identifying and dealing with hazards in the environment

Question 1

What must you do to control any work at heights?

Answer 1

Work must be planned, supervised, and carried out by competent people

Question 2

what are examples of working in heights?

Answer 2

• working on a ladder or flat roof
• falling through fragile surface
• could fall through an opening in the floor or a hole in the ground

Question 3

What is a competent person?

Answer 3

Someone who can demonstrate they have professional training, knowledge, actual experience, and authority to enable them to

Question 4

examples of a competent person?

Answer 4

• being assigned duties at a level of responsibility given to them
• understanding any potential hazards related to the work (or equipment) under consideration?
• detecting any technical defects or omissions at work (or equipment), recognizing any implications for H&S by those defects or omissions

Question 5

What equipment is allowed to be used at heights?

Answer 5

• stepladders
• ladder to reach other platforms or scaffolding
• mobile scaffolding towers
• mechanical elevating platform

Question 6

What to make sure before using a stepladder?

Answer 6

• are you fit to work at heights
• is the ladder in good condition

Question 7

What are the rules to follow when working on a ladder or stepladder?

Answer 7

• only stay in one position or a maximum of 30 minutes
• only attempt light work e.g. less than 10kg loads
• maintain three points of contact
• never overload or overreach
  avoid carrying items when climbing

Question 8

What are the main safety issues concerning ladders?

Answer 8

• ladders should never be painted as they might hide defects
• ladders should be placed at a 75-degree angle. This is approximately a 4:1 ratio
• ladders used to gain access to platforms should extend beyond platform 1.05m, or five lungs to allow for a hard hold
• only carry equipment or materials up a ladder if you can carry it in one hand

Question 9

Before the use of towers,what must you check first?

Answer 9

• Carry out a proper risk assessment
• you are competent to build, dismantle, and carry out a pre-use inspection, and keep records in accordance with the regulations

Question 10

What to do using a scaffold/mobile access towers

Answer 10

• never work on a platform without guardrails
• never work on an unprotected platform when building or dismantling
• always follow the manufacturer or supplier’s manual
• no manual means no tower
• anyone erecting a 3.5m scaffold tower, must be trained and competent when using such equipment

Question 11

What are scaffolds made to?

Answer 11

BS2482/70

Question 12

What are the traits a board must have before use?

Answer 12

• 4m long
• clean and straight
• free from decay and damage
• free from paint, dirt, and grease

Question 13

What are the other types of mobile equipment?

Answer 13

• scissors lift
• cherry picker
• boom lifts

Question 14

How long should a training record be maintained?

Answer 14

at least 4 years

Question 15

What are the two main inspections when using an aerial lift device?

Answer 15

• equipment inspection
• work site inspection

Question 16

Examples of equipment inspection?

Answer 16

• guardrails
• emergency stop buttons
  -tiers
• save guards and sensors

Question 17

Examples of work site inspection?

Answer 17

• weather conditions
• hazards that may create dangerous driving conditions
• the surface on which the lift will be worked on