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97 Cards in this Set
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List 8 powers of inspectors appointed under HSWA etc 1974
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•Enter premises at any reasonable time. (A police officer may be taken to assist with entry.)
•Carry out investigations and examinations, take photographs, make drawings, take measurements, take samples. •Direct that the premises in whole or part be left undisturbed. •Dismantle and test. •Take statements. •Inspect documents, books and records. •Seize and render harmless any article or substance found to be in a dangerous state. •Issue improvement and prohibition notices. •Prosecute before a magistrate. |
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Outline 8 precautions that should be considered to prevent accidents to children who may be tempted to gain access to a construction site.
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•Use of perimeter fences to prevent access.
•Security guards - either roving or permanent. •CCTV. •Adequate lighting at night-time. •Routine inspections looking for evidence of entry or attempted entry. •Hazard awareness campaign at local schools. •Awareness letter to local residents, especially parents. •Covering or barriering excavations. •Removal of means of access to scaffolds. •Securing plant against unauthorised use. •Securing hazardous chemicals in appropriate storage. •Routine housekeeping. |
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Outline the issues that are typically included in the arrangements section of a health and safety policy document. (8)
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•Emergency procedures - fire, flood, bomb scare, substance release.
•Procedures for safe systems of work and permits-to-work. •Procedures for risk assessment - manual handling, COSHH, VDU assessments, noise and any other risk-based procedure. •Ill-health reporting and health surveillance. •Accident and near-miss reporting. •First-aid arrangements. •Arrangements for consultation and training. •Active monitoring. •Visitor control. •Contractor control. •Use and selection of PPE. |
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Outline the precautionary measures to be taken to avoid accidents involving reversing vehicles within a workplace. (8)
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•Induction training and refresher training for all pedestrians.
•Training and refresher training for vehicle drivers. •Toolbox talks for drivers. •Signs posted at appropriate places warning of reversing vehicle risk. •Fixed mirrors at appropriate locations within the workplace to aid reversing drivers. •No-go areas for pedestrians - either permanent or temporary. •Use of trained banksmen to see back vehicles. •Incorporation of one-way systems to eliminate the need for vehicle reversing. •Use of barriers to segregate pedestrians from vehicle routes. •Incorporation of safety havens and escape routes for pedestrians in vehicle reversing bays/loading bays. |
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Explain the meaning of the term 'perception'. (2)
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Perception can be described as the way in which the brain interprets information passed to it by the senses. Or how sensory information about the world about us is translated by the brain.
For example, two people may look at the same picture, but they may see totally different things. (I look at a picture of the Mona Lisa and I see a rather glum looking woman. An art historian sees Leonardo da Vinci at the height of his powers and all of the symbols and motifs that make him the towering colossus of the art world that he is.) |
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Outline the factors relating to the individual that may influence a person's perception of an occupational risk. (6)
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•Age.
•Experience. •Mental ability or intelligence. •Disability, especially impairment of the senses. •Attitude to H&S and to risk in particular. •Training and education. •Drugs and alcohol. •Social and cultural background. |
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List TWO types of injury that may be caused by the incorrect manual handling of loads.
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•Back injuries (including slipped discs and trapped nerves).
•Muscular problems - strains. •Tendon and ligament injuries - sprains. •Hernias - rupture of the musculature of the body cavity wall. •Cuts, abrasions and bruising. •Bone injuries - cracks and breaks. •Work-related upper limb disorders (WRULDs) - these affect the soft tissues of the wrist, neck, shoulders and arm. |
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Outline a good manual handling technique that could be adopted by a person required to lift a load from the ground.
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•Stop and think - plan the lift.
•Position the feet slightly apart facing forward. •Adopt a good posture with back straight and knees bent. •Get a firm grip. •Lift using the strong leg muscles, not the weaker back muscles. •Keep the load close to the body. •Don't jerk. •Move the feet (don't twist). •Readjust the load if necessary. |
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Outline the hazards that might be encountered by a gardener employed by a local authority parks department. (8)
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•Noise from machinery such as lawnmowers, strimmers, etc.
•Mechanical hazards associated with machinery such as cutting hazards from lawnmower blades, ejected material from strimmer use, etc. •Chemical hazards associated with pesticides and weedkillers. •Biological agents from contact with rats' urine (Leptospirosis) or dog faeces. •Biological agents from contact with discarded syringes (Hepatitis). •Dust inhalation during very dry weather. •Chemical hazards from various plants and tree sap. •Broken glass from discarded beer bottles. •Violence from members of the public (drunks and drug users). •Vehicle hazards associated with parks vehicles and travel to and from the site. •Hazards associated with use of hand tools, such as pruner blades. •Manual handling hazards associated with lifting. •Thermal hazards associated with working outdoors in very hot and very cold weather. |
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Outline the FOUR main categories of guards and safe-guarding devices that may be used to minimise the risk of contact with dangerous parts of machinery. (8)
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This question can be answered by reference to the hierarchy of guards outlined in Reg 11 of PUWER:
•Fixed guards. •Other guards, which would include interlocked guards and adjustable guards. •Protective devices, which would include tripwires, pressure mats and photo-electric devices (light guards). •Protective appliances - push sticks and clamps. Each of these categories would need to be described in brief detail (outline). |
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Outline TWO reactive measures that can be used in monitoring an organisation's health and safety performance. (4)
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You could outline the following reactive measures:
•Accident or near-miss investigation reports and outcomes. •Near-miss reporting statistics. •Accident statistics. •Ill-health statistics. •Return-to-work statistics. |
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Outline TWO active measures that can be used in monitoring an organisation's health and safety performance. (4)
You only need to outline two from each category. |
You could outline the following active measures:
•H&S inspection reports and outcomes. •Safety sampling statistics. •Safety audit reports. •Safety representative inspection reports. •Achievement of corrective actions. You only need to outline two from each category. |
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Describe the possible effects of electricity on the body. (4)
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You could have described some of the following:
•Painful sensations. •Muscle spasms. •Lock on and the inability to let go. •Respiratory failure. •Ventricular fibrillation. •Cardiac arrest. •Burns to the skin. •Internal burns. You might have pointed out that these occur at different current flows, and that the more serious effects occur at higher current flow through the body (80 mA and upwards). |
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Outline FOUR factors that may influence the severity of injury from contact with electricity. (4)
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You might have outlined some of these factors:
•Pathway taken by the current. •Duration of contact. •Surface area of skin contact. •Thickness of the skin. •Clothing worn. •Voltage of the system. •Environmental factors such as type of floor surface and presence of water. |
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Outline the main functions of:
0.Criminal law. 0.Civil law. (4) |
The function of criminal law is to punish those who break the law, to make them 'pay' for their crime. It also establishes a deterrent to prevent the same party from breaking the law again and others from doing likewise.
Civil law, on the other hand, is concerned with the financial compensation of those who have been harmed in some way through no fault of their own, but through the action or inaction of others. In the context of H&S this is usually through the payment of damages (financial redress) following a claim for compensation based on the tort of negligence. |
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Explain the principal differences between common law and statute law. (4)
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Common law is simply the law of the land as established by custom and practice. It is recorded as judgments made by judges in past cases. These judgments may have a bearing on future cases. Judgments may establish binding precedents or they may simply provide some guidance to judges in future cases. Common law is about the interpretation of precedents established by previous cases and the application of that interpretation to future cases.
Statute law is law that is written down in the form of Acts, Regulations and Orders. Statute law is made by Parliament and is intended to clearly lay down the legal standards of behaviour expected of individuals and organisations. You do not need to write all of the above to get full marks. |
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Identify the FOUR methods of heat transfer and explain how each can cause the spread of fire. (8)
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•Conduction
Heat is transferred through a solid material by molecules within the material vibrating rapidly and banging into adjacent molecules more frequently. Heat is transmitted through the material in this way by direct contact. So, for example, one end of a copper pipe may heat up in a room where there is a fire. The pipe will then get extremely hot (by conducting heat) along its entire length. Anything touching the pipe, such as a piece of paper, will also be heated up. If this takes the piece of paper above its auto-ignition temperature then the paper will ignite and burn. •Convection Hot air rises. So hot gases from a fire will rise upwards and will heat whatever they come into contact with. If hot gases given off by a fire rise up by convection and come into contact with a ceiling light, that ceiling light will be heated up. If it goes above its auto-ignition temperature it will ignite and burn. •Radiation Fires give off infrared radiation. This travels in straight lines at the speed of light. If radiant heat falls onto a nearby material, it will be absorbed and will cause the material to heat up. If this heating takes the material above its auto-ignition temperature then the material will ignite and burn. So your garden shed catches alight because of its proximity to the garden bonfire simply because of the radiant heat. •Direct Burning If you put burning material next to other flammable material the flame front transfers from one to the other. So burning cinders caught in the breeze get blown downwind of a forest fire and they start secondary fires ahead of the main flame front when they land in the dry grass. |
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Outline the information that is required by an organisation to ensure that a contractor is competent to undertake a task. (8 marks)
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•References and past work records.
•Safety policy. •Training records. •Method statements. •Risk assessments. •Insurance certificates. •Membership of trade body. |
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Explain the meaning of the term 'dilution ventilation'. (2)
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Dilution ventilation involves drawing air out of the workplace slowly and replacing air removed with fresh air from an uncontaminated source. This can be done passively, by allowing air to freely circulate through open windows and doors, louvres and ventilation grilles. Or it can be done actively or mechanically by having fans which draw air out of a workroom (or blow air into a workroom) so that air is drawn in (or blown out) from outside.
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Outline the circumstances in which the use of dilution ventilation may be appropriate. (6)
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You could outline the following circumstances:
•The contaminant is not toxic at low concentrations. •The contaminant is not generated quickly, but builds up gradually over a period of time. •The contaminant is not generated at one particular point, but may be generated over a larger area or from several different sources. •It is possible to dilute down the level of the contaminant to well below the WEL. •If the WEL is approached this will not have disastrous effects on health. The simplest example to give is painting a room. If the windows and doors are all closed, the paint vapours build up and you get a headache after a few hours. If you open the windows and doors and encourage a through draught, the solvent vapours never build up to the same extent and you can finish the job headache-free. |
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(a) State the circumstances under which an employer must establish a health and safety committee. (2)
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When requested to do so by two or more trade union safety representatives in writing; then has three months to set up; under the Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977.
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Explain the meaning of the term 'daily personal noise exposure' (LEP,d). (2)
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This phrase refers to an individual's exposure to noise measured across a typical working day. It is a time-weighted average measured across a notional eight hours (the employee may work for less than or more than eight hours in reality). It is used to determine what actions the employer must take under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005.
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(b) Give six reasons why a health and safety committee may prove to be ineffective in practice. (6)
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Possible ideas might include:
•No agenda. •Poor chairperson. •Lack of training for attending managers. •Lack of training for attending safety representatives. •Poorly defined terms of reference for the committee. •Meetings held too infrequently. •Insufficient time allocated for meetings. •Wrong people attending. •No-one with authority present in meeting. •No budget allocation, money to spend. •Militancy from either or both parties. •No minutes taken. |
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Outline the actions required when employees' exposure to noise is found to be in excess of 85 dB(A) LEP,d. (6)
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This noise exposure is above the upper exposure action value, so it requires that the employer takes the following action:
•Carry out an assessment of potential exposure, by a competent person, and keep a record of the assessment. •Reduce exposure to noise to below the action value by means other than the use of hearing protection so far as is reasonably practicable. If this does not reduce personal noise exposure to below the action value, then the employer must designate a mandatory hearing protection zone, they must fix signs as appropriate and they must issue and enforce the use of hearing protection. The employer will also need to provide information, instruction and training to employees working in the area and they will also have to provide health surveillance in the form of audiometry. |
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1. Explain why personal protective equipment (PPE) should be considered as a last resort in the control of occupational health hazards. (8) |
You might have started your answer with an explanation of what a typical hierarchy of control measures looks like, followed by an explanation of the benefits of hazard elimination, substitution, etc.
Your answer might also have discussed some of the inherent problems associated with PPE that put it at the bottom of the hierarchy: •Only protects one person. •Only protects if it is worn properly. •Difficulties with fit, practicalities of use, ergonomics, etc. •Difficulties with enforcement of use. •Other on-going management issues such as training, replacement, repair. You might also have included reference to the desirability of technical controls over and above procedural and behavioural controls. This could have been linked into the Principles of Prevention listed in Schedule 1 of the Management Regulations. |
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(a) Identify the possible effects on health that may be caused by working in a hot environment such as a foundry. (2)
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•Dehydration (caused by water loss through sweating).
•Cramps (caused by salt loss through sweating). •Heat stress (raising of core body temperature above normal). •Heat stroke (passing out, leading to coma and death). |
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Outline measures that may be taken to help prevent the health effects identified in a foundry. (6)
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•Ventilation with fresh or chilled air and creation of air movement to optimise evaporative cooling effect.
•Appropriate clothing. •Shielding workers from radiant heat sources. •Lagging of hot parts where possible. •Job rotation and frequent breaks. •Easy access to drinking water. •Salt tablets. •Cool-down refuges or havens. •Acclimatisation of new workers into hot areas. •Training and information. •Health surveillance. |
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Identify FOUR active means by which an organisation can monitor its health and safety performance. (8 marks)
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•Safety audits, involving independent and comprehensive examinations of all aspects of performance measured against stated objectives.
•Safety surveys, which focus on a particular activity, e.g. manual handling, training and employee attitude towards health and safety. •Safety tours, involving unscheduled workplace inspections which check on specific issues, e.g. housekeeping and wearing of PPE. •Benchmarking, where performance of an organisation is compared to that of another organisation with similar risks and processes. •Health surveillance, using techniques such as audiometry. |
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Identify FOUR reactive means by which an organisation can monitor its health and safety performance. (8 marks)
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•Analysis of statistics on accidents, dangerous occurrences, near misses and cases of occupational ill-health.
•Assessment of costs of these incidents and property damage. •Recording the number of enforcement actions (prosecutions and statutory notices served on the company). •Logging numbers of civil claims by employees. |
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(a) Explain the meaning of the phrase "so far as is reasonably practicable". (2)
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This is the legal phrase that qualifies the duty of the employer under HSWA. Your answer might have included:
•Assessing the degree of risk on the one hand and the cost in terms of time, trouble, effort and money of further reducing or controlling that risk. •If the cost of controlling the risk is disproportionately high when compared to the level of risk, then the control is not reasonably practicable. •If the cost is proportionate to the risk then it is reasonably practicable to take the precaution. |
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State the general and specific duties of employers under Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974. (6)
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The employer has a general duty to ensure so far as is reasonably practicable the health, safety and welfare of his employees.
The employer's specific duties include: •Safe plant and equipment. •Safe systems of work. •Safe access and egress. •Information, instruction, training and supervision. •Safe workplace. •Safe working environment. •Safe use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances. |
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State the general and specific duties of employers under Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974. (6)
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The employer has a general duty to ensure so far as is reasonably practicable the health, safety and welfare of his employees.
The employer's specific duties include: •Safe plant and equipment. •Safe systems of work. •Safe access and egress. •Information, instruction, training and supervision. •Safe workplace. •Safe working environment. •Safe use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances. |
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Describe the possible effects of electricity on the body. (4)
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The following effects may be seen on the body on contact with electricity:
•Burns are the most likely effects, with the main sites of damage being entry and exit points of electricity with possible damage to internal organs. •Other effects could include interference with nerve and muscle action which leads to involuntary grip and cardio-vascular effects, leading to disruption of heart rhythm and possibly death. |
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Outline FOUR factors that may affect the severity of injury resulting from contact with electricity. (4)
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•The nature of the current (AC/DC).
•The frequency and level of the current. •The length of time that the current flows through the body. •The voltage involved. •Individual body resistance due to age, sex, sweat on the skin surface and existing medical conditions. (Only four are required.) |
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Outline the key points that should be covered in a training session for employees on the reporting of accidents/incidents. (8)
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•Company policy.
•Definitions of various words - accident and near-miss. •The reasons for reporting. •Reporting procedures. •Use and location of reporting forms. •Responsibilities. •Legal background - RIDDOR. •How reports are followed up. •Action taken against those who fail to report. |
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For each of the following types of non-ionising radiation, identify a source and state the possible ill-health effects on exposed individuals:
0.Infrared radiation 0.Ultraviolet radiation. (8) |
There are lots of possible sources of infrared radiation. You should have ensured that your source was clearly work-related (i.e. occupational). Sources could include: welding equipment, furnaces, oxyacetylene cutting equipment, red hot/white hot metal or glass, ovens, fires (e.g. as encountered by fire-fighters occupationally).
Ill-health effects could include: skin burns, reddening of the skin, cataracts, dehydration, heat stress and heat stroke. There are also lots of sources of ultraviolet radiation that might be encountered occupationally: the sun (being a very significant one for anyone who works outdoors), welding equipment, certain types of light (mercury vapour lamps in particular), tanning beds, UV sterilising equipment. Ill-health effects could include: skin burns and reddening of the skin, eye damage (burns to the surface of the eye accompanied by temporary blindness (arc-eye or snow-blindness)), premature skin ageing and skin cancer. |
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Outline the factors to consider when making an assessment of first-aid provision in a workplace. (8)
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You could include an outline of the following factors:
•Number of employees on site at any one time. •Hazards present in the work. •Risk profile of the workplace. •Work patterns and shifts. •Holidays and absences. •Physical travel distances within/between workplaces. •Geographic location relative to local A&E department. •Presence of members of the public. |
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Other than those associated with the physical environment, outline EIGHT possible causes of increased stress levels amongst employees. (8)
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•Increased workload.
•Tighter deadlines. •The introduction of new jobs and tasks without adequate support and training. •Longer hours of work. •Changing or inflexible working patterns. •Organisational change such as threat of closure, redundancies, downsizing, reorganisation, merger. •Changes of management. •The replacement of challenging work with dull, routine work. •Loss of clear, well communicated direction and targets. |
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Explain the meaning of the term "competent person". (2)
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Your answer should make use of a widely accepted definition of the phrase - such as a combination of training, experience, knowledge and other qualities. But note that you should explain what this means - not just quote a short definition.
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Outline the organisational factors that may cause a person to work unsafely even though they are competent. (6)
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Organisational factors might include ideas such as:
•Unrealistic deadlines leading to short cuts. •Lack of supervision. •Failure to provide the right tools or equipment to do the job safely. •A lack of formalised procedures or safe systems of work. •Unnecessarily complex or onerous procedures or safe systems of work. •Peer group pressure. •A lack of visible management commitment or, even worse, poor compliance by management with the safe way of working. •Poor working patterns and hours of work leading to fatigue. Note that this question asks for organisational factors, so discussing personal factors that relate to the characteristics of the individual worker will be a waste of your time. Note also that the question clearly states that the person is competent - so obviously they have the appropriate training, experience, knowledge, etc., so discussing the lack of training provision will also be a waste of your time. |
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Identify FOUR different types of hazard that may necessitate the use of special footwear, explaining in EACH case how the footwear affords protection. (8)
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There are lots of potential answers to this question.
Your answer should have dealt with four hazards and each hazard should have been sufficiently different (e.g. high temperatures, corrosive chemicals, falling objects and slippery floors; rather than four hazards which are all similar such as corrosive chemicals, irritant chemicals, toxic chemicals, etc.). Your answer should clearly have explained how each type of PPE works. For example, a steel toe-cap boot works by providing an inbuilt shield that protects the toes from falling objects or crush injuries. It is not enough simply to name the item of PPE. You must explain how it works. |
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With reference to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995:
0.List FOUR types of major injury. (4) |
•Fracture of any bone except fingers, thumbs and toes.
•Amputation. •Hospitalisation for more than 24 hours. •Dislocation of a shoulder, hip or knee. There are others. |
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With reference to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995:
Outline the procedures for reporting a major injury to an enforcing authority. (4) |
Major injuries must be reported by the quickest practicable means. That means picking up a telephone and making a call as soon as possible. This telephone notification should be followed by a written notification using the standard form (F2508) within ten days of the accident occurring. A central contact centre can be used for the telephone call and the standard form is available online.
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List EIGHT features of a safe means of escape from a building in the event of a fire. (8)
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•Must be available for all people in a building whenever they are present, i.e. available to all.
•Must be unobstructed. •Must be suitably lit, including by emergency lighting where necessary. •Must be appropriately signed. •Must end at a place of safety - at ground floor so that people can leave the vicinity of the building. •Must be wide enough to accommodate the numbers and types of person who might need to use it. •Must not include lifts or other devices where people are not moving by their own unaided efforts (except in certain cases such as a firefighters' lift). •Must be sufficient in number to allow the number of people anticipated to escape in a reasonable time. •Must not require people to re-enter a burning building. •Must be adequately protected from fire and smoke. No explanation required - list. |
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Outline the symptoms of Vibration-Induced White Finger (VWF). (2)
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•Blanching of the fingers followed by reddening some time later (with pain).
•Numbness and tingling sensations. •Loss of grip and dexterity. |
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Identify the possible control measures that might reduce employee exposure to hand-held vibrating tools. (6)
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•Total elimination by use of different work method.
•Automation or mechanisation. •Use of alternative work method that involves less use of vibration. •Replacement of tool with low-vibration version. •Use of jigs, clamps, counterweights to reduce the need to grip tool. •Anti-vibration handles. •Minimising duration of use; job rotation. •Information, instruction and training. |
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Describe, by means of a labelled sketch, a chemical indicator (stain detector) tube suitable for atmospheric monitoring. (4)
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You should have drawn a sketch of a graduated glass tube sticking out of a hand pump. The tube should have been labelled with the following: Tube; crystals; graduations; broken end to allow air flow; number of strokes on hand pump; direction of air flow arrow.
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List the main limitations of a chemical indicator (stain detector) tube. (4)
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•Takes a spot sample or grab sample, not an average concentration across periods of time.
•Inherently inaccurate. •Temperature-sensitive (though this can be corrected for). •Subject to user error (for example, the number of strokes on the hand pump may be miscounted). •Introduces the additional hazards of broken glass and tube disposal. •May not be a tube sensitive to the gas or vapour in question. •Tubes may be cross-sensitive (i.e. another chemical gives a positive result in place of the chemical being tested for). |
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Outline, with an example of each, the differences between health and safety regulations and HSE approved codes of practice. (8)
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•Regulations have full legal status and are passed by Parliament.
•Breach of regulations is a statutory offence punishable in a court of law. E.g. the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (any other will do). •HSE ACoP has special legal status, but not full legal status. •ACoP is made by the HSE, not passed by Parliament. •Failure to follow an ACoP is not in itself an offence, provided you can show that you have done something that is at least as good. •Failure to show that something at least as good has been done leads to a conviction under the regulation that the ACoP was written to accompany. E.g. the Management Regulations are published with an ACoP. |
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Outline the precautions to be taken when using a mobile elevated work platform (MEWP) to reach a high point such as a streetlight. (8)
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•On firm, stable ground.
•Outriggers used if fitted. •Area cordoned off. •Hard hats worn by all in area. •Trained and competent operator. •Safe working load (SWL) observed. •MEWP not moved in elevated position unless designed to do so. •Harnesses and anchored lanyards used. •Keys removed from MEWP when not in use. •Emergency arrangements in place (e.g. self-rescue if platform becomes stuck). |
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Give reasons why a verbal instruction may not be clearly understood by an employee. (8)
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•Language barrier because one or both parties do not speak the language.
•Heavy regional accent or dialect. •Background noise. •Other environmental factors interfering with the ability of the employee to concentrate, such as extreme cold. •Distractions such as visual aids given out whilst instruction being given, or interesting things going on in the environment. •Use of technical jargon. •Speed of delivery not matched to the rate of comprehension of the receiver. •Mental ability of the receiver is overestimated by the instructor and no attempt is made to verify comprehension. •Failure to emphasise key instructions included in a lot of superfluous information - information overload. •Hearing difficulty or deafness. •Failure to pay attention due to poor attitude. |
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Outline a control strategy for the safe use of hand-held tools. (8)
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A control strategy for the safe use of hand-held tools consists of:
•Appropriate training. •Correct maintenance. •Visual checks. •Appropriate PPE. |
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List FOUR respiratory diseases that could be caused by exposure to dust at work. (4)
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•Asthma.
•Asbestosis. •Silicosis. •Mesothelioma. •Lung cancer. |
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Identify the possible indications of a dust problem in a workplace. (4)
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•Dust observable in the air.
•Dust observable on surfaces such as walls, floor and overheads. •Dust contamination observable on workers and their clothing. •Workers coughing and sneezing. •Ill-health records show high incidence of respiratory complaints. •Complaints from workers. •Excessive use of respiratory protective equipment (RPE). |
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Outline the factors that may determine the level of supervision an employee should receive during their initial period within a company. (8)
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Possible ideas might include:
•The hazards of the job. •The "visibility" of the hazards (how obvious they are). •The risk level. •Complexity of the task. •How critical it is to stick to the safe system. •How others may be affected by their actions. •Competence of other employees working alongside them. •Their training and education. •Previous experience. •Intellectual ability. •Aptitude for the work. •Their physical and mental maturity. •Vulnerable group - young person, expectant mother, etc. You could have structured your answer along these lines - the job and the employee. |
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Outline the reasons why an organisation should review and monitor its health and safety performance. (8)
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Your answer should include an outline of the following reasons:
•It is an implicit legal requirement - HSWA and Management Regulations (Reg. 5). •To find out if legal standards are being met. •For continuous improvement. •If it is not monitored then it cannot be managed. •To see what is working well and what needs attention. •To decide on the allocation of resources. •To see if the organisation's aims and objectives are being met. •To control costs associated with poor performance. •To control the business risk associated with H&S liabilities. |
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Identify the persons that an employer may need to appoint in order to comply with the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999. (2)
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•Radiation Protection Adviser.
•Radiation Protection Supervisor |
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Outline the means of controlling exposure to ionising radiation. (Time)
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Time - minimise the duration of exposure on the basis that dose received is directly related to length of time of exposure. So ionising radiation sources should only be used for the shortest duration of time possible.
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Outline the means of controlling exposure to ionising radiation. (Distance)
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Distance - increase distance from the radiation source on the basis that most particle forms of radiation cannot travel very far through air and electromagnetic forms are subject to the inverse square law. So alpha particles will only travel a few centimetres through air. Beta particles will travel a few feet. X-rays and gamma rays will travel much longer distances through air (tens of kilometres) but the dose of radiation falling on a surface falls very dramatically as the distance from the source increases. So unauthorised personnel should not be allowed into controlled areas and authorised workers should keep as far away from radiation sources as is practically necessary.
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Outline the means of controlling exposure to ionising radiation. (Shielding)
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Shielding - all forms of ionising radiation have the power to penetrate through matter, but to varying degrees. Alpha particles are not very penetrating, so can be stopped by one piece of paper. Beta particles are slightly more penetrating but can be stopped by a sheet of tin foil. X-rays and gamma rays are far more penetrating, so thicker, denser materials have to be used for containment - such as lead or thick concrete.
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Giving an example, outline the purpose & legal status of existing Health & Safety Regulations
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Can be introduced to implement European Directives.
Contain statutory duties. Prosecution or fines for breaches. Enforced by enforcement authority. Usually made by the Secretary of State with powers introduced under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. Examples: Manual Handling Regulations 1992. Work at Height Regulations 2005. |
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Giving an example, outline the purpose & legal status of existing HSC Approved Codes of Practice
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Provide a recognised interpretation of legislation.
Failure to comply may be cited in court in criminal proceedings. Must meet the ACoP standard or comply with an equal or better standard. Have semi-legal status. Example: Approved Code of Practice to the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 |
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Identify the legal requirements whereby employers must prepare a written statement of their health and safety Policy.
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HSWect Act 1974, Section 2(3).
Must be written if 5 or more employees. Bring to attention of employees. |
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Outline reasons why organisations should set health and safety targets.
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Management commitment.
Focus on important issues. Motivate staff. Encourage ownership. Enable performance measurement. Identify improvements made. Identify trends. Enable review of performance. |
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Give reasons why workplace emergency procedures should be practiced.
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Legal requirement.
Internal policy requirement. Insurance company requirement. Vunerable persons. Reduce likelyhood of panic. Test communications. Identify weaknesses. Establish the alarm can be heard. Those designated to assist can practice skills. Familiarise employees with emergency procedures. Management commitment. |
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Explain, using an example, the meaning of the term 'risk'.
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Severity x likelyhood = risk.
Risk is the likelyhood that an unwanted event will occur, together with the severity of its consequences in terms of injury or damage. When driving a delivery van, there is a likelyhood you will be involved in an RTA with other vehicles. The consequences of the accident may be damage to the vehicle, or injury to you or injury to drivers or passengers of other vehicles. The risk associated with driving is therfore a combination of the likelyhood of injury and the potential consequences. |
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Identify the key stages of a workplace risk assesment.
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I/D hazards.
Who might be harmed and how. Evaluate the risk. Record. Review. |
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Give the meaning of the term 'Health and safety Audit'.
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Structured.
Systematic. Critical. Independent. Information. Effectiveness. Reliability. Corrective actions. |
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Outline key areas that may be covered within a Health and Safety Audit.
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Health and Safety Policy.
Allocation of roles and responsibilities. Risk assesments. Specific hazard control. Fire safety. First aid. Contractors. Accident reporting. Consultation. Maintenance of records. Recommendations. |
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Explain how the findings of a Health and Safety Audit can be used to improve Health and Safety performance.
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Compliance v non-compliance and reasons for failure.
Strengths and weaknesses enabling benchmarking. Informing and enabling remedial action. Evidence of commitment to H&S. Communicate findings. Prioritising and resourse allocation. Continual improvement. |
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Identify the measures to be taken to prevent slip and trip hazards in an engineering workshop.
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Initial design and layout of the workshop.
Designated walkways. Non-slip floors or floor covering materials. Maintenance of the floor. Handrails on stairs. Procedures to avoid and deal with spillages. Adequate lighting. Highlighting diffence in levels or where steps are. Good housekeeping standards. Procedures for reporting defects in floors or incidents that may cause slips and trips. Avoidance of trailing of cables. Maintain clear walkways without objects left on floor. Provide non-slip footwear. |
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Identify eight ways that a forklift truck may become unstable during operation.
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Cornering too fast.
Uneven or insecure load on forks. Uneven road surfaces. Driving with elevated load. Uneven tyre pressure. Driving across a slope/ramp. Excessive braking. Collisions with objects. |
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Due to the failure of automated handling equipment, workers will be expected to lift boxes weighing 20kg from a conveyor and place them onto pallets ready for distribution.
Outline the factors that should be considered when undertaking a manual handling risk assesment of the activity (TASK). |
Distance to pallet.
Frequency of lifting. Vertical height to lift. Twisting and turning. Work rate/lack of rest breaks. Load held away from body. |
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Due to the failure of automated handling equipment, workers will be expected to lift boxes weighing 20kg from a conveyor and place them onto pallets ready for distribution.
Outline the factors that should be considered when undertaking a manual handling risk assesment of the activity (INDIVIDUAL). |
Pre-existing medical condition/pregnancy.
Knowledge of lifting techniques. |
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Due to the failure of automated handling equipment, workers will be expected to lift boxes weighing 20kg from a conveyor and place them onto pallets ready for distribution.
Outline the factors that should be considered when undertaking a manual handling risk assesment of the activity (LOAD). |
Weight of box.
Dimensions of box. Stability of load. Good grip available. Centre of gravity. |
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Due to the failure of automated handling equipment, workers will be expected to lift boxes weighing 20kg from a conveyor and place them onto pallets ready for distribution.
Outline the factors that should be considered when undertaking a manual handling risk assesment of the activity (ENVIRONMENT). |
Space constraints.
Floor condition. Temperature. Lighting. |
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With respect to the safe use of work equipment, employers are required to provide adequate information, instruction and training.
Identify three categories of employees that should receive the above on the safe use of work equipment. |
Operator.
Supervisor. Maintenance staff. Vunerable persons. |
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With respect to the safe use of work equipment, employers are required to provide adequate information, instruction and training.
Outline the issues that could be included in the above (INFORMATION). |
Information:
Operating instructions. Maintenance manual. Risk assesments carried out.. |
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With respect to the safe use of work equipment, employers are required to provide adequate information, instruction and training.
Outline the issues that could be included in the above (INSTRUCTION). |
Instruction:
Written operating procedures. Correct use of equipment and stop/start controls. Hazards arising from the use of the equipment such as moving parts or hot surfaces. |
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With respect to the safe use of work equipment, employers are required to provide adequate information, instruction and training.
Outline the issues that could be included in the above (TRAINING). |
How to adjust guards.
PPE to be worn. Method of isolation. Pre-use inspections. Procedure to be followed in the event of fire. |
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How does reduced low voltage reduce the risk of electric shock and give an example.
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Transsform voltage down to 110V or lower.
Shock voltage reduced thereby reducing the risk of a fatal electric shock. Safer extra low voltage of 50V. Example: Portable hand held electric tools on a construction site. |
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How does double insulation reduce the risk of electric shock and give an example.
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Two layers of insulation between body contact and fault condition.
Internal components insulated. Conductive parts cannot come into contact with outer casings. No need for earth connections. Example: Hand held portable appliances such as a laptop PC. |
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A mains electrically powered brushcutter (strimmer) is to be used to clear undergrowth in the grounds of a workplace.
Identify safety features to reduce the risk of electric shock. |
Voltage.
Double insulated. Fused. Earthed. RCD. Waterproof. Well made. |
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A mains electrically powered brushcutter (strimmer) is to be used to clear undergrowth in the grounds of a workplace.
Identify additional hazards other than electricity. |
Rotating parts.
Struck by. Slips, trips, falls. Manual handling. Noise. Vibration. Dust. Biological hazards. |
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A mains electrically powered brushcutter (strimmer) is to be used to clear undergrowth in the grounds of a workplace.
Identify control measures other than electrical. |
Maintenance/selection.
Time. Rotation of crew. Guards. PPE. Information. |
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A mains electrically powered brushcutter (strimmer) is to be used to clear undergrowth in the grounds of a workplace.
Outline control measures to protect other employees in vicinity. |
Information.
Cordons/barrier tape. Warning signage. Alternative routes. Operational hours. Stand by usher. |
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Identify two ways an alarm can be raised in the event of a fire.
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Shouting.
Automatic through smoke/heat detection. Manually operated break glass alarms. Handbell/Klaxon/horn. |
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Identify the issues to consider in the selection of portable fire extinguishers.
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Type for class of fires.
Number/size to be provided. Size of premises. Number of floors. |
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Identify the issues to consider in the siting of portable fire extinguishers.
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Ease of access.
Visibility. Proximity of escape routes. Fixed to wall or on stands/trolleys. Exposure to weather or sources of damage. 30m travel distance. Same position on each floor in a multistorey building. |
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Identify four forms that chemical agents can take.
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Solids
Dusts Fumes and fibres Gas Mists/aerosols Vapours liquids. |
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Acute effects from chemical agents.
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Adverse effects appear after single short exposure.
Usually rapid response. Usually recede on cessation of exposure. |
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Chronic effects from chemical agents.
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Usually result from a prolonged or repeated exposure.
\the response is normally gradual. May go unrecognised for long periods of time. Often progressive and irreversible. |
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Explain chemical agents.
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Ground up solid materials generate airborne particles known as dust.
Finely dispersed liquid droplets known as mists or aerosols. Substances that are liquid at room temperature known as liquid. Metals which are heated can give off fumes which are formed as molten metal particles condense in the air. |
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Noise:
Give the meaning of the following term. Frequency. |
Frequency is pitch measured in Hertz.
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Noise:
Give the meaning of the following term. Decibel (dB) |
Decibel (dB) is a measure of the volume or intensity.
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Noise:
Give the meaning of the following term. 'A' Weighting. |
'A' weighting is a way of mimicking the response of the human ear to sound.
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Noise measurement techniques.
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Simple sound-level meter - spot checks.
Integrating sound-level meter - obtain a time-weighted average. Octave band/frequency analysis. Personal monitoring using dosimeter. Pressure meter |
