Electrotechnical

Question 1

In accordance with the Electricity at Work
regulations, when considering whether to work live a
responsible person should:

A: Carry out a risk assessment
B: Only work dead
C: Only work live
D: Do as the client demands

Answer 1

Right Answer: A
To identify and assess the risks involved and the
methods of controlling them.

Question 2

The normal procedure for working on electrical
equipment should be which one of the following?
A: Dead working
B: Wearing insulated gloves
C: Using insulated tools
D: Live working

Answer 2

Right Answer: A

Dead working should be considered as the norm and
work on or near live conductors should rarely be
permitted

Question 3

Test instruments used for working on electrical
systems should:

A: Be yellow in colour
B: Be less than 10 years old
C: Have non-insulated test probes
D: Have insulated test probes

Answer 3

Right Answer: D
To protect the user from electric shock whilst using
the instrument, i.e. handling the probes.

Question 4

Under the Electricity at Work Regulations, live
working is considered:

A: As entirely acceptable
B: To be normally permitted
C: Only to be allowed in exceptional
circumstances
D: Never to be allowed

Answer 4

Right Answer: C

Extra controls must be employed, including training,
supervision and use of suitable tools and protective
equipment.

Question 5

Which of the following would you use to replace the
fuse in a plug if fuses were NOT available?

A: A nail
B: A piece of silver paper
C: A bit of wire
D: None of the options listed

Answer 5

Right Answer: D

A fuse is often the main safety device in an electrical
circuit. A blown fuse must only be replaced by a fuse
of the correct type and rating.

Question 6

To prove a circuit or equipment is dead after isolation

what is the FIRST activity in the sequence of events?

A: Make sure equipment is not working
B: Check between line and earth
C: Check that the voltage detector is working on
a proving device, known live source or in-
built test feature
D: Check between line and neutral

Answer 6

Right Answer: C

This will prove that that the voltage detector (such
as a two-pole voltage detector or proprietary test
lamp) is working, i.e. indicating voltage.

Question 7

The nominal single phase voltage in the UK is?
A: 230 volts
B 240 volts
C: 415 volts
D: 400 volts

Answer 7

Right Answer: A
This is the nominal voltage for public electricity
supply systems within Europe.

Question 8

When is live working permissible?

A: When the person carrying out the work is a
competent person
B: When it is unreasonable in all circumstances for the equipment to be made dead and
suitable precautions are taken
C: When the means of isolation cannot be
identified
D: When the person working on the equipment is wearing rubber gloves

Answer 8

Right Answer: B

This is a requirement under r.i4 of the EAW
Regulations. However, it does not mean that live
working is then ’safe’

Question 9

Which of the following is not a requirement of low

voltage safe isolation practice?

A: Ensuring that the correct point of isolation is
identified
B The person carrying out the work is issued
with insulating gloves
C: A caution notice should be applied at the
point of isolation
D: The conductors are proved to be dead at the
point of work

Answer 9

Right Answer: B

Safe isolation practice refers to dead working. The
use of insulating gloves will generally only be
applicable to live working.

Question 10

The specific effects on the human body of a major
electric shock are one of the following:

A: Dermatitis
B: Burns and cardiac arrest
C: Broken bones
D: Chest pains

Answer 10

Right Answer: B

Question 11

The lowest level of electrical current which can harm
the human body is normally measured in:

A: Microamps
B: Kiloamps
C: Amps
D: Milliamps

Answer 11

Right Answer: D

Research has shown that a person is in serious
danger of a fatal electric shock at, or above,
approximately 30 milliamps.

Question 12

With regard to the effect of electrical current on the
human body, one of the following is correct:

A: a 6 amp circuit breaker should prevent a
person receiving a fatal electric shock
B: a 3 amp fuse should prevent a personreceiving a fatal electric shock
C: a 30mA Residual Current Device (RCD)
should prevent a person receiving a fatal
electric shock.
D: a 5 amp rewireable fuse should prevent a
person receiving a fatal electric shock

Answer 12

Right Answer: C

An RCD is a mechanical switching device intended to
cause the opening of the contacts when the residual
current attains a given value under specified
conditions.

Question 13

Where mains voltage is used to supply portable
equipment on a construction site, what additional
protection is required?

A: Step-down transformer
B Step-down generator
C: Cable avoidance tool
D Residual current device (RCD)

Answer 13

Right Answer: D

Reduced low voltage systems {e.g. 10 volt centre
point earthed) are strongly preferred in such
circumstances. Where only mains voltage (230 V)
equipment is available, however, a 30 mA RCD will
give additional protection against fatal electric shock.

Question 14

What colour cable USUALLY signifies no volt power
supply on site?

A: Black
B: Red
C: Blue
D: Yellow

Answer 14

Right Answer: D

Yellow is the usual colour of cables, socket outlets,
plugs and transformers etc which are used with a 110
volt supply.

Question 15

A portable electric generator on site has two power
outlets, no volts and 230 volts. What colour would
the no volt outlet be?

A: Black
B: Yellow
C: Red
D: Blue

Answer 15

Right Answer: B

Yellow is the usual colour of cables, socket outlets,
plugs and transformers etc which are used with a no
volt supply.

Question 16

Where there is no local means of isolation for

equipment or circuits to be worked on, which of the

following is the preferred method of isolation?

A: Isolation of the main switch or DB switch-
disconnector
B Isolation of the individual circuit breaker or
fuse
C: Pulling out the distributor’s cut-out fuse
D: Disconnecting the individual circuit from the
DB

Answer 16

Right Answer: A
Isolating the whole installation or distribution board
is the safest method.

Question 17

What action should you take if a workmate gets an
electric shock?

A: Phone the electricity board immediately
B: Dial 999 and ask for the fire brigade
C: Cut off the power and call for help
D: Try to pull them to safety

Answer 17

Right Answer: C

If you can switch the power off, the electric hazard
will be removed. First aid assistance will then
probably be required. Do not touch someone who is
still in contact with live electrical cables as you could
also receive an electric shock.

Question 18

A residual current device is designed to operate in
the event of one of the following:

A: Overload
B: Earth fault
C: Lightning strike on the supply
D: Short-circuit

Answer 18

Right Answer: B
An RCD provides additional protection against the
risk of electric shock.

Question 19

Electrical installations on construction sites should be
periodically inspected and tested:

A: Every 3 months
B: Every year
C: Every 6 months
D: Every month

Answer 19

Right Answer: A
Three monthly inspections of construction site
installations are recommended in IET Guidance Note

Question 20

The maximum AC voltage which the human body
can withstand without long term physiological
effects in dry conditions is:

A: 110 volts
B 230 volts
C: 50 volts
D 400 volts

Answer 20

Right Answer: C
Regarded as a non-fatal voltage level.

Question 21

Which of the following statements is true with

regard to the dangers of electricity?

A: Electricity is perfectly safe so long as you
wear cotton gloves
B: Electricity is only dangerous if you are not
wearing wellington boots
C: Electricity is only dangerous in wet weather
D: Electricity is dangerous at any time because
you cannot tell by looking at a cable whether
or not it is live

Answer 21

Right Answer: D

The features which make electricity so dangerous are
that you cannot see, hear or smell it. It can give you
a very unpleasant surprise. Always assume that
cables are live.

Question 22

What is the most serious effect that electric shock

can have if you come into contact with a live part?

A: The electric current can cause a slight
tingling in the fingers
B The electric current can cause burn marks on
the fingers
C: The electric current can cause the heart to
stop, resulting in death
D: The electric current can cause the finger
muscles to twitch

Answer 22

Right Answer: C

Contact with live electrical parts can be fatal. If you
do not know otherwise, always assume that
electrical parts are live.

Question 23

Your job involves you working near to hanging
electrical cables which have bare ends. What should
you do?

A: Touch the cables to see if they are live

B: Carry on working, as there shouldn’t be a
problem

C: Inform your supervisor and keep well away

D: Attempt to push the cables back into the ceiling void so that you can start work

Answer 23

Right Answer: C
You must always assume that exposed cables are
live until you know they are not. Contact with live
electrical cables can kill.

Question 24

For all live working activities it is necessary to:

A: Carry out a risk assessment as required by
the EAW Regulations.
B: Wear rubber gloves only
C: Be accompanied
D: Keep your fingers crossed

Answer 24

Right Answer: A

Question 25

An electrical Permit to Work is primarily a statement
that:

A: Someone else has taken responsibility for the
work
B: The circuit or equipment is live
C: Certain instructions need to be followed
D: The circuit or equipment has been isolated and is safe to work on

Answer 25

Right Answer: D

Permits to work describe the procedures that prevent
a major hazard, such as electricity or moving
machinery, from causing harm, usually by isolation
to effectively ensure (in the case of electricity) “dead’
working with no chance of it going ‘live’.

Question 26

The probes of voltage detectors and test instruments
used on electrical systems should be:

A:Manufactured in the UK
B: Accompanied by a calibration certificate
C: Shaped or have barriers to prevent finger contact with the tips
D: Coloured red

Answer 26

Right Answer: C

In addition, to protect against damage by overcurrent
whilst in use, the probes or instrument should
incorporate suitable high breaking capacity (hbc)
fuses with a low current rating (usually not exceeding
500 MA), or current-limiting resistors.

Question 27

Which of the following does the Electricity at Work
(EAW) regulations apply to?

A: All persons engaged for work purposes
B: Self employed persons only
C: Employees only
D: Employers only

Answer 27

Right Answer: A
The EAW Regulations impose duties on employers,
employees and the self employed.

Question 28

The Electricity at Work Regulations require that:

A: Persons working with electricity must have
the appropriate level of knowledge and
experience
B: A training course is necessary before anyone
can work with electricity
C: Only electricians can work with electricity
D: Anyone supervised can work with electricity

Answer 28

Right Answer: A
Competency is a requirement of r.a6 of the EAW
Regulations.

Question 29

The Electricity at Work Regulations apply to:
A: Only low voltage systems
B: Only extra-low voltage systems
C: All voltage systems
D: Only high voltage systems

Answer 29

Right Answer: C
The EAW Regulations cover the safe use of
electricity in work activities, irrespective of voltage.

Question 30

Which of the following should be used to prove a
circuit or equipment is dead after isolation?

A: A lamp holder with a length of flex attached
B: A proprietary test lamp or two-pole voltage
detector
C: A voltage stick
D: A multimeter

Answer 30

Right Answer: B

Accident history has shown that using incorrectly set
multimeters or makeshift devices for voltage
detection has often caused accidents. The use of
non-contact voltage indicators {voltage sticks) is also
not advised as the sole means of proving dead.

Question 31

Which of the following is not a suitable means of
isolating a circuit?

A: Removing a fuse and locking the distribution
board
B: Putting insulating tape over the circuit
breaker
C: Padlocking the isolating switch
D: Fitting a padlocked circuit breaker lockout

Answer 31

Right Answer: B

The isolating device should be switched off or the
fuse removed. The switch, circuit breaker or
enclosure should then be locked and the key
removed. A notice or label should also be posted to
warn that someone is working on the circuit or
apparatus.

Question 32

Which of the following work procedures on electrical
systems will always require a permit-to-work to be
issued?

A: Dead working on low-voltage systems
B: Live working on low-voltage systems
C: Dead working on high-voltage systems
D Live working on high-voltage systems

Answer 32

Right Answer: C

An electrical permit-to-work should state what circuit
or equipment has been made safe, how that has
been achieved and what work is to be done. A
permit should not, therefore, be used for live
working. Such a permit is always required for work
on high-voltage systems, but can also be used for
low-voltage systems.

Question 33

Optical fibre cable remnants should not be left lying
around on site because:

A:They can be hot and burn upon contact
B:Laser beams still exist in the cut pieces
C: They can pierce the skin or eyes
D: They are toxic

Answer 33

Right Answer: C

Fibre fragments can enter the bloodstream and
cause infections in the skin or eyes. All fibre waste,
particularly small pieces, should be placed in suitable
receptacles.

Question 34

Why should the end of an optical fibre cable never be
pointed towards your own or anyone else’s eyes?

A: The beam can transfer a strong electric
current
B: The colour of the beam is very hypnotic
C: The beam can bore a hole through the skin
D: The beam can damage the eyes

Answer 34

Right Answer: D

Exposure to light sources such as lasers or highly
concentrated visible or infrared light beams,
associated with the testing or use of optical fibres,
can cause damage to the eyes, or even blindness.

Question 35

The use of a multi-lock hasp with the appropriate

number of padlocks is a recommended method of

safe isolation where:

A: Individual circuit breaker locking off devices
are not available
B: Individual circuit breakers are not identified at
the distribution board
C: More than one person will be working on
circuits supplied from the same distribution
board
D: You know the health and safety inspector is
in the area

Answer 35

Right Answer: C

A multi-lock hasp can be used to prevent operation
of the isolator until such time that all persons
working on the electrical installation have completed
their work and removed their padlocks from the
hasp.

Question 36

Which of the following procedures should be used

when more than one person will be working on

circuits supplied from a distribution board which has

been switched off?

A: The use of a multi-lock hasp on the isolator
with a padlock for each operative
B: Blowing a horn before the power is switched
on again
C: Giving each operative a volt stick
D: Telling everyone what time the power will be
switched on again

Answer 36

Right Answer: A

A multi-lock hasp can be used to prevent operation
of the isolator until such time that all persons
working on the electrical installation have completed
their work and removed their padlocks from the
hasp.