Occupational Safety, Health and Environmental Protection
Domain focus
This domain tests hazard identification and control in vehicle workshops: fire, fuel, exhaust gas, solvents, battery acid, lifting, noise, high-voltage systems, and waste management.
Core rules
- Control hierarchy: eliminate, substitute, engineer controls, administrate, then use PPE.
- Fuel vapour and solvent vapour are flammable; use ventilation and remove ignition sources.
- Exhaust carbon monoxide is colourless and odourless; never run engines in enclosed spaces without extraction.
- Battery charging releases hydrogen; keep flames away and ventilate.
- Waste oil, filters, coolant, and solvents need segregated containers and licensed disposal.
- Risk rating = likelihood × severity; controls must reduce the rating before work starts.
Worked example
A task is rated likelihood 3 and severity 4, giving 12-high risk. Installing local exhaust ventilation and moving the task away from ignition sources reduces likelihood to 1; the residual rating is 1 × 4 = 4, low risk. PPE is still worn, but it is the last layer, not the only control. The reasoning shows why engineering controls are preferred over relying on gloves or masks.
Traps
Using water on a fuel or electrical fire, storing waste oil in open drums, and ignoring orange high-voltage cables on hybrid or electric vehicles. A risk assessment that is written but not communicated to the technician is ineffective.