I85PREP
⌘ K
Scaffolding Works NC II study materials
Scaffolding Works NC II study resources

Scaffolding Works NC II practice questions

One question at a time. Build your Scaffolding Works NC II understanding.

First 50 of 200 questions. Each one lists the choices, the correct answer, and an explanation. The checker at the top of this page saves progress in this browser when it is available.

Continue in the practice tool above to load more questions, 50 at a time.

Question 1Occupational Health and Safety and Housekeeping

Before erecting a scaffold beside an energized overhead line, which control is applied first under the hierarchy of controls?

  1. Install insulating rubber blankets over the conductors
  2. Assign a dedicated spotter to warn workers
  3. Post warning signage at ground level
  4. De-energize and isolate the line, or maintain the prescribed clearance distance Correct answer.

Explanation

The hierarchy of controls places elimination first, so removing the hazard by de-energizing and locking out the line, or keeping the mandated clearance, precedes any administrative or PPE measure. Insulation, spotters, and signs only reduce residual risk once the primary exposure is removed.

Question 2Occupational Health and Safety and Housekeeping

What is the minimum number of workers who must be trained in scaffold erecting and dismantling when a scaffold crew is formed?

  1. Any two members of the crew
  2. Only the supervisor needs formal training
  3. Every worker who erects, alters, or dismantles the scaffold Correct answer.
  4. Only workers handling the heaviest components

Explanation

Everyone who performs erection, alteration, or dismantling work must be trained and competent for the task, not merely the person in charge. Untrained helpers may only work under direct supervision and must not assemble load-bearing members.

Question 3Occupational Health and Safety and Housekeeping

During a toolbox talk you notice a co-worker climbing a scaffold frame without using the access ladder. What is the most appropriate immediate action?

  1. Continue working and set a better example yourself
  2. Report the worker to management after the shift
  3. Stop the worker and direct them to the designated access point Correct answer.
  4. Record the observation and raise it at the next safety meeting

Explanation

Unsafe acts that create immediate fall risk require an immediate stop-work intervention and redirection to the safe method. Deferred reporting leaves the hazard active for the rest of the shift.

Question 4Occupational Health and Safety and Housekeeping

Which item of personal protective equipment is mandatory for a scaffolder working at height on an open platform?

  1. Full body harness with lanyard attached to a suitable anchor point Correct answer.
  2. Cut-resistant gloves only
  3. High-visibility vest only
  4. Dust mask and safety goggles

Explanation

Fall arrest or fall restraint through a full body harness anchored to a suitable point is the key PPE for work at height where guardrails are incomplete. Other items protect against different hazards and do not address falls.

Question 5Occupational Health and Safety and Housekeeping

A scaffold platform is 2.0 m wide and must carry workers and materials. What does good housekeeping require regarding loose tools and offcuts on that platform?

  1. Stacking them at the platform edge for easy reach
  2. Leaving them until the end of the shift to save trips
  3. Pushing them into gaps between boards
  4. Clearing them promptly and using toe boards or tool lanyards Correct answer.

Explanation

Loose objects on a working platform are dropped-object hazards to people below, so they must be cleared promptly and contained with toe boards, netting, or tethered tools. Edge stacking and gap stuffing increase the risk of objects falling.

Question 6Occupational Health and Safety and Housekeeping

When storing scaffold tubes and boards at the site, which practice best supports housekeeping and manual handling safety?

  1. Leaning long tubes against the scaffold standards
  2. Stacking them in walkways so they are close to the workface
  3. Racking them in a designated laydown area with stable, labelled stacks Correct answer.
  4. Piling them loosely near the site exit

Explanation

Materials belong in a designated storage area, stacked stably and identified, which keeps access routes clear and prevents collapse or rolling. Obstructing walkways or leaning tubes against the scaffold creates trip and instability hazards.

Question 7Occupational Health and Safety and Housekeeping

What is the purpose of a toe board on a scaffold working platform?

  1. To stiffen the platform against deflection
  2. To prevent tools and materials from being kicked off the edge Correct answer.
  3. To provide a footrest for workers during rest breaks
  4. To mark the maximum load limit of the platform

Explanation

Toe boards form a low barrier at the platform edge that stops objects from being accidentally kicked or swept off and striking people below. They complement guardrails but do not carry structural or informational functions.

Question 8Occupational Health and Safety and Housekeeping

A worker reports dizziness and headache while working in a closed area where a fuel-powered generator is running. What is the first response?

  1. Open a window and continue the task
  2. Move the worker to fresh air and stop the generator Correct answer.
  3. Ask the worker to wear a dust mask and resume
  4. Give the worker water and let them rest on the platform

Explanation

The symptoms suggest carbon monoxide exposure from engine exhaust, so the source must be stopped and the affected person moved to fresh air immediately, with medical attention arranged. Continuing work in the space sustains the exposure.

Question 9Occupational Health and Safety and Housekeeping

Which document must be completed and explained to workers before they begin a scaffold erection task on a new site?

  1. The supplier delivery receipt for the tubes
  2. A job safety analysis or hazard assessment for the task Correct answer.
  3. The equipment rental agreement
  4. The worker's payslip for the period

Explanation

A task-specific hazard assessment or job safety analysis identifies the hazards and controls and must be communicated before work starts. Commercial documents do not address workplace risk.

Question 10Occupational Health and Safety and Housekeeping

After an incident where a board fell from a platform and narrowly missed a worker below, which action best fits the purpose of incident investigation?

  1. Record the event only in the daily log without follow-up
  2. Identify root causes and correct them to prevent recurrence Correct answer.
  3. Replace the fallen board and resume work quietly
  4. Discipline the nearest worker to deter others

Explanation

Investigation aims to find underlying causes such as missing toe boards, poor securing, or inadequate housekeeping, and to correct them so the event cannot repeat. Blame-focused or paperwork-only responses leave the cause in place.

Question 11Occupational Health and Safety and Housekeeping

Which sign colour and shape combination is used to indicate a mandatory action such as wearing a hard hat on a scaffold site?

  1. Blue circle with a white symbol Correct answer.
  2. Red circle with a diagonal bar on a white background
  3. Yellow triangle with a black border
  4. Green rectangle with white text

Explanation

Mandatory action signs use a blue circular background with a white pictogram. Prohibition signs are red circles with a diagonal slash, warning signs are yellow triangles, and safe-condition signs are green.

Question 12Occupational Health and Safety and Housekeeping

What is the correct way to dispose of used sealant cartridges and solvent-soaked rags generated during scaffold-related work?

  1. Bury them at the site perimeter
  2. Burn them on site to reduce volume
  3. Place them in the general waste bin with domestic rubbish
  4. Store them in covered, labelled containers for proper disposal Correct answer.

Explanation

Solvent-contaminated materials are hazardous waste and must be segregated in covered, labelled containers for compliant disposal, which also prevents spontaneous ignition and environmental release. Mixing with general waste, burning, or burying breaches waste rules.

Question 13Occupational Health and Safety and Housekeeping

A scaffold is to be erected on soft ground after heavy rain. Which housekeeping and safety measure should be taken before loading the scaffold?

  1. Proceed because scaffold tubes are strong enough
  2. Increase the number of workers on the platform to finish faster
  3. Check and improve ground bearing, using sole boards or base plates as designed Correct answer.
  4. Add extra planks to spread the load on the platform

Explanation

Soft or saturated ground reduces bearing capacity and can cause settlement and collapse, so the foundation must be assessed and prepared with the designed base plates and sole boards. Adding platform load or workers increases the risk.

Question 14Occupational Health and Safety and Housekeeping

Which of the following best describes a safe method for manually lifting a scaffold tube from the ground?

  1. Bend at the waist with straight legs and twist to lift
  2. Keep the back straight, bend the knees, and lift close to the body Correct answer.
  3. Lift with outstretched arms to keep the tube away from the body
  4. Drag the tube by one end while walking backwards

Explanation

Safe manual handling keeps the load close, uses leg muscles, and avoids twisting, which reduces strain on the lower back. Bending at the waist, reaching out, or dragging while walking backwards increases injury risk.

Question 15Occupational Health and Safety and Housekeeping

During a daily inspection you find a scaffold tie wire has been cut by another trade. What should happen before the scaffold is used?

  1. Note it in the log and continue until the next weekly inspection
  2. Barricade the affected area and have the tie reinstated by a competent person Correct answer.
  3. Reduce the number of workers on the platform and proceed
  4. Ask the other trade to tie it back with rope

Explanation

Ties transfer wind and lateral loads to the structure, so a severed tie compromises stability and requires the area to be isolated and the tie restored by a competent scaffolder before use. Logging for later or improvised repairs does not restore design integrity.

Question 16Occupational Health and Safety and Housekeeping

What is the primary reason for keeping access routes and stairways to a scaffold clear of materials?

  1. To satisfy the client's aesthetic requirements
  2. To allow safe and rapid evacuation and normal movement Correct answer.
  3. To reduce the cost of final site cleanup
  4. To make room for additional material storage

Explanation

Clear routes support safe access and unimpeded emergency evacuation, which is a life-safety requirement. Cost, storage convenience, and appearance are secondary considerations.

Question 17Occupational Health and Safety and Housekeeping

A worker must handle a scaffold board that is too long to carry comfortably alone. What is the recommended control?

  1. Carry it alone slowly to avoid delaying the crew
  2. Throw it up to the platform for a mate to catch
  3. Use a two-person lift or mechanical aid Correct answer.
  4. Drag it along the ground to the workface

Explanation

Loads that exceed a safe individual lift should be shared between two workers or moved with a mechanical aid, which controls strain and loss of control. Throwing materials also creates a struck-by hazard.

Question 18Occupational Health and Safety and Housekeeping

Which practice correctly manages the risk of tools falling from a scaffold onto a public footpath below?

  1. Ask the public to cross quickly under the scaffold
  2. Erect a fan or debris net and provide a covered walkway Correct answer.
  3. Rely on workers to be careful when handling tools
  4. Place a warning cone at the foot of the scaffold

Explanation

Where the public passes beneath, physical protection such as a fan, netting, or a covered walkway intercepts falling objects. Care, cones, and instructions to hurry are administrative measures that do not stop a falling tool.

Question 19Occupational Health and Safety and Housekeeping

What should a worker do immediately after receiving a minor cut from a sharp edge on a scaffold coupler?

  1. Wait until the end of the shift to seek first aid
  2. Clean and dress the wound and report it per site procedure Correct answer.
  3. Apply a cloth from the tool bag and keep working
  4. Ignore it and continue erecting the scaffold

Explanation

Even minor wounds require cleaning, dressing, and reporting so that first aid is documented and infection risk is controlled. Continuing without treatment or delaying care allows contamination and hides the hazard from the site record.

Question 20Occupational Health and Safety and Housekeeping

Why must a competent person inspect a scaffold before first use and at intervals thereafter?

  1. To estimate the resale value of the components
  2. To confirm the scaffold matches the design and remains safe after alterations or weather Correct answer.
  3. To check that the paint on the tubes is intact
  4. To verify the workers' attendance record

Explanation

Inspection confirms the scaffold was built to its design and remains stable after modifications, impact, or severe weather, allowing defects to be corrected before use. Cosmetic, commercial, and payroll checks are unrelated to structural safety.

Question 21Occupational Health and Safety and Housekeeping

A crew plans to work on a scaffold platform where the guardrail on one side has been temporarily removed to load materials. Which control is appropriate?

  1. Provide an alternative fall protection system and restore the guardrail promptly Correct answer.
  2. Allow work to continue as long as workers stay away from that edge
  3. Place a warning sign and resume normal work
  4. Tie a rope at waist height across the opening

Explanation

An open edge without a guardrail is a fall hazard, so alternative fall protection such as a personal fall arrest system must be used while the guardrail is restored as soon as practicable. A rope or sign does not provide the strength of a guardrail.

Question 22Occupational Health and Safety and Housekeeping

Which of the following is the correct response when a worker finds an unlabelled container of liquid on a scaffold platform?

  1. Smell it to identify the contents
  2. Treat it as unknown hazardous material and report it to the supervisor Correct answer.
  3. Pour it out over the edge to clear the platform
  4. Leave it in place and continue working nearby

Explanation

Unlabelled containers must be treated as hazardous until identified by the responsible person, so the finder should avoid contact and report it. Sniffing, ignoring, or dumping the liquid risks exposure and environmental harm.

Question 23Occupational Health and Safety and Housekeeping

What does the term 'good housekeeping' require at the end of each scaffold work shift?

  1. Leaving materials on the platform ready for the next shift
  2. Clearing debris, securing loose materials, and leaving access routes open Correct answer.
  3. Removing guardrails to speed up the next day's access
  4. Sweeping debris off the platform onto the ground below

Explanation

End-of-shift housekeeping means removing debris, securing loose items against wind, and keeping access clear so the next shift starts safely. Sweeping material off the platform or removing guardrails creates new hazards.

Question 24Occupational Health and Safety and Housekeeping

A supervisor wants to reduce the time spent on daily housekeeping to meet a deadline. What is the correct safety position?

  1. Housekeeping is a required control and must not be traded for schedule gains Correct answer.
  2. Housekeeping can be skipped because it does not affect structural stability
  3. Only the final cleanup at project completion matters
  4. Housekeeping can be reduced to every third day

Explanation

Housekeeping controls trip, fire, and falling-object hazards and is a required part of safe work, so it cannot be deferred to save time. Schedule pressure does not justify removing a hazard control.

Question 25Occupational Health and Safety and Housekeeping

Which emergency preparedness item should be confirmed at the start of a scaffold task on a new site?

  1. The location of the nearest first-aid point and emergency contact numbers Correct answer.
  2. The colour of the crew's helmets
  3. The supplier's delivery schedule
  4. The brand of the scaffold couplers in use

Explanation

Workers must know how to summon help and where first aid is available before starting, so that response is immediate in an emergency. Equipment brands, helmet colours, and delivery schedules do not support emergency response.

Question 26Occupational Health and Safety and Housekeeping

On a scaffolding site, which personal protective equipment item is specifically required to protect a worker's head from impact when working beneath or alongside scaffold components being passed up?

  1. Safety boots with steel toe caps
  2. A hard hat with a chin strap fastened Correct answer.
  3. A pair of leather rigger's gloves
  4. A high-visibility vest with reflective strips

Explanation

Falling scaffold tubes, couplers and boards present an impact hazard to the head, and a hard hat is the control for that hazard. The chin strap keeps the helmet in place when the worker looks up or moves under the structure, so it should be fastened. Other PPE items protect different parts of the body.

Question 27Occupational Health and Safety and Housekeeping

Workers must reach a scaffold lift using a portable aluminium ladder. Which practice best reflects correct ladder use and housekeeping on a scaffold site?

  1. Let a second worker steady the ladder by hand instead of tying it off
  2. Stand the ladder on a loose board so it sits level above the mud
  3. Lash the ladder to the scaffold and keep the base area clear of tubes and offcuts Correct answer.
  4. Rest the ladder against a coupler and leave offcuts at the base for later collection

Explanation

A ladder used for access must be secured so it cannot slip or fall, and the base must stay free of stored materials so the worker can mount and dismount safely. Tying off to the scaffold and clearing the foot of the ladder satisfies both requirements. Leaving the base obstructed or relying on an untied ladder creates fall and trip risks.

Question 28Occupational Health and Safety and Housekeeping

A scaffolding crew is about to start work in an area where an overhead crane is lifting steel sections nearby. Which control best addresses the risk of being struck by a falling load while erecting the scaffold?

  1. Continue erecting and move quickly through the area whenever the crane passes overhead
  2. Place a warning sign at the site gate so visitors know a crane is operating
  3. Exclude the crew from the crane's lifting zone and agree the lift plan with the crane operator before work starts Correct answer.
  4. Ask each worker to watch the sky while erecting and shout if a load swings toward them

Explanation

Where lifting operations overlap with scaffold erection, the hazards must be separated in time or space. Keeping the crew out of the lifting zone and coordinating through the crane operator and lift plan removes the exposure rather than relying on reaction. Warning signs and shouting do not stop a swinging load.

Question 29Occupational Health and Safety and Housekeeping

At the end of a shift, a scaffold platform holds loose couplers, a coil of tie wire, a partly used tube of sealant and a hammer. Which action best meets housekeeping requirements for leaving the scaffold?

  1. Leave the items on the platform because the same crew returns the next morning
  2. Lower only the hammer and leave the smaller items in place
  3. Sweep the items into a corner of the platform and cover them with a board
  4. Secure or remove loose items and tools, and clear waste and surplus materials from the platform Correct answer.

Explanation

Loose materials and tools left on a platform can be dislodged by wind or by later trades and fall onto people below. Housekeeping at the end of a shift requires the platform to be cleared of tools, surplus material and waste, or those items to be secured. Partial measures leave a falling-object hazard in place.

Question 30Occupational Health and Safety and Housekeeping

A subcontractor asks to remove a mid-rail from a completed scaffold so a large prefabricated unit can be lifted onto the platform. Which analysis best reflects the correct safety position?

  1. Removing the rail creates a temporary open edge, so it needs authorisation, a documented control such as fall arrest and prompt reinstatement before others use the platform Correct answer.
  2. The rail should be removed and left off until the whole job is finished so the unit can be moved again easily
  3. The rail can be removed freely because the platform will only be used for a short lift and the edge is obvious to the workers
  4. The subcontractor's own supervisor can decide on the spot without informing the scaffold controller

Explanation

A guardrail is a primary control against falls, so any removal changes the risk profile of the platform and must be managed rather than treated as routine. Authorisation, an alternative control for the open edge, and reinstatement before general use keep the platform safe. Informal or open-ended removal leaves unprotected edges that other workers may not expect.

Question 31Tools, Equipment, and Materials Handling and Maintenance

A scaffold erector is about to inspect tubular steel scaffold tubes before erection. Which condition requires the tube to be rejected and tagged out of service?

  1. A chalk mark left by the previous site
  2. A shallow longitudinal split at the tube end Correct answer.
  3. Light surface rust that wipes off with a rag
  4. Faded paint on the tube body

Explanation

Scaffold tubes must be free of cracks, splits, bends and serious corrosion because these reduce the load capacity of the member. A longitudinal split at the end is a structural defect that cannot be repaired on site and the tube must be withdrawn from service. Cosmetic issues such as faded paint, light surface rust or chalk marks do not affect structural integrity.

Question 32Tools, Equipment, and Materials Handling and Maintenance

Under the Philippine Scaffolding Works NC II standards, scaffold tubes are commonly inspected for straightness. What is the accepted practice when a tube shows a noticeable bend?

  1. Reject the tube and remove it from service Correct answer.
  2. Cut out the bent section and rejoin with a coupler
  3. Use it only for the top guardrail level
  4. Straighten it by hammering on site before use

Explanation

A bent tube has lost its designed straightness and its load-carrying capacity is unpredictable, so it must be rejected and removed from the scaffold material stock. Field straightening or re-joining cut sections does not restore the original structural properties and is not permitted. Bent tubes must never be used even in lightly loaded positions such as guardrails.

Question 33Tools, Equipment, and Materials Handling and Maintenance

A courier delivers a consignment of scaffold couplers to the site warehouse. Which document should the storekeeper check first to confirm the couplers meet the required specification?

  1. The site daily attendance sheet
  2. The delivery receipt signed by the driver
  3. The scaffold erection drawing
  4. The manufacturer's test certificate or mill certificate Correct answer.

Explanation

Couplers are load-bearing connections, so the storekeeper must verify they conform to the specified standard through the manufacturer's test or mill certificate before acceptance. The delivery receipt only proves that goods arrived, not that they meet specification. Attendance sheets and erection drawings do not certify material quality.

Question 34Tools, Equipment, and Materials Handling and Maintenance

During a pre-use check, a right-angle coupler is found with its bolt thread stripped. What is the correct action?

  1. Tag it as defective and remove it from the scaffold Correct answer.
  2. Oil the thread and continue using it
  3. Use it at a non-load-bearing tie point
  4. Tighten it with a longer spanner to compensate

Explanation

A stripped bolt thread cannot develop the required clamping force, so the coupler cannot safely transfer load and must be tagged defective and removed. Over-tightening with a longer spanner cannot restore damaged threads and may damage the coupler further. There is no non-load-bearing use for a defective coupler in a scaffold.

Question 35Tools, Equipment, and Materials Handling and Maintenance

What is the primary purpose of base plates and adjustable base jacks under a scaffold standard?

  1. To spread the leg load over a larger area and allow levelling Correct answer.
  2. To anchor the scaffold to the building facade
  3. To increase the height of the scaffold quickly
  4. To connect the standards to the ledgers

Explanation

Base plates distribute the concentrated load from each standard over a wider footing area and adjustable jacks allow the scaffold to be levelled on uneven ground. They are not height-extension devices for the working platform. Ledger connections are made with couplers, and facade ties are separate components.

Question 36Tools, Equipment, and Materials Handling and Maintenance

Which hand tool is specifically designed to tighten and loosen scaffold couplers to the correct torque?

  1. Scaffold spanner (coupler wrench) Correct answer.
  2. Claw hammer
  3. Pipe wrench
  4. Adjustable wrench

Explanation

The scaffold spanner, also called a coupler wrench, is sized for coupler nuts and allows the erector to apply the specified torque consistently. An adjustable wrench can slip and cannot reliably deliver the correct torque. A claw hammer and a pipe wrench are not designed for coupler nuts and may damage them.

Question 37Tools, Equipment, and Materials Handling and Maintenance

Scaffold planks are being sorted for a working platform. Which defect makes a timber plank unfit for use?

  1. A longitudinal split running through the plank Correct answer.
  2. Slight discoloration from weather exposure
  3. A knot smaller than one-third of the plank width
  4. A small paint stain on one edge

Explanation

A timber scaffold plank with a through split has lost continuity of grain and cannot safely carry the platform load, so it must be rejected. Small tight knots within the permitted limit, weather discoloration and paint stains do not compromise structural strength. Planks are graded on defects that affect load capacity.

Question 38Tools, Equipment, and Materials Handling and Maintenance

After using a scaffold spanner on a rainy day, what is the correct maintenance step before returning it to the tool box?

  1. Leave it in a bucket of water overnight
  2. Wipe it dry and apply a light film of oil Correct answer.
  3. Heat it over a flame to evaporate moisture
  4. Store it wet so the rust protects the metal

Explanation

Steel hand tools should be wiped dry and lightly oiled after use in wet conditions to prevent rust that can seize the adjustable jaw. Storing tools wet or submerged promotes corrosion. Heating a tempered tool over a flame can destroy its heat treatment.

Question 39Tools, Equipment, and Materials Handling and Maintenance

A scaffold tube is being lifted to the second lift by rope. Which practice keeps the load under control during the lift?

  1. Throw the tube up and catch it by hand
  2. Attach the rope with a clove hitch and use a tag line Correct answer.
  3. Balance the tube on the standard and push it up
  4. Tie the tube to the rope with a single half hitch

Explanation

A clove hitch provides a secure attachment that can be released easily, and a tag line controls the swinging of the tube during the lift. A single half hitch can slip under load. Throwing or pushing tubes up by hand exposes workers below to falling-object hazards.

Question 40Tools, Equipment, and Materials Handling and Maintenance

A worker must carry several scaffold couplers from the store to the erection point. What is the safest handling method?

  1. Toss them to a co-worker to save time
  2. Place them in a bucket or bag and carry with one hand free Correct answer.
  3. Carry them in a shirt pocket
  4. Carry them loose in both hands at chest height

Explanation

Couplers should be carried in a container so the hands are not overloaded and one hand stays free for ladders and handholds. Carrying loose items in both hands blocks the worker's grip and view. Tossing couplers creates a struck-by hazard and risks losing or damaging the fittings.

Question 41Tools, Equipment, and Materials Handling and Maintenance

Galvanized scaffold tubes are stored on site. Which storage practice best preserves them for reuse?

  1. Store them on dunnage in a covered, well-drained rack Correct answer.
  2. Bury the ends in soil to prevent theft
  3. Pile them against the site fence in the open
  4. Stack them directly on wet ground for stability

Explanation

Tubes stored on dunnage in a covered, drained rack stay clear of standing water and are protected from unnecessary corrosion and mechanical damage. Stacking directly on wet ground or in the open exposes the tubes to rust and contamination. Burying ends in soil accelerates corrosion at the most stressed region.

Question 42Tools, Equipment, and Materials Handling and Maintenance

A coupler is being checked before use. Which measurement confirms the swivel coupler can rotate freely while still holding the tubes?

  1. The bolt is fully removed from the coupler
  2. The coupler is painted in a bright color
  3. The rivet or pin is secure and the jaws rotate without binding Correct answer.
  4. The coupler is heavier than a right-angle coupler

Explanation

A swivel coupler must rotate freely on its rivet or pin so the tubes can be set at any angle, while the rivet must remain secure so the coupler does not separate under load. Removing the bolt disassembles the coupler and it cannot hold tubes. Paint color and weight are not functional criteria.

Question 43Tools, Equipment, and Materials Handling and Maintenance

A mobile scaffold is being prepared for use on a concrete slab. Which combination of components is required for safe mobility and stability?

  1. Rope ties to a nearby column only
  2. Castors with brakes, base plates and outriggers or stabilizers Correct answer.
  3. Base plates only, no castors
  4. Only castors without brakes

Explanation

A mobile scaffold needs locking castors to prevent rolling, base plates or castor stems to transfer load, and outriggers or stabilizers to resist overturning. Castors without brakes allow the tower to move while in use. Base plates without castors make the tower immobile, and a single rope tie does not provide stability in all directions.

Question 44Tools, Equipment, and Materials Handling and Maintenance

A scaffold standard is to be set on soft ground. What is the correct preparation before placing the base plate?

  1. Compact the ground and use a sole board or timber spreader Correct answer.
  2. Pour water on the soil to settle it
  3. Set the base plate on a stack of loose bricks
  4. Place the base plate directly on the loose topsoil

Explanation

Soft ground must be compacted and the base plate placed on a sole board or timber spreader so the load is distributed and settlement is prevented. Placing the base plate on loose topsoil allows the standard to sink. Loose bricks are unstable and can shift under load, and wetting the soil weakens it.

Question 45Tools, Equipment, and Materials Handling and Maintenance

A scaffold erector is choosing between a right-angle coupler and a swivel coupler for a joint where two tubes must cross at 90 degrees. Which choice is correct and why?

  1. Swivel coupler, because it can be rotated to any angle
  2. Neither coupler, because tubes must be welded at 90 degrees
  3. Either coupler, because both clamp tubes equally
  4. Right-angle coupler, because it holds two tubes at approximately 90 degrees Correct answer.

Explanation

A right-angle coupler is designed to clamp two tubes at approximately 90 degrees, making it the correct fitting for ledger-to-standard connections. A swivel coupler is intended for joints at any angle and is not the standard choice for a fixed right-angle joint. Welding tubes is not an accepted site method for scaffold assembly.

Question 46Tools, Equipment, and Materials Handling and Maintenance

A wooden scaffold plank is being inspected for use on a working platform. Which measurement is most relevant to confirm it will span the supports safely?

  1. The color of the plank's surface
  2. The plank thickness and span between supports Correct answer.
  3. The number of nail holes at the ends
  4. The brand name printed on the plank

Explanation

The safe load capacity of a timber plank depends on its thickness and the distance between supports, so these are the critical measurements for the span. Color, nail holes at the ends and brand names do not determine whether the plank can carry the platform load. The span must be checked against the plank's rated capacity.

Question 47Tools, Equipment, and Materials Handling and Maintenance

A steel scaffold tube has been dropped and shows a dent about 5 mm deep near the middle. How should this tube be handled?

  1. Reject it because the dent reduces the section and load capacity Correct answer.
  2. Use it as a standard because the dent is near the middle
  3. Use it as a ledger only
  4. Fill the dent with putty and use it

Explanation

A dent reduces the tube's cross-section and creates a stress concentration that lowers its load capacity, so the tube must be rejected regardless of where the dent is located. Using it as a standard or ledger still puts load through the weakened section. Filling the dent with putty does not restore structural strength.

Question 48Tools, Equipment, and Materials Handling and Maintenance

A scaffold is being dismantled and couplers are being collected. What is the best practice for handling the removed couplers?

  1. Leave them on the platform overnight
  2. Lower them in a bucket or bag using a rope Correct answer.
  3. Throw them to the ground clear of the scaffold
  4. Drop them to the ground for collection later

Explanation

Removed couplers should be lowered in a container on a rope so they are controlled and do not strike workers or damage the fittings. Dropping or throwing them creates a struck-by hazard and can bend or crack the couplers. Leaving them on the platform creates a trip hazard and risks them falling.

Question 49Tools, Equipment, and Materials Handling and Maintenance

A scaffold spanner has a worn adjustable jaw that slips on coupler nuts. What is the correct action?

  1. Use the spanner as a hammer instead
  2. Wrap tape around the jaw to increase grip
  3. Continue using it and tighten by hand
  4. Replace the spanner with a serviceable one Correct answer.

Explanation

A worn jaw cannot deliver the specified torque and may slip and injure the user, so the spanner must be replaced with a serviceable tool. Tape cannot restore the jaw's grip and may hide further wear. Using the spanner as a hammer damages it and is not its intended use.

Question 50Tools, Equipment, and Materials Handling and Maintenance

When a scaffold tube is being inspected, what does a 'mill certificate' provide to the site?

  1. The scaffold erection sequence
  2. The name of the worker who last used the tube
  3. The chemical composition and mechanical properties of the steel Correct answer.
  4. The date the tube was last painted

Explanation

A mill certificate documents the chemical composition and mechanical properties of the steel from which the tube was made, confirming it meets the required standard. It does not record painting dates, user names or erection sequences. The certificate is a quality assurance document used during material receiving.