Health and Hygiene

Question 1

Exposure to asbestos fibres may cause which one of
the following?

A: Dermatitis
B: Asthma
C: Glandular fever
D: Asbestosis

Answer 1

Right Answer: D
Breathing in asbestos fibres can also lead to a number of other diseases, including lung cancer and mesothelioma

Question 2

Asbestos is suspected in the workplace, during
renovation do you:
A: Remove it
B: Paint it
C: Ignore it
D: Seek guidance immediately

Answer 2

Right Answer: D
Competent advice must be sought, to prevent exposure to the worker or others, either at the time, or subsequently.

Question 3

Which of the following statements about asbestos is
TRUE?
A: Asbestos is not really a hazard to health
B: White asbestos is safe to use
C: All asbestos can be a hazard to health
D: Only brown and blue asbestos are a hazardto health

Answer 3

Right Answer: C
All forms of asbestos can cause fatal diseases.

Question 4

While working you discover material you think could
be asbestos. What should you do?
A: Clear any dust and fragments, put them in a bin then carry on working
B: Inform the site nurse
C: Stop working immediately and report your suspicions to your supervisor
D: Dampen the material to prevent further dust being created, then carry on working

Answer 4

Right Answer: C
It is essential to stop work if asbestos is found or
suspected, and await competent advice on what to
do next.

Question 5

Can you tell by the smell of a product whether it is
likely to cause harm?
A: No
B: Only within an enclosed space
C: Yes
D: Only if you have been trained

Answer 5

Right Answer: A
Many harmful substances have no smell

Question 6

How would you recognise a hazardous substance?
A: By a symbol on the container
B: By its smell
C: The colour of the label on the container
D: It will be in a suitable container

Answer 6

Right Answer: A

A supplier of a packaged hazardous substance must
include a label on the packaging incorporating one
or more hazard symbols alerting users to the
dangers posed by the chemical.

Question 7

Which of the following does NOT cause skin
problems?
A: Bitumens
B Solvents
C: Asbestos
D Epoxy resins

Answer 7

Right Answer: C
Asbestos is potentially very harmful if inhaled, but
does not affect the skin significantly.

Question 8

When an assessment of hazardous substances has
been carried out under the COSHH Regulations, the
risks and control measures should be explained to:
A: The operatives using the substance
B: All employees on site
C: The accounts department
D: The person in charge of the stores

Answer 8

Right Answer: A
All those working with the hazardous substances in
question need to know about any risks.

Question 9

If your hands are very dirty, what should you use to
gel them clean?
A: White Spirit
B: Paraffin
C: Soap and water
D: Thinners

Answer 9

Right Answer: C
The other substances can remove natural oils from
the skin.

Question 10

The presence of rats on site creates a risk of catching
Weil’s disease. What is the EASIEST PRACTICAL
MEASURE that you can take to discourage the presence of rats?
A: Avoid leaving scraps of food lying about
B: Lay traps containing rat poison
C: Contact the local Environmental Health
Officer
D: Bring a large cat on site

Answer 10

Right Answer: A
The easiest solution is to avoid leaving food around,
since this is what attracts vermin.

Question 11

Why is personal hygiene so important?
A: So you don’t smell
B: Because the COSHH regulations require it
C: To protect your own and others’ health
D: To stop you catching something nasty

Answer 11

Right Answer: C

Question 12

If you have been handling lead, how is it most likely
to get into your blood stream?
A: By not wearing safely goggles
B: By not reporting the matter to the HSE
C: By not using the correct safety footwear
D: By not washing your hands before eating

Answer 12

Right Answer: D
The route into the body is ingestion, normally from
lead contamination on the hands.

Question 13

The number of toilets provided on site depends on:
A: The type of work being completed
B: The ratio of male and female workers on site
C: The duration of the work on site
D: The number of personnel on site

Answer 13

Right Answer: D

Guidance on the provision of welfare facilities is
given in HSE publication ‘Health and Safety in
Construction.

Question 14

Which of the following is not required to be provided
under the Construction (Design and Management)
Regulations?
A: Toilet Facilities
B: Washing Facilities
C: Hot Food
D Drinking Water

Answer 14

Right Answer: C

Guidance on the provision of welfare facilities as
required by CDM is given in HSE publication
‘Health and Safety in Construction‘.

Question 15

The extended use of powered hand-held tools and
equipment may lead to which medical condition?
A: Vibration white finger
B: Weil’s disease
C: Asbestosis
D: Dermatitis

Answer 15

Right Answer: A

Hand-arm vibration can cause a range of conditions
(including vibration white finger) collectively known
as hand-arm vibration syndrome, as well as
diseases such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

Question 16

What must your employer do if the daily personal
noise exposure is at or exceeds 85 db(A)?
A: Provide hearing protection to those
employees who ask for it
B: Issue hearing protection to those exposed
and ensure that it is worn
C: Tell employees to buy their own hearing
protection
D: Report it to the Health and Safety Executive

Answer 16

Right Answer: B
This is an interim measure under the Control of
Noise at Work Regulations 2005 when the daily
personal noise exposure is at or exceeds the upper
exposure action value of 85 dB(A). Exposure should
subsequently be reduced by implementing
organizational or technical measures.

Question 17

What are the lower and upper action values with
regard to daily personal noise exposure, as defined in
the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005?
A: 85 dB(A) and 9odB(A)
B: 80 dB(A) and 85 dB(A)
C: 70 dB(A) and 8odB(A)
D: 75 dB(A) and 85dB(A)

Answer 17

Right Answer: B

Daily personal noise exposure is the average noise
level experienced by an individual over an 8 hour
period.

Question 18

At or above what level of daily personal noise
exposure does an employer have to provide hearing
protection if it is requested by an employee?

A: go dB(A)
B: 95 dB(A)
C: 8o dB(A)
D: 85 dB(A)

Answer 18

Right Answer: C

This is one of the duties of employers under the
Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 when
the lower exposure action value of 8o dB(A) is
reached or exceeded.

Question 19

The effects of damage to your hearing by long-term
exposure to high noise levels:
A: Can be corrected by an operation
B: Are permanent
C: Will be reduced when you change jobs
D: Can be reversed to near normal, with time

Answer 19

Right Answer: B
Hearing damage due to long-term noise exposure is
irreversible.

Question 20

Hearing protection should be worn:
A: In designated areas
B In noisy internal areas only
C: At any workplace
D Only on building sites

Answer 20

Right Answer: A

Employees must wear hearing protectors when
exposed at or above the upper exposure action
values and within hearing protection zones.

Question 21

Wearing suitable hearing protection:
A: Stops you hearing distracting conversations
B Stops you hearing all noise
C: Brings noise down to an acceptable level
D Repairs damaged hearing

Answer 21

Right Answer: C

Hearing protection still allows some noise to reach
the ear, but, if it has been correctly chosen, will
reduce noise levels to an acceptable level.

Question 22

Which of the following is one of the recommended
means of protecting your hearing?
A: Rolled tissue paper
B: Cotton wool pads
C: Soft cloth pads
D: Ear defenders

Answer 22

Right Answer: D
The others are not considered to be suitable types
of hearing protection.

Question 23

Which of the following would not reduce the risks
from hand-arm vibration when using a hammer-
action tool?
A: Selecting the lowest vibration tool that is
suitable and which can do the work
efficiently
B:Wearing gloves to keep the hands warm
C:Working as a team to share the work out
D:Making sure one person does all the work
with the tool

Answer 23

Right Answer: D

Where tools require constant or frequent use, rotas
will avoid individuals having long exposure to
vibration. The use of low-vibration tools and
keeping the hands warm in cold conditions will also
reduce the risks.

Question 24

Which of the following animals can carry Weil’s
disease?
A: Snake
B: Sheep
C: Rat
D: Pig

Answer 24

Right Answer: C
Weil’s disease is a serious and sometimes fatal
infection that can be transmitted to humans by
contact with infected rats. Another form of
Leptospirosis infection can be transmitted from
cattle to humans.

Question 25

You are most likely to catch Weil’s disease
(Leptospirosis) if you
A: Work near wet ground, waterways or sewers
B: Work near air conditioning units
C: Fix showers or baths
D: Drink water from a standpipe

Answer 25

Right Answer: A

Anyone who is exposed to rat urine is at risk,
particularly sewer workers and farmers. Those in
contact with canal or river water are also at risk.

Question 26

What should you do if the toilets on your site are continually dirty?
A: Ignore the problem — its normal on a
construction site
B Make sure you tell someone who can sort it out
C: Find some cleaning materials and clean it up
yourself
D Ask in a nearby café or pub if you can use their toilets

Answer 26

Right Answer: B

How often welfare facilities on site require cleaning
will depend on the number of people on site and
how quickly they get dirty. The person in control of
the site should make sure someone is responsible
for keeping the facilities clean and tidy.

Question 27

Excessive sunlight on bare skin can cause which
serious health problem?
A: Dermatitis
B: Rickets
C: Acne
D: Skin cancer

Answer 27

Right Answer: D
Ultraviolet rays in sunlight can cause sunburn and
premature ageing of the skin. The most serious
effect, however, is an increased chance of
developing skin cancer.