Health, Safety and Environment Test Knowledge
The health, safety and environment domain tests whether you can recognise site hazards, apply the hierarchy of control, and meet UK legal duties before you operate plant. Questions are multiple-choice and scenario-based; they reward the control that is reasonably practicable, not the quickest answer.
Core rules and concepts
- Risk assessment: hazard = something with potential to cause harm; risk = likelihood and severity of that harm. Control risk at source first: eliminate, substitute, engineer (guards, extraction, segregation), then administrate (permits, signage, training), and use PPE last.
- Know the sign colours: red = prohibition/fire equipment; yellow = warning; blue = mandatory; green = safe condition/first aid.
- Report all injuries, near misses and dangerous occurrences under site rules; RIDDOR 2013 requires specified injuries, over-7-day absences, dangerous occurrences and some diseases to be reported to the enforcing authority.
- COSHH: assess substances such as silica dust, cement and fuels; use water suppression/extraction, correct storage and spill kits.
- Environmental duties: segregate waste, protect drains with bunds/spill kits, control noise and dust, and report spills immediately.
Worked example
A dumper route passes a puddle under a 110 V trailing lead. The hazard is electricity; the risk rises because water, damaged insulation and vehicle traffic combine. The best answer is not 'wear rubber gloves'. Isolate and reroute the lead, barricade the puddle, report the defect, and only resume when the lead is protected or removed. PPE is a backup, not the primary control.
Traps that cost marks
Do not treat PPE as the first control; do not confuse a near miss with a minor injury; do not assume green signs mean mandatory. Read 'first' and 'most effective' carefully-they point to elimination or engineering, not admin.