NEBOSH Practical Assessment: Complete Guide to the NG2

When You Book Multiple Courses.

The NEBOSH practical assessment, known as the NG2, is one of two units you must pass to achieve the NEBOSH General Certificate. Many delegates focus most of their preparation on the NG1 open book exam and underestimate the NG2. This guide explains exactly what the practical assessment involves, how NEBOSH marks it, and how to produce a submission that passes first time.

What Is the NEBOSH NG2 Practical Assessment?

The NG2 is a workplace risk assessment. You visit a real workplace, identify hazards across the site, evaluate the level of risk each hazard presents, and produce a written report that includes your recommended controls.

The assessment has two parts:

Part 1 — Observation sheet: a structured record of the hazards you identify during your workplace inspection
Part 2 — Written report: a management-level summary that prioritises risks, justifies your recommendations, and sets out an action plan

You submit both parts together within the window NEBOSH sets after your NG1 examination date.

Choosing a Workplace for Your NG2

Fortunately, you can carry out your NG2 in any real workplace environment. Most delegates use their own place of work. If your workplace is not suitable, your training provider can help you identify an alternative.

Choose a workplace with genuine variety. A site with multiple hazard types gives you more to observe and more opportunity to demonstrate competence. Construction sites, manufacturing facilities, warehouses, retail premises, and care settings all work well. A small single-room office with no visible hazards makes it very difficult to produce a thorough submission.

You do not need permission from NEBOSH to use a particular workplace. However, you do need permission from the site owner or manager before carrying out your inspection.

Carrying Out the Workplace Inspection

First, walk the workplace systematically. Do not rush. Cover every area, including storage areas, loading bays, welfare facilities, plant rooms, and any outdoor spaces associated with the site. Take notes as you go. Photographs are helpful for reference when writing your report, though you do not submit photographs as part of the assessment.

For each hazard you identify, note:

The specific hazard and its location
Who is at risk and how many people are affected
What controls are already in place
Your assessment of the remaining risk level
What additional controls you recommend

NEBOSH expects you to identify a minimum of ten hazards in your observation sheet. Most strong submissions contain between fifteen and twenty, covering a range of hazard categories including physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, and psychosocial hazards where relevant to the site.

Completing the NG2 Observation Sheet

The observation sheet is a structured table. Each row covers one hazard. NEBOSH provides a template, and your training provider will supply this. Use it exactly as provided. Do not reformat it or create your own version.

Above all, be specific in each hazard entry. “Slipping hazard” is too vague. “Wet floor surface in the loading bay entrance due to rainwater tracked in from the yard, with no non-slip matting or wet floor signage in place” is the level of detail NEBOSH markers look for. Vague observations lose marks even when the hazard itself is correctly identified.

Your risk rating must also be consistent with a recognised risk matrix. The likelihood and severity scores you assign should reflect the conditions you observed, not selected arbitrarily.

Writing the NG2 Management Report

Second, the written management report forms Part 2. This is where many delegates lose marks. The report must go beyond listing hazards. It needs to demonstrate management-level thinking: prioritisation, justification, and a realistic action plan.

Your report should include:

An introduction describing the workplace, the scope of the inspection, and the methodology you used
A summary of findings that prioritises the highest-risk hazards and explains why they are the priority
Justification for your recommendations referencing relevant legislation, industry standards, or established good practice where appropriate
A prioritised action plan with specific actions, responsible persons, and target completion dates
A review date for the overall risk assessment

Finally, write the report as if presenting it to a senior manager who was not present during the inspection. It should be clear, professional, and actionable.

Common NG2 Mistakes to Avoid

Vague control recommendations. “Provide training” is not sufficient. Specify what training, for whom, how frequently, and delivered by whom.
Failing to prioritise. Your report must show that you can distinguish between higher and lower risks. If you treat everything as equally urgent, the report lacks management value.
Copying content from textbooks. NEBOSH markers identify generic text. Base your report on what you actually observed in the specific workplace you visited.
Missing the submission deadline. NEBOSH sets a firm window for NG2 submission after the NG1 exam date. Missing it means waiting for the next assessment cycle.
Not using the NEBOSH template. Submitting in a different format can result in marks being withheld even if the content is good.

Get Support From Your Tutor Before Submitting

Before you submit, your training provider can review your NG2. This is one of the most valuable things you can do. A tutor review identifies gaps in your observation sheet, weaknesses in your risk ratings, and areas of the management report that need strengthening. Target Zero tutors support delegates through the NG2 assessment period as part of the course delivery.

Book Your NEBOSH Course With Target Zero

Target Zero Training delivers the NEBOSH General Certificate in classroom and online formats across the UK. Our tutors guide you through both the NG1 open book exam and the NG2 practical assessment, including pre-submission reviews to help you submit with confidence.

Target Zero holds a 4.9 out of 5.0 rating on both Trustpilot and Reviews.io, with over 10,000 reviews collectively. To check upcoming NEBOSH dates or discuss your requirements, call 01245 379496 or email sales@targetzerogroup.co.uk.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NEBOSH NG2 practical assessment?

The NG2 is a workplace risk assessment you carry out in a real environment. You produce a structured observation sheet identifying hazards and a written management report with prioritised recommendations. Submit both parts within NEBOSH’s assessment window.

How long does the NEBOSH practical assessment take?

The workplace inspection itself takes a few hours depending on the size of the site. Writing up the observation sheet and management report typically takes one to two days of focused work. You have a set submission window after your NG1 exam date to complete and submit both parts.

How many hazards do I need to identify in the NG2?

NEBOSH expects a minimum of ten hazards in the observation sheet. Strong submissions typically identify fifteen to twenty across a range of hazard categories. Quality and specificity matter more than quantity.

Can I use my own workplace for the NEBOSH NG2?

Yes. Most delegates use their own place of work. You need permission from the site owner or manager before carrying out your inspection. If your workplace is not suitable, your training provider can suggest an alternative.

What happens if I fail the NEBOSH NG2?

You can resubmit the NG2 independently of the NG1. If you pass the NG1 but fail the NG2, you only need to resit the NG2 at the next available opportunity. Your training provider will advise on which areas to strengthen before you resubmit.

Do I need to include photographs in my NG2 submission?

No. Photographs are not required as part of the formal submission. However, taking photographs during your inspection is useful as a reference when writing your report. Do not include them in your submitted documents unless your training provider specifically advises otherwise.