Fire and Emergency

Question 1

An emergency route(s) must be provided on
construction sites to ensure:

A: Safe passage to the open air
B: Safe passage to the rest area
C: Safe passage to a secure place of safety
D: Safe passage to the ground from height

Answer 1

Right Answer: C

Question 2

What action should you take if you discover a fire?

A: Leave it because you will get the blame
B: Raise the alarm
C: Carry on working if it is safe to do so
D: Extinguish the fire without raising the alarm

Answer 2

Right Answer: B
Raising the alarm will reduce the risk to others,
particularly if the fire spreads.

Question 3

If there had been a small fire, who should you report
it to?

A: Your supervisor
B: The main contractor’s site agent
C: The site’s fire marshal
D: The resident site engineer

Answer 3

Right Answer: A
The supervisor should be aware, so that further
preventative measures can be considered.

Question 4

If you discover a fire at work, what should you do
first:
A: Telephone 999
B: Use 3 fire extinguisher to put it out
C: Run around looking for an alarm to sound
D: Raise the alarm and warn fellow workers

Answer 4

Right Answer: D
Raising the alarm will reduce the risk to others,
particularly if the fire spreads.

Question 5

What is a fire assembly point?
A: The place to go when the fire alarm sounds
B: A place where the fire brigade goes to
C: A place where fire extinguishers are kept
D: The place where the fire alarm is

Answer 5

Right Answer: A

It is essential that people go to a place of safety,
where supervisors or fire marshals know where they
are, in the event of a fire.

Question 6

Where would you go in the event of a fire?
A: To the canteen for a cup of tea
B: To the fire assembly point
C: To the site hut
D: To the fire to see what is going on

Answer 6

Right Answer: B

It is essential that people go to a place of safety,
where supervisors or fire marshals know where they
are, in the event of a fire.

Question 7

What should you do if you hear the fire alarm?

A: Ignore it because it might be someone
playing around

B: Leave work for the day

C: Evacuate the premises to a designated place of safety

D: Go towards the sound to find out what is
going on

Answer 7

Right Answer: C

It is essential that people go to a place of safety,
where supervisors or fire marshals know where they
are, in the event of a fire.

Question 8

All new fire extinguishers are coloured red or of
bright self-coloured metal. How do you know the
difference between types?
A: A different colour panel or band is on the
boay of the extinguishers
B During site induction, you will be told where
the different types of extinguishers are
C: The weight and shape of the extinguisher
D: The type of extinguisher is written on a sign
next to it

Answer 8

Right Answer: A
Different coloured bands show extinguisher types
e.g. black for CO2 and blue for dry powder.

Question 9

A black-labelled fire extinguisher contains:
A: Dry powder
B: Water
C: Foam
D: Carbon dioxide

Answer 9

Right Answer: D

Question 10

What is a blue-labelled fire extinguisher filled with?
A: Water
B: Foam
C: Dry powder
D: Carbon Dioxide

Answer 10

Right Answer: C

Question 11

Which fire extinguisher should not be used on
flammable liquid fires?
A: Carbon dioxide
B: Powder
C: Water
D: Foam

Answer 11

Right Answer: C
Flammable liquids spread if attacked by water
extinguishers.

Question 12

What colour is a water filled fire extinguisher, or its
label?
A: Black
B: Cream
C: Red
D: Green

Answer 12

Right Answer: C

Question 12

For fires involving spilled petrol, which types of fire
extinguisher could you use?

A: Water, carbon dioxide or foam
B: Water, foam or dry powder
C: Foam, carbon dioxide or dry powder
D: Water, carbon dioxide or dry powder

Answer 12

Right Answer: C
Flammable liquids, such as petrol,
attacked by water extinguishers.

Question 13

When discharging carbon dioxide fire extinguishers,
the nozzle:
A: Becomes warm
B: Becomes very hot
C: Becomes very cold
D: Doesn’t change temperature

Answer 13

Right Answer: C
The expansion of CO2 gas coming out of the nozzle
causes rapid cooling.

Question 14

Which types of fire extinguishers should be used on
electrical fires?

A: Foam and water

B: Carbon dioxide and dry powder

C: Dry powder and foam

D: Water and carbon dioxide

Answer 14

Right Answer: B
Liquids should not be used, since they may conduct
electricity.

Question 15

A red-labelled fire extinguisher should NOT be used:
A: On wood fires
B: Where there is a risk of electrocution
C: On burning clothes
D: On burning furnitur

Answer 15

Right Answer: B
Red denotes water. Liguids should not be used on
electrical fires, since they can conduct electricity.

Question 16

A workmate burns their hand on a piece of very hot
metal. What should you do first?

A: Rub some cream or Vaseline into the burn
B: Cover the burn with something dry
C: Warn other people about the piece of hot
metal
D: Put their hand in cold water if it is available

Answer 16

Right Answer: D
Burns need immediate and sustained cooling

Question 17

Which of the following items should not be in a first-
aid box?
A: Safety pins
B: Pain killers
C: Disposable gloves
D: Triangular bandages

Answer 17

Right Answer: B
Drugs must not be kept in a first aid box {Health
and Safety guidance note INDG 214).

Question 18

How often should a first-aider qualified in First Aid at
Work (FAW) or Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW)
receive retraining?
A: Every six months
B: Every two years
C: Every three years
D: Every four years

Answer 18

Right Answer: C

First Aid at Work (FAW) and Emergency First Aid at
Work (EFAW) certificates are valid for three years
and first-aiders are required to undertake retraining
at the end of this period. However, the HSE also
strongly recommends that first-aiders undertake
annual (half-day) refresher training.

Question 19

If you came across an injury on site, what is the first
thing you should do?
A: Tell the casualty to visit their doctor
B: Inform the HSE
C: Contact a first aider
D: Try and find out what happened

Answer 19

Right Answer: C
Competent first-aid treatment is essential, and
should be summoned immediately.

Question 20

An employee has a fall and is obviously unconscious.
What is the FIRST thing you should do?
A: Send someone for the first-aider
B Find out if there were any witnesses
C: Try to protect them from any further injury
D Put them in the recovery position

Answer 20

Right Answer: A
Competent first-aid treatment is essential, and
should be summoned immediately.

Question 21

A labourer gets an electric shock; looks a bit pale but
says they are alright. What should you do?

A: Send someone for the first-aider
B: Tell them ko report it to their supervisor
C: Go and check the electrics so it cannot
happen again
D: See if they want a drink or a cigarette

Answer 21

Right Answer: A
Competent first-aid treatment is essential,
should be summoned immediately.

Question 22

Which of the following must an employer consider
when making provisions for first aid?
A: How much working space will be wasted
B: How much will it cost
C: Whether the local ambulance service can be
used
D: The likely types of injury

Answer 22

Right Answer: D
Employers must match first-aid provision to the
nature of risks at work.

Question 23

In an on-site emergency, which of the following
must a first-aider NOT do?

A: Treat an unconscious patient
B: Control bleeding
C: Give resuscitation
D: Give medicines to patients without
authorisation

Answer 23

Right Answer: D

First-aid is concerned with preserving life and limb,
and first-aiders are not trained to dispense medical
treatments.

Question 24

If someone has fallen over and has stopped
breathing, what is the first thing you should do?

A: Send for help
B: Attend to any broken bones
C: Try to give the casualty a drink
D: Try to start the casualty breathing

Answer 24

Right Answer: A
Do not delay in sending for help; then try to
the casualty breathing.

Question 25

If someone has fallen off a ladder and they say their
leg is broken, what should you do?

A: Send for the first-aider
B: Help therm to the cabin or mess hut
C: Move the ladder so no-one trips over it
D: Bandage their legs together

Answer 25

Right Answer: A

Competent first-aid treatment is essential, and
should be summoned immediately.

Question 26

Your workmate suddenly gels a foreign body in the
eye. What should you do?

A: Take your workmate to the supervisor
B: Use a clean handkerchief to try and remove it
C: Wash your hands before touching your
mate’s face
D: Send someone for the first-aider

Answer 26

Right Answer: D

Competent first-aid treatment is essential, and
should be summoned immediately.

Question 27

A person nearly collapses complaining of stomach
pains. What should you do?
A: Send someone for the first-aider
B: Go and find them something to drink
C: Help them to find somewhere comfortable to sit
D Ask them if they want something to eat

Answer 27

Right Answer: A

Competent first-aid treatment is essential, and
should be summoned immediately.

Question 28

A workmate lifting a big box suddenly shouts “oh,
my back” and drops the box. What should you do?
Tell them to leave it for someone else to lift
Send for the first-aider
Help them to lift the box
Find them somewhere comfortable to sit and

Answer 28

Right Answer: B
The priority for any back injury is to obtain first-aid
advice, in order to prevent further damage.

Question 29

What should you do immediately if you get a small
cut on a finger whilst at work?
A: Carry on working
B: Get first-aid
C: Ask your employer to report it to the HSE
D: Just wash it clean

Answer 29

Right Answer: B

It is important to obtain first-aid to prevent further
harm (e.g. through infection). It should also be
recorded in the accident book (BI 510).

Question 30

In an emergency situation at work you should do what?
A: Phone the HSE Inspectorate
B: Obey the site emergency procedure
C: Ensure your work mates are all accounted for
D: Leave the site immediately

Answer 30

Right Answer: B
A site emergency plan should have been drawn up
and you should be familiar with the emergency
procedure.

Question 31

What does the sound of a siren on-site normally
indicate?
A: A fire
B: A toxic escape
C: An explosion
D: An emergency

Answer 31

Right Answer: D

Question 32

The purpose of fire-stopping in a building is to:

A: Prevent a fire starting
B: Delay the passage of fire and smoke through
openings in walls and floors
C: Activate fire sprinklers
D: Set off the fire alarm

Answer 32

Right Answer: B
Fire-stopping is a passive fire protection measure
used to seal any openings created in a fire-
resistance-rated wall or floor assembly, e.g. to
allow pipes or wiring systems to pass through.
During fire conditions this will impede the spread of
fire and smoke.

Question 33

What are fire-stops designed to do?

A: Extinguish a fire
B: Protect services (such as wiring systems)
against fire damage
C: Close fire doors automatically
D: Delay the passage of fire and smoke through
openings in walls and floors

Answer 33

Right Answer: D
Fire-stops are designed to maintain the fireproofing
of a wall or floor assembly. Fire-stopping delays the
spread of fire and, generally, the spread of smoke
as well.

Question 34

In addition to preserving fire separation between
areas of a building, which other important fire safety
function can fire-stopping achieve?
A: Preventing premature structural collapse
B Reducing nuisance fire alarms
C: Reducing noise transmission
D: Saving energy

Answer 34

Right Answer: A
During a fire it is essential that the load-bearing
capacity of elements of the building structure are
maintained until occupants have escaped. Timber
studs, joists or ‘lI’ beams, for example, may only
have a short survival time if exposed to fire and
may rely on linings, such as a plasterboard ceiling,
for fire-resistance. Services passing through such linings should therefore be fire-stopped.

Question 35

Intumescent materials used to provide fire-stopping are designed to:

A: Expand when subjected to smoke
B Shrink when subjected to heat
C: Expand when subjected to heat
D Prevent noise transmission

Answer 35

Right Answer: C

A limited number of fire-resistant materials may be
used to provide fire-stopping. These include
intumescent products, which are designed to
expand and provide fire-stopping when subjected to
heat. Examples include intumescent ‘pillows’
{used to provide internal sealing of trunking) and intumescent mastic.

Question 36

What should you do if you disturb fire-stopping
around a wiring system penetrating a wall or floor whilst carrying out work?

A: Nail a piece of wood over any gaps
B Ensure that the fire-stopping is reinstated to
the necessary standard as soon as possible
C: Highlight this on any certification
D: Fill any holes or gaps with squashed

Answer 36

Right Answer: B

It is essential that the integrity of fire
compartments is maintained during the
construction of buildings and on their completion. Compromising compartmentation, such as failing to adequately fire-stop (seal) openings for services to pass through, can undermine fire precautions
catastrophically. Only a limited range of products
are suitable and they must be correctly applied to provide the required degree of fire-stopping.

Question 37

If you discover a hole or gap in a fire rated wall or floor that has not been fire-stopped, what should you do?
A: Report it to your supervisor without delay
B: Ignore it unless it is causing a draught
C: Cover the hole or gap with insulating tape
D: Use decorators’ sealant to fill the gap

Answer 37

Right Answer: A

Supervisors need to be made aware of any
observed inadequacies in fire-stopping - which can undermine fire precautions catastrophically during the construction of buildings and on their completion. Only a limited range of products are suitable and they must be correctly applied to provide the required degree of fire-stopping.