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SACPCMP CHS Officer study materials
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SACPCMP CHS Officer practice questions

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Question 1Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

A building contractor operates a residential housing site. Which Act is the principal statute regulating the health and safety of the workers on that site?

  1. Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 Correct answer.
  2. Mine Health and Safety Act 29 of 1996
  3. National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act 103 of 1977
  4. Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act 130 of 1993

Explanation

The Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 is the principal statute governing health and safety in workplaces other than mines, ships and the other premises expressly excluded from its scope, and the Construction Regulations are made under it. COIDA regulates compensation after an injury or disease has occurred, and the National Building Regulations deal with building control rather than worker safety.

Question 2Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

Workers are constructing an access tunnel that forms part of an underground mine. Which legislation governs their health and safety?

  1. Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993
  2. Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act 130 of 1993
  3. Construction Regulations 2014
  4. Mine Health and Safety Act 29 of 1996 Correct answer.

Explanation

The OHS Act expressly does not apply to mines and works that fall under the Mine Health and Safety Act, which regulates health and safety at mines, including construction-type work carried out as part of the mining operation. The Construction Regulations are made under the OHS Act and therefore do not apply in that environment.

Question 3Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

In terms of the general duty in section 8(1) of the OHS Act, an employer must:

  1. provide and maintain a safe working environment, so far as reasonably practicable Correct answer.
  2. transfer all health and safety responsibilities to a designated officer
  3. comply with safety requirements only where an inspector has issued a formal contravention notice
  4. guarantee that no employee will ever be injured or become ill at work

Explanation

Section 8(1) requires the employer to provide and maintain, as far as reasonably practicable, a working environment that is safe and without risk to health. The qualifier recognises that the duty is not an absolute guarantee, but it does not permit the employer to wait for an inspector before acting.

Question 4Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

An employer in a warehouse employs 24 workers. What obligation does the employer have regarding health and safety representatives?

  1. A representative must be elected by a secret ballot of all employees
  2. The employer must designate health and safety representatives Correct answer.
  3. No representative is required until 50 employees are employed
  4. A representative is required only if an inspector directs it

Explanation

Section 17 of the OHS Act obliges an employer with 20 or more employees to designate health and safety representatives in the prescribed manner for the workplace. With 24 employees the threshold is met, so representatives must be designated even without any direction from an inspector.

Question 5Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

Which duty does section 14 of the OHS Act place on an employee?

  1. To appoint a competent construction supervisor
  2. To conduct monthly risk assessments of the workplace
  3. To report the employer to the chief inspector for every contravention
  4. To take reasonable care of their own and others' health and safety Correct answer.

Explanation

Section 14 places duties on employees, including taking reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions, and reporting unsafe conditions. Risk assessments and statutory appointments are obligations of the employer.

Question 6Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

An employer proposes to issue respirators to workers exposed to solvent vapour instead of installing local extraction ventilation. Applying section 8(2)(b) of the OHS Act, the employer should first:

  1. obtain the chief inspector's written approval for the respirators
  2. consult the health and safety representative before issuing the respirators
  3. eliminate or mitigate the hazard before resorting to PPE Correct answer.
  4. provide the respirators and record the decision in the incident register

Explanation

Section 8(2)(b) requires the employer to take steps to eliminate or mitigate a hazard before resorting to personal protective equipment. Personal protective equipment is a last line of defence and does not replace engineering controls such as local extraction ventilation.

Question 7Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

A chief executive officer wishes to assign a duty imposed by the OHS Act to a site manager. Under section 16(2), the assignment is valid only if it is:

  1. approved by a majority vote of the health and safety representatives
  2. lodged with the Compensation Fund within 30 days
  3. announced at a health and safety committee meeting
  4. in writing, to a person with sufficient knowledge and experience Correct answer.

Explanation

Section 16(2) permits the assignment of duties only in writing and only to a person who has the knowledge, training and experience to perform them. The assignment does not relieve the chief executive officer of accountability for the overall duty in section 16(1).

Question 8Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

Two health and safety representatives have been designated at a workshop. What must the employer do in terms of section 19?

  1. Refer all safety matters directly to the chief inspector
  2. Establish a health and safety committee for the workplace Correct answer.
  3. Appoint an external safety consultant to chair monthly meetings
  4. Reduce the number of representatives to one to avoid duplication

Explanation

Section 19 requires an employer with two or more health and safety representatives to establish a health and safety committee, and the committee must meet at least once every three months. The committee structure is the mechanism for joint consultation on health and safety matters.

Question 9Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

Which of the following is a function of a health and safety representative under section 18 of the OHS Act?

  1. Approving the employer's annual safety budget
  2. Prosecuting the employer for contraventions of the Act
  3. Inspecting the workplace with a view to identifying hazards Correct answer.
  4. Issuing prohibition notices to stop unsafe work

Explanation

Section 18 sets out the functions of representatives, which include reviewing the effectiveness of safety measures, identifying hazards, inspecting the workplace and reporting to the employer. Enforcement powers such as prohibition notices belong to inspectors appointed under the Act.

Question 10Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

An employee is electrocuted on site and dies. Within what period must the employer report the incident to the chief inspector?

  1. Twenty-four hours
  2. Fourteen days
  3. Seven days Correct answer.
  4. Thirty days

Explanation

Section 24 of the OHS Act requires specified incidents, including a fatal injury, to be reported to the chief inspector within seven days in the prescribed form. The employer must also record and investigate the incident.

Question 11Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

How long must an employer retain the records of an incident investigated under section 25 of the OHS Act?

  1. Six months
  2. Indefinitely
  3. Three years Correct answer.
  4. Ten years

Explanation

Section 25 requires the employer to record and investigate incidents and to keep the records for at least three years. The records must be available for inspection by an inspector.

Question 12Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

A site foreman is prosecuted after a scaffold collapse. The company's directors say they knew nothing about the scaffold. Under section 37 of the OHS Act, a director may be held liable unless the director proves that:

  1. the injured worker had failed to wear the issued safety boots
  2. he or she took all reasonable steps to prevent the offence Correct answer.
  3. the foreman had been appointed as a competent person
  4. the company had a written health and safety policy in place

Explanation

Section 37 deems directors and managers who were in a position to prevent an offence by the body corporate to be guilty of that offence unless they prove that they took all reasonable steps to prevent it. Delegation to a foreman or the existence of a policy does not by itself discharge that burden.

Question 13Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

Which principle underlies the compensation system created by COIDA?

  1. The employer decides whether to compensate the injured employee
  2. Compensation is paid only where the employer is convicted of an offence
  3. Compensation is payable without proof of fault by the employer Correct answer.
  4. The employee must prove the employer's negligence before compensation is paid

Explanation

COIDA creates a no-fault compensation system: an employee who is injured at work or contracts a listed occupational disease is compensated through the Compensation Fund without having to prove negligence by the employer. In return, the employee's common-law claim against the employer is restricted.

Question 14Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

Within what period must an employee lodge a claim for compensation for an injury with the Compensation Commissioner?

  1. Twelve months from the date of the injury Correct answer.
  2. Six months from the date of the injury
  3. Thirty days from the date of the injury
  4. Three years from the date of the injury

Explanation

COIDA requires the employee to lodge a claim for compensation within twelve months of the date of the injury or death. The employer's separate duty to report the accident to the Commissioner applies within a much shorter period.

Question 15Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

An employee is struck by a falling object and is booked off work for three weeks. What is the employer's obligation under COIDA?

  1. Report the accident to the Compensation Commissioner within seven days Correct answer.
  2. Report the accident to the chief inspector under the OHS Act only
  3. Report the accident to the Compensation Commissioner within 12 months
  4. Report the accident only if the employee lays a criminal charge

Explanation

COIDA requires the employer to report an accident to the Commissioner within seven days of becoming aware of it, using the prescribed form. Failure to report is an offence, and reporting enables the employee's claim to be processed.

Question 16Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

An employee who is injured at work and receives compensation under COIDA wishes to sue the employer for additional damages in the civil courts. What is the position?

  1. The employee may sue if the Commissioner consents in writing
  2. The employee may sue only if the employer was grossly negligent
  3. The employee is barred from claiming damages from the employer at common law Correct answer.
  4. The employee may sue for the balance of the damages not covered by the Fund

Explanation

COIDA gives the employee compensation without proof of fault in exchange for a statutory bar on claiming damages from the employer at common law. The Fund may, however, recover what it has paid from a negligent third party.

Question 17Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

Under the Construction Regulations 2014, who must ensure that the provincial director is notified of intended construction work at least seven days before it starts?

  1. The principal contractor
  2. The client Correct answer.
  3. The construction health and safety officer
  4. The designer

Explanation

The Construction Regulations place the duty to notify the provincial director of intended construction work, in the prescribed form and at least seven days before commencement, on the client. The client cannot simply leave this statutory notification to the contractor.

Question 18Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

Before work starts on a project involving more than one contractor, the client must:

  1. obtain written approval from every contractor's employees
  2. appoint a health and safety representative for each contractor
  3. register each contractor with the Compensation Fund
  4. appoint a principal contractor in writing Correct answer.

Explanation

The Construction Regulations require the client to appoint a principal contractor in writing before construction work begins where more than one contractor will be involved. The principal contractor then coordinates and manages the contractors on site.

Question 19Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

A person appointed as construction health and safety officer under the Construction Regulations 2014 must be:

  1. registered with the SACPCMP as a construction health and safety officer Correct answer.
  2. a registered nurse who holds an occupational health qualification
  3. a member of the client's board of directors nominated by the board
  4. an employee of the Department of Employment and Labour in the province

Explanation

The Construction Regulations require the construction health and safety officer to be registered with the South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions in the relevant category. The appointment must be made in writing and must be based on the person's competence for the work.

Question 20Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

Under the fall protection requirements applicable to construction work, fall protection must be provided where a person could fall:

  1. more than 0,5 metres
  2. two metres or more Correct answer.
  3. from any height, however small
  4. more than five metres

Explanation

The fall protection provisions apply where a fall risk exists, generally a potential fall of two metres or more, and require suitable measures such as guardrails, safety nets or fall arrest systems. The measures must be selected and installed by a competent person.

Question 21Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

An inspector finds workers on a scaffold that is visibly unstable and about to collapse. The inspector may:

  1. revoke the contractor's registration with the SACPCMP
  2. prosecute the workers for continuing to work on an unsafe scaffold
  3. only advise the contractor in writing that the scaffold should be repaired soon
  4. issue a prohibition notice stopping use of the scaffold until it is made safe Correct answer.

Explanation

Where an inspector is satisfied that an activity involves an imminent and serious risk to health or safety, a prohibition notice may be issued to stop that activity until the danger is removed. Prosecution may follow later, but it does not address the immediate risk.

Question 22Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

The SACPCMP, which registers construction health and safety officers, is a statutory council established in terms of:

  1. the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993
  2. the Skills Development Act 97 of 1998
  3. the Construction Regulations 2014
  4. the Council for the Built Environment Act 43 of 2000 Correct answer.

Explanation

The SACPCMP is one of the statutory councils for the built environment professions established under the Council for the Built Environment Act 43 of 2000. The OHS Act and the Construction Regulations impose duties on construction health and safety officers but do not create the council.

Question 23Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

A construction health and safety officer is offered a payment by a contractor to overlook a scaffold defect. In line with the SACPCMP code of conduct, the officer should:

  1. accept the payment and record the scaffold defect as closed
  2. report the defect only when an inspector next visits the site
  3. resign from the project without informing the client
  4. decline the payment and report the defect Correct answer.

Explanation

The code of conduct requires registered persons to act with integrity and in the public interest and to avoid improper inducements or conflicts of interest. Reporting the defect is also necessary to protect workers and to meet the officer's statutory and professional duties.

Question 24Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

Section 13 of the OHS Act requires an employer to:

  1. inform employees of hazards and the precautions required Correct answer.
  2. publish the names of employees who repeatedly breach safety rules
  3. provide personal protective equipment only to supervisory staff
  4. report all workplace incidents to the Compensation Commissioner

Explanation

Section 13 requires the employer to inform employees, in a manner they can understand, of the hazards attached to their work and the precautionary measures that must be taken. This supports the wider duty to provide information, instructions, training and supervision.

Question 25Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

Which statement best describes the risk assessment obligation under the Construction Regulations 2014 before construction work begins?

  1. A risk assessment is required only after the first accident on the site
  2. The contractor must ensure a documented assessment is done before work starts Correct answer.
  3. The client must conduct a single risk assessment covering all contractors on the site
  4. Each employee must conduct a personal risk assessment at the start of every shift

Explanation

The Construction Regulations require a documented risk assessment to be carried out by a competent person before construction work commences, and it must be reviewed as the work progresses or circumstances change. The assessment identifies hazards and the measures needed to control them.

Question 26Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

Section 8 of the OHS Act places a general duty on every employer to:

  1. provide and maintain a safe working environment without risk to health Correct answer.
  2. take out public liability insurance covering all visitors to the premises
  3. register every employee with the Compensation Commissioner before work begins
  4. appoint an external auditor to certify the workplace annually

Explanation

Section 8(1) requires every employer to provide and maintain, as far as is reasonably practicable, a working environment that is safe and without risk to health. The duty covers plant, systems of work and the health and safety of persons in the workplace. Insurance, audits and registration are not the content of this general duty.

Question 27Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

Section 10 of the OHS Act requires a person who manufactures, imports or supplies an article for use at work to:

  1. replace the article free of charge if it fails during its first year
  2. train the purchaser's employees in the operation of the article
  3. inspect the article at the user's premises at least once a year
  4. ensure that the article is safe and without risk when properly used Correct answer.

Explanation

Section 10 imposes duties on designers, manufacturers, importers and suppliers in relation to articles and substances used at work. They must ensure the article is safe and without risk to health when properly used, and must supply adequate information about its use. Ongoing inspections, training of the buyer's staff and free replacement are not obligations created by this section.

Question 28Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

Which statement describes an employer's basic obligation under COIDA?

  1. Insure each employee individually with a registered short-term insurer
  2. Contribute to a private pension fund on behalf of each employee
  3. Register with the Compensation Fund and pay the annual assessment Correct answer.
  4. Deduct the compensation levy from each employee's monthly wage

Explanation

COIDA establishes a state-administered compensation fund financed by employer assessments. An employer carrying on business must register with the fund and pay the assessments determined for its class of industry. The cost of compensation is borne by employers, not by deductions from employees' wages.

Question 29Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

The Construction Regulations 2014 are best described as:

  1. regulations made under the OHS Act and binding on duty holders Correct answer.
  2. a code of practice that has no binding legal effect on clients
  3. provincial by-laws that apply only within metropolitan areas
  4. guidelines issued by the SACPCMP that contractors may adopt voluntarily

Explanation

The Construction Regulations 2014 were made by the Minister under the empowering provisions of the OHS Act and form part of the Act's subordinate legislation. They are therefore law, and duty holders such as clients, designers, principal contractors and contractors must comply with them. Guidelines and codes of practice do not have the same binding force.

Question 30Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

An employer's workshop is visited by delivery drivers and members of the public. In terms of section 9 of the OHS Act the employer must:

  1. obtain the chief inspector's written approval before admitting visitors
  2. issue each visitor with a copy of the employer's safety policy
  3. report each visit to the chief inspector of occupational health and safety
  4. ensure visitors are not exposed to hazards arising from the work Correct answer.

Explanation

Section 9 extends the employer's general duty beyond employees to persons who may be affected by the work, including visitors, contractors and the public. The employer must take reasonably practicable steps to ensure those persons are not exposed to hazards. Routine visits do not require reporting to, or approval from, the chief inspector.

Question 31Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

An employer requires workers in a dusty area to wear hard hats and safety boots. In terms of the General Safety Regulations the employer must:

  1. provide the equipment free of charge and ensure it is maintained in good condition Correct answer.
  2. supply the equipment only to workers who request it in writing
  3. charge the cost of the equipment to the workers over twelve months
  4. let workers buy their own equipment and reimburse them at year end

Explanation

The General Safety Regulations require an employer to supply, free of charge, the protective clothing and equipment needed to protect employees against hazards. The employer must also keep the equipment in good condition and replace it when necessary. The cost may not be passed on to employees in any form.

Question 32Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

A workplace has a functioning health and safety committee. Which of the following forms part of the committee's functions under section 20 of the OHS Act?

  1. Issuing prohibition notices to stop unsafe work in a section of the plant
  2. Conducting the disciplinary hearings of employees who breach safety rules
  3. reviewing the effectiveness of safety measures in the workplace Correct answer.
  4. Approving the employer's annual financial statements before publication

Explanation

Section 20 lists the functions of a health and safety committee, which include making recommendations to the employer, discussing incidents and reviewing the effectiveness of health and safety measures and training. The committee is advisory and consultative. It does not discipline employees, oversee company finances or exercise inspectorial powers.

Question 33Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

Before construction work begins, what is the client's responsibility regarding the health and safety specification?

  1. submit the specification to the department for registration before work starts
  2. ensure a competent person compiles it for the principal contractor Correct answer.
  3. obtain the local authority's written approval of the specification
  4. lodge a copy of the specification with the Compensation Commissioner

Explanation

The Construction Regulations require the client to ensure that a competent person compiles a project-specific health and safety specification and that it is provided to the principal contractor before work starts. Municipal approval, registration with the department and filing with the Compensation Commissioner are not requirements of that regulation.

Question 34Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

Under the Construction Regulations 2014, a construction work permit is required when:

  1. the client is a state department or municipality
  2. the project will last longer than thirty working days
  3. the project's contract value exceeds the prescribed threshold Correct answer.
  4. more than one contractor will be working on the site

Explanation

The regulations distinguish between notification of construction work, which applies generally, and a construction work permit, which the client must obtain from the provincial director for projects whose contract value exceeds the prescribed threshold. The permit must be in place before the work starts. Duration, the number of contractors and the identity of the client do not by themselves trigger the permit requirement.

Question 35Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

Which statement about the scope of application of the OHS Act is correct?

  1. It applies to every workplace, including mines and mining areas
  2. It applies only to factories registered under the Factories Act
  3. It excludes mines, which fall under the Mine Health and Safety Act Correct answer.
  4. It applies only to employers with more than fifty employees

Explanation

The OHS Act applies to a wide range of workplaces but expressly does not apply to mines and mining areas, which are regulated by the Mine Health and Safety Act. There is no small-employer exemption based on headcount, and the old factory registration system is not the test of application.

Question 36Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

A risk control measure is alleged to be required 'so far as is reasonably practicable'. Which approach best reflects how this test is applied?

  1. The risk is weighed against the cost and difficulty of the measures Correct answer.
  2. The employer must eliminate every risk, whatever the cost of doing so
  3. The employer may rely on the practice customary in its industry as a complete defence
  4. The employer decides alone, and its judgement cannot be reviewed by a court

Explanation

Reasonably practicable requires a weighing of the likelihood and severity of the harm against the cost, time and trouble of the measures needed to avert it. Only where the cost is grossly disproportionate to the risk may the measure be omitted. Industry custom is not a safe harbour, and the employer's judgement remains subject to scrutiny.

Question 37Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

An employee is injured through the negligence of a subcontractor that is not the employee's employer. In terms of COIDA:

  1. the Fund may recover nothing from the negligent subcontractor
  2. the employee may claim damages from the subcontractor at common law Correct answer.
  3. the employee loses all rights against the subcontractor once compensation is paid
  4. the employee may claim compensation from the subcontractor under COIDA

Explanation

COIDA bars delictual claims against the employer and fellow employees, but it preserves the employee's common-law right to sue a third party whose negligence caused the injury. Where compensation has been paid, the Compensation Commissioner may recover that amount from the third party. Compensation under COIDA is therefore not the employee's only possible source of redress against a stranger to the employment relationship.

Question 38Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

An employer complies fully with every applicable regulation. In law, this means that:

  1. the general duties may still require further precautions Correct answer.
  2. the employer cannot be prosecuted for any workplace incident
  3. the chief inspector must withdraw any outstanding notices
  4. the employer is automatically relieved of the section 8 duty

Explanation

The regulations set minimum standards, while the general duties in the Act require the employer to do whatever is reasonably practicable in the circumstances. Compliance with a regulation therefore does not exhaust the duty, and additional precautions may still be required. Prosecution and enforcement action remain possible where the general duty is breached.

Question 39Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

An employee reports a work accident to the employer. Under COIDA the employer must:

  1. report the accident to the Compensation Commissioner within seven days Correct answer.
  2. register the accident with the SA Police Service within 24 hours
  3. pay the employee's full salary for twelve months regardless of injury
  4. wait for the Commissioner to request a report before acting

Explanation

COIDA requires the employer to report a compensable accident to the Compensation Commissioner within seven days of receiving notice of it, using the prescribed form. Fatal accidents must also be reported to the police. The employer may not sit back and wait for the Commissioner to ask for information.

Question 40Occupational Health & Safety Legal and Regulatory Framework

Under the Construction Regulations 2014, which appointment must the principal contractor make in writing?

  1. a full-time union shop steward for each work crew
  2. an external auditor to inspect the site each month
  3. a registered nurse for every twenty workers on site
  4. a competent construction manager for the project Correct answer.

Explanation

The regulations require the principal contractor to appoint a competent person as construction manager in writing before construction work commences. That person carries responsibility for managing the health and safety aspects of the construction work on site. Appointments of nursing staff, shop stewards or auditors are not prescribed by the regulations.

Question 41Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Management

According to the hierarchy of control, which measure is the most effective way to manage a workplace hazard?

  1. Elimination of the hazard Correct answer.
  2. Administrative controls such as training
  3. Personal protective equipment
  4. Engineering controls such as guarding

Explanation

The hierarchy ranks controls by how reliably they remove or reduce exposure. Eliminating the hazard removes the exposure entirely, so it sits at the top of the hierarchy. All lower-ranked controls leave the hazard in place or depend on human behaviour.

Question 42Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Management

Which statement best defines a hazard?

  1. The probability that harm will occur during a task
  2. The consequence of an uncontrolled release of energy
  3. A source or situation with the potential to cause harm Correct answer.
  4. The combination of likelihood and severity of an unwanted event

Explanation

A hazard is any source, activity, substance or condition with the potential to cause injury or ill health. Likelihood, severity and their combination describe risk, which is the product of exposure to a hazard.

Question 43Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Management

Where does personal protective equipment sit in the hierarchy of control?

  1. Last in the hierarchy of control Correct answer.
  2. Third, alongside administrative controls
  3. First, because it protects the individual directly
  4. Second, immediately after elimination

Explanation

PPE is the last line of defence because it does nothing to remove or reduce the hazard at source. It protects only the wearer and relies on correct selection, fit, maintenance and use. It is therefore considered only after higher-order controls have been applied.

Question 44Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Management

A 5x5 risk matrix is used to determine a risk rating. Which two factors are combined?

  1. Frequency of audits and number of findings
  2. Number of exposed workers and duration of exposure
  3. Cost of control and time to implement
  4. Likelihood of the incident and severity of harm Correct answer.

Explanation

A risk matrix plots likelihood against severity of consequence, and the intersecting cell gives the risk rating used for prioritisation. Cost, headcount and audit frequency may inform decisions but are not the axes of the matrix.

Question 45Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Management

When must a risk assessment be communicated to the workers who will be exposed?

  1. Only when a new employee joins the company
  2. At the next health and safety committee meeting
  3. Before they begin work and are exposed Correct answer.
  4. Only after an incident has occurred

Explanation

Workers must know the hazards and the required controls before they are exposed to them, which is why communication precedes the start of work. Informing people afterwards defeats the purpose of the assessment.

Question 46Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Management

What is meant by residual risk?

  1. The risk remaining after controls are implemented Correct answer.
  2. The risk that is transferred to a contractor
  3. The risk associated with emergency situations only
  4. The risk that remains before any controls are applied

Explanation

Residual risk is what remains once the chosen controls are in place, and it must still be judged against the organisation's tolerability criteria. The risk present before controls are applied is the inherent or initial risk.

Question 47Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Management

Risk assessment is best described as the process of:

  1. Recording incidents on site
  2. Identifying hazards and evaluating risk Correct answer.
  3. Inspecting the workplace annually
  4. Compiling medical records

Explanation

Risk assessment is the structured process of identifying hazards, evaluating the risk arising from them and deciding on suitable controls. Recording incidents, medical records and inspections are separate activities that may feed information into the process.

Question 48Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Management

Which of the following is a physical hazard?

  1. Poor supervision of learners
  2. Workplace bullying
  3. Exposure to high noise levels Correct answer.
  4. Unclear written procedures

Explanation

Physical hazards are sources of energy or environmental conditions that can injure a person, such as noise, vibration, heat or moving machinery. Poor supervision and unclear procedures are organisational or psychosocial hazards in nature.

Question 49Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Management

A baseline risk assessment is carried out mainly to:

  1. Establish the organisation's overall risk profile Correct answer.
  2. Record the risks introduced by an incident investigation
  3. Evaluate one specific change in a process
  4. Assess the risk of a single task just before it starts

Explanation

Baseline assessment is a broad, initial study of all the organisation's significant activities, used to set priorities and a risk profile. It is complemented later by issue-based assessments for specific changes and continuous assessment during day-to-day work.

Question 50Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Management

Which situation calls for an issue-based risk assessment rather than a baseline assessment?

  1. Introducing a new chemical process on the plant Correct answer.
  2. Conducting a routine monthly walk-through
  3. Reviewing the company's five-year safety strategy
  4. Compiling the annual risk profile for the whole site

Explanation

Issue-based assessment is triggered by a specific change or event, such as a new process, new equipment, a change in legislation or an incident. It focuses narrowly on the hazards that the change introduces.