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Punjab PSEB Sr. Sec. NSQF Construction (Painter & Decorator) study materials
Punjab PSEB Sr. Sec. NSQF Construction (Painter & Decorator) study resources

Punjab PSEB Sr. Sec. NSQF Construction (Painter & Decorator) practice questions

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Question 1Occupational safety, health and environment in painting and decoration work

Which respiratory protection is appropriate when a painter brushes solvent-based enamel in a closed room?

  1. A face shield worn with safety glasses
  2. A cartridge respirator rated for organic vapour Correct answer.
  3. A disposable paper dust mask
  4. A folded cotton cloth tied over the nose and mouth

Explanation

Solvent vapour molecules pass straight through cloth and paper dust masks, so they give no protection against organic solvents. A cartridge respirator fitted with an organic-vapour cartridge, combined with ventilation, is the minimum respiratory protection for brushing solvent-based enamel indoors. Face and eye protection do not protect the lungs.

Question 2Occupational safety, health and environment in painting and decoration work

How should leftover thinner and solvent-based paint be stored in a painting workshop?

  1. In open trays near the workbench so fumes escape
  2. In closed, labelled metal containers in a ventilated store Correct answer.
  3. Beside the welding area so they stay dry
  4. In unlabelled plastic bottles on a sunny shelf

Explanation

Flammable thinners give off vapour that can ignite at low temperatures, so they must be kept in closed, labelled containers in a ventilated store away from ignition sources. Open trays, sunlight and welding areas all raise the risk of a flash fire.

Question 3Occupational safety, health and environment in painting and decoration work

Why must rags soaked with oil-based paint or linseed oil never be left in a heap at the end of the shift?

  1. They become too stiff to handle on the next day
  2. They release only harmless water vapour as they dry
  3. They lose their colour if stacked while damp
  4. They can self-heat and catch fire without a spark Correct answer.

Explanation

Oil-based paint and linseed oil oxidise in the air and generate heat; when rags are heaped, the heat cannot escape and the pile can reach ignition temperature without any spark. Rags should be spread flat to dry or placed in a closed metal container and removed daily.

Question 4Occupational safety, health and environment in painting and decoration work

A painter is spray-applying solvent-based lacquer in a small, closed room. Which control is most important to prevent both fire and inhalation exposure?

  1. Local exhaust ventilation plus a suitable respirator Correct answer.
  2. A fire extinguisher placed at the door
  3. A single open window and a cotton dust mask
  4. Working faster so the room is exposed for less time

Explanation

Spraying solvent-based lacquer releases flammable vapour and fine droplets, so local exhaust ventilation at the source plus a suitable respirator controls both fire and inhalation exposure. A single window and dust mask are not enough, and a fire extinguisher is only for emergencies.

Question 5Occupational safety, health and environment in painting and decoration work

Before dry-sanding painted timber in an old building, what is the correct safety step?

  1. Test for lead and use wet sanding if present Correct answer.
  2. Assume the paint is safe if it is more than 20 years old
  3. Wet the surface only after sanding is finished
  4. Wear a dust mask and sand outdoors only

Explanation

Older paint frequently contains lead, and dry sanding turns it into inhalable dust. The paint should be tested first; if lead is present, wet methods, dust extraction and appropriate PPE are required to protect the painter and occupants.

Question 6Occupational safety, health and environment in painting and decoration work

When painting a ceiling from a step ladder, which practice keeps the worker stable?

  1. Leaning sideways while holding the paint kettle
  2. Keeping three points of contact and the body centred Correct answer.
  3. Placing the ladder on a loose sheet of polythene
  4. Standing on the top two steps to reach farther

Explanation

A step ladder is stable only when the worker keeps three points of contact, stays centred and does not overreach. Standing on the top steps or leaning sideways shifts the centre of gravity and can tip the ladder.

Question 7Occupational safety, health and environment in painting and decoration work

Which measure best prevents contact dermatitis when handling solvent-based paints?

  1. Nitrile gloves and washing with soap Correct answer.
  2. Pulling sleeves down over wet paint
  3. Relying on barrier cream instead of gloves
  4. Washing hands with thinner after every coat

Explanation

Solvents remove the skin's natural oils and can cause contact dermatitis, so gloves made of a solvent-resistant material such as nitrile and washing with mild soap are the main controls. Thinners and barrier cream alone do not replace gloves.

Question 8Occupational safety, health and environment in painting and decoration work

In which situation must a painter use supplied air rather than an air-purifying cartridge respirator?

  1. Where dry plaster is sanded with a dust cartridge
  2. Where water-based paint is brushed in a large hall
  3. Where the atmosphere may be oxygen-deficient or immediately dangerous Correct answer.
  4. Where gloss paint is applied beside an open window

Explanation

An air-purifying respirator depends on a supply of clean air with enough oxygen; it cannot help in an oxygen-deficient atmosphere or where contaminants are at immediately dangerous levels. Those conditions require supplied air or self-contained breathing apparatus.

Question 9Occupational safety, health and environment in painting and decoration work

A painter needs to reach a high external wall with an aluminium extension ladder near 11 kV overhead lines. What is the safest control?

  1. Keep the statutory safe distance and use a non-conductive ladder Correct answer.
  2. Ask a helper to hold the ladder steady during the work
  3. Wrap the top of the ladder in polythene for insulation
  4. Work only in dry weather so the lines cannot arc

Explanation

Electricity can jump an air gap, so a safe working distance from overhead lines must be maintained and non-conductive equipment used. A polythene wrap does not insulate an aluminium ladder, and dry weather does not remove the hazard.

Question 10Occupational safety, health and environment in painting and decoration work

Solvent splashes into a painter's eye. What should be done first?

  1. Apply a dry cloth to the eyelid and press
  2. Rub the eye firmly to spread the solvent
  3. Close the eye and continue work until the break
  4. Irrigate with clean running water for at least 15 minutes Correct answer.

Explanation

Chemical splashes must be rinsed immediately with clean running water for at least 15 minutes, and the casualty should then be taken for medical assessment. Rubbing the eye or pressing a cloth into it can spread the solvent and cause further injury.

Question 11Occupational safety, health and environment in painting and decoration work

A painter splashes solvent-based thinner onto the forearm and turns to the product's safety data sheet (SDS) for guidance. Which section of a standard 16-section SDS gives the first-aid measures for skin and eye contact?

  1. Section 13 – Disposal considerations
  2. Section 4 – First-aid measures Correct answer.
  3. Section 2 – Hazard identification
  4. Section 8 – Exposure controls and personal protection

Explanation

Under the standardised 16-section SDS layout, Section 4 lists the first-aid measures for each route of exposure, including skin contact, eye contact, inhalation and ingestion. Section 2 describes the hazard classification and pictograms, not what to do after contact. Section 8 gives occupational exposure limits and the recommended glove or respirator type, which is prevention rather than treatment.

Question 12Occupational safety, health and environment in painting and decoration work

A painter is brushing a solvent-based gloss that contains white spirit and xylene. Which hand protection is the correct choice for this task?

  1. Nitrile gloves in the material specified on the product SDS Correct answer.
  2. Latex disposable gloves, because they are waterproof
  3. Leather rigger gloves, because they resist abrasion on timber
  4. Cotton gloves, because they soak up sweat and keep the hands dry

Explanation

Solvents pass through many glove films, so the glove material must be chosen from the permeation data in the SDS for that specific product. Nitrile is commonly specified for solvent-based paints, but the SDS recommendation governs. Latex, cotton and leather give little or no chemical resistance and can hold solvent against the skin, worsening contact.

Question 13Occupational safety, health and environment in painting and decoration work

A small fire starts in a tray of solvent-based paint in a workshop. Which type of extinguisher is appropriate for this fire?

  1. A water extinguisher rated for Class A fires
  2. A wet chemical extinguisher rated for Class F fires
  3. A foam extinguisher rated for Class B fires Correct answer.
  4. A special powder extinguisher rated for Class D fires

Explanation

Solvent paints and thinners are flammable liquids, which are Class B fires. Foam, CO2 and suitable dry powder extinguish Class B by smothering or excluding oxygen. Water spreads burning solvent, wet chemical is for cooking oils, and Class D powder is for burning metals, so none of those suit a paint fire.

Question 14Occupational safety, health and environment in painting and decoration work

A painter must decant xylene-based thinner from a 20 litre drum into small metal tins. Which precaution controls the risk of a static spark igniting the vapour?

  1. Stand the drum on a rubber mat to insulate it from the floor
  2. Pour as quickly as possible so the vapour disperses
  3. Wipe the drum with a dry woollen cloth before opening it
  4. Bond the drum to the receiving tin and earth the drum Correct answer.

Explanation

Pouring a low-conductivity flammable liquid generates static charge, and an ungrounded metal drum or tin can discharge a spark at the vapour space. Bonding the two containers together and earthing them keeps both at the same potential as the ground. Rubber mats, dry woollen cloths and fast pouring all increase rather than remove the risk.

Question 15Occupational safety, health and environment in painting and decoration work

A decorator who has been applying a two-pack polyurethane floor coating containing isocyanates develops wheezing and chest tightness that recur on later jobs. What is the most likely occupational cause?

  1. Contact urticaria caused by wearing nitrile gloves
  2. Iron-deficiency anaemia caused by paint pigments
  3. Airway sensitisation caused by isocyanate hardeners Correct answer.
  4. Carbon monoxide poisoning caused by the solvent carrier

Explanation

Isocyanates used in two-pack polyurethane hardeners are potent respiratory sensitisers and a leading cause of occupational asthma. Once a person is sensitised, symptoms can be triggered by exposures far below the occupational limit, so the worker must be referred for medical assessment and removed from isocyanate work. Anaemia, glove urticaria and carbon monoxide do not match the pattern of recurrent wheeze after coating work.

Question 16Occupational safety, health and environment in painting and decoration work

At the end of a painting job, a decorator is left with washings containing solvent, paint sludge and dirty thinner. How should this waste be handled?

  1. Decant it into labelled drums and send it for authorised hazardous-waste disposal Correct answer.
  2. Stir it into a cement mix and put it in the general construction skip
  3. Tip it onto open ground at the back of the site so it soaks away
  4. Pour it into the site stormwater drain with plenty of running water

Explanation

Solvent-bearing washings and paint sludge are hazardous waste and remain the producer's responsibility until handed to an authorised carrier, with the transfer documented. Stormwater drains discharge to watercourses and ground tipping contaminates soil and groundwater. Setting it in cement or hiding it in a general skip does not destroy the solvents and may cause leaching at the tip.

Question 17Occupational safety, health and environment in painting and decoration work

A painter using an airless sprayer notices that the machine is so loud that a shouted conversation at one metre is difficult. What is the appropriate response?

  1. Rely on the paint respirator to reduce the noise reaching the ears
  2. Take no action, because spraying is not classed as a noisy process
  3. Treat it as a noise hazard, provide hearing protection and limit exposure time Correct answer.
  4. Issue hearing protection only when the sound level passes 100 dB(A)

Explanation

Airless pumps and spray guns commonly produce sound levels well above 85 dB(A), the level at which hearing protection and exposure reduction are required over a shift. Hearing damage accumulates gradually and is permanent. A respirator has no effect on noise, and waiting for 100 dB(A) would leave the worker unprotected throughout the damaging range.

Question 18Occupational safety, health and environment in painting and decoration work

A painter will work at height on a mobile access tower to reach a high ceiling. Which practice keeps the tower safe to use?

  1. Push the tower along the floor with a colleague still on the platform
  2. Leave the guardrails off for a short ceiling patch to save time
  3. Lock the castors, fit outriggers and check guardrails before climbing Correct answer.
  4. Climb up the outside bracing to reach the platform more quickly

Explanation

A mobile tower must be stable and complete before use: castors locked, outriggers or stabilisers fitted where required, and guardrails, toe boards and a safe ladder access in place. Towers must never be moved while someone is on the platform, and climbing the bracing can cause the tower to overturn. Guardrails are required for any work at height, however brief.

Question 19Occupational safety, health and environment in painting and decoration work

Residue from a solvent-based coating must be cleaned out of an empty steel storage tank. What is required before a painter enters the tank?

  1. A colleague standing at the hatch is enough supervision for the entry
  2. Entry is safe once the tank is empty, using a dust mask for protection
  3. Opening the hatch and ventilating for five minutes before climbing in
  4. Atmospheric testing, isolation and entry under permit with a standby person Correct answer.

Explanation

A tank that held solvents is a confined space: residues give off vapour that can be flammable or can displace oxygen, and the space may be oxygen-deficient. Entry requires isolation of services, testing of the atmosphere, a permit, continuous ventilation, a standby person and a rescue plan. An empty-looking tank, a dust mask or a short airing is not an adequate control.

Question 20Occupational safety, health and environment in painting and decoration work

A decorator is applying a solvent-based coating in a room with mechanical ventilation. At what level should the extract opening be placed to remove the vapour most effectively?

  1. At ceiling level, because solvent vapour rises with warm air
  2. At breathing height only, so the painter's face is protected
  3. Outside the room only, with the door kept closed during work
  4. At low level, because solvent vapour is heavier than air Correct answer.

Explanation

Common paint solvents such as white spirit, xylene and toluene have vapour densities greater than air, so they sink and accumulate near the floor, in pits and in sumps. Extract should therefore be taken from low level, with clean make-up air supplied higher up and across the work area. Ceiling extract would draw vapour across the breathing zone first, and closing the door prevents the cross-draught the system needs.

Question 21Tools, equipment, ladders, scaffolding and material handling

A straight ladder is being set against a wall for external painting work. What is the recommended angle between the ladder and the ground?

  1. 75 degrees Correct answer.
  2. 60 degrees
  3. 90 degrees
  4. 45 degrees

Explanation

A leaning ladder should be set so that the foot stands out about one unit for every four units of height, which gives an angle of roughly 75 degrees to the ground. A steeper ladder can tip backwards, while a shallower one puts excessive bending load on the stiles and can slip out at the foot.

Question 22Tools, equipment, ladders, scaffolding and material handling

Which hand tool is used to apply and smooth wall putty over a plastered surface before painting?

  1. Claw hammer
  2. Tenon saw
  3. Spirit level
  4. Putty knife Correct answer.

Explanation

A putty knife, also called a putty blade or scraper knife, has a flexible flat steel blade that picks up putty and presses it into cracks and depressions while drawing the surface level. The other tools listed are for driving nails, checking level and cutting timber, and none can spread and finish putty.

Question 23Tools, equipment, ladders, scaffolding and material handling

A painter is spraying solvent-based paint inside a room. Which item of personal protective equipment protects the eyes from airborne paint mist?

  1. Safety goggles Correct answer.
  2. Ear plugs
  3. Leather hand gloves
  4. Gum boots

Explanation

Solvent-borne paint thrown off by a spray gun stays suspended in the air and can settle on the eyes, so sealed safety goggles are needed. Gloves, boots and ear plugs protect the hands, feet and hearing, but they leave the eyes fully exposed.

Question 24Tools, equipment, ladders, scaffolding and material handling

Why are timber sole boards placed under the base plates of a scaffold that stands on soft ground?

  1. To slope the scaffold so that rain water drains off the platform
  2. To raise the scaffold so the platform stays above head height
  3. To allow the whole scaffold to be slid easily to the next bay
  4. To spread the load over a larger area and stop the standards sinking Correct answer.

Explanation

A sole board increases the contact area between the scaffold foot and the ground, so the same load is carried by a much larger patch of soil. This prevents the standards from sinking unevenly, which would otherwise tilt the scaffold and could cause collapse.

Question 25Tools, equipment, ladders, scaffolding and material handling

A ladder is used to reach a scaffold working platform. How far should the ladder extend above the platform level?

  1. At least 300 mm
  2. At least 1000 mm Correct answer.
  3. At least 500 mm
  4. At least 2000 mm

Explanation

The ladder must project about one metre above the landing so that a person has a handhold while stepping on and off the platform. Without this extension the user has nothing to grip at the top and is likely to lose balance during the changeover.

Question 26Tools, equipment, ladders, scaffolding and material handling

A painter has to move a 25 kg paint drum a few metres across a level floor. Which method is the safest?

  1. Drag it by the top rim with one hand
  2. Use a drum trolley to move the drum Correct answer.
  3. Roll the drum on its side with a foot
  4. Lift it with straight legs and a bent back

Explanation

A drum of this weight should be moved on a trolley or sack truck so that the load is carried by wheels and not by the body. Manual lifting of such a drum risks back strain, and dragging or foot-rolling it can cause it to topple onto the worker.

Question 27Tools, equipment, ladders, scaffolding and material handling

Old, cracked paint has to be removed from wooden window frames by hand sanding. Which abrasive grit should be used first?

  1. P40 Correct answer.
  2. P180
  3. P320
  4. P240

Explanation

Sanding always starts with the coarsest grit that the job allows and works towards finer grits. A coarse grit such as P40 cuts through thick, hardened paint quickly, after which medium and fine grits remove the scratch marks and prepare the timber for the new coat.

Question 28Tools, equipment, ladders, scaffolding and material handling

After finishing a coat of solvent-based enamel, how should a bristle brush be cleaned?

  1. Burn the paint off the bristles over an open flame
  2. Stand the brush in the paint tin so the bristles stay soft
  3. Wash the bristles in the recommended thinner, then in warm soapy water Correct answer.
  4. Soak the brush overnight in clean water and then hang it up to dry

Explanation

Enamel is a solvent-borne coating, so the brush must first be worked in the thinner recommended on the container to dissolve the paint, and then washed with warm soapy water to remove the thinner and pigment residue. Finally the bristles are combed straight and dried flat so that they keep their shape.

Question 29Tools, equipment, ladders, scaffolding and material handling

A wall area of 120 square metres is to receive two coats of emulsion paint, and the paint covers 10 square metres per litre per coat. How much paint is needed for both coats?

  1. 48 litres
  2. 12 litres
  3. 24 litres Correct answer.
  4. 36 litres

Explanation

One coat needs 120 divided by 10, that is 12 litres, and two coats therefore need 12 multiplied by 2, which is 24 litres. The quantity per coat must always be multiplied by the number of coats before the paint is ordered.

Question 30Tools, equipment, ladders, scaffolding and material handling

A painter needs to reach a point 6 m up a wall and sets the foot of the ladder 1.5 m out from the wall. Applying the 4:1 rule, what is the correct judgement?

  1. The ladder should stand vertical, touching the wall at the base
  2. The foot is too close; it should be about 3 m from the wall
  3. The foot is too far out; it should be about 0.75 m from the wall
  4. Correct, because the base is one quarter of the height Correct answer.

Explanation

The 4:1 rule sets the foot of a ladder one unit out for every four units of height, so a 6 m rise calls for a base distance of 6 divided by 4, which is 1.5 m. The ladder as set therefore meets the rule and stands at the safe angle of about 75 degrees.

Question 31Tools, equipment, ladders, scaffolding and material handling

On a scaffold working platform, what is the usual minimum height of a toe board above the platform surface?

  1. 150 mm Correct answer.
  2. 50 mm
  3. 300 mm
  4. 100 mm

Explanation

Toe boards are fitted along the open edges of a working platform to stop tools, materials and debris from falling. The usual minimum height is 150 mm, and the board should be securely fixed with no gap at the platform surface. Higher site-specific requirements may apply, so the scaffold specification should always be checked.

Question 32Tools, equipment, ladders, scaffolding and material handling

A chain sling used for lifting paint drums is marked 'SWL 500 kg'. What does this marking mean?

  1. The weight of the sling assembly when it is dry
  2. The load at which the sling will break during a proof test
  3. The load that can be lifted if one leg is removed from the sling
  4. The maximum load it may lift in the stated configuration Correct answer.

Explanation

SWL stands for safe working load, the maximum load a lifting accessory may raise under the conditions for which it was rated. It is well below the breaking load and already includes the intended safety factor. The marked SWL must never be exceeded, and the sling should be inspected before use.

Question 33Tools, equipment, ladders, scaffolding and material handling

Which tool is used with a tenon saw to guide accurate 45° or 90° cuts on skirting and beading?

  1. Spokeshave
  2. Caulking gun
  3. Mitre box Correct answer.
  4. Coping saw

Explanation

A mitre box has pre-cut slots at common angles, usually 45° and 90°, that guide a tenon saw for clean, repeatable cuts. It is used for mitring skirting, architrave and beading at internal and external corners. A coping saw, spokeshave and caulking gun do different jobs and do not guide saw cuts.

Question 34Tools, equipment, ladders, scaffolding and material handling

Before a painter climbs a stepladder to reach a ceiling, why must the spreader bars be fully extended and locked?

  1. To allow a second painter to climb on the same side
  2. To hold the ladder at the correct 4:1 angle against a wall
  3. To stop the legs from folding together under the painter's weight Correct answer.
  4. To increase the working height without moving the ladder

Explanation

A stepladder is self-supporting, and its spreader bars lock the front and rear legs apart. If they are not fully engaged, the legs can fold and the ladder can collapse when loaded. The ladder must also stand on firm, level ground with all four feet in contact.

Question 35Tools, equipment, ladders, scaffolding and material handling

Which ladder is most suitable for painting near exposed live electrical wiring where accidental contact cannot be ruled out?

  1. Aluminium extension ladder
  2. Fibreglass stepladder Correct answer.
  3. Stainless steel platform ladder
  4. Galvanised steel ladder

Explanation

Fibreglass is a non-conductive material, so a fibreglass ladder reduces the risk of electric shock if it touches a live conductor. Metal ladders conduct electricity and should not be used near exposed live wiring. Even a fibreglass ladder should be kept clear of live parts and checked for cracks or moisture before use.

Question 36Tools, equipment, ladders, scaffolding and material handling

During an inspection, a painter finds a scaffold plank with a long split along one edge. What is the correct action?

  1. Turn the plank over so the split is underneath
  2. Remove the plank from service and replace it Correct answer.
  3. Nail a timber batten over the split and use it
  4. Use it only on the part of the platform nearest a standard

Explanation

A split plank has lost part of its load-bearing section and can fail suddenly under a person or materials. It must be taken out of service, marked or removed so nobody else uses it, and replaced with a sound plank of the correct grade. Repairs such as turning or nailing over a split do not restore the plank's strength.

Question 37Tools, equipment, ladders, scaffolding and material handling

When lifting a 20 litre paint drum manually from the floor to waist height, which technique is recommended?

  1. Hold the drum at arm's length to keep it away from the body
  2. Keep the legs straight and bend the back over the drum
  3. Bend the knees, keep the back straight and hold the drum close Correct answer.
  4. Lift and twist at the same time to place the drum on a bench

Explanation

Manual lifting should use the leg muscles, not the back, so the knees are bent and the back kept as straight as possible. Holding the load close to the body reduces the leverage on the spine. Twisting while lifting should be avoided; turn the feet instead.

Question 38Tools, equipment, ladders, scaffolding and material handling

Between painting jobs, what is a correct way to store a straight ladder?

  1. Support it horizontally on racks at several points along its length Correct answer.
  2. Stand it upright on one stile in a corner of the store
  3. Lay it on the ground where vehicles can see it
  4. Lean it against a damp wall so it stays cool

Explanation

A straight ladder should be stored horizontally on racks that support it at intervals, so its stiles do not sag or take a permanent bend. It should be kept dry, away from excessive heat and clear of traffic. Standing a ladder on one stile or leaning it against a damp wall can damage it.

Question 39Tools, equipment, ladders, scaffolding and material handling

A symmetrical load is suspended from a two-leg sling. As the angle between the two legs is increased, what happens to the tension in each leg?

  1. It increases, placing more load on each leg and its fittings Correct answer.
  2. It decreases in proportion to the angle
  3. It becomes zero when the legs are horizontal
  4. It stays the same because the load is unchanged

Explanation

The vertical component of each leg must still support half the load, so as the legs move further apart each leg must carry a larger tension. At wide included angles the tension can exceed the load itself, which is why sling angles are kept within the manufacturer's limit. A two-leg sling should not be used with very wide angles.

Question 40Tools, equipment, ladders, scaffolding and material handling

A mobile scaffold tower is in use. What must be done before it is moved to a new position?

  1. Lower only the guardrails so the tower is easier to push
  2. Move it quickly so that no one has time to climb on
  3. Remove all people and loose materials, then check the route and ground Correct answer.
  4. Keep the materials on the platform to make the tower more stable

Explanation

A mobile tower must never be moved while anyone or any loose material is on the platform. The route should be checked for overhead cables, holes and slopes, and the tower should be pushed at the base by enough people to keep control. Castors should be locked again once the tower is in its new position.

Question 41Tools, equipment, ladders, scaffolding and material handling

A painter must reach a staircase landing to paint the ceiling. The floor is uneven and there is no wall nearby to lean a ladder against. Which ladder is most suitable?

  1. A straight ladder
  2. An extension ladder
  3. A platform stepladder Correct answer.
  4. A roof ladder

Explanation

A platform stepladder is self-supporting, with four legs and a locking spreader, so it can stand on a firm level base without leaning on a wall. Straight, extension and roof ladders all need a suitable surface to lean against, which is not available at this landing. The platform also gives a stable standing area for ceiling work.

Question 42Tools, equipment, ladders, scaffolding and material handling

On a tube-and-coupler scaffold, what is the main purpose of the guardrail fixed along the outer edge of a working platform?

  1. To provide a fixing point for the access ladder
  2. To keep the standards vertical during erection
  3. To support the weight of the scaffold planks
  4. To prevent workers and materials from falling off the platform Correct answer.

Explanation

The guardrail is a fall-prevention barrier at the open edge of a working platform. It is set at a specified height and works with the toe board to stop people, tools and materials going over the edge. It is not a structural member that carries plank loads or aligns the standards.

Question 43Tools, equipment, ladders, scaffolding and material handling

A painter needs a 20-litre drum of paint at the top of a 3 m ladder. What is the safest method?

  1. Balance the drum on a shoulder while climbing
  2. Carry the drum in one hand while holding the ladder with the other
  3. Ask a second worker to push the drum up from below
  4. Hoist the drum separately with a rope after the painter has climbed Correct answer.

Explanation

A ladder climber must keep both hands free for the three-point contact needed for safe climbing. Heavy or bulky loads should be hoisted separately by rope once the painter is secure at the top, or passed up hand-to-hand only when the ladder is short and a second person is footing it. Carrying a drum while climbing is a common cause of falls.

Question 44Tools, equipment, ladders, scaffolding and material handling

In a tube-and-coupler scaffold, which member is a horizontal tube that ties the vertical standards together and supports the transoms?

  1. Diagonal brace
  2. Sole board
  3. Ledger Correct answer.
  4. Standard

Explanation

A ledger is the horizontal tube running along the length of the scaffold that connects the standards and carries the transoms. The standards are the vertical tubes, the transoms sit across the ledgers to support the platform, and a sole board spreads the load under a standard. Identifying the ledger correctly matters when checking that a scaffold has been erected to the intended design.

Question 45Surface preparation and substrate treatment for painting

Fresh cement plaster has a high pH and can saponify oil-based finishes. Which primer is specified before an oil paint is applied on new plaster?

  1. Red lead primer
  2. Bituminous primer
  3. Alkali-resisting primer Correct answer.
  4. Zinc-rich primer

Explanation

Fresh cement plaster remains strongly alkaline for several weeks, and this alkalinity attacks the binder in oil paints and causes saponification, blistering and peeling. An alkali-resisting primer forms a barrier that withstands this alkalinity until the plaster has carbonated. Zinc-rich and red lead primers are for steel, while bituminous coatings are used for damp-proofing, not as a plaster primer.

Question 46Surface preparation and substrate treatment for painting

Resinous knots in softwood bleed through paint and leave brown stains. What is applied over each knot before the wood is primed?

  1. Wood preservative oil
  2. Lime wash
  3. Shellac knotting Correct answer.
  4. Epoxy putty

Explanation

Resin in knots is softened by the solvents in paint and migrates to the surface, staining and lifting the finish. Knotting, a shellac-based solution, seals the knot and blocks this migration, and it is applied only over the knot area before priming. Preservative oil does not seal resin, and putty is used for filling holes, not for stopping resin bleed.

Question 47Surface preparation and substrate treatment for painting

A steel gate is to be painted. Loose mill scale, rust and grease are present on the surface. Which sequence of preparation is correct?

  1. Degrease only, then prime over the rust
  2. Apply finish coats, then clean off the rust
  3. Apply primer, then remove rust and scale
  4. Remove rust and scale, degrease, then apply primer Correct answer.

Explanation

Paint adheres only to a sound, clean surface, so rust, mill scale and grease must all be removed before any primer is applied. Grease is removed after mechanical cleaning because the solvent can then reach the metal and any residues left by wire brushing. Priming over rust or grease traps corrosion and leads to early blistering and flaking.

Question 48Surface preparation and substrate treatment for painting

New galvanized iron sheeting has a smooth, chemically active zinc surface on which paint does not key well. Which treatment prepares it for a solvent-borne paint system?

  1. Wash with soap and paint while still wet
  2. Apply a thick lime wash and allow it to dry
  3. Weather it for several months or etch with dilute acid Correct answer.
  4. Coat with cement slurry and sand it back

Explanation

Zinc reacts with the fatty acids in oil paints and forms soaps that destroy adhesion, and the smooth surface gives little mechanical key. Weathering for several months, or etching with a dilute acid followed by thorough rinsing, removes the surface shine and stabilises the zinc. A suitable zinc chromate or etch primer is then applied before the finish coats.

Question 49Surface preparation and substrate treatment for painting

On new woodwork, in what order are primer and stopping applied to give a smooth, sealed surface?

  1. Primer first, then stopping, then sanding Correct answer.
  2. Stopping and primer mixed together in one coat
  3. Stopping first, then primer, then sanding
  4. Finish coat first, then stopping, then primer

Explanation

The primer is applied first so that it seals the grain and provides a key; if stopping is applied to bare wood, the wood absorbs the oil from the putty and the filler shrinks and cracks. Stopping is then pressed into nail holes, cracks and dents and left to harden. After drying, the stopped areas are rubbed down with abrasive paper and dusted off before the next coat.

Question 50Surface preparation and substrate treatment for painting

A plastered wall shows white powdery efflorescence. What is the correct treatment before painting?

  1. Seal it under a thick coat of putty
  2. Wash with oil and paint immediately
  3. Brush off dry salts, wash with clean water and allow to dry Correct answer.
  4. Apply alkali-resisting primer directly over the salt

Explanation

Efflorescence consists of soluble salts carried to the surface by moisture, and painting over it traps the salts, which later push the film off. The deposit is first brushed off dry, then the wall is washed with clean water so remaining salts are drawn out, and it is allowed to dry fully. The source of moisture must be corrected, otherwise the salts will return after painting.