Environmental and Occupational Health Requirements
What this domain tests
Environmental and Occupational Health Requirements covers waste handling, hazardous materials, air quality, confined spaces, trenching and personal protection. Questions often ask for the control that should come first, or the hazard a task creates.
Core rules
- Follow the hierarchy of control: eliminate, substitute, engineer, administrate, then PPE.
- Solvent cements, primers and soldering fluxes release VOCs; use ventilation, keep ignition sources away and wear suitable gloves/respiratory protection.
- Cutting concrete, cement or asbestos-containing material can release silica or fibres; use wet methods, extraction and correct respirators.
- Sewage work exposes workers to bacteria and viruses; use gloves, cover cuts, wash hands and disinfect tools.
- Confined spaces need a permit, atmosphere testing, attendant and rescue plan; never enter a sewer chamber alone.
- Trenches need shoring, battering or a trench box, plus safe access and spoil set back from the edge.
Worked example
A plumber must solvent-weld pipes in a basement with no windows. The reasoning: the cement vapour is flammable and can cause dizziness. The control is forced ventilation and respiratory/eye protection, not just an open door. Keep the torch out until the vapour has cleared, because solvent vapours can ignite.
Traps
Wearing PPE as the only control, dry-sweeping silica dust, entering a manhole without testing, and storing solvent cement near a water heater are common errors.