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CSCS SLG Roadworks study materials
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CSCS SLG Roadworks practice questions

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Question 1Health and Safety Legislation, Roles and Responsibilities

Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, what is an employer's main duty to employees?

  1. Ensure health, safety and welfare so far as reasonably practicable Correct answer.
  2. Guarantee that no accident will ever happen on any of their sites
  3. Report every near miss to the Health and Safety Executive
  4. Provide insurance cover that pays compensation for every workplace injury

Explanation

The Act places a general duty on employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of employees at work. This covers safe systems of work, plant, substances and the working environment. The duty is qualified by reasonable practicability, not by insurance or guarantees.

Question 2Health and Safety Legislation, Roles and Responsibilities

Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, what duty does an employee have?

  1. Ensure the whole site is made safe before starting each shift
  2. Take reasonable care of themselves and others affected by their acts Correct answer.
  3. Assess the risks of every task before any work begins
  4. Provide their own personal protective equipment without being asked

Explanation

Employees must take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions. They must also co-operate with their employer on health and safety matters. Risk assessment and site-wide safety planning remain employer duties.

Question 3Health and Safety Legislation, Roles and Responsibilities

What does RIDDOR stand for?

  1. Reporting of Incidents, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations
  2. Recording of Incidents, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations
  3. Recording of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Operations Regulations
  4. Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations Correct answer.

Explanation

RIDDOR is the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations. It requires certain work-related injuries, cases of disease and dangerous occurrences to be reported to the enforcing authority. It is a reporting regime, not a general recording or operations regulation.

Question 4Health and Safety Legislation, Roles and Responsibilities

What is the main purpose of a CSCS card on a construction site?

  1. To show the holder has met the health and safety test requirement for site access Correct answer.
  2. To confirm the holder is directly employed by the principal contractor
  3. To record the number of hours a worker has trained
  4. To certify the holder as a qualified street works supervisor

Explanation

A CSCS card provides evidence that the holder has passed the relevant health and safety awareness test and is competent for the card category. It supports site access control and induction. It does not replace trade qualifications, supervisor accreditation or employment status checks.

Question 5Health and Safety Legislation, Roles and Responsibilities

Under the Safety at Street Works and Road Works code, who must supervise signing, lighting and guarding?

  1. A qualified street works supervisor Correct answer.
  2. The principal contractor's health and safety adviser
  3. Any operative with at least six months' experience
  4. The local highway authority's traffic manager

Explanation

Signing, lighting and guarding must be supervised by a qualified street works supervisor who holds the relevant units of competence. The supervisor is responsible for ensuring the traffic management layout is correct and maintained. Experience alone or a general advisory role does not meet this requirement.

Question 6Health and Safety Legislation, Roles and Responsibilities

Under the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations, who pays for PPE required by the risk assessment?

  1. The employer, at no cost to the worker Correct answer.
  2. The principal designer, from the project contingency
  3. The worker, through a payroll deduction
  4. The client, as part of the project preliminaries

Explanation

The regulations require employers to provide suitable PPE free of charge to workers who need it. PPE is a last line of defence after risks have been reduced by other means. Charging workers or passing the cost to another party does not satisfy the employer's duty.

Question 7Health and Safety Legislation, Roles and Responsibilities

What is the main purpose of an accident book on a roadworks site?

  1. To record details of accidents and injuries that occur Correct answer.
  2. To record the names of workers who arrive late
  3. To replace the need for reporting under RIDDOR
  4. To provide evidence for insurance claims only

Explanation

An accident book provides a written record of accidents and injuries occurring at work. It supports investigation, monitoring and, where relevant, reporting under RIDDOR. It does not replace the separate legal requirement to report qualifying incidents to the enforcing authority.

Question 8Health and Safety Legislation, Roles and Responsibilities

What is a near miss?

  1. A defect in plant or equipment found during a daily check
  2. An accident that causes a minor injury requiring first aid
  3. A reportable injury that keeps a worker off work for seven days
  4. An unplanned event that did not cause harm but had the potential to Correct answer.

Explanation

A near miss is an unplanned event that did not result in injury, damage or other loss but had the potential to do so. Reporting near misses helps identify weaknesses before a more serious incident occurs. It is distinct from an injury, a reportable over-seven-day case or a routine defect.

Question 9Health and Safety Legislation, Roles and Responsibilities

Under CDM 2015, who must ensure a construction phase plan is prepared before construction begins?

  1. The principal contractor Correct answer.
  2. The local highway authority
  3. The client
  4. The principal designer

Explanation

CDM 2015 requires the principal contractor to draw up a construction phase plan before construction work begins. The plan must set out the health and safety arrangements and site rules for the construction phase. The principal designer contributes design information, but the plan is the principal contractor's responsibility.

Question 10Health and Safety Legislation, Roles and Responsibilities

Under CDM 2015, what must a client provide to the principal designer and principal contractor?

  1. Pre-construction information relevant to the project Correct answer.
  2. A completed health and safety file at project handover
  3. The names of all workers who will be on site
  4. A copy of every risk assessment for the works

Explanation

The client must provide pre-construction information to the principal designer and principal contractor. This includes relevant information about the site, the project and any existing hazards. The health and safety file is produced later, and task risk assessments are prepared by those carrying out the work.

Question 11Health and Safety Legislation, Roles and Responsibilities

Which project must be notified to HSE using form F10 under CDM 2015?

  1. Any project where the client and the principal contractor are the same organisation
  2. A project exceeding 30 working days with over 20 workers at once, or 500 person days Correct answer.
  3. Any project where more than five people work on site at the same time for a single day
  4. Any project involving excavation deeper than one metre on a public highway regardless of duration

Explanation

CDM 2015 requires notification where construction work lasts more than 30 working days and has more than 20 workers simultaneously at some point, or where it exceeds 500 person days. Notification is made on form F10. The other factors, such as a one-metre excavation or a single-day peak of five workers, do not trigger notification on their own.

Question 12Health and Safety Legislation, Roles and Responsibilities

Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, what is the first step in controlling a risk?

  1. Put up warning signs around the hazard
  2. Issue suitable personal protective equipment to everyone
  3. Eliminate the hazard or the activity altogether Correct answer.
  4. Provide information, instruction and training

Explanation

The hierarchy of control starts with eliminating the hazard or the activity if this is reasonably practicable. Only when elimination is not possible should risks be reduced by other means, with PPE as a last resort. Signs, training and PPE support controls but do not come first.

Question 13Health and Safety Legislation, Roles and Responsibilities

When is a permit-to-work system most appropriate?

  1. For high-risk tasks such as confined space entry or live electrical work Correct answer.
  2. For tasks where the risk is low and well understood
  3. For every task carried out on a public highway
  4. For routine tasks covered by a standard method statement

Explanation

A permit-to-work system is used for high-risk activities where strict control, authorisation and isolation are needed before work starts. It formally records that specified precautions are in place. Routine or low-risk tasks are normally controlled by method statements and risk assessments instead.

Question 14Health and Safety Legislation, Roles and Responsibilities

What is the main purpose of a method statement?

  1. To confirm the project programme and completion date
  2. To describe the safe sequence and controls for carrying out the work Correct answer.
  3. To list the plant that will be hired for the project
  4. To record the qualifications of each worker on site

Explanation

A method statement sets out how a task will be carried out safely, including the sequence of work and the control measures. It translates the risk assessment into practical arrangements for the workforce. It is not a programme, a plant hire list or a qualifications record.

Question 15Health and Safety Legislation, Roles and Responsibilities

Under RIDDOR, within what period must an over-seven-day injury be reported to the enforcing authority?

  1. Within 10 days of the injury
  2. Within 30 days of the injury
  3. Within 15 days of the injury Correct answer.
  4. Within 24 hours of the injury

Explanation

An injury that keeps a worker unable to do their normal work for more than seven consecutive days must be reported within 15 days of the incident. This is a specified injury report under RIDDOR. The clock runs from the date of the accident rather than the date the absence ends.

Question 16Health and Safety Legislation, Roles and Responsibilities

What does an HSE prohibition notice do?

  1. Charges the duty holder for the time spent investigating
  2. Stops an activity that involves a risk of serious personal injury Correct answer.
  3. Requires an improvement to be made within a stated period
  4. Allows work to continue provided extra control measures are added

Explanation

A prohibition notice stops an activity that involves, or is likely to involve, a risk of serious personal injury. It can take effect immediately or after a specified time. An improvement notice is the mechanism used to require a breach to be remedied within a stated period.

Question 17Health and Safety Legislation, Roles and Responsibilities

What should a site induction cover before a worker starts on a roadworks site?

  1. The worker's pay grade and holiday entitlement
  2. The company's marketing and public relations policy
  3. Site-specific hazards, emergency arrangements and local rules Correct answer.
  4. The full text of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

Explanation

A site induction should give workers the site-specific information they need to work safely, including local hazards, emergency procedures and site rules. It is not a substitute for task-specific training, but it ensures everyone understands the particular site. Pay, employment terms and general company marketing are outside its health and safety purpose.

Question 18Health and Safety Legislation, Roles and Responsibilities

Where recognised trade unions appoint safety representatives, what must an employer do under the Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations?

  1. Refuse to meet them unless a formal claim is made
  2. Consult them on matters affecting employees' health and safety Correct answer.
  3. Appoint them to the board of directors
  4. Delegate all health and safety duties to them

Explanation

Employers must consult appointed safety representatives on matters affecting the health and safety of the employees they represent. Consultation allows the workforce view to inform risk controls and changes. It does not transfer the employer's legal duties to the representatives.

Question 19Health and Safety Legislation, Roles and Responsibilities

Under COSHH, what must an employer do before using a hazardous substance?

  1. Arrange a medical examination for every worker on site
  2. Assess the risk and prevent or adequately control exposure Correct answer.
  3. Obtain written permission from the local authority
  4. Provide the substance free of charge to all workers

Explanation

COSHH requires the employer to assess the risk from hazardous substances and then prevent exposure or, where prevention is not reasonably practicable, adequately control it. Controls may include substitution, engineering measures and safe systems of work. Local authority permission and medical examinations for everyone are not general COSHH preconditions.

Question 20Health and Safety Legislation, Roles and Responsibilities

Under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations, what is the first priority when dealing with a manual handling task?

  1. Set a maximum weight limit of 25 kg for every worker
  2. Provide back-support belts to all workers
  3. Avoid the manual handling operation so far as reasonably practicable Correct answer.
  4. Train workers in correct lifting technique

Explanation

The regulations require employers to avoid manual handling operations so far as reasonably practicable. If avoidance is not possible, the risk must be assessed and reduced. Training and equipment are supporting measures, not the first priority.

Question 21Health and Safety Legislation, Roles and Responsibilities

Under CDM 2015, when must a principal designer be appointed?

  1. Only on projects that must be notified to HSE
  2. On projects involving more than one contractor Correct answer.
  3. On every project, regardless of size or duration
  4. Only where the client is a commercial organisation

Explanation

A principal designer must be appointed on a project involving more than one contractor. The same trigger applies to the appointment of a principal contractor. Notification to HSE is a separate consideration and does not determine whether a principal designer is required.

Question 22Health and Safety Legislation, Roles and Responsibilities

Under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007, when is an organisation guilty of an offence?

  1. Only when a director has been convicted of a criminal offence
  2. When a gross management failure causes a person's death Correct answer.
  3. When it fails to report a death to the enforcing authority
  4. Whenever a worker is injured on its site

Explanation

The Act creates an offence where the way an organisation's activities are managed or organised amounts to a gross breach of a relevant duty of care and causes a person's death. The failure must be substantial and relate to senior management. It is not triggered by every injury or by a reporting failure alone.

Question 23Health and Safety Legislation, Roles and Responsibilities

Which of these is a reportable dangerous occurrence under RIDDOR?

  1. A worker spraining an ankle and returning to work the same day
  2. A near miss involving a reversing vehicle
  3. The collapse of a scaffold or part of it Correct answer.
  4. A cut hand treated with a plaster on site

Explanation

A scaffold collapse or partial collapse is listed as a dangerous occurrence under RIDDOR because of its potential to cause serious harm. Dangerous occurrences are reported even if no one is injured. A minor injury or a near miss that is not on the prescribed list is not reportable as a dangerous occurrence.

Question 24Health and Safety Legislation, Roles and Responsibilities

Under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, what is the effect of a section 58 restriction?

  1. It requires works to be completed within 24 hours
  2. It protects recently resurfaced streets from works for up to five years Correct answer.
  3. It transfers responsibility for the street to the undertaker
  4. It bans all pedestrians from the street during works

Explanation

A section 58 restriction allows the street authority to protect a street that has recently been resurfaced from further works for up to five years, subject to exceptions. It is intended to prevent unnecessary repeated excavation. It does not transfer the street to the undertaker or impose a 24-hour completion rule.

Question 25Health and Safety Legislation, Roles and Responsibilities

What is the Health and Safety Executive's Fee for Intervention?

  1. A fixed fine issued by a court for a first health and safety offence
  2. A charge to duty holders who are found in material breach of the law Correct answer.
  3. A grant paid to small firms for health and safety training
  4. A fee paid by workers for their CSCS health and safety test

Explanation

Fee for Intervention allows HSE to recover its costs from duty holders who are found in material breach of health and safety law. It is an administrative cost-recovery mechanism, not a court fine or a training grant. It applies where HSE has to take action because of a breach.

Question 26Health and Safety Legislation, Roles and Responsibilities

Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, what is an employer's general duty to employees?

  1. To remove every foreseeable risk from the workplace
  2. To arrange private medical insurance cover for every employee on site
  3. To ensure their health, safety and welfare so far as is reasonably practicable Correct answer.
  4. To report every injury to the enforcing authority within 24 hours of it happening

Explanation

Section 2 of the Act places a general duty on every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees. The qualifier 'reasonably practicable' means the duty is not absolute, but the employer must be able to justify any gap between risk and the measures taken. The duty is supported by more specific regulations such as the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations.

Question 27Health and Safety Legislation, Roles and Responsibilities

Under CDM 2015, what is the purpose of the health and safety file?

  1. Information needed by those who later maintain or alter the structure Correct answer.
  2. The client's written confirmation that the project has been notified to HSE
  3. A log of all accidents and near misses occurring on the project
  4. A record of every worker who has been employed on the project

Explanation

The health and safety file is a record of information relating to the structure that is likely to be needed by anyone who subsequently constructs, maintains, repairs, decommissions or demolishes it. It is started during the project and handed to the client at completion, who must keep it available. Its focus is future work on the structure, not day-to-day site records.

Question 28Health and Safety Legislation, Roles and Responsibilities

An operative removes a guard rail so materials can be passed through, intending to refit it before the shift ends. How does the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 apply to this?

  1. He has committed no offence because he refitted the rail before the end of the shift
  2. Only his employer can be liable, because the rail was provided by the company
  3. It is a design matter for the principal designer to resolve in the risk assessment
  4. He may have committed an offence by interfering with safety equipment Correct answer.

Explanation

Section 8 of the Act makes it an offence for any person to intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interests of health and safety. The offence is committed by the individual when the interference happens, so a later intention to restore the equipment does not remove the risk created. Individual duties apply alongside the employer's duties.

Question 29Health and Safety Legislation, Roles and Responsibilities

Under CDM 2015, what must a contractor check before appointing a subcontractor to work on a construction site?

  1. Their level of public liability insurance cover
  2. Their skills, knowledge, training and experience Correct answer.
  3. Their membership of a recognised trade association
  4. Their record of previous accidents on other sites

Explanation

CDM 2015 requires that a person appointed to carry out construction work has the skills, knowledge, training and experience to do the work safely and without risk to health. The same check applies to organisations and to the individuals they deploy. Insurance, trade body membership and past accident history are useful indicators but are not the statutory test of competence.

Question 30Health and Safety Legislation, Roles and Responsibilities

An inspector finds a lawful but dangerous gap in a site's traffic management arrangements where the risk is serious but not imminent. What does an improvement notice do?

  1. It identifies the breach and the date by which it must be remedied Correct answer.
  2. It requires the duty holder to attend court within 21 days
  3. It stops the activity immediately until the inspector allows work to restart
  4. It requires the duty holder to pay HSE's costs of the inspection

Explanation

An improvement notice states which legal provision has been breached and gives a time limit within which the breach must be remedied; it may also require work to stop until the remedy is complete. It is used where the risk does not require immediate stoppage, unlike a prohibition notice. Failure to comply with a notice is an offence.

Question 31Personal Protective Equipment and Safe Systems of Work

Where does personal protective equipment (PPE) sit in the hierarchy of control?

  1. Last resort, after other controls Correct answer.
  2. First control to be applied
  3. A replacement for risk assessment
  4. Only needed for high-risk tasks

Explanation

The hierarchy of control requires hazards to be eliminated or reduced at source before relying on PPE. PPE protects only the individual wearing it and depends on correct selection, fit and use. It is therefore the last line of defence, used for residual risk.

Question 32Personal Protective Equipment and Safe Systems of Work

Who pays for PPE that is required to do the job safely?

  1. The principal designer
  2. The worker, through payroll deduction
  3. The cost is split equally
  4. The employer, at no cost to the worker Correct answer.

Explanation

Under the PPE at Work Regulations the employer must provide all necessary PPE free of charge. Workers must not be asked to contribute towards it. The employer must also maintain, store and replace it as needed.

Question 33Personal Protective Equipment and Safe Systems of Work

Which standard covers industrial safety helmets?

  1. EN 388
  2. EN ISO 20345
  3. EN 166
  4. EN 397 Correct answer.

Explanation

EN 397 is the standard for industrial safety helmets, covering impact and penetration resistance. EN 166 covers eye protection and EN 388 covers gloves against mechanical risks. EN ISO 20345 covers safety footwear.

Question 34Personal Protective Equipment and Safe Systems of Work

Under EN ISO 20471, what does a higher class number on a high-visibility garment indicate?

  1. The garment also gives flame-resistant protection
  2. The fabric has been tested as more hard-wearing
  3. More retroreflective material is visible Correct answer.
  4. The garment is available in a wider range of sizes

Explanation

EN ISO 20471 classes 1 to 3 set minimum areas of fluorescent and retroreflective material. A higher class means a greater visible area of reflective material, making the wearer more conspicuous. Flame resistance and durability are covered by separate standards.

Question 35Personal Protective Equipment and Safe Systems of Work

A boot marked S3 to EN ISO 20345 includes which combination?

  1. Toe cap, penetration resistance and cleated outsole Correct answer.
  2. Electrical insulation only, with no toe protection
  3. A steel toe cap only, with no midsole protection
  4. A cut-resistant upper only, with no toe protection

Explanation

The S3 marking combines a 200 joule toe cap, penetration-resistant midsole, antistatic properties and a cleated outsole with water penetration resistance. Lower S markings provide fewer of these features. The markings allow the right boot to be matched to the task.

Question 36Personal Protective Equipment and Safe Systems of Work

An operative notices a crack in the shell of their safety helmet. What should they do?

  1. Wrap tape around the cracked area
  2. Stop using it and report it Correct answer.
  3. Mark the crack with a date and carry on
  4. Keep it for light-duty tasks only

Explanation

A cracked shell may have lost its impact resistance and cannot be repaired. The helmet must be taken out of use and reported so it can be replaced. Damaged PPE should never be retained for less demanding work.

Question 37Personal Protective Equipment and Safe Systems of Work

What is the main purpose of a toolbox talk?

  1. To record the hours worked by each operative
  2. To hand out personal protective equipment
  3. To replace the written site risk assessment
  4. To brief the team on a specific hazard Correct answer.

Explanation

A toolbox talk is a short briefing on a particular hazard, task or recent incident. It reinforces the controls already identified in the risk assessment and method statement. It does not replace those documents.

Question 38Personal Protective Equipment and Safe Systems of Work

At what daily noise exposure level must hearing protection be provided and worn?

  1. 90 dB(A)
  2. 85 dB(A) Correct answer.
  3. 80 dB(A)
  4. 95 dB(A)

Explanation

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations set the upper action value at 85 dB(A) daily or weekly exposure. At this level hearing protection must be provided and its use is mandatory, and the area is likely to need marking as a hearing protection zone. At 80 dB(A) protection must be made available on request.

Question 39Personal Protective Equipment and Safe Systems of Work

Why must a wearer of tight-fitting respiratory protection be clean-shaven at the face seal?

  1. Facial hair breaks the seal Correct answer.
  2. To reduce the effort of breathing
  3. To keep the mask hygienic between uses
  4. To meet the manufacturer's warranty terms

Explanation

Tight-fitting respirators rely on a continuous seal between the mask edge and the skin. Stubble or a beard lifts the mask edge and allows contaminated air to leak in. A fit test confirms the mask suits the wearer's face, and a fit check should be done every time it is worn.

Question 40Personal Protective Equipment and Safe Systems of Work

Which check should be made on a safety helmet before each use?

  1. That the helmet is more than five years old
  2. That the shell and harness are undamaged Correct answer.
  3. That the shell has been painted
  4. That the peak has been removed

Explanation

Pre-use checks look for cracks, chemical damage, a worn or missing harness and correct adjustment. Any defect means the helmet is withdrawn from use. Helmets also have a service life and should be replaced after a significant impact.

Question 41Personal Protective Equipment and Safe Systems of Work

A lorry must reverse into a roadworks compound beside a pedestrian route. Which control is most effective?

  1. Segregated route and trained signaller Correct answer.
  2. Switching on the vehicle reversing alarm
  3. Asking pedestrians to listen for engines
  4. Using hazard lights throughout the reverse

Explanation

Reversing should be designed out wherever possible; where it cannot be avoided, segregation of vehicles and pedestrians is the strongest control. A trained signaller then supports the manoeuvre. Alarms and lights are useful aids but do not stop people being struck.

Question 42Personal Protective Equipment and Safe Systems of Work

For which of these tasks is a permit-to-work most appropriate?

  1. Unloading a pallet of kerbs
  2. Sweeping the footway
  3. A daily briefing at the site cabin
  4. Entering a confined space Correct answer.

Explanation

A permit-to-work is used for high-risk activities where strict control and formal authorisation are needed, such as confined space entry, hot work or work on live services. The permit records the precautions, who authorised the work and when it was completed. Routine low-risk tasks do not need one.

Question 43Personal Protective Equipment and Safe Systems of Work

Why should gloves be removed, or close-fitting gloves worn, near rotating machinery?

  1. Gloves reduce the user's grip strength considerably
  2. Loose gloves can be caught in the rotating parts Correct answer.
  3. Gloves are never permitted in workshop areas
  4. Gloves cause the machine to overheat quickly

Explanation

Loose cuffs or baggy gloves can snag on rotating parts and pull the hand into the machine. Where entanglement risk exists, gloves should be removed or a close-fitting type selected following the risk assessment. Machine guarding remains the primary control.

Question 44Personal Protective Equipment and Safe Systems of Work

What is the purpose of stop blocks at the edge of a tipping area?

  1. To protect the ground surface from damage
  2. To stop a vehicle overrunning the edge Correct answer.
  3. To mark the site boundary
  4. To guide the lorry into position

Explanation

Stop blocks or wheel restraints physically prevent a vehicle from travelling too far and tipping over an edge or into an excavation. They are part of the vehicle restraint system for tipping operations. Ground conditions and the size of vehicle must be considered when they are positioned.

Question 45Personal Protective Equipment and Safe Systems of Work

In roadworks, what does 'guarding' the works mean?

  1. Displaying the company notice board on site
  2. Posting a lookout at each end of the works
  3. Recording the works in the site diary
  4. Barriers between works and traffic Correct answer.

Explanation

The safety code for street works and road works requires signing, lighting and guarding. Guarding means physical barriers and fencing that separate the works from traffic and pedestrians. Signing warns road users in advance and lighting makes the layout visible.

Question 46Personal Protective Equipment and Safe Systems of Work

An operative is using an angle grinder to cut kerbs. Which eye protection is appropriate?

  1. Goggles or a face shield Correct answer.
  2. Glasses without side protection
  3. No protection when working outdoors
  4. Ordinary sunglasses

Explanation

Disc cutting throws high-speed particles from the front and side, so eye protection must seal or shield the eyes. Goggles or a face shield worn over safety glasses give the required coverage. Standard glasses without side protection leave the eyes exposed.

Question 47Personal Protective Equipment and Safe Systems of Work

When cutting concrete paving with a disc cutter, which control should be applied first?

  1. Working with the wind behind you
  2. Rotating staff every hour
  3. Wearing an FFP3 respirator
  4. Water suppression at the cutting point Correct answer.

Explanation

Concrete cutting creates respirable crystalline silica, and suppressing dust at source with water is an engineering control high in the hierarchy. Respiratory protection is then used for any residual exposure. Task rotation and wind direction do not control the dust itself.

Question 48Personal Protective Equipment and Safe Systems of Work

An operative's daily hand-arm vibration exposure is likely to exceed the action value. What is the best control?

  1. Limiting trigger time and rotating tasks Correct answer.
  2. Working more quickly to finish sooner
  3. Using a blunt cutting blade to reduce speed
  4. Wearing thicker padded gloves at all times

Explanation

Hand-arm vibration exposure is managed by reducing trigger time, using lower-vibration tools and planning breaks or rotation. Exposure duration and vibration magnitude together determine the daily dose. Gloves offer little protection against vibration and a blunt blade increases the time spent cutting.

Question 49Personal Protective Equipment and Safe Systems of Work

A high-visibility vest becomes torn and heavily soiled with oil. What should happen?

  1. Replace it before work continues Correct answer.
  2. Clean it at the end of the week
  3. Turn it inside out and carry on working
  4. Wear it underneath a waterproof jacket

Explanation

Torn or soiled garments lose fluorescent and reflective performance, so the wearer becomes harder to see. The garment should be replaced before work continues. Hi-vis clothing should be kept clean and checked as part of normal PPE care.

Question 50Personal Protective Equipment and Safe Systems of Work

Two earmuff models have different attenuation ratings. Why should the protection be matched to the measured noise level?

  1. Over-protection can mask warnings Correct answer.
  2. Attenuation ratings only apply to indoor work
  3. Higher-rated muffs are always uncomfortable to wear
  4. Lower-rated muffs are cheaper to replace

Explanation

Hearing protection should reduce noise at the ear to a comfortable level without cutting the wearer off from their surroundings. Excessive attenuation can make alarms, vehicles and speech difficult to hear, which creates new risks. Ratings apply wherever the noise occurs.