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HSC Information and Digital Technology (VET) study materials
HSC Information and Digital Technology (VET) study resources

HSC Information and Digital Technology (VET) practice questions

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Question 1Industry knowledge, workplace practices and the digital technologies industry

A technician is employed by a small managed service provider. Which document would most directly define the technician's daily duties, reporting line and expected standards of conduct?

  1. The manufacturer's warranty terms
  2. The position description and employment contract Correct answer.
  3. The Australian Privacy Principles
  4. The organisation's strategic business plan

Explanation

A position description sets out duties, responsibilities and reporting relationships, while the employment contract records the terms of engagement including conduct expectations. Together they are the primary source of a worker's obligations to an employer. Other documents may influence work but do not define the individual role.

Question 2Industry knowledge, workplace practices and the digital technologies industry

Under work health and safety legislation, what is the primary duty of a worker in an ICT workplace?

  1. To purchase personal protective equipment for the whole team
  2. To design and implement the organisation's safety management system
  3. To conduct external audits of the employer's safety compliance
  4. To take reasonable care for their own safety and that of others affected by their actions Correct answer.

Explanation

Work health and safety law places the main duty on the person conducting the business, while workers must take reasonable care for themselves and others and follow safety instructions. Designing systems and auditing compliance are duties of the employer or regulator. This division of responsibility is a standard examinable concept.

Question 3Industry knowledge, workplace practices and the digital technologies industry

A help desk operator receives a call from someone claiming to be a manager and asking for a customer's account details. Which action best demonstrates appropriate privacy practice?

  1. Provide the details because the caller claims to be a manager
  2. Email the details to the caller's personal address for convenience
  3. Post the request in a team chat so others can decide later
  4. Verify the caller's identity and authority before releasing any personal information Correct answer.

Explanation

Privacy principles require that personal information is only accessed or disclosed for authorised purposes, so identity and authority must be verified first. Releasing data on the basis of a claim alone risks an unauthorised disclosure. Verifying identity is the control that prevents social engineering.

Question 4Industry knowledge, workplace practices and the digital technologies industry

Which behaviour is most consistent with the ethical obligations of an ICT professional?

  1. Disclosing a conflict of interest to the employer before advising on a vendor selection Correct answer.
  2. Accepting a vendor's gift in exchange for recommending their product
  3. Publishing a colleague's login credentials in a shared document
  4. Using client data for a personal side project without permission

Explanation

Professional ethics require transparency about conflicts of interest so that decisions are not improperly influenced. Accepting inducements, misusing data and exposing credentials all breach trust and confidentiality. Disclosure allows the employer to manage the risk openly.

Question 5Industry knowledge, workplace practices and the digital technologies industry

A company replaces a server and must dispose of the old hard drives. Which practice best protects confidential data?

  1. Destroy or securely wipe the drives and record the disposal Correct answer.
  2. Delete the files and reformat the drive quickly
  3. Donate the drives with the operating system still installed
  4. Store the drives in an unlocked cupboard until needed

Explanation

Secure wiping or physical destruction removes recoverable data, and recording the disposal provides an audit trail. Simple deletion or quick formatting leaves data recoverable with common tools. Controlled destruction is the recognised method for end-of-life media.

Question 6Industry knowledge, workplace practices and the digital technologies industry

Which statement best describes the purpose of an industry certification such as a vendor network or cloud credential?

  1. It is a legal licence required for all ICT jobs in Australia
  2. It provides evidence that a person has demonstrated specified skills against a vendor's standard Correct answer.
  3. It guarantees permanent employment with any employer
  4. It replaces the need for workplace safety training

Explanation

Vendor certifications validate technical competencies against defined standards and help employers assess skills. They do not guarantee employment, replace safety training or constitute a general legal licence. Their value lies in independent verification of skill.

Question 7Industry knowledge, workplace practices and the digital technologies industry

A junior technician is unsure how to handle a request that seems outside the organisation's policy. What is the most appropriate first step?

  1. Make a personal judgement and proceed without telling anyone
  2. Ask a client to approve the exception instead
  3. Escalate the matter to a supervisor or follow the documented escalation procedure Correct answer.
  4. Ignore the request and take no further action

Explanation

Documented escalation procedures exist so that uncertain or out-of-policy requests are decided at the right level of authority. Acting alone or ignoring the request creates risk and poor service. Clients cannot authorise exceptions to internal policy.

Question 8Industry knowledge, workplace practices and the digital technologies industry

Which action best supports environmentally sustainable practice in an ICT workplace?

  1. Enabling power management settings and extending the useful life of equipment Correct answer.
  2. Leaving all devices running overnight to avoid start-up delays
  3. Printing every email for record keeping
  4. Replacing working hardware every six months

Explanation

Power management reduces energy use, and extending equipment life reduces waste and the demand for new resources. Frequent replacement and unnecessary printing increase environmental impact. Sustainability in ICT focuses on energy efficiency and responsible asset lifecycles.

Question 9Industry knowledge, workplace practices and the digital technologies industry

A customer reports that their laptop will not power on. A technician asks when the problem started and whether anything changed recently. Which troubleshooting stage does this represent?

  1. Implementing a preventive measure
  2. Testing a theory to determine the cause
  3. Gathering information to identify the problem Correct answer.
  4. Documenting findings and outcomes

Explanation

Structured troubleshooting begins by gathering information and questioning the user to define the problem clearly. Testing a theory comes after a likely cause has been formed. Documentation occurs at the end of the process.

Question 10Industry knowledge, workplace practices and the digital technologies industry

Which practice best demonstrates effective teamwork on a service desk?

  1. Keeping solutions in personal notes rather than the knowledge base
  2. Logging tickets clearly so colleagues can continue work during leave Correct answer.
  3. Taking all difficult tickets personally to avoid burdening others
  4. Discussing a client's private issue loudly in an open office

Explanation

Clear ticket logging and knowledge sharing allow continuity of service when staff are absent. Hoarding knowledge creates single points of failure, and discussing private matters publicly breaches confidentiality. Effective teamwork depends on shared, accurate records.

Question 11Industry knowledge, workplace practices and the digital technologies industry

Which statement accurately describes the role of the Fair Work Commission in the Australian workplace relations system?

  1. It sets the retail prices of ICT hardware
  2. It licenses electricians to install network cabling
  3. It issues vendor technical certifications
  4. It deals with matters such as unfair dismissal claims and industrial disputes Correct answer.

Explanation

The Fair Work Commission is the national workplace relations tribunal, handling matters including unfair dismissal, enterprise agreements and dispute resolution. It does not regulate product prices, technical certification or electrical licensing. Those functions belong to other bodies.

Question 12Industry knowledge, workplace practices and the digital technologies industry

An organisation wants to reduce the risk of phishing attacks. Which measure addresses the human factor most directly?

  1. Increasing the size of the email server's storage
  2. Removing antivirus software to improve performance
  3. Disabling all email attachments for every user
  4. Running regular simulated phishing exercises with follow-up training Correct answer.

Explanation

Simulated phishing exercises combined with training raise awareness and help staff recognise suspicious messages. Blocking all attachments is disproportionate and disruptive, and storage or antivirus changes do not address user behaviour. Security awareness is the control aimed at the human element.

Question 13Industry knowledge, workplace practices and the digital technologies industry

Which document would a technician consult to find the agreed maximum time allowed to restore a critical business system after failure?

  1. The software licence agreement
  2. The network cable schedule
  3. The service level agreement Correct answer.
  4. The employee code of conduct

Explanation

A service level agreement defines measurable service commitments such as recovery targets and response times. The code of conduct governs behaviour, cable schedules record physical connections, and licence agreements set software use terms. Recovery time targets belong in the SLA.

Question 14Industry knowledge, workplace practices and the digital technologies industry

A technician is asked to install unlicensed software to save money. Which response best reflects legal and professional obligations?

  1. Install it because the manager requested it
  2. Install it and remove it after the project ends
  3. Decline, explain the licensing requirement and offer compliant alternatives Correct answer.
  4. Install it only on one machine to limit exposure

Explanation

Software licensing is a legal obligation, and professionals must refuse requests that would breach it while offering compliant options. Installing unlicensed software exposes the organisation to legal and financial penalties regardless of scale or duration. The duty applies even when a manager requests it.

Question 15Industry knowledge, workplace practices and the digital technologies industry

Which practice best protects a technician's account when working on client sites?

  1. Sharing one administrator password across the team
  2. Disabling screen locks to speed up work
  3. Using unique credentials with multi-factor authentication and locking the screen when unattended Correct answer.
  4. Writing passwords on a note stuck to the laptop

Explanation

Unique credentials, multi-factor authentication and screen locking reduce the risk of unauthorised access, especially on client premises. Shared passwords and visible notes destroy accountability and increase exposure. Physical and logical controls must work together.

Question 16Industry knowledge, workplace practices and the digital technologies industry

Which of the following best describes the purpose of change management in an ICT environment?

  1. To prevent any change from ever being made
  2. To assess, approve and record changes so that risk to services is controlled Correct answer.
  3. To transfer responsibility for outages to clients
  4. To allow technicians to make changes without documentation

Explanation

Change management provides a controlled process for assessing impact, obtaining approval and recording changes so that disruption is minimised. It does not prohibit change but manages it. Documentation and review are central to the process.

Question 17Industry knowledge, workplace practices and the digital technologies industry

An organisation must keep customer records for seven years but also minimise the data it holds. Which approach best balances these obligations?

  1. Retain only the records required for the legal period and securely destroy them afterwards Correct answer.
  2. Delete all records immediately after each transaction
  3. Keep every record indefinitely in case it is needed
  4. Store records without any access controls

Explanation

Records must be kept for the required legal period but no longer than necessary, so retention schedules with secure destruction satisfy both duties. Keeping everything indefinitely conflicts with data minimisation, and immediate deletion breaches retention requirements. Access controls protect the records while held.

Question 18Industry knowledge, workplace practices and the digital technologies industry

Which action best demonstrates cultural safety and inclusion when supporting users in a diverse workplace?

  1. Directing queries only to users who speak the same language as the technician
  2. Assuming all users have the same accessibility requirements
  3. Using technical jargon to test whether the user understands
  4. Adapting communication to the user's needs and avoiding assumptions about their background Correct answer.

Explanation

Inclusive service requires adapting communication and avoiding assumptions about ability, language or background. Jargon and blanket assumptions create barriers, and routing users by language alone can be exclusionary. Respectful, flexible communication supports equitable access.

Question 19Industry knowledge, workplace practices and the digital technologies industry

A business wants to confirm that an ICT supplier meets agreed security controls before signing a contract. Which action is most appropriate?

  1. Conduct due diligence against the required controls and record the evidence Correct answer.
  2. Rely on the supplier's marketing brochure alone
  3. Ask the supplier's competitors to vouch for them
  4. Skip checks because the supplier is well known

Explanation

Due diligence verifies that a supplier actually meets required controls and creates documented evidence for governance. Marketing material is not reliable proof, and reputation alone does not demonstrate compliance. Competitors are not an appropriate or impartial source.

Question 20Industry knowledge, workplace practices and the digital technologies industry

Which statement best describes the relationship between legislation and an organisation's own policies?

  1. Policies override legislation whenever they are more convenient
  2. Legislation is optional if a policy is silent on the matter
  3. Policies must operate within the law and typically add organisation-specific requirements Correct answer.
  4. Policies and legislation are unrelated and never interact

Explanation

Legislation sets legally enforceable minimum standards, and organisational policies must comply while adding specific operational requirements. Policies cannot override the law, and silence in a policy does not remove legal obligations. The two operate together, with law taking precedence.

Question 21Industry knowledge, workplace practices and the digital technologies industry

A technician notices a colleague repeatedly bypassing a security control to save time. What is the most appropriate professional response?

  1. Join in so that the work is completed faster
  2. Raise the concern through the organisation's reporting channel and document the observation Correct answer.
  3. Ignore it because it is not the technician's responsibility
  4. Confront the colleague publicly in front of clients

Explanation

Bypassing controls creates risk, and staff have a duty to report concerns through proper channels with factual documentation. Joining in spreads the breach, and public confrontation is unprofessional. Ignoring a known risk fails the duty of care.

Question 22Industry knowledge, workplace practices and the digital technologies industry

Which of the following is the best example of a transferable skill that supports a career in the digital technologies industry?

  1. Recalling one colleague's extension number
  2. Communicating technical information clearly to non-technical clients Correct answer.
  3. Knowing a single office's printer locations
  4. Memorising one vendor's menu layout

Explanation

Transferable skills such as clear communication apply across employers, technologies and roles. Knowledge tied to a single vendor interface, office layout or phone extension does not transfer. Communication is consistently valued in ICT support and project work.

Question 23Industry knowledge, workplace practices and the digital technologies industry

An ICT provider is preparing for a possible power outage affecting a data centre. Which combination best supports business continuity?

  1. Uninterruptible power supply, tested backups and a documented recovery plan Correct answer.
  2. Verbal instructions given only to the manager
  3. A plan that has never been tested
  4. A single backup stored on the same server

Explanation

Business continuity relies on layered measures: backup power, reliable backups and a documented, tested recovery plan. Backups stored on the affected server are lost with it, and untested plans often fail in practice. Testing validates that recovery can actually be achieved.

Question 24Industry knowledge, workplace practices and the digital technologies industry

A technician receives a request to access a client's system outside the agreed support hours. Which consideration is most relevant before proceeding?

  1. Whether the technician prefers to work at night
  2. Whether the client's office is close to the technician's home
  3. Whether other clients are also online at the time
  4. Whether the access is authorised under the contract and approved by the client Correct answer.

Explanation

Access to client systems must be authorised by the contract and approved by the client, especially outside agreed hours. Personal preference, proximity or the presence of other clients do not establish authority. Unauthorised access can breach contractual and legal obligations.

Question 25Industry knowledge, workplace practices and the digital technologies industry

Which statement about the Australian Privacy Principles is correct?

  1. They remove any need for an organisation to have a privacy policy
  2. They apply only to government agencies and never to private businesses
  3. They permit personal information to be sold without consent
  4. They require organisations to manage personal information transparently and only for lawful purposes Correct answer.

Explanation

The Australian Privacy Principles set standards for collecting, using, disclosing and securing personal information, including transparency requirements. They apply to many private organisations as well as agencies, and consent and policy obligations remain. This framework governs how ICT staff handle personal data.

Question 26Industry knowledge, workplace practices and the digital technologies industry

Which body is responsible for developing and maintaining the national work health and safety model legislation adopted across Australian jurisdictions?

  1. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission
  2. The Fair Work Ombudsman
  3. Safe Work Australia Correct answer.
  4. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

Explanation

Safe Work Australia is the national statutory body that develops model work health and safety laws and codes of practice, which states and territories then enact in their own jurisdictions. It does not enforce the laws directly in most cases; that is done by state and territory regulators. The other bodies listed regulate workplace entitlements, corporate conduct and competition respectively.

Question 27Industry knowledge, workplace practices and the digital technologies industry

A technician is offered a free ticket to a sporting event by a supplier whose contract is about to be reviewed. Which response best reflects professional ethics?

  1. Accept the ticket but avoid mentioning it to colleagues on the review panel
  2. Accept the ticket because small gifts are normal in business and do not influence decisions
  3. Ask the supplier to give the ticket to the technician's manager instead
  4. Decline the gift or declare it under the organisation's gifts and benefits policy before any decision is made Correct answer.

Explanation

Conflicts of interest are managed by transparency, so the technician should either decline the gift or disclose it through the organisation's gifts and benefits register so the employer can decide whether it is acceptable. Disclosure protects both the technician and the supplier's reputation for fair dealing. Accepting quietly, even if the gift seems small, creates an undisclosed conflict during a procurement decision.

Question 28Industry knowledge, workplace practices and the digital technologies industry

An organisation plans to move its help desk to a follow-the-sun model with staff in three countries. Which workforce consideration is most important to address first?

  1. Whether each location's employment laws, award conditions and working-hour rules are compatible with the proposed roster Correct answer.
  2. Whether staff in each country can speak with the same accent
  3. Whether the organisation can standardise all staff onto one national public holiday calendar
  4. Whether each country uses the same brand of headset

Explanation

A follow-the-sun roster must comply with the employment law, industrial instruments and hours-of-work rules that apply in each location, so this legal and industrial check comes before operational design. Differences in public holidays, leave entitlements and overtime rules affect cost and fairness across the team. The remaining options are either irrelevant or impractical.

Question 29Industry knowledge, workplace practices and the digital technologies industry

A small business asks a technician to recommend how to dispose of decommissioned hard drives that held client data. Which recommendation best meets environmental and privacy obligations?

  1. Wipe the drives with a single quick format and sell them online without records
  2. Store the drives indefinitely in a locked cupboard to avoid any disposal risk
  3. Throw the drives into the general waste bin after removing the labels
  4. Use a certified IT asset disposal service that sanitises or destroys the drives and provides a certificate of destruction Correct answer.

Explanation

Certified asset disposal combines secure data destruction, which supports privacy obligations, with responsible recycling of electronic waste under environmental law. A certificate of destruction gives the business evidence for audits and accountability. Indefinite storage avoids the privacy risk but fails the environmental goal and creates a growing stockpile of hazardous e-waste.

Question 30Industry knowledge, workplace practices and the digital technologies industry

A vendor releases a critical security patch for software the organisation runs, but the change window is two weeks away. Which analysis best reflects sound change and risk management?

  1. Deploy the patch immediately on production systems without approval or testing to save time
  2. Delay all patching until the scheduled window regardless of the severity of the vulnerability
  3. Disable the affected software permanently without informing users or recording the change
  4. Assess the exploit risk and, if severe, use the emergency change process with documented approval and a rollback plan Correct answer.

Explanation

Change management frameworks allow emergency changes when risk justifies them, provided the change is assessed, approved by the right authority and supported by testing and a rollback plan. This balances the security risk of an unpatched vulnerability against the operational risk of an untested deployment. Rigidly waiting or acting without controls both ignore one side of that balance.

Question 31Work health and safety, and environmental sustainability

Under Australian work health and safety law, what is the primary duty of a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU)?

  1. To ensure the health and safety of workers and others affected by the work, so far as is reasonably practicable Correct answer.
  2. To purchase the cheapest safety equipment available on the market
  3. To transfer all safety responsibility to each individual worker
  4. To guarantee that no worker is ever injured on the premises

Explanation

The primary duty of care requires a PCBU to eliminate or minimise risks to health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable. This standard recognises that some risk cannot be removed entirely, so duty holders must weigh likelihood, severity and cost. It extends beyond employees to visitors, contractors and the public affected by the work.

Question 32Work health and safety, and environmental sustainability

A technician notices a frayed power cord on a monitor in a client's office. Which action best reflects the hierarchy of control?

  1. Warn colleagues verbally and keep working
  2. Report the fault in the incident register next month
  3. Tape the cord and continue using the monitor
  4. Tag the monitor out of service and remove or replace the faulty cord Correct answer.

Explanation

The hierarchy of control ranks eliminating the hazard above substituting or isolating it, with administrative and PPE controls lowest. Removing the faulty equipment from service eliminates the electrical risk at its source. Verbal warnings and delayed reporting leave the hazard active and available to others.

Question 33Work health and safety, and environmental sustainability

Which document must a PCBU consult workers about when deciding how to manage workplace risks?

  1. The organisation's marketing plan
  2. The client's software licensing agreement
  3. Risk management processes and decisions affecting their health and safety Correct answer.
  4. The annual leave roster

Explanation

WHS laws require consultation with workers on matters that affect their health and safety, including risk management decisions and changes to work practices. Consultation gives workers the chance to contribute knowledge about hazards they encounter daily. Marketing plans, leave rosters and licensing agreements do not fall within this duty.

Question 34Work health and safety, and environmental sustainability

An employee suffers a strain while lifting heavy server equipment. What is the most appropriate first step after ensuring the worker's immediate care?

  1. Discard the equipment so it cannot be investigated
  2. Wait to see whether the worker recovers before doing anything
  3. Blame the worker for incorrect lifting technique
  4. Record the incident and investigate the cause to prevent recurrence Correct answer.

Explanation

Incidents and near misses must be recorded and investigated so that underlying causes can be identified and controls improved. Investigation looks at task design, equipment, training and supervision rather than simply blaming individuals. This supports the duty to prevent similar injuries in future.

Question 35Work health and safety, and environmental sustainability

Which situation would generally be a notifiable incident to the WHS regulator?

  1. A worker suffers a serious head injury requiring immediate hospital admission Correct answer.
  2. A worker sprains an ankle stepping off a curb
  3. A worker feels tired after a long shift
  4. A worker loses a USB stick containing client data

Explanation

Notifiable incidents include deaths, serious injuries or illnesses, and dangerous incidents such as structural collapses or electrical shocks. A serious head injury requiring immediate hospital treatment meets the serious injury threshold. Minor sprains, fatigue and data loss do not fall within the notifiable categories.

Question 36Work health and safety, and environmental sustainability

What is the main purpose of a workplace emergency evacuation drill?

  1. To reduce the cost of insurance premiums only
  2. To test procedures and ensure people can exit safely and be accounted for Correct answer.
  3. To replace the need for written emergency procedures
  4. To entertain staff during quiet periods

Explanation

Drills test whether evacuation routes, alarms, wardens and assembly procedures work in practice. They reveal problems such as blocked exits or unclear roles so these can be fixed before a real emergency. Drills complement, rather than replace, written procedures.

Question 37Work health and safety, and environmental sustainability

A worker in an IT workshop is exposed to loud noise from equipment. Which control sits highest in the hierarchy of control for this hazard?

  1. Placing warning signs near the equipment
  2. Rotating staff so exposure time is reduced
  3. Issuing hearing protection to each worker
  4. Replacing the noisy equipment with quieter models Correct answer.

Explanation

Substitution, including replacing noisy equipment with quieter alternatives, ranks above administrative controls and PPE. Eliminating or reducing noise at the source protects everyone without relying on individual behaviour. Hearing protection and rotation are lower-order controls used when higher controls are not reasonably practicable.

Question 38Work health and safety, and environmental sustainability

Which of the following best describes a hazard in the workplace?

  1. A measure taken to reduce risk
  2. The likelihood that harm will occur
  3. The consequence of an injury that has occurred
  4. A source or situation with the potential to cause harm Correct answer.

Explanation

A hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm, such as a live wire, a heavy load or a slippery floor. Risk, by contrast, is the likelihood and consequence of that harm occurring. Controls are the measures put in place to reduce risk.

Question 39Work health and safety, and environmental sustainability

A technician must dispose of an old laptop battery. What is the most environmentally responsible action?

  1. Take it to an accredited e-waste or battery recycling facility Correct answer.
  2. Store it indefinitely in a desk drawer
  3. Place it in the general waste bin
  4. Bury it in the garden to avoid landfill fees

Explanation

Batteries contain heavy metals and other materials that can leach into soil and water if sent to landfill. Accredited recycling recovers valuable materials and prevents environmental contamination. General waste, indefinite storage and burial all fail to manage the hazard responsibly.

Question 40Work health and safety, and environmental sustainability

Which practice best supports environmental sustainability in a computer workshop?

  1. Replacing all equipment annually regardless of condition
  2. Printing every email for record keeping
  3. Using power management settings and switching off unused equipment Correct answer.
  4. Leaving all computers running overnight to avoid start-up delays

Explanation

Power management and switching off idle equipment reduce electricity consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainable practice favours efficiency, reuse and responsible disposal over waste. The other options increase energy use or generate unnecessary waste.

Question 41Work health and safety, and environmental sustainability

A worker is required to use a new hazardous cleaning chemical. Which information source should be consulted first to understand its risks?

  1. The safety data sheet supplied by the manufacturer Correct answer.
  2. A social media post about cleaning tips
  3. A colleague's memory of a similar product
  4. The price list from the supplier

Explanation

A safety data sheet provides authoritative information on hazards, safe handling, first aid and disposal for a chemical. It is the primary reference for risk assessment and control. Social media, price lists and memory are unreliable and may not reflect the specific product.

Question 42Work health and safety, and environmental sustainability

Why should a PCBU provide workplace health and safety induction training to new workers?

  1. To ensure workers understand hazards, procedures and their own duties before starting tasks Correct answer.
  2. To shift legal liability onto the new worker
  3. To meet payroll requirements for new starters
  4. To reduce the number of staff required on site

Explanation

Induction training gives new workers the knowledge they need about site hazards, emergency procedures, controls and their own legal duties. Training is part of the PCBU's duty to provide information, instruction and supervision. It does not transfer liability to the worker or serve payroll purposes.

Question 43Work health and safety, and environmental sustainability

A worker repeatedly fails to follow a documented manual handling procedure. What is the most appropriate supervisory response?

  1. Ignore the behaviour because the worker is experienced
  2. Provide retraining and clarify expectations, then monitor compliance Correct answer.
  3. Remove the procedure from the workplace
  4. Immediately dismiss the worker without discussion

Explanation

Supervisors should address non-compliance through retraining, clear communication and monitoring, escalating to formal processes if behaviour continues. This reinforces the worker's duty to follow reasonable instructions and cooperate with controls. Ignoring the issue or removing the procedure leaves the hazard uncontrolled.

Question 44Work health and safety, and environmental sustainability

Which of the following is a common ergonomic hazard for a technician who spends long periods at a workbench?

  1. Loud music playing in the workshop
  2. Poorly adjusted seating and monitor height causing strain Correct answer.
  3. Inadequate lighting in the car park
  4. Slippery floors near the entrance

Explanation

Ergonomic hazards arise from the interaction between the worker, the task and the workstation design. Poor seating and monitor height can cause musculoskeletal strain over time. Noise, car park lighting and entrance floors are hazards but not ergonomic ones.

Question 45Work health and safety, and environmental sustainability

What does the term 'reasonably practicable' require a duty holder to consider?

  1. The likelihood and severity of harm, what the duty holder knows, and the availability and cost of controls Correct answer.
  2. Whether the business can afford to close permanently
  3. Only the cost of any control measure
  4. Only whether a worker has complained

Explanation

Reasonably practicable involves weighing the likelihood and degree of harm against the availability and suitability of controls and their cost. Cost is relevant but cannot justify inaction where the risk is serious. It is an objective balancing test, not a response to complaints alone.

Question 46Work health and safety, and environmental sustainability

A worker identifies a potential hazard that is not yet causing harm. How should this be handled?

  1. Wait until an injury occurs before acting
  2. Dismiss it because no one has been hurt
  3. Mention it only during the annual performance review
  4. Report it so it can be assessed and controlled before harm occurs Correct answer.

Explanation

Workers have a duty to report hazards and the PCBU must respond by assessing and controlling risks. Acting before harm occurs is the core purpose of proactive risk management. Waiting for an injury defeats the preventive aim of WHS law.

Question 47Work health and safety, and environmental sustainability

Which control measure is most appropriate for managing the risk of electric shock when repairing equipment?

  1. Working quickly to reduce exposure time
  2. Wearing rubber-soled shoes as the only control
  3. Isolating and locking out the power supply before work begins Correct answer.
  4. Relying on a warning sign alone

Explanation

Isolation and lock-out procedures remove the electrical energy at the source, which is a higher-order control than signage or PPE. This prevents the equipment from being energised while work is performed. Signs, footwear and speed do not eliminate the source of the hazard.

Question 48Work health and safety, and environmental sustainability

A business wants to reduce its environmental impact from paper use. Which action is most effective?

  1. Storing documents digitally and printing only when necessary Correct answer.
  2. Printing in colour to improve readability
  3. Buying thicker paper so fewer pages are needed
  4. Keeping every printed draft for reference

Explanation

Digital storage and printing only when necessary directly reduce paper consumption and the associated resource use. Reducing the volume of printing addresses the source rather than the appearance of the paper. Thicker paper and retaining drafts increase rather than reduce consumption.

Question 49Work health and safety, and environmental sustainability

Which of the following is the best example of applying the waste hierarchy?

  1. Sending all old equipment to landfill
  2. Burning obsolete equipment to recover energy
  3. Reusing or repairing equipment before recycling it, and recycling before disposal Correct answer.
  4. Storing obsolete equipment indefinitely

Explanation

The waste hierarchy ranks avoidance and reuse above recycling, and recycling above disposal. Reusing or repairing equipment extends its life and reduces the resources needed to make new products. Landfill, burning and indefinite storage sit lower or fall outside the hierarchy.

Question 50Work health and safety, and environmental sustainability

What is the main purpose of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the hierarchy of control?

  1. To be the first and preferred control for every hazard
  2. To provide a last line of defence when higher controls cannot fully manage a risk Correct answer.
  3. To replace all other control measures
  4. To eliminate hazards at the source

Explanation

PPE is the lowest-ranked control because it protects only the person wearing it and depends on correct fit and use. It is used as a last line of defence alongside higher-order controls. It cannot eliminate a hazard or replace other measures.