being managed effectively ............................................................................................................... 7
Element 1.4: How good leadership can positively influence health and safety culture .................................................................................................................................... 8
Assessment activity 2 ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 9
Element 2.1: Impact of human failure and the HSE’s ‘Make it happen’ model................................................................................................................................................ 12
Assessment activity 3 ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Element 2.2: Mental short cuts, perception biases, habits and beliefs and how they influence decision making......................................................................................... 14
Element 3.1: Transformational, authentic, resonant and transactional leadership styles .............................................................................................................................. 16
Element 3.2: The five values and supporting foundations of the HSE’s health and safety leadership model ................................................................................................ 16
Assessment activity 4 ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 17
Element 3.3: How relationships with the workforce can be built by effective leadership communication ................................................................................................... 17
Assessment activity 5 ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 21
Last activity ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 22

NEBOSH HSE Certificate in Health and Safety Leadership Excellence

Unit HSL1 Lesson Plan
Version: 1
Published: July 2018

© NEBOSH 2018 Unit HSL1 lesson plan

General information
Tutor: Qualification title: NEBOSH HSE Certificate in Health and Safety Leadership Excellence

Number of adult learners: Knowledge/ability assumed:

• The qualification shows leaders how they can become better advocates and influencers in relation to
health and safety and has been designed for senior business leaders or those aspiring to this
position.
Lesson aims - the aims of the session are to:
As per the guide to the NEBOSH HSE Certificate in Health and Safety Leadership Excellence
https://www.nebosh.org.uk/Qualifications/Certificate/default.asp?cref=1873
Objectives (learning outcomes) - by the end of the session students should be able to:
As per the guide to the NEBOSH HSE Certificate in Health and Safety Leadership Excellence
https://www.nebosh.org.uk/Qualifications/Certificate/default.asp?cref=1873
Assessment of Learning – how will I tell whether learning has taken place? By:
Continuous assessment through Q&A, observation of discussions and the formal assessments, based on the leadership values, that will be marked by
the appointed course tutor (internal assessor) throughout the course delivery
http://www.nebosh.org.uk/fileupload/upload/HSL1%20Guidance%20and%20information%20%20v3572018421516.pdf
Brief reasoning for the way the lesson has been planned:
This lesson plan is very detailed but flexible - it should be tailored to a group’s prior learning. There are more activities included than you could
comfortably use, so just choose a selection, depending on time. The speed of progress may be more rapid with some groups than with others (this also
depends on numbers too, of course). The emphasis should be on active learning (that is, where students have to undertake activities which help them
apply the learning and so help them construct their own understanding) and also giving feedback. Feedback is an essential part of assessment; it
enables communication on performance, correction of misunderstandings, and reinforcement of good points but must of course be acted upon to make a
difference. Feedback should be given not only from the teacher but also from students – peer review of assessment responses is actively encouraged.
Differentiation: some students will be more advanced than others. Choose who should present what/scribing/feedback and what activities should be
done by which students sensitively depending on their experience and confidence (e.g. more challenge for the more confident students). One aim is to
build confidence – so giving positive feedback is a constant theme.
Any constraints:
• If only a small number of students, you may have to adapt the group work – it will also take less time.
Suggested equipment/aids to be used:
• Computer, data projector, speakers (if necessary), screen, flipchart, flipchart pads, flipchart pens. Internet access is also desirable.
• Use of a limited number of PowerPoint slides and supporting qualification textbook (as noted later in the lesson plan).
Other notes
For all activities the option is for a tutor led group discussion OR for the individual to consider the question/s (responses can be written against the
relevant activity in the course book) and then get individuals to feedback to the group.

All resources in the ‘Aids and equipment’ column are suggestions only. Accredited course providers can utilise any other resources which they feel
would be appropriate for their audience eg, the video clips are suggestions only and the accredited course provider may wish to use other clips.
© NEBOSH 2018 Unit HSL1 lesson plan 1
 Approximate Content and tutor activity Aids and equipment Student activity
timings
09:00 – 09:05 Welcome and introductions Unit HSL1 Guidance and Open discussion and questions
Include aims of the course, housekeeping arrangements etc. information document when (if relevant) regarding the
talking about the assessment assessment

Introduce the five leadership values and supporting foundations Slide 3 (to introduce the
details on the assessment. leadership values)

Element 1.1: Reasons for health and safety leadership, organisational health and safety vision and business benefits of excellent
health and safety leadership

09:05 – 09:15 What is leadership (definition from CIPD included on the slide) Slides provided Active listening and participation
when required eg, activities and
Activity: the reasons for and benefits of effective health and Course book questioning the tutor as and
safety leadership. when required.
Tutor led
Benefits of health and safety leadership and why it’s important –
reiterate results of activity. The message here is the
expectations of stakeholders; if organisations don’t self-regulate
they may well find that they will get a call from the regulator in
their country eg, the UK’s Health and Safety Executive.

Behaviours/traits and the characteristics of a good health and

safety leader. Emphasise that most good health and safety
leaders will have these behaviour/traits without realising this.
Discuss the behaviours/traits on slides and add any others
which you may think are appropriate for the group.

Activity: health and safety vision, what is it, what vision their
organisation has and what is important to include in a health and
safety vision.

Health and safety vision (one of the HSE’ Health and Safety
Leadership Values) – what it is, why you need one and gaining
buy in from all workers within the organisation.

© NEBOSH 2018 Unit HSL1 lesson plan 2

 Approximate Content and tutor activity Aids and equipment Student activity
timings
09:15 – 09:30 Building and promoting a shared health and safety vision Tutor led Active listening and questioning
(Health and safety leadership value 1) when required.
Slides
Tutor to introduce the first leadership value and advise that this Completion of assessment
is the first part of the assessment. Tutor to explain what is Course book activity 1
required to achieve a shared health and safety vision.

Assessment Activity 1 (L1: Building and promoting a Assessment introduction and

shared health and safety vision) instructions from tutor

Suggested assessment time: 10 minutes Unit HSL1 Guidance and

information document

Assessment sheet for L1

https://www.nebosh.org.uk/st
udents/currently_studying/def
ault.asp?cref=1880

Element 1.2: The moral, legal and financial reasons for good health and safety leadership

09:30 – 09:55 Moral (suggested delivery time 5 minutes) Tutor led Active listening and participation
Societal expectations of health and safety leaders. Talk about when required eg, questioning
HSE initiatives in the UK such as the ‘Go home healthy’ Slides provided the tutor as and when required.
campaign. If overseas, you can tailor this content if the country
of delivery have any specific campaigns at the time of the course Course book
delivery.

Risk profile – refer to HSG65 which states that “effective leaders Managing for health and
and line managers know the risks their organisations face, rank safety, HSG65
them in order of importance and take action to control them. http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/
The range of risks goes beyond health and safety risks to books/hsg65.htm
include quality, environmental and asset damage, but issues in
one area could impact in another”.
© NEBOSH 2018 Unit HSL1 lesson plan 3
 Approximate Content and tutor activity Aids and equipment Student activity
timings
The specifics of the risk profile are discussed under Element 1.3.

Responsibility and accountability for health and safety AND

protection of workers from reprisals. Both of these topics are
clauses of ISO 45001:2018. Both can be seen as drivers for
improvement in health and safety culture; this is about getting
buy-in from the workforce/belief in the health and safety leader.

Legal (suggested delivery time 15 minutes)

Tutor to explain that the role of legislation is to help protect the
health and safety of the workforce. This is done by imposing
legal duties on employers with employers or individuals likely to
have penalties imposed should a breach of legislation occur.

Limitations: tutor to talk through those on the slide but can

provide other relevant examples if called for eg, country or
sector specific examples if applicable.

IMPORTANT: The following content is for delivery within the UK

and looks only at UK specific law and penalties.

UK Content:
Health and Safety at Work Act etc. 1974. Talk through
generalities (including a brief explanation of goal setting and
prescriptive legislation (depending on the audience)).

IMPORTANT NOTE: If delivering the qualification in Northern

Ireland, refer to the Sections from the Health and Safety at Work
(Northern Ireland) Order 1978 and the Interpretation Act
(Northern Ireland) 1954.

Explain the concept of ‘reasonably practicable’. Reasonable practicable

definition from Risk
assessment, A brief guide to
© NEBOSH 2018 Unit HSL1 lesson plan 4
 Approximate Content and tutor activity Aids and equipment Student activity
timings
Discuss Sections 2 and 3 and the duties of a leader under each controlling risks in the
section. workplace, INDG163
Section 36 – give example to show how a possible breach of this http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/
section could lead to a prosecution. indg163.pdf
If poor advice from a senior manager to a worker leads to a
breach of duty, the senior manager could be prosecuted. The
organisation may also be prosecuted but it would depend on the
level of culpability.
Explain that prosecutions under Section 36 are not very
common, but leaders do need to be aware of it.

Section 37 – discuss what needs to be evidenced to bring a Section 37 examples from

prosecution under this section and the possible penalties course book (UK delivery)
available to the court.

Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 – when it can be

used and the possible penalties.

Involuntary manslaughter – when it applies, possible penalties

and the four stage legal test for bringing a prosecution.

Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 –

who it applies to, when the charges can be brought and possible
penalties.

If delivering the qualification in England, Wales or Northern

Ireland use the following section:

Sentencing in England, Wales and Northern Ireland

The health and safety offences and corporate manslaughter
sentencing guidelines – emphasis that fines are an uninsurable Sentencing Guidelines
cost and that any fine is based on the organisation’s turnover Definitive Guidelines (UK
not profit. Talk through what the judge considers when setting delivery)
the fine: https://www.sentencingcouncil.o
• level of culpability; rg.uk/wp-content/uploads/HS-
• harm category; offences-definitive-guideline-
FINAL-web.pdf
• size of the organisation;
© NEBOSH 2018 Unit HSL1 lesson plan 5
 Approximate Content and tutor activity Aids and equipment Student activity
timings
• starting point for the fine; and
• maximum and minimum fines available.

Discuss possible fines available for:

• Organisations breaching health and safety legislation
• Organisations for breaching the Corporate Manslaughter
Act
• Individuals ie, Section 37 prosecutions.

If delivering the qualification in Scotland use the following

section: Scottish Sentencing Council
– more detail on sentencing
Sentencing in Scotland factors.
• No formal sentencing guidelines. https://www.scottishsentencin
• Sentencing Factors which judges can consider. gcouncil.org.uk/about-
• Judge to decide which factors are relevant and the sentencing/sentencing-
weight to give to each. factors/
• Types of general factors.
• Types of aggravating factors.
• Types of mitigating factors.
• Maximum fines available in the Scottish Courts. International Labour
Organisation information
IMPORTANT: The following content is for delivery outside of the (international delivery)
UK. Course providers can include content here which is http://www.ilo.org/global/abou
relevant to the legal system of the country of delivery. t-the-ilo/lang--en/index.htm
This page contains a short 4
Group discussion around the different levels of standards and minute video which can be
enforcement around the globe. It is important for students to used to talk through the ILO’s
understand that when operating in a country with a robust health role (if required).
and safety legal system they may find that standards are very
ILO, C155 Occupational
different in the rest of the world.
Safety and Health
Convention, 1981
Factors which could affect health and safety standards – talk
(international delivery)
through those on the slide and any other relevant examples.
https://www.ilo.org/dyn/norml
This can be done as either tutor led or a group discussion.
ex/en/f?p=NORMLEXPUB:12

© NEBOSH 2018 Unit HSL1 lesson plan 6

 Approximate Content and tutor activity Aids and equipment Student activity
timings
Brief overview of the International Labour Organisation (who 100:0::NO::p12100_instrume
they are and what they do – this could be partly done by nt_id:312300
showing the ILO video). Discuss the requirements of Article 20
of the Occupational Health and Safety Convention 1981.

Financial (suggested delivery time 5 minutes)

Typical costs associated with breach of health and safety
standards. Go through slide and add any other relevant
examples if required. UK health and safety
statistics, HSE website
Go through the statistics provided and show how these relate http://www.hse.gov.uk/statisti
back to an organisation. cs/
NOTE: There are two slides included for this, one is for use
when delivery in the UK and the other is for international
audiences. NEBOSH has provided average stats over the last
five years. However, you are able to use the latest stats in your
presentation if you prefer.

If delivery overseas and there are more relevant stats available

for the country of delivery, please use these when delivery the
course internationally.

Explain the real costs of accidents: 1:8 ratio (every £1 received

in insurance payments £8 is unrecoverable, but could be as high
as £36). Ask group for examples of insured and uninsured
costs.

Element 1.3: How leaders can gain assurance that health and safety is being managed effectively

09:55 – 10:15 Students should gain an understanding of ‘the context of the Tutor led Active listening and participation
organisation’. Understanding who the organisation’s when required eg, questioning
stakeholders are and what they require from the organisation is Slides provided the tutor as and when required.
important knowledge for a health and safety leader.
© NEBOSH 2018 Unit HSL1 lesson plan 7