Health and Safety
15 free practice questions with explanations
PassNova has 15 free Care Certificate practice questions on Health and Safety, each with a clear explanation. Practise them in the browser with instant feedback — 100% free, no sign-up, on any device. Updated for 2026.
Health and Safety: example questions & answers
15 worked examples with answers and explanations below. Practise them in the browser with instant feedback on every answer.
What does COSHH stand for?
- ACare Over Service Health Handbook—an internal guide to keeping records in a care setting
- BCommon Office Safety Handbook—general guidance on safety in office working environments
- CCaring On Safer Handling
- DControl of Substances Hazardous to Health—regulations for managing chemical hazards✓
Answer: COSHH regulations ensure hazardous substances are safely handled and stored.
What is manual handling in a care context?
- AA minor part of the care worker's role
- BOnly the moving of furniture and equipment, rather than anything that involves people themselves
- CLifting, moving, or supporting people and objects—must be done safely to prevent injury✓
- DOnly heavy objects
Answer: Safe manual handling protects both you and service users from injury.
A service user requests a move that you believe might injure you both. What should you do?
- ADo it anyway
- BRefuse without explanation
- CLet them move themselves
- DExplain the risk, assess safer alternatives, use equipment if available, or ask for assistance✓
Answer: Professional judgment about safe handling protects both you and service users.
What is the purpose of a risk assessment in a care setting?
- ATo identify potential hazards and plan how to control or eliminate them✓
- BSomething needed only where dangerous machinery is being used
- CTo scare people
- DAn optional exercise for care settings
Answer: Risk assessments guide safety measures and protective actions.
What should you do if you notice a safety hazard in your care setting?
- APut it right yourself and carry on without telling anybody about it
- BMention it to the colleagues on your shift but not to anybody else
- CReport it immediately to your supervisor and ensure it's recorded✓
- DIgnore it
Answer: Prompt reporting of hazards prevents accidents and protects everyone.
What is fire safety in a care setting?
- ASomething that applies to workplaces such as factories and warehouses, but not to care settings
- BKnowing procedures, evacuation routes, assembly points, and how to alert emergency services✓
- COnly for managers
- DA matter for the fire service alone
Answer: Fire safety knowledge can save lives. Regular drills ensure preparedness.
What should you do in case of fire?
- AStay where you are and try to put the fire out yourself before raising the alarm with anybody else in the building
- BLock all of the doors behind you afterwards, so that nobody at all is able to wander back into the building
- CCarry on with what you are doing and ignore the alarm until somebody confirms that it is not simply a drill
- DAlert occupants, evacuate safely following procedures, use assembly points, and call emergency services✓
Answer: Quick, orderly evacuation following procedures saves lives.
How should hazardous substances be stored in a care setting?
- AKept together in one large container so as to save space in the cleaning cupboard on each floor of the building
- BOn open shelves
- CAnywhere that staff find convenient to reach quickly while they are going about their work on the unit
- DSecurely labeled, in designated areas, inaccessible to service users, according to COSHH requirements✓
Answer: Proper storage prevents accidental poisoning or chemical injuries.
What is personal protective equipment (PPE) in a care setting?
- AOptional
- BEquipment of doubtful effectiveness
- CEquipment that is only needed for unusually dangerous work, not for everyday care
- DEquipment like gloves, aprons, masks worn to protect yourself and service users from infection✓
Answer: Appropriate PPE is essential for infection prevention and personal safety.
A service user refuses to allow you to follow health and safety procedures, claiming they're uncomfortable. What should you do?
- ADo it anyway without explaining
- BStop the activity
- CComply with their wishes
- DExplain the importance, discuss alternatives, but maintain safety standards—escalate if needed✓
Answer: Health and safety isn't negotiable, but explanation and respect for autonomy help gain cooperation.
What is the importance of incident reporting in a care setting?
- AOnly serious incidents are worth reporting, since the minor ones only create unnecessary paperwork
- BReporting incidents helps identify hazards, prevent future incidents, and protect everyone✓
- CIt's paperwork—not important
- DOnly report to management, and only once an incident has actually caused an injury needing treatment
Answer: Incident data guides safety improvements and protects the organisation legally.
What should you include in an incident report?
- AJust the outcome of the incident, since the detail can always be filled in later if needed
- BDate, time, people involved, what happened, injuries, actions taken, and witness names✓
- CYour own opinions about who was at fault and what you personally think should happen to them next
- DOnly if it's serious
Answer: Detailed, factual reports guide proper investigations and improvements.
How should you prevent back injuries during manual handling?
- AJust be careful
- BUse proper technique: bend knees, keep back straight, get help, use equipment when available✓
- CStretch before work
- DLift the load quickly in one smooth movement so that you spend as little time as possible under its weight
Answer: Correct technique prevents serious back injuries that could end careers.
What is the importance of health and safety training in care work?
- ALargely unnecessary, since most of the job is learned simply by watching your colleagues
- BIt is only needed once at the start of your employment, and never needs to be repeated afterwards
- CIt is only needed by new staff, since experienced workers will already know all the procedures
- DTraining ensures you know procedures and can protect yourself, colleagues, and service users✓
Answer: Regular training keeps safety knowledge current and creates a safety culture.
A colleague repeatedly bypasses safety procedures claiming they're too slow. What should you do?
- AAccept that shortcuts are a normal part of a busy shift and say nothing further about it
- BFollow their example, so that all of the work gets finished within the time available
- CChallenge the behaviour, report it to management, and explain why procedures matter✓
- DSay nothing
Answer: Safety shortcuts endanger everyone. Speaking up can prevent serious incidents.