Previous Questions Flashcards
(33 cards)
Excluding BASIC welfare requirements, Identify the various work environment requirements. (6)
Space – provision of adequate space to allow workers to perform the task safely
Seating – provision of appropriate seating where work tasks allow. Seats should be stable, with a backrest and footrest, where appropriate
Ventilation – provision of a sufficient supply of fresh or purified air
Heating – maintenance of a reasonable temperature in the Workplace
Lighting – provision of adequate lighting
Noise – provision of controls to reduce excessive noise, if necessary.
Identify the work at height risk principles of prevention. (3)
- Avoid work at height
- Use work equipment or other measures to prevent falls where work at height cannot be avoided
- Use work equipment or other measures to minimise the distance and consequences of a fall where the risk of a fall cannot be eliminated.
Outline the factors to consider when identifying control measures for work at height. (8)
- Nature and duration of the task to be carried out
- Level of competence of the persons to be involved
- Training that may need to be provided
- Planning and level of supervision required
- Means of access and egress
- Suitability of the equipment to be used, and its maint
- Use of working platforms, guard-rails and toeboards
- Personal protective equipment, such as harnesses
- Whether a fall-arrest system is required, or netting
- Weather conditions
- Health condition of the individuals
- Compliance with relevant regulations.
Identify the factors that might cause the collapse of an independent tied scaffold. (8)
• Overloadedworkplatform
• Scaffold built on soft ground without use of
adequate sole boards
• Scaffoldnottiedadequatelytobuilding
• Insufficientbracingincorporatedintoscaffold
• Standards not upright
• Standards bent, buckled or heavily corroded
• Highwinds
• Incorrect couplers used to join tubes together
• Scaffoldstruckbymobileplant
• Scaffold erected by incompetent workers
• Scaffoldnotinspectedpriortouse.
Outline the precautions to be taken when repair work is to be carried out on the sloping roof of a building. (8)
• The roof should be inspected to check for the presence of fragile materials
• Provide a means of safe access normally by the erection of a scaffold
• Use roof ladders or crawling boards
• Erect edge protection with guard rails and toe boards to prevent
the fall of materials and people
• Provide barriers and signage around the areas on the roof
containing fragile materials to prevent people falling through
• Other precautions – a means of transporting the tools and
materials to the roof and a means of removing waste
• Use of appropriate PPE equipment such as hard hats and footwear
• The employment of competent personnel together with
supervision
• The erection of signs and/or barriers to prevent members of the
public from passing beneath the work area.
Identify the main hazards associated with demolition work. (8)
• Working at height or on uneven ground
• Falling debris and masonry
• Premature collapse
• The use of explosives
• Contact with noise and vibration from equipment such as pneumatic drills & heavy plant
• Presence of dust that may contain hazardous materials such as asbestos
• Presence of flammable/ hazardous materials from previous uses of the building
• Possible presence of services such as gas, water and electricity
• Biological hazards arising from the presence of vermin and stagnant
water
• The presence of sharps such as nails, syringes and glass
• Hazards from manual handling operations.
An independent tied scaffold is to be erected on a building in a busy town centre.
Outline precautions that should be taken in order to reduce the risk of injury to members of the public during erection & use of the scaffolding. (8)
• Ensure the scaffolding is erected correctly & by a competent person
• Restrict pedestrian access and re-direct pedestrians
• Erect protection for pedestrians in the form of tunnels, fans etc
• Erect barriers to prevent access
• Carry out work when the street is not busy e.g. early morning
• Prevent unauthorised access when work is not being carried out e.g.
remove or cover ladders
• Cover & protect any protruding parts of the scaffolding and label
with hazard tape
• Ensure the scaffolding is closely boarded and has toe boards
• Ensure the scaffolding is inspected by a competent person
• Ensure lighting is provided to make pedestrians aware of the
scaffolding when it is dark.
Outline the additional precautions may be required during maintenance work. (4)
• Maintenance carried out by competent staff
• Power sources should be isolated and physically
locked off
• Stored power should be released or secured to prevent accidental discharge
• If dangerous moving parts have to be accessed; Run at very slow speed, Fit maintenance guards
• Precautions should be taken to allow safe access, especially when working at height
• Handling aids and equipment should be used to reduce manual-handling risk.
Identify Four hazards associated with excavations. (4)
- Collapse of the sides
- Water ingress
- Falling materials/equipment
- Personnel falling in
- Vehicles falling in
- Contaminated land
- Underground services.
Explain the hazards associated with a bench grinder. (4)
- An entanglement hazard would be associated with the rotating spindle that the abrasive wheel is mounted on
- Drawing in and trapping is associated with the gap between the tool rest and the rotating abrasive wheel
- Friction or abrasion hazards would be associated with the surface of the rotating abrasive wheel
- Stabbing or puncture hazards could be created by flying fragments or pieces of ejected broken wheel.
Describe the possible effects of electricity on the body (3)
Possible effects of electricity on the body:
• Respiratory failure in that if the current is large enough it can cause defibrillation and/or cause an immediate cardiac arrest
• Burns - tissue burns at entry and exit points with the possibility of damage to internal organs
• Fractures and dislocations caused by muscle spasms or as a resulting fall if thrown from a platform.
Outline FOUR factors that may affect the severity of injury resulting from contact with electricity. (4)
Factors:
• The length of time that the person is exposed to the flow of current – the longer the more severe the effect
• The path the current takes through the body – if across the chest then the heart is likely to be affected
• If the person has wet hands or is standing in water then the effect of the electricity is likely to be worse as water lowers the resistance
• The voltage and frequency of the electricity – the higher the voltage the greater the current.
An engineering company had noticed a recent increase in ill-health amongst shop-floor workers who use a degreasing solvent.
A WEL has been given for the solvent.
Explain the meaning of the term “Workplace Exposure Limit”
WEL are maximum concentrations of airborne contaminants normally measured across a particular reference period of time to which employees may be exposed, by inhalation.
Identify the health effects associated with:
• Ionising radiation (4 )
(i) Ionising radiation: • Radiation sickness • Blistering and ulceration of the skin • Hair loss • Cataracts • Dermatitis • Anaemia • Reduced immune system • Infertility.
Identify the health effects associated with:
• Non-ionising radiation (4)
Non-ionising radiation: • Burns to the skin • Cancer (melanoma) • Premature aging of skin • Internal heating of the skin and organ damage.
Outline how the misuse of drugs or alcohol could affect the safety of a worker and those around him. (6)
• Drugs/alcohol can have a detrimental effect on judgement
• Drugs often result in a fluctuation of energy levels and response rates
• Drugscanincreasetheriskofhavingorbeing involved in an accident
• The possibility the worker may become aggressive or violent
• The worker may be persuaded to take a higher degree of risk
• All these effects have an impact on the safety of fellow workers
• Workers may have to take on extra duties to cover
• Workers may be persuaded to act in a similar way if
no action is taken.
Outline hazards arising from vehicle movements in a workplace. (4)
- A driver may lose control due to driving too fast
- Oil on the surface causing the vehicle to skid
- The vehicle may suffer mechanical failure due to lack of maintenance
- The vehicle could collide with other vehicles or fixed objects such as racking
- A vehicle may be in collision with a pedestrian causing injury because of lack of segregation
- Workers may be hit by an insecure load that falls off the vehicle whilst in motion.
Outline control measures that could be introduced to minimise these hazards. (4)
- Ensure the driver of the vehicle is trained in the correct driving techniques for the particular vehicle
- The vehicle should be properly maintained and driver undertaking a pre-inspection of the vehicle
- There should be segregation of pedestrians and vehicles with separate walkways for pedestrians and barriers to prevent unauthorised access
- Banksmen could be used to ensure that reversing vehicles are not a hazard to other workers or vehicles
- Removing the key and returning it to a responsible person to prevent unauthorised use.
Identify EIGHT precautions that should be taken when leaving a forklift truck unattended. (8)
Leaving the truck on a firm level surface
• Tilt the mast slightly forward and the forks resting on
the ground
• Parking the FLT away from other vehicles
• Park so that vehicle movement is not compromised
• Park in a position that does not obstruct emergency exits
• Park so that walkways and fire points are not obstructed
• Switching off the power and remove the ignition keys
• Leave the controls in neutral and applying the brake.
A crane has been correctly selected and positioned for use.
Outline a procedure for the safe lifting of a load by the crane. (8)
• Lifting operations must be properly planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised and carried out in a safe manner
• Crane operators, slingers and banksmen must be properly trained and fit to undertake the work
• A good communication system should be in place between the driver, slingsman and banksman
• Site rules must be obeyed
• All controls should be checked e.g. clutch, brakes safe
working load indicator before starting the lift
• Ensure the lift is untaken slowly and smoothly
• Be aware of weather conditions and make allowances
for adverse weather conditions, particularly wind
• The correct slinging methods should be used and the
sling(s) protected from sharp edges with the sling securely attached to the hook.
The team leader in a warehouse is giving training to his team about manual handling.
Identify SIX factors in relation to the load which he/she could include in his talk. (6)
Six factors in relation to the load:
• Weight – it may be too heavy for 1 person to lift and carry
• The bulk of the item – could be a large box or an unwieldy load
• The temperature of the load i.e. frozen food/hot surface
• Whether or not handles were provide – may be difficulty in gripping
• The centre of gravity may shift which could occur if the load was sacks of granules or powders
• Some loads contain hazardous materials e.g. chemical, toxic solids and acids in bottles
• Some loads have sharp edges e.g. metal bands.
Identify pre-use checks for electrical safety that should be carried out on a portable electric drill. (8)
• The body of the plug is intact and undamaged
• The outer sheaf of the flex covers the inner cores into
the body of the plug
• The plug cable clamp appears to be tight
• The flex appears to be fully insulated and there are
no splits or severe kinks or pinches
• The body of the drill is intact with no cracks or
damage
• There are no obvious scorch marks on the plug or the
drill
• The plug and the appliance are not wet or excessively
soiled
• The drill bit is tightly secured in the chuck and the
chuck key removed.
Identify FOUR possible ill-health effects that can be caused from working with cement. (4)
• Irritation or inflammation of the eyes
• Dermatitis
• Irritation to the nose and throat
• Respiratory complaints
• Cement burns or ulcers from contact with wet cement
• Manual handling issues with lifting/carrying bags of
cement.
Identify non-mechanical hazards which are associated with the use of machinery. (8)
Non-mechanical hazards: • Dust – respiratory problems • Electricity - shock and burns • Noise and vibration – ear damage, HAV and WBV • Biological – viral and bacteria • Fire - burns • Chemicals – toxic, irritant, corrosive, flammable • Radiation – ionising and non-ionising • Slips, trips and falls • Manual handling • Stress.
