Health on site — CSCS Card HS&E Test Practice

Sample questions

1. 01A firm plans a week of chasing brick walls in an occupied block of flats. Under COSHH regulation 6, what must the employer do before the work starts?

   • ACarry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment
   • BMeasure the dust in the air once the work is under way
   • CBuy in a stock of disposable masks for the team
   • DTell the residents to keep all their windows shut

   Why: COSHH regulation 6 says the employer must not carry out work liable to expose employees to hazardous substances unless a suitable and sufficient risk assessment has been made first, and the steps it identifies put in place. Buying masks jumps straight to the last control without deciding what the job needs. Measuring on the first morning means the work has already started.

2. 02An electrician cuts sheets of MDF to make a backing board for a consumer unit. Which of HSE’s three main types of construction dust does this make?

   • ASilica dust, as MDF is a manufactured board
   • BGeneral dust, as MDF is not solid timber
   • CNo construction dust, as MDF is soft to cut
   • DWood dust, as MDF is a wood-based board

   Why: HSE describes three main types of construction dust: silica dust, wood dust and other general dust. HSE lists wood dust as coming from softwood, hardwood and boards made from wood, such as MDF and plywood. Being a manufactured board does not make it silica dust, which comes from materials such as concrete, mortar and sandstone.

3. 03A job specifies a solvent-based adhesive for fixing trunking, but a water-based product that does the job with less risk to health is available. What does COSHH regulation 7(2) say?

   • AEither is fine, as long as the tin carries a label
   • BKeep the original product and add gloves and a mask
   • CSubstitute it, so far as is reasonably practicable
   • DUse whichever product the installer is used to

   Why: COSHH regulation 7(2) says that in preventing exposure, substitution is to be used by preference: replacing a substance or process with one that removes or reduces the risk, so far as is reasonably practicable. Keeping the riskier product and adding gloves and a mask puts protective equipment first, which regulation 7(3) places last.