Struggling to understand which NEBOSH IG1 exam question matches which topic? Use this post to easily map each question to the correct RRC book element. Save time, study smarter, and prepare with confidence for your NEBOSH exam.
Here’s a detailed RRC NEBOSH IG1 Topic Mapping guide to help you decode every exam question easily. This topic mapping aligns the IG1 syllabus elements with typical command words used in the exam (e.g. Identify, Outline, Explain) and shows how they relate to real exam questions.
✅ NEBOSH IG1 – Element & Topic Mapping to Exam Questions
🔹 Element 1: Why We Should Manage Workplace Health and Safety
| Sub-topic | Typical Command Words | Exam Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1.1 – Moral, legal, and financial reasons | Explain, Outline | “Explain the moral reasons for managing health and safety at work.” |
| 1.2 – Role of enforcement | Outline, Describe | “Outline how a health and safety inspector may enforce compliance.” |
Exam Tip: These questions test your understanding and ability to justify actions. Always relate answers to legal duties, costs of accidents, and human suffering.
🔹 Element 2: How Health and Safety Management Systems Work and What They Look Like
| Sub-topic | Typical Command Words | Exam Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 2.1 – Plan | Describe, Outline | “Outline what should be included in an effective health and safety policy.” |
| 2.2 – Do | Identify, Outline | “Identify checks that a supervisor could carry out before work begins.” |
| 2.3 – Check | Explain, Describe | “Explain how health and safety performance can be monitored.” |
| 2.4 – Act | Explain | “Explain the purpose of reviewing health and safety performance.” |
Exam Tip: Think in terms of the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle (PDCA). Many questions will ask you to apply this model.
🔹 Element 3: Managing Risk – Understanding People and Processes
| Sub-topic | Typical Command Words | Exam Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 3.1 – Risk assessment process | Outline, Explain | “Explain the steps in the risk assessment process.” |
| 3.2 – Risk control hierarchy | Identify, Outline | “Identify risk control measures and place them in the hierarchy.” |
| 3.3 – Human factors | Explain | “Explain how stress can affect worker performance.” |
| 3.4 – Safe systems of work | Outline, Explain | “Outline key features of a permit-to-work system.” |
| 3.5 – Emergency procedures | Outline | “Outline what should be included in a fire emergency plan.” |
| 3.6 – First aid | Identify | “Identify key provisions of first aid at work.” |
Exam Tip: Apply practical thinking. Use real-life work scenarios when giving examples. NEBOSH loves application-based answers.
🔹 Element 4: Health and Safety Monitoring and Measuring
| Sub-topic | Typical Command Words | Exam Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 4.1 – Active and reactive monitoring | Explain, Identify | “Explain the difference between active and reactive monitoring.” |
| 4.2 – Investigating incidents | Outline, Explain | “Outline what should be included in an accident investigation.” |
| 4.3 – Auditing | Describe, Outline | “Describe the features of an effective health and safety audit.” |
| 4.4 – Review of performance | Explain, Describe | “Explain why reviewing health and safety performance is important.” |
Exam Tip: Know the difference between monitoring, auditing, and reviewing. Structure your answers based on cause–effect–action logic.
🔍 Command Word Decoding Cheat Sheet
| Command Word | What It Means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Identify | Name or list | “Identify hazards in the workplace” = list without detail |
| Outline | Give a brief description | “Outline how to report an incident” = what + why |
| Describe | Give a detailed account | “Describe a risk assessment” = what + how |
| Explain | Provide reasons or causes | “Explain why PPE is last in hierarchy” = show relationships |
🧠 Pro Tips to Decode IG1 Scenario-Based Questions
- Read the scenario twice – Once for understanding, once to highlight keywords.
- Spot the “obvious” hazards or system failures – These often hint at topics from IG1.
- Link the issue to syllabus elements – Example: Poor training → Element 3 (human factors).
- Match the command word carefully – Don’t over-explain if asked to “Identify”.
- Use bullet points when appropriate – Especially when outlining or identifying.
📘 Example Mapping: Practice Question Breakdown
Scenario: A worker slips on oil spilled near machinery and suffers a minor injury. There was no signage or clean-up procedure in place.
| Question | Element | Command Word | What to Do |
|---|---|---|---|
| “Identify the immediate causes of the incident” | Element 3 (3.1) | Identify | List causes: oil spill, no signage |
| “Explain how this incident could have been prevented” | Element 3 (3.2, 3.4) | Explain | Show how SSW and risk controls would prevent it |
If you’d like a printable or editable version (e.g. in Excel or PDF), let me know and I’ll create it for you.