Health, Safety and Site Practice
Health, Safety and Site Practice tests whether you can identify hazards, assess risk and describe safe working in a school workshop or on a small site. Expect tool safety, manual handling, electricity, housekeeping, fire and first-aid arrangements.
Core rules
- A hazard is something with potential to cause harm; risk is the likelihood and severity of that harm. Assess risk by considering who is exposed, how likely an incident is, how severe the outcome could be and what controls are needed.
- Apply the hierarchy of control: eliminate the hazard, substitute a safer method, use engineering controls such as guards or extraction, then administrative controls such as training, and use PPE last.
- Machine rules: guards in place, correct blade or bit, push stick near cutters, dust extraction, isolation before adjustment, no loose clothing or jewellery.
- Manual handling: assess the load, keep it close, bend the knees, keep the back straight, avoid twisting and get help for heavy or awkward items.
Worked example
Risk assessment for a cross-cut saw: hazards are contact with the blade, ejected offcuts, dust and noise. Controls are the fixed guard, a push stick, dust extraction, eye and ear protection, training and a clear bench. The residual risk remains, so the operation is supervised and the saw is isolated before blade changes. PPE supports the controls; it does not replace the guard.
Traps
Treating PPE as the first control, bypassing a guard, failing to isolate before maintenance and leaving offcuts on the floor are frequent mark-losers.