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CIDB Green Card (e-SICW) study materials
CIDB Green Card (e-SICW) study resources

CIDB Green Card (e-SICW) practice questions

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Question 1General occupational safety and health (OSH) principles and legal duties

Under the CIDB Green Card (e-SICW) framework, what is the primary legal duty of an employer toward workers at a construction site?

  1. To ensure the safety, health and welfare of all persons at work as far as is reasonably practicable Correct answer.
  2. To provide safety training only to supervisors and managers
  3. To transfer all safety responsibility to the workers through signed waivers
  4. To report accidents only when a worker is hospitalised

Explanation

Occupational safety and health law places a general duty on employers to safeguard the safety, health and welfare of everyone at the workplace so far as is reasonably practicable. This duty cannot be delegated away by agreement or waiver, and it covers all workers rather than only selected groups.

Question 2General occupational safety and health (OSH) principles and legal duties

In the hierarchy of control, which measure should be considered first when eliminating a hazard on a construction site?

  1. Posting warning signs around the hazard area
  2. Conducting a toolbox talk before work starts
  3. Eliminating the hazard at source, for example by prefabricating off site Correct answer.
  4. Issuing personal protective equipment to each worker

Explanation

The hierarchy of control ranks elimination of the hazard at source as the most effective measure, followed by substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls and finally PPE. Prefabricating components off site removes the risk entirely rather than merely managing exposure to it.

Question 3General occupational safety and health (OSH) principles and legal duties

A worker on a construction site notices an unguarded floor opening. Under general OSH principles, what is the worker's most appropriate immediate action?

  1. Report the hazard to the supervisor and secure or barricade the area where safe to do so Correct answer.
  2. Continue working while staying alert near the opening
  3. Wait until the next scheduled safety meeting to raise the issue
  4. Photograph the opening and share it on social media

Explanation

Workers have a duty to take reasonable care and to report hazards they cannot safely control themselves. Promptly informing the supervisor and, where safe, barricading the opening prevents others from falling before a permanent fix is made.

Question 4General occupational safety and health (OSH) principles and legal duties

What is the main purpose of a workplace risk assessment in construction?

  1. To identify hazards and evaluate the likelihood and severity of harm so controls can be decided Correct answer.
  2. To satisfy insurers by listing the cost of accidents
  3. To assign blame to individual workers after an incident
  4. To record the names of workers who have previously been injured

Explanation

Risk assessment is a systematic process of identifying hazards, evaluating the likelihood and severity of harm, and deciding on suitable control measures. It is a proactive planning tool rather than a record of past incidents or a means of apportioning blame.

Question 5General occupational safety and health (OSH) principles and legal duties

Which of the following best describes a 'hazard' in OSH terminology?

  1. The cost of implementing safety controls
  2. The severity of an injury already sustained
  3. The probability that an incident will occur
  4. Anything with the potential to cause harm Correct answer.

Explanation

A hazard is any source, situation or act with the potential to cause harm, such as an unguarded machine or a live cable. Risk, by contrast, combines the likelihood of harm with its severity.

Question 6General occupational safety and health (OSH) principles and legal duties

Why must a worker attend the site safety induction before starting work on a construction site?

  1. To receive site-specific hazard information, rules and emergency arrangements Correct answer.
  2. To prove they have paid their union subscription
  3. To obtain a pay rise from the contractor
  4. To register for annual leave

Explanation

The site induction communicates site-specific hazards, safe working rules, welfare arrangements and emergency procedures so a new worker can work without endangering themselves or others. It is a core element of the employer's duty to provide information, instruction and training.

Question 7General occupational safety and health (OSH) principles and legal duties

A worker is instructed to use a safety helmet on site. Under general OSH principles, what must the worker do?

  1. Wear the helmet only when being observed by the supervisor
  2. Modify the helmet for comfort by drilling ventilation holes
  3. Use the helmet as instructed and report any damage so it can be replaced Correct answer.
  4. Share the helmet with a colleague to save cost

Explanation

Workers must follow the safety instructions and use PPE provided as directed, and must report defects so damaged equipment can be replaced. Modifying or misusing PPE defeats its protective function and breaches the worker's duty of care.

Question 8General occupational safety and health (OSH) principles and legal duties

Which document sets out the legal obligations and safety responsibilities of each party on a construction project?

  1. The payroll register
  2. The delivery note
  3. The site diary
  4. The contract or project safety plan and applicable OSH legislation Correct answer.

Explanation

Legal duties come from OSH legislation, and project-specific responsibilities are commonly allocated in the contract and construction safety plan. Together these define who must do what to control risk on the project.

Question 9General occupational safety and health (OSH) principles and legal duties

A worker is asked to work at height without any fall protection. Applying OSH principles, what should the worker do first?

  1. Stop work, inform the supervisor and request suitable fall protection before proceeding Correct answer.
  2. Tie a personal rope to any nearby railing as a substitute
  3. Continue the task quickly to finish before anyone notices
  4. Refuse the task immediately and leave the site without informing anyone

Explanation

Workers should stop unsafe work, raise the concern with the supervisor and only resume once adequate controls such as guardrails or a fall-arrest system are in place. Improvising protection or silently leaving does not resolve the hazard for others.

Question 10General occupational safety and health (OSH) principles and legal duties

Which of the following is an example of an engineering control on a construction site?

  1. Issuing high-visibility vests
  2. Providing a toolbox talk on manual handling
  3. Installing a guardrail around an excavation Correct answer.
  4. Rotating workers to reduce exposure time

Explanation

Engineering controls physically isolate people from the hazard, such as guardrails around an excavation, and rank higher than administrative controls or PPE in the hierarchy. Toolbox talks, vests and rotation are administrative or PPE measures.

Question 11General occupational safety and health (OSH) principles and legal duties

What does the principle of 'so far as is reasonably practicable' mean in OSH law?

  1. Controls must be applied unless the cost is grossly disproportionate to the risk reduction achieved Correct answer.
  2. Controls must be applied only when they cost nothing
  3. Controls must be applied only after an accident has occurred
  4. Controls must be applied only to permanent employees

Explanation

The principle requires employers to weigh the risk against the cost, time and effort of controlling it, and to act unless there is a gross disproportion between them. It does not permit inaction simply because some cost is involved.

Question 12General occupational safety and health (OSH) principles and legal duties

A worker suffers a minor cut and does not report it. Why is this a problem under OSH principles?

  1. Because reporting is only the supervisor's responsibility
  2. Because unreported incidents hide hazards and prevent corrective action Correct answer.
  3. Because minor injuries never require first aid
  4. Because only major injuries are legally relevant

Explanation

Even minor injuries can reveal underlying hazards, and reporting them allows the cause to be investigated and controls improved. Unreported incidents conceal trends and increase the chance of a more serious event later.

Question 13General occupational safety and health (OSH) principles and legal duties

Which of the following best describes a 'near miss' on a construction site?

  1. An injury that required hospital treatment
  2. A legal prosecution following an accident
  3. An event that could have caused harm but did not Correct answer.
  4. A scheduled safety inspection

Explanation

A near miss is an unplanned event that did not result in injury or damage but had the potential to do so, such as a falling tool landing beside a worker. Near misses are valuable warning signals and should be reported and investigated.

Question 14General occupational safety and health (OSH) principles and legal duties

A subcontractor arrives on site with equipment that appears damaged. What is the correct OSH response?

  1. Use the equipment only for light tasks
  2. Inspect the equipment and remove it from service until it is confirmed safe Correct answer.
  3. Allow use because the subcontractor owns the equipment
  4. Ask the operator to sign a disclaimer before use

Explanation

Equipment must be inspected and confirmed safe before use, and defective items must be withdrawn from service. Ownership does not transfer the duty to ensure safe plant on site.

Question 15General occupational safety and health (OSH) principles and legal duties

Which of the following is a worker's legal duty under general OSH principles?

  1. To conduct statutory inspections of scaffolds
  2. To purchase their own safety equipment
  3. To take reasonable care of their own safety and that of others affected by their acts Correct answer.
  4. To design the site's safety management system

Explanation

Workers must take reasonable care for their own health and safety and for others who may be affected by their acts or omissions. They must also cooperate with the employer on safety measures.

Question 16General occupational safety and health (OSH) principles and legal duties

Why is consultation with workers an important element of OSH management?

  1. It ensures workers accept lower safety standards
  2. It draws on workers' practical knowledge to identify hazards and improve controls Correct answer.
  3. It replaces the need for formal risk assessments
  4. It shifts legal liability from the employer to the workers

Explanation

Consultation brings workers' hands-on knowledge of tasks into hazard identification and control design, improving the quality and acceptance of safety measures. It does not transfer the employer's legal liability or replace formal risk assessment.

Question 17General occupational safety and health (OSH) principles and legal duties

A worker is fatigued after a long shift and is asked to operate a crane. What is the most appropriate OSH response?

  1. Operate the crane more slowly to compensate
  2. Report the fatigue and request that a rested, competent operator take over Correct answer.
  3. Drink an energy drink and continue without informing anyone
  4. Operate the crane because the task is urgent

Explanation

Fatigue impairs judgement and reaction time, so a fatigued worker should not operate high-risk plant such as a crane. Reporting the condition allows a rested and competent operator to be assigned, protecting everyone on site.

Question 18General occupational safety and health (OSH) principles and legal duties

Which of the following correctly describes the purpose of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the hierarchy of control?

  1. It is the first line of defence and removes the hazard
  2. It is optional when work is short in duration
  3. It replaces engineering controls entirely
  4. It is a last resort that protects the individual when other controls cannot fully eliminate risk Correct answer.

Explanation

PPE is the last line of defence and is used when higher-order controls cannot fully eliminate or reduce risk. It protects only the individual wearer and depends on correct fit and use, so it never replaces elimination or engineering controls.

Question 19General occupational safety and health (OSH) principles and legal duties

An employer wants to demonstrate that safety duties are being met. Which approach best reflects a systematic OSH management approach?

  1. Purchasing insurance to cover all possible losses
  2. Planning, implementing, checking and reviewing safety performance in a continuous cycle Correct answer.
  3. Relying solely on individual workers to act safely
  4. Reacting to accidents only when they occur

Explanation

A systematic approach follows a continuous cycle of planning controls, implementing them, checking performance and reviewing for improvement, often described as plan-do-check-act. This proactive cycle is more effective than reacting to accidents or relying on individuals alone.

Question 20General occupational safety and health (OSH) principles and legal duties

A worker sees a colleague repeatedly working without eye protection while grinding. What is the most appropriate action?

  1. Join the task without eye protection to show solidarity
  2. Remind the colleague of the requirement and report the repeated breach to the supervisor Correct answer.
  3. Ignore it because it is the colleague's personal choice
  4. Wait until an eye injury occurs before acting

Explanation

Workers must take reasonable care for others affected by their acts, so a repeated PPE breach should be raised with the colleague and reported to the supervisor. Early intervention prevents injury and reinforces a positive safety culture.

Question 21General occupational safety and health (OSH) principles and legal duties

Which statement best explains why accident investigation is carried out after an incident?

  1. To calculate insurance payouts only
  2. To determine which worker should be dismissed
  3. To identify root causes and prevent recurrence Correct answer.
  4. To satisfy media interest

Explanation

The purpose of accident investigation is to establish the root and contributing causes so that controls can be improved and recurrence prevented. It is a learning process aimed at prevention rather than punishment.

Question 22General occupational safety and health (OSH) principles and legal duties

A contractor argues that because a worker signed a form accepting all risks, the contractor bears no further safety duty. How should this be assessed under OSH principles?

  1. The form transfers the duty to the worker permanently
  2. The form is valid and removes the contractor's duty
  3. The form cannot override statutory safety duties, which remain with the employer Correct answer.
  4. The form is valid only for workers over a certain age

Explanation

Statutory safety duties cannot be contracted out or waived by a worker's signature, so the employer's duty to provide a safe workplace remains intact. Any such form is legally ineffective in displacing those obligations.

Question 23General occupational safety and health (OSH) principles and legal duties

Two controls are proposed for a significant fall hazard: a guardrail system and a warning sign. How should they be compared under the hierarchy of control?

  1. Both are equally effective because both address the hazard
  2. The warning sign is preferred because it costs less
  3. The guardrail is preferred because it is an engineering control that physically prevents falls Correct answer.
  4. Neither is acceptable because elimination is always required

Explanation

A guardrail is an engineering control that physically prevents a fall, while a warning sign is an administrative control relying on worker behaviour. The hierarchy prefers the higher-order engineering control where it is reasonably practicable.

Question 24General occupational safety and health (OSH) principles and legal duties

A worker is unsure whether a task is safe and the supervisor is unavailable. What does the principle of 'stop work authority' require?

  1. The worker must continue until the supervisor returns
  2. The worker should stop the task and seek clarification before proceeding Correct answer.
  3. The worker should delegate the task to a less experienced colleague
  4. The worker should proceed slowly and reassess afterwards

Explanation

Stop work authority empowers any worker to halt a task they reasonably believe is unsafe and to seek clarification before continuing. This prevents harm when uncertainty exists and is a cornerstone of a positive safety culture.

Question 25General occupational safety and health (OSH) principles and legal duties

Which of the following best explains the relationship between employer duties and worker duties in OSH law?

  1. They are mutually exclusive, so only one party bears responsibility
  2. They are complementary, with the employer providing safe systems and the worker cooperating and taking reasonable care Correct answer.
  3. Employer duties apply only to permanent staff while worker duties apply to contractors
  4. Worker duties replace employer duties once training is complete

Explanation

OSH law imposes complementary duties: the employer must provide safe systems, equipment, information and training, while workers must cooperate and take reasonable care. Both sets of duties operate together and neither replaces the other.

Question 26General occupational safety and health (OSH) principles and legal duties

Under general OSH principles, which duty does a site supervisor owe to the workers under their control on a construction site?

  1. Personally pay compensation to any worker who suffers an injury while on site
  2. Guarantee that no worker on the entire project is ever exposed to any risk regardless of cost
  3. Ensure that the work area, plant and methods of work under their control are safe and without risks to health Correct answer.
  4. Take over the employer's duty to provide insurance cover for all subcontractors

Explanation

Supervisors and managers carry a duty to control the risks arising from the work they direct, which means checking that the work area, plant and work methods are safe. Their duty is limited to the work under their control and is judged by what is reasonably practicable, not by an absolute guarantee. Paying compensation or arranging insurance is not part of a supervisor's OSH duty.

Question 27General occupational safety and health (OSH) principles and legal duties

A worker on site has a reasonable belief that a task cannot be done safely with the equipment provided. Which action best reflects general OSH principles?

  1. Continue the task but work more slowly to reduce the chance of injury
  2. Ask a workmate to do the task instead so the schedule is not delayed
  3. Complete the task quickly to minimise the time spent exposed to the hazard
  4. Stop the task, report the concern to the supervisor and wait until the risk is addressed Correct answer.

Explanation

Workers have both a right and a duty to raise concerns about unsafe work and to stop when a task cannot be done safely. Reporting to the supervisor allows the risk to be assessed and controls put in place before work resumes. Passing the task to someone else or rushing it leaves the hazard uncontrolled.

Question 28General occupational safety and health (OSH) principles and legal duties

A site has recorded several minor incidents and near misses over a month. Which approach best reflects a systematic OSH management principle?

  1. Wait for a serious injury before changing anything, since minor events cause no real harm
  2. Discipline the workers involved so that others are deterred from reporting
  3. Stop recording minor events to keep the site's safety statistics looking favourable
  4. Record the events, look for common causes and adjust controls before a serious incident occurs Correct answer.

Explanation

Systematic OSH management treats minor incidents and near misses as free lessons about weaknesses in controls. Recording them, analysing patterns and correcting causes prevents more serious harm. Suppressing reports or waiting for a serious injury defeats the purpose of monitoring.

Question 29General occupational safety and health (OSH) principles and legal duties

Which statement best explains why OSH law places duties on workers as well as on employers?

  1. Worker duties exist mainly to shift legal liability for accidents away from the employer
  2. Worker duties complement employer duties because workers control many day-to-day acts that create or reduce risk Correct answer.
  3. Worker duties are optional guidelines that carry no legal effect
  4. Worker duties apply only to workers who hold a supervisory rank on site

Explanation

OSH law is built on shared responsibility: employers must provide safe systems, and workers must follow them, use PPE and avoid acts that endanger themselves or others. Worker duties are legal obligations, not optional guidelines. They complement rather than replace the employer's duty.

Question 30General occupational safety and health (OSH) principles and legal duties

A principal contractor is deciding how to discharge its general duty of care for a high-risk activity. Which decision best reflects the preventive approach required by OSH principles?

  1. Provide extra first-aid supplies so injuries are treated quickly
  2. Act only after an enforcement notice is issued about the activity
  3. Assess the risks before work starts and build controls into the method of work Correct answer.
  4. Rely on experienced workers to notice hazards as they arise during the job

Explanation

The preventive approach requires hazards to be identified and risks assessed before work begins, so that controls are designed into the method of work. Reacting to notices or relying on individual vigilance is not systematic prevention. Good first-aid provision supports response but does not prevent the harm.

Question 31Hazard identification, risk assessment and control hierarchy

Under the CIDB Green Card (e-SICW) induction, what is the correct sequence of steps in the hierarchy of control when dealing with a site hazard?

  1. Administrative controls, elimination, personal protective equipment, engineering controls
  2. Engineering controls, personal protective equipment, elimination, administrative controls
  3. Elimination, engineering controls, administrative controls, personal protective equipment Correct answer.
  4. Personal protective equipment, administrative controls, engineering controls, elimination

Explanation

The hierarchy of control ranks measures from most to least effective: eliminate the hazard first, then substitute or apply engineering controls, then administrative controls, and finally PPE as the last line of defence. PPE is never a substitute for removing the hazard at source.

Question 32Hazard identification, risk assessment and control hierarchy

A worker is about to enter an excavation 1.8 metres deep on a construction site. What is the most appropriate first control to consider under the hierarchy of control?

  1. Provide a trench box and instruct the worker to enter carefully
  2. Issue a safety helmet and high-visibility vest before entry
  3. Place warning signage around the excavation edge
  4. Eliminate the need to enter by using remote or alternative methods Correct answer.

Explanation

Elimination is the highest-ranked control because it removes exposure to the hazard entirely. If the task can be completed without entering the excavation, the risk of collapse, engulfment and falling loads disappears. Other measures only reduce, not remove, the exposure.

Question 33Hazard identification, risk assessment and control hierarchy

Which statement best describes the purpose of a risk assessment in the e-SICW context?

  1. To satisfy the client's paperwork requirements at the end of the project
  2. To identify hazards, evaluate the likelihood and severity of harm, and decide on controls Correct answer.
  3. To record the names of workers who have attended the induction
  4. To replace the need for site supervision during high-risk work

Explanation

A risk assessment systematically identifies hazards, estimates the likelihood and severity of harm, and determines suitable controls before work begins. It is a live decision-making tool, not a record-keeping formality. Supervision remains required regardless of the assessment.

Question 34Hazard identification, risk assessment and control hierarchy

A site supervisor notices a worker using a grinder without eye protection. Which action best reflects the hierarchy of control?

  1. Allow the worker to continue but remind them to wear goggles next time
  2. Stop the task and fit a guard or dust-extraction system before restarting Correct answer.
  3. Move the worker to a different task for the rest of the shift
  4. Record the observation and raise it at the next toolbox talk

Explanation

Engineering controls such as machine guards and extraction reduce the hazard at source and rank above PPE. Stopping the task and fixing the equipment is the strongest practical response. A verbal reminder or a record alone leaves the hazard in place.

Question 35Hazard identification, risk assessment and control hierarchy

During a site inspection, a stack of scaffolding tubes is leaning and could fall onto a walkway. Which type of hazard does this represent?

  1. Psychosocial hazard
  2. Physical hazard Correct answer.
  3. Ergonomic hazard
  4. Biological hazard

Explanation

A falling or unstable object is a physical hazard because it can cause injury through kinetic energy, impact or crushing. Ergonomic, biological and psychosocial hazards relate to body strain, organisms and work-related stress respectively.

Question 36Hazard identification, risk assessment and control hierarchy

A risk assessment for work at height records the risk as high. What does this rating most directly indicate to the site team?

  1. The task can proceed if workers sign a consent form
  2. The likelihood and severity of harm are significant and controls must be prioritised Correct answer.
  3. Only the site manager may perform the task
  4. The task must be cancelled permanently

Explanation

A high risk rating means the combination of likelihood and potential severity is significant, so controls must be strengthened and prioritised before work proceeds. It does not automatically ban the task, nor can consent replace proper controls.

Question 37Hazard identification, risk assessment and control hierarchy

Which of the following is an example of an administrative control on a construction site?

  1. Replacing a solvent-based paint with a water-based product
  2. Installing a physical barrier around an open lift shaft
  3. Using a local exhaust ventilation system at the workbench
  4. Rotating workers to limit exposure time to noise Correct answer.

Explanation

Administrative controls change how work is organised, such as rotating staff or limiting exposure duration. They rely on human behaviour and procedure, so they rank below engineering controls and elimination.

Question 38Hazard identification, risk assessment and control hierarchy

Before starting a task, a worker identifies a new hazard that was not covered in the original risk assessment. What should the worker do?

  1. Ask a colleague to watch while the task continues
  2. Continue work and report the hazard at the end of the shift
  3. Stop work, report the hazard, and have the risk assessment reviewed before proceeding Correct answer.
  4. Assume the hazard is minor because it was not previously identified

Explanation

New or changed hazards require the risk assessment to be reviewed and updated before work continues. Stopping and reporting protects the worker and others, and allows suitable controls to be decided. Continuing work without review leaves the risk uncontrolled.

Question 39Hazard identification, risk assessment and control hierarchy

What is the primary reason PPE is placed at the bottom of the hierarchy of control?

  1. PPE slows down the work and reduces productivity
  2. PPE protects only the wearer and depends on correct use and fit Correct answer.
  3. PPE is always the cheapest option available
  4. PPE is not required on construction sites

Explanation

PPE depends on the individual wearing it correctly and being properly fitted, and it protects only that person rather than removing the hazard. Its effectiveness is therefore limited compared with elimination or engineering controls.

Question 40Hazard identification, risk assessment and control hierarchy

A worker reports dizziness and headache after working in a confined space with poor ventilation. Which control should have been applied first to prevent this?

  1. Remove or dilute the airborne contaminant through ventilation before entry Correct answer.
  2. Limit the worker's time inside the confined space
  3. Post a warning sign at the confined space entrance
  4. Provide a respirator to the worker

Explanation

Ventilation is an engineering control that removes or dilutes the hazardous atmosphere at source, ranking above administrative and PPE measures. Time limits and signage do not remove the contaminant, and a respirator is the last line of defence.

Question 41Hazard identification, risk assessment and control hierarchy

Which action best demonstrates that a hazard has been eliminated rather than controlled?

  1. Noise exposure is limited to two hours per shift
  2. The noisy generator is relocated outside the work area Correct answer.
  3. Workers wear hearing protection in a noisy plant room
  4. Warning signs are placed at the plant room door

Explanation

Elimination removes the hazard from the workplace entirely, so no worker is exposed. Relocating the generator removes the noise source from the work area. Hearing protection, time limits and signage only reduce exposure.

Question 42Hazard identification, risk assessment and control hierarchy

In the risk assessment process, what does 'severity' refer to?

  1. How often workers are exposed to the hazard
  2. The degree of harm that could result from the hazard Correct answer.
  3. The number of workers on site at the time
  4. How likely an incident is to occur

Explanation

Severity describes the potential degree of harm, such as minor injury, serious injury or fatality. Likelihood describes how probable an incident is, and together they inform the risk rating.

Question 43Hazard identification, risk assessment and control hierarchy

A subcontractor proposes using a hazardous chemical that the main contractor has not assessed. What is the most appropriate response?

  1. Permit use only during night shifts when fewer workers are present
  2. Allow use for one week as a trial without documentation
  3. Require a risk assessment and safety data sheet review before approval Correct answer.
  4. Allow use if the subcontractor supplies their own PPE

Explanation

Any new hazardous substance must be assessed before use, using the safety data sheet to identify hazards and required controls. Approval cannot rest on PPE alone or on reducing the number of people present.

Question 44Hazard identification, risk assessment and control hierarchy

Which of the following best illustrates a 'substitution' control?

  1. Training workers to descend ladders facing the structure
  2. Scheduling ladder work for calm weather only
  3. Replacing a ladder task with a mobile elevated work platform Correct answer.
  4. Adding a handrail to a temporary staircase

Explanation

Substitution replaces the hazardous method or material with a safer alternative, and ranks high in the hierarchy. Using a mobile elevated work platform removes the fall risk associated with ladder work. Training, handrails and scheduling are lower-order measures.

Question 45Hazard identification, risk assessment and control hierarchy

A worker is asked to manually lift heavy precast blocks repeatedly. Which control measure ranks highest in the hierarchy for this task?

  1. Rotate workers between lifting and other tasks
  2. Train workers in correct lifting technique
  3. Provide back-support belts to all workers
  4. Use mechanical lifting equipment to avoid manual handling Correct answer.

Explanation

Using mechanical lifting equipment is an engineering control that removes the manual handling hazard at source. Training, rotation and belts are administrative or PPE measures that rely on worker behaviour.

Question 46Hazard identification, risk assessment and control hierarchy

What is the main purpose of a toolbox talk in relation to hazard identification?

  1. To assign blame when an incident occurs
  2. To brief workers on identified hazards and controls before starting work Correct answer.
  3. To replace the written risk assessment for the day
  4. To record attendance for payroll purposes

Explanation

A toolbox talk communicates the hazards and controls relevant to the day's tasks so workers understand the risks before starting. It supports, but does not replace, the documented risk assessment.

Question 47Hazard identification, risk assessment and control hierarchy

A site has a deep excavation adjacent to a public footpath. Which combination of controls best reflects the hierarchy of control?

  1. Physical barriers plus signage and a planned exclusion zone Correct answer.
  2. High-visibility vests issued to site workers
  3. A verbal warning to pedestrians from the gatehouse
  4. Warning tape only along the excavation edge

Explanation

Physical barriers are engineering controls that prevent access to the excavation, supported by signage and exclusion zones as administrative measures. Combining controls in this order addresses the hazard at source before relying on behaviour.

Question 48Hazard identification, risk assessment and control hierarchy

Which of the following is a correct example of a hazard being identified through workplace observation?

  1. Noticing an unguarded rotating shaft on a conveyor Correct answer.
  2. Reviewing the project budget for the coming month
  3. Attending a payroll briefing
  4. Reading the company's annual safety statistics

Explanation

Workplace observation involves physically inspecting the work area to spot unsafe conditions such as an unguarded rotating shaft. Budgets and statistics are administrative data, not direct observation of hazards.

Question 49Hazard identification, risk assessment and control hierarchy

A risk assessment identifies that workers are exposed to silica dust when cutting concrete. Which control is most effective at reducing exposure at source?

  1. Posting dust hazard signs near the cutting area
  2. Rotating staff every hour to reduce exposure time
  3. Issuing disposable dust masks to all cutting staff
  4. Using wet-cutting or on-tool extraction at the cut point Correct answer.

Explanation

Wet-cutting or on-tool extraction suppresses dust at the point of generation, which is an engineering control and ranks above PPE and administrative measures. Masks, rotation and signage do not prevent dust from becoming airborne.

Question 50Hazard identification, risk assessment and control hierarchy

What does the term 'residual risk' mean in a risk assessment?

  1. The cost of implementing control measures
  2. The risk transferred to another contractor
  3. The risk before any controls are considered
  4. The risk that remains after controls have been applied Correct answer.

Explanation

Residual risk is the level of risk remaining once the chosen controls are in place. It is compared against the acceptable level to decide whether further controls are needed.