Unit GC 2 – Controlling workplace hazards Element 1: Workplace hazards and risk control

Question 1

With regard to the UK’s Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations, identify the welfare issues that are addressed

Answer 1

• Sufficient toilets
• Washing facilities
• Eating and changing facilities
• Drinking water
• Clothing storage
• Seating
• Rest areas

Question 2

With regard to the UK’s Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations, identify the environmental and safety issues that are addressed

Answer 2

• Temperature (min 16°C)
• Ventilation
• Lighting
• Room dimensions
• Suitable work stations and seating
• Weather protection for outdoor workstations
• Condition of floors and traffic routes
• Falls or falling objects
• Windows, doors, gates and walls
• Skylights and ventilators
• Organisation of traffic routes
• Escalators and travelators

Question 3

List 6 factors to consider when assessing adequacy of lighting in the workplace

Answer 3

1. Availability of natural light
2. The need for task lighting
3. The specific processes
4. Type of lighting required (type, colour, intensity)
5. Emergency lighting requirements
6. Avoidance of glare and reflections

Question 4

The possible effects of working in Hot environments

Bakeries, foundries, laundries:

Answer 4

1. skin burns;
2. cataracts;
3. dehydration;
4. heat cramps;
5. headaches;
6. fainting

Question 5

The possible effects of working in Cold environments

Cold stores, fridges, working outside in winter:

Answer 5

Hypothermia; loss of concentration; shivering; frost bite

Question 6

Typical control measures to protect workers against extremes of temperature.

Answer 6

• Medical pre-selection to identify any pre-existing conditions
• Try to give workers time to acclimatise to conditions
• Limit time of exposure
• Provide suitable hot/cold drinks as appropriate
• Insulated clothing for cold conditions
• Try to reduce/increase the ambient/radiated heat

Question 7

Prevention of falling materials through safe stacking and storage

Answer 7

Stacks fall because of:

• Unsuitable ground conditions
• Stacking too high or unevenly
• Unsuitable racking (damaged , poor design or inadequate SWL)
• Impact from vehicles

Risk of falling stacks can be reduced by:

• Well designed and properly organised storage areas and adequate racking systems
• Regular inspection of racking systems and stacks
• Trained workers and safe systems of work (storage, stacking and picking)
• Replacing or repairing damaged pallets, cartons and other packaging

Question 8

Work activities that may put individuals at risk from violence

Answer 8

• Taxi drivers
• Hospitals
• Schools
• Cash transactions
• Delivery/collection of money

Question 9

Outline 6 measures to consider for the reduction of violence in public waiting areas

Answer 9

1. Improve layout, lighting, colours and design and introduce music
2. Posters informing of consequences of violence on staff
3. Prompt and professional service
4. Provision of information (displayed for reading)
5. Introduce things to do while waiting including TV screens
6. Proper queue management

Question 10

Effects of substance misuse on health and safety at work

Answer 10

• Risks to health and safety
• Impaired judgement and performance
• Unpredictable behavior
• Medical effects on individuals
• Possible security issues e,g, theft

Question 11

Identify 6 typical signs of alcohol and drug misuse

Answer 11

1. Sudden mood changes
2. Unusual irritability or aggression
3. Becoming confused
4. Unusually poor concentration
5. Impaired job performance
6. Poor time-keeping

Question 12

Control measures on substance misuse at work

Answer 12

• Introduce a policy on alcohol and drug misuse
• Raise awareness of the issues (may be part of induction)
• Train managers and supervisors on recognising signs
• Where relevant, encourage those with a problem to seek help
• Consider alcohol and drug screening and testing

Question 13

Common hazards to pedestrians caused by the workplace and the activities carried out there.

Answer 13

• Slips, trips and falls on the same level
• Falls from a height
• Collisions with moving vehicles
• Being struck by moving, flying or falling objects
• Striking against fixed or stationary objects.

Question 14

Common causes of slips and trips in the workplace.

Answer 14

Slips occur when there is loss of traction. This can be caused by:

• Polished or wet floors
• Loose floor coverings such as slips mats Spills of solids (granules) or liquids (oil)
• Unsuitable footwear
• Icy conditions
• Change of floor from dry to wet or vice versa.

Trips are caused by an obstruction. Typical causes include:

• Potholes or uneven flooring
• Change of level
• Debris and rubbish in walkway
• Trailing cables and hoses
• Loose carpets

Question 15

Identify factors that may increase the risks to pedestrians

Answer 15

• Slippery or damaged traffic routes
• Obstructions on traffic routes
• Speeding vehicles
• Poor segregation of pedestrians and vehicles
• Unsuitable footwear
• Inadequate lighting levels

Question 16

Common hazards associated with working above ground level

Answer 16

• Falls of people
• Falls of materials
• Working on fragile roofs
• Poor means of access
• Weather conditions particularly ice and wind
• Overhead obstructions
• Unprotected edges

Question 17

Hierarchy of controlling risk of falling

Answer 17

1 Avoid working at height
2 Prevent falls
3 Mitigate consequences

Question 18

Precautions to prevent falls of people or materials from height

Answer 18

• Proper planning and supervision of work and training of workers in safe methods of working
• Providing suitable and appropriate means of access/working platform
• Guardrails, fencing and toeboards
• Avoid adverse weather conditions
• Provide suitable means of moving materials, equipment and waste
• Fall arresting equipment
• Ensure good housekeeping to prevent slips and trips at height

Question 19

Scaffold – reasons for collapse

Answer 19

• Incorrect installation / alteration
• Overloading / uneven loading
• Poor ground conditions
• Adverse weather
• Vehicle collisions

Question 20

Outline 6 precautions necessary to ensure safe working from a scaffold

Answer 20

1. Correctly erected and inspected before use
2. Sole plates to prevent scaffold sinking
3. Guard rails and toe boards to prevent falls of people and materials
4. Correctly designed for loads and type of work
5. Safe means of access and egress
6. Correctly tied to building to prevent overturning

Question 21

Additional precautions necessary to ensure safe working from a mobile tower scaffold

Answer 21

Ensure that:

• Pre-use inspections are carried out
• Where appropriate, the wheels are locked before using the scaffold
• Any outriggers are fully deployed
• The scaffold is not moved whilst there are people or materials on it
• That there are no overhead obstructions

Question 22

Additional precautions necessary to ensure safe working from a mobile elevated working platform

Answer 22

Ensure that:

• The equipment is suitable for the task and in good mechanical condition
• Pre-use checks are carried out
• It has been examined within the last 6 months
• There are no overhead obstructions in the equipment’s working envelope
• The weather conditions are suitable for operation
• The operator should be competent and trained in the use of the equipment

Question 23

Outline 6 precautions necessary to ensure safe working from a ladder

Answer 23

1. 4:1 ratio (safe angle)
2. Tied top / bottom to prevent falling / slipping
3. Maintain 3 points of contact
4. Ensure ladder in good condition
5. Erect of firm / level ground
6. Consider weather and environmental conditions

Question 24

Inspection requirements for fixed scaffolds

Answer 24

A competent person should inspect the scaffold:

• Before first use
• Every 7 days and a formal report completed
• After any event that may have effected the stability of the scaffold

Question 25

Some of the common hazards from temporary works include:

Answer 25

Plant and machinery movement 
Hot works 
Demolition operations 
Excavations and ground work 
Pedestrian movement 
Health hazards such as noise, vibration, dust etc

Question 26

Common hazards associated with excavation work

Answer 26

• Falls of equipment, materials and persons into the excavation
• Collapse of the excavation
• Collapse of structures nearby
• Buried services
• Flood
• Hazardous substances (fumes and gases)
• Mechanical hazards

Question 27

Inspection requirements for excavations

Answer 27

Excavations should be inspected by a competent person:

• At the start of every shift
• After any event that may have affected the stability of the excavation
• After any accidental fall of earth, rock or material

Question 28

Common hazards associated with demolition work

Answer 28

The main hazards associated with demolition are:

Premature collapse; 
Falls and falling materials; 
Plant, vehicles and other equipment overturning; 
Manual handling; 
Dust and fume; 
Noise and vibration; 
Existence of services (including gas, electricity and water); 
Hazardous substances

Question 29

Repair work is to be carried out on a school. Identify control measures to reduce the risk to roof workers.

Answer 29

Start with the need for a risk assessment to be carried out to establish the condition of the roof and to check for fragile surfaces. You would then discuss safe means of safe access to the roof - maybe by scaffold.

The controls to prevent a fall would include safe system of work / method statement; use of roof ladders and crawling boards; edge protection with guard rails and toe boards; protection of fragile areas; provision for transporting tools and equipment to the roof; means for removal of waste; use of personal protective equipment (hard hats, gloves, safety footwear etc); employment of competent roof workers (training / experience / knowledge).

Question 30

Outline the measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of slips and trips.

Answer 30

• Use drip trays when working with liquids to prevent them from spilling on the floor, use lids and fill-lines on containers, and use screens to stop splashes and overspray when using hoses.
• Carry out cleaning activities after-hours to prevent exposure to wet floors, but if this is not possible restrict access to the area. Also, minimise the amount of people present in areas where contaminants are handled.
• Floors should be made of materials designed to reduce slipping. Only use cleaning equipment specifically designed for that material so you don’t wear down the anti-slip quality.
• Do not leave puddles behind, use the correct cleaning materials for the type of floor, and let floors air dry or use a dry mop to speed up drying time if you can’t prevent access to the area. Use wet floor signs.
• When people work with potential contaminants or in wet or dusty environments, they should wear proper non-slip footwear that is designed for the hazards specific to the work activities.
• Clean up spillages immediately (if it is a chemical spill that you are unable to handle, contact someone qualified immediately). Store liquids in cupboards, and report loose, damaged, and worn flooring or equipment.
• Use anti-slip tape, mats, covers, and grating to prevent areas of the premises from becoming slippery and posing a risk to workers, particularly entranceways and stairs.
• In colder seasons pathways become wet or icy, and there is less natural light. Pathways should be well lit, be cleared of leaves, snow, and ice regularly, and have good drainage in place.
• Poor or low lighting will prevent people from seeing hazards; ensure all walkways and rooms are properly lit with natural and/or artificial light.

Question 31

Outline the risks associates with working in or near excavations.

Answer 31

• The presence of buried services
• Falls of persons/equipment/material into excavation
• The collapse of sides of the excavation
• The collapse of adjacent structures
• Poor access and egress to the structure • sudden water ingress
• Digging into contaminated ground
• Poor air quality due to presence of hazardous substances
• Vibration created from work equipment/vehicles in use may lead to the collapse of the sides