Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, who must take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others affected by their work?
Every employee on site, including you The Act puts a duty on every employee to take reasonable care of themselves and of other people who could be affected by what they do, or don’t do, at work. It also says you must cooperate with your employer on health and safety.
Your employer says you must wear safety boots and a hard hat on site. Who pays for them?
Your employer, at no cost to you Employers must provide the personal protective equipment (PPE) the job needs, and they can’t charge you for it. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 says an employer can’t charge employees for anything it must provide by law for their health and safety.
What are the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) for?
Reporting certain injuries and incidents RIDDOR requires certain work-related injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences to be reported to the enforcing authority. Deaths and specified injuries are among the things that must be reported.
Which of these must be available to workers on a construction site?
Toilets, washbasins and drinking water The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM) set minimum welfare facilities for sites, including toilets, washing facilities and drinking water. They also cover places to rest, change and store clothing.
Which organisation enforces health and safety law on construction sites in Great Britain?
The Health and Safety Executive The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the regulator that enforces health and safety law on construction sites in Great Britain. Its inspectors can visit sites and take action when the law is broken.
What are the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) about?
Controlling exposure to harmful substances COSHH requires employers to prevent or adequately control workers’ exposure to substances hazardous to health, such as some dusts, fumes and chemicals. That starts with assessing the risk before the work begins.
You’ve used a breaker for long spells, and your fingers often tingle and go numb. What could this be an early sign of?
Hand-arm vibration syndrome Tingling and numbness in the fingers are early signs of hand-arm vibration syndrome, caused by regular use of vibrating tools such as breakers. Report the symptoms early, because the damage can become permanent.
What is the main health risk from cutting concrete blocks or kerbs with a dry disc cutter?
Breathing in fine silica dust Cutting concrete, stone and blocks releases fine silica dust, and breathing it in can cause serious lung diseases such as silicosis. That’s why the dust should be controlled, for example with water suppression or on-tool extraction.
You need to move a heavy load by hand. Under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, what should be considered first?
Whether it can be avoided altogether The regulations set an order: avoid hazardous manual handling where you reasonably can, then assess what can’t be avoided and reduce the risk. A lifting aid or a different method may take the load off you altogether.
Which disease can you catch from water or wet ground contaminated with rat urine?
Weil’s disease Weil’s disease is a serious form of leptospirosis, an infection spread through the urine of infected animals such as rats. It can get into the body through cuts or through the mouth, nose and eyes, so cover cuts and wash your hands before eating or smoking.
On site you see a round blue sign with a white symbol on it. What kind of sign is it?
A mandatory sign: you must do it Under the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996, a blue circle with a white symbol is a mandatory sign, telling you something you must do, such as wear eye protection. Prohibition signs are red circles with a red bar, and warning signs are yellow triangles.
A fire starts in a live electrical distribution board. Which type of extinguisher is suitable for it?
Carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide extinguishers are suitable for fires in electrical equipment, because the gas doesn’t conduct electricity. Water, standard foam and wet chemical extinguishers are water-based, so they aren’t for live electrical fires.
What colour are the plugs and sockets on 110 volt site tools and extension leads?
Yellow Industrial plugs and sockets are colour-coded by voltage, and yellow marks the 110 volt supply used for site tools. Blue marks 230 volt and red marks 400 volt.
You need to walk past an excavator that is working. What should you do?
Stop and wait for the operator to see you Before you go near working plant, make sure the operator has seen you and has stopped or signalled that it’s safe. Operators of excavators and other plant can have blind spots, and the machine can slew round.
Who can change the abrasive wheel on a cut-off saw?
Only a trained, competent person Fitting an abrasive wheel wrongly can make it burst in use, so only someone trained and competent should change one. The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) require training for people who use work equipment.
Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, what should you consider first when planning work at height?
Whether working at height can be avoided The regulations set an order: avoid work at height where you reasonably can, then prevent falls where it can’t be avoided, and then reduce the distance and consequences of any fall. Doing the job from the ground, for example with long-handled tools, comes first.
At what angle should a leaning ladder be set?
One unit out for every four units up HSE’s guidance is an angle of 75 degrees, which is the 1 in 4 rule: one unit out from the wall at the base for every four units up. Too steep and the ladder can tip back, too shallow and the foot can slide out.
A scaffold board is in the way of your work. Who may move it or change the scaffold?
Only a competent scaffolder Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, a scaffold must be put up, changed and taken down only under a competent person’s supervision, by people trained for the work. Removing a board or tie, even for a minute, can leave a gap someone falls through or weaken the structure.
While drilling into an old ceiling, you find material you think might contain asbestos. What should you do?
Stop, keep others away, and report it If you suspect asbestos, stop work straight away, keep other people out of the area and tell your supervisor. Asbestos fibres in the air can cause fatal lung diseases years later, and the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 require the risk to be assessed before work that could disturb it.
A workmate has collapsed inside a manhole, a confined space. What should you do?
Raise the alarm and use the rescue plan Don’t go in after them unless you’re trained and equipped as part of the rescue plan, because whatever overcame them can overcome you too. The Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 require emergency rescue arrangements to be in place before anyone enters.
United Kingdom · Health and safety test