Health, Safety and Site Practice
What the domain tests
Health, Safety and Site Practice is examined through hazard spotting, risk assessment, safe systems of work and site organisation. Expect questions on PPE, scaffolding, excavations, fire precautions, first aid, statutory notices and accident reporting.
Core rules
- A hazard is a source of harm; risk is the chance and severity of harm. Control follows the hierarchy: eliminate, substitute, engineer controls, administrate, then PPE.
- PPE is the last line of defence: hard hat, safety boots, hi-vis, gloves, eye protection and hearing protection as required.
- Scaffold: stable base, sole boards, standards, ledgers, transoms, guardrails, toe boards and safe access. Never use an incomplete scaffold.
- Excavation: locate services before digging; support or batter sides; barriers and signage; ladder access; inspect daily and after rain; keep spoil back from the edge.
- Fire: match extinguishers to the class of fire, keep escape routes clear, use a hot-work permit and name an assembly point.
- Site induction, toolbox talks, first-aid box and accident book are normal site controls.
Worked example
A 1.8 m deep trench is to be dug near a footpath. Hazard: collapse. Who is affected: trench workers and the public. Likelihood: medium; severity: fatal. Controls: trench box or shoring, edge protection, barriers, ladder access, no lone entry, daily inspection, and a permit before entry. Residual risk is low after controls. Reasoning: engineering controls come before PPE in the hierarchy.
Traps
- Writing wear PPE as the only control.
- Confusing hazard with risk.
- Treating every minor first-aid case as reportable.
- Forgetting public protection at excavations.
- Ignoring service drawings before digging.