IOSH Measuring Performance

Question 1

What is a 'leading indicator' in health and safety performance measurement?

Accepted Answer

A proactive measure that monitors activities and conditions before incidents occur, such as training completion rates or inspection findings

Answer

An indicator that shows past performance

Answer

An indicator that measures the financial cost of accidents

Answer

An indicator based only on accident statistics

Question 2

What is a 'lagging indicator' in health and safety performance measurement?

Accepted Answer

A reactive measure based on outcomes such as accident rates, lost-time injuries, occupational illness rates and enforcement actions

Answer

An indicator that measures future safety performance

Answer

An indicator that is always slow to produce results

Answer

An indicator used only by the HSE

Question 3

What is the purpose of a workplace safety audit?

Accepted Answer

To systematically evaluate whether the health and safety management system is achieving its objectives and complying with standards

Answer

To replace the need for risk assessments

Answer

To prepare for an HSE inspection

Answer

To check that workers are wearing PPE

Question 4

What is the difference between a safety 'inspection' and a safety 'audit'?

Accepted Answer

An inspection examines physical workplace conditions; an audit evaluates the management system, policies and procedures

Answer

There is no difference

Answer

An audit is a shorter process; an inspection takes longer

Answer

Inspections are legal requirements; audits are voluntary

Question 5

What is a 'Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate' (LTIFR)?

Accepted Answer

The number of lost-time injuries per 1,000,000 hours worked, used to benchmark safety performance

Answer

The number of injuries per employee

Answer

The total number of days lost to injury

Answer

The average number of injuries per month

Question 6

Why is it important to use both leading and lagging indicators?

Accepted Answer

Leading indicators measure prevention efforts while lagging indicators measure outcomes — together they give a complete picture of safety performance

Answer

Lagging indicators are sufficient on their own

Answer

Leading indicators are too expensive to measure

Answer

Only lagging indicators are recognised by the HSE