Risk Management

What is the first step in the risk assessment process?

• AReview and audit
• BDocument the risk
• CIdentify hazards✓
• DImplement control measures

Answer: The first step in risk assessment is to identify all hazards present in the workplace. This forms the foundation for evaluating risks and implementing controls.

What does the term 'hazard' mean in health and safety?

• AThe chance of harm occurring
• BAnything with the potential to cause harm✓
• CA harmful substance only
• DAn accident that has already happened

Answer: A hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm. This includes substances, equipment, work practices, and environmental conditions. Risk is the likelihood and consequence of harm occurring.

What is 'risk' in the context of health and safety?

• AA hazard itself
• BThe likelihood and severity of harm from a hazard✓
• COnly financial loss
• DOnly injuries serious enough to keep a worker off site for more than seven consecutive days

Answer: Risk is the likelihood of a hazard causing harm combined with the severity of that harm. Risk = Probability x Consequence.

What is the 'hierarchy of control' in risk management?

• AWarning signs, training, documentation only
• BElimination, substitution, engineering controls, safe systems, PPE✓
• CPPE, safe systems, engineering controls, substitution, elimination
• DRelying on personal protective equipment first and adding other controls only if it proves inadequate

Answer: The hierarchy of control prioritizes: 1) Elimination (remove hazard), 2) Substitution (replace with safer option), 3) Engineering controls (design out risk), 4) Safe systems of work, 5) PPE (last resort).

What is the purpose of a 'Safe System of Work'?

• ATo remove every conceivable risk from the task entirely before any work is allowed to begin on site
• BTo establish safe procedures for carrying out a task, including sequence, timing, and PPE✓
• CTo reduce productivity
• DTo provide entertainment during work

Answer: A Safe System of Work is a formal documented procedure that defines how a task should be performed safely, including the sequence of operations, timing, equipment, and controls needed.

What is a 'permit to work' system?

• AA document for employees to sign
• BA formal authorization system for high-risk activities to ensure all precautions are in place before work starts✓
• CPermission for employees to take holidays
• DAn insurance certificate

Answer: A permit to work is a formal system used to authorize and control high-risk activities (e.g., hot works, confined spaces, excavations) to ensure all necessary precautions are identified and in place.

When should 'dynamic risk assessment' be carried out?

• AContinuously throughout the work to manage changing conditions and emerging hazards✓
• BRequired only where a written risk assessment and method statement have not already been approved for the task
• COnly by external consultants
• DOnly once per year

Answer: Dynamic risk assessment is an ongoing process during work to identify and manage hazards that emerge due to changing conditions, unexpected situations, or new information.

What information should be recorded in a risk assessment?

• AOnly the cost of the control measures and the day rate of the operatives who will be carrying out the work on site each day
• BOnly the hazards found
• COnly the control measures selected, because listing the hazards separately would simply duplicate the method statement
• DHazards identified, who is at risk, existing controls, residual risk, and persons responsible for implementation✓

Answer: A documented risk assessment should include: hazards identified, who is at risk, existing and proposed control measures, residual risk level, and responsibility for implementation.

What is 'competence' in the context of health and safety risk management?

• ABeing able to work quickly enough to keep the job on programme, regardless of training or experience
• BBeing on good terms with colleagues so that they raise concerns with you rather than with the site supervisor
• CHolding a management position and the authority to sign off method statements on behalf of the contractor
• DHaving sufficient training, knowledge, and experience to perform a task safely and competently✓

Answer: Competence means having the necessary training, knowledge, experience, and skills to perform tasks safely and correctly. Competent persons are often required by law for specific tasks.

What should be included in the risk assessment review process?

• ALeave risk assessments unchanged
• BOnly review annually
• COnly management can review
• DReview when significant changes occur, periodically, and when new information emerges✓

Answer: Risk assessments must be reviewed when: work practices change, new hazards emerge, control measures prove ineffective, or significant periods pass. Periodic review ensures continued effectiveness.

What is 'competency' versus 'competence' in safety management?

• AThey are the same
• BOnly competence matters
• COnly competency matters, since a person holding the right certificate will always apply it correctly in practice
• DCompetency is the ability; competence is the application of that ability in practice✓

Answer: Competency refers to the skills, knowledge, and attributes a person possesses. Competence refers to the demonstrated application of competency in actual work situations.

How should the 'residual risk' be handled after implementing control measures?

• ATreated as eliminated once the chosen control measures have been signed off by the site manager
• BLeft out of the assessment, because the original risk rating already allows for the controls that will be used
• CRecorded on the assessment form for information only, with no further action required by the site team
• DMonitored and managed; additional controls added if residual risk remains unacceptable✓

Answer: Even after implementing controls, some residual risk may remain. This must be continuously monitored. If residual risk is unacceptable, further controls must be implemented.

What is 'ALARP' in risk management?

• AA type of training
• BA type of hazard
• CAn abbreviation for a control measure used when planning lifting operations on a construction site
• DAs Low As Reasonably Practicable—the level to which risks should be reduced✓

Answer: ALARP (As Low As Reasonably Practicable) is the legal principle that risks must be reduced to the lowest level that is practical and reasonable, considering costs and benefits.

What should a 'method statement' contain for construction work?

• ADescription of work, sequence, hazards, controls, resources, timescale, and responsible persons✓
• BOnly the cost estimate
• COnly safety issues
• DOnly the team roster

Answer: A method statement details: what work will be done, how it will be done, the sequence of operations, hazards, control measures, resources, timescale, and responsible persons.

What is a 'near miss' and why is it important?

• AA minor injury that is treated from the site first aid box and so does not need to be recorded anywhere
• BAn accident that damaged plant or materials but happened to injure nobody, so no record needs to be kept
• CA trivial event that should be ignored
• DAn event that almost caused harm but did not; important for learning and preventing future incidents✓

Answer: A near miss is an event that could have caused harm but didn't. Investigating near misses is valuable for identifying hazards and preventing future incidents.

How should risk be prioritized when multiple hazards are identified?

• ABy the cost of the control measures, dealing with the cheapest hazards to eliminate first
• BBy dealing first with the hazards whose controls are quickest to put in place, so the list is cleared sooner
• CIn the order the hazards were written down during the initial site walk round
• DBased on likelihood and severity; highest risk hazards addressed first✓

Answer: Hazards should be prioritized by risk rating (likelihood x severity). High-risk hazards are addressed first. This ensures resources focus on the most significant risks.

What is 'supervision' in the context of safe systems of work?

• ADispensed with for skilled workers who hold a current CSCS card and have worked on the site before
• BManagement of workers by competent persons to ensure compliance with safe procedures✓
• COnly for new employees
• DUnnecessary where written procedures have been issued and signed for by every member of the gang

Answer: Supervision involves competent persons overseeing work to ensure it is carried out according to safe systems of work, that workers are competent, and hazards are managed.

What should be done when new equipment or substances are introduced to the workplace?

• ACarry on, assuming it is safe
• BConduct new risk assessment, review safe systems of work, and provide training to users✓
• COnly inform management
• DWait for an accident then respond

Answer: New equipment or substances require new or revised risk assessments, updated safe systems of work, and user training to identify and manage new hazards.

What is the purpose of 'toolbox talks' in construction?

• ATo give the team a short social break part way through the shift so that morale stays high on long contracts
• BTo discuss programme progress, bonus payments and material deliveries with the gang before the shift starts
• CTo distribute tools
• DTo provide short safety briefings to teams about specific hazards and controls for the day's work✓

Answer: Toolbox talks are informal, brief safety briefings given to work teams to address specific hazards, controls, and safe practices relevant to the day's work.

Who should be involved in the risk assessment process?

• AManagers, supervisors, workers, and relevant specialists to capture all perspectives✓
• BOnly the site management team, since workers do not have the technical knowledge to contribute usefully
• COnly the health and safety manager, who signs the assessment on behalf of everyone doing the work
• DOnly an external consultant appointed by the client, so that the assessment is seen to be independent

Answer: Effective risk assessments include input from managers, supervisors, workers doing the tasks, and specialists. This ensures hazards are thoroughly identified and controls are practical.