Sample Questions December 2002- Paper 2

1) An employee is to use a petrol driven chainsaw to fell a tree from ground level.

i) Outline the hazards faced by the employee in carrying out this task. (10) ii) List FIVE items of personal protective equipment that should be provided to, and used by, the employee. (5) iii) Outline control measures other than personal protective equipment that would be necessary to ensure the health and safety of the chainsaw operator and other persons involved in the operation. (5)

Model Answer
1) An employee is to use a petrol driven chainsaw to fell a tree from ground level. i) Outline the hazards faced by the employee in carrying out this task. (10)

Hazards associated with this task includes:

contact with moving parts of the chainsaw (the chain in particular); exposure to fumes and dust; manual handling hazards; noise and vibration; ejected particles and fragments; falling objects (ultimately, the tree itself); fire and explosion hazards from the fuel hot parts of the chainsaw, uneven and/or wet ground, the use of lubricating oils and exposure to sunlight.

Model Answer
1) An employee is to use a petrol driven chainsaw to fell a tree from ground level. ii) List FIVE items of personal protective equipment that should be provided to, and used by, the employee. (5)
Head Protection such as hard hat against falling objects Hand Protection such as appropriate gloves against sharp objects and chemical substances used by petrol-driven chainsaw. Face or Eyes Protection against ejected particles and fragments Respiratory Protection against fumes and dust Ear Protection such earmuffs or ear plugs against noise Foot protection such as safety shoes and/or sturdy shoes.

Model Answer
1) An employee is to use a petrol driven chainsaw to fell a tree from ground level. iii) Outline control measures other than personal protective equipment that would be necessary to ensure the health and safety of the chainsaw operator and other persons involved in the operation. (5) Ranges of suitable control measures might include: proper planning of the job; placing barriers and warning signs to restrict access to the felling area; ensuring that the chainsaw is suitable for the task, that the guard is always in place and that the equipment is properly maintained; using only certificated operators; providing information, instruction and training for the job in hand; ensuring adequate supervision to check that procedures (relating to safe felling methods, refuelling, exclusion zones, etc) are followed; and introducing a system of health surveillance (eg to look for signs of hearing loss and/or hand-arm vibration syndrome).

Sample Questions December 2002

2) Outline the means by which the risk of accidents from reversing vehicles within a workplace can be reduced. (8)

Model Answer
Avoiding the need for vehicles to reverse (one-way and `drive-through' systems, turning circles, etc), The separation of vehicles and pedestrians (barriers, signs, etc) and Aspects of vehicle and workplace design (audible alarms, mirrors on vehicles and at blind corners, refuges, lighting, etc), To procedural measures (use of banksmen, site rules, driver training, etc). The drawing up and enforcement of site rules The wearing of high visibility clothing, A good standard of housekeeping, Training for, and Supervision of, all concerned.

Sample Questions and Model Answers Dec 2002

3) (a) Identify: (i) TWO mechanical hazards associated with moving parts of machinery. (2) Mechanical hazards (ie those from moving parts of machinery and/or the material being worked) include impact, entanglement, crushing, shearing, ejection, cutting and abrasion. (ii) TWO non-mechanical hazards to which a machine operator may be exposed. (2) Non- mechanical machinery hazards includes noise, vibration, electricity, hazardous substances, radiation, extremes of temperature and ergonomic issues.

Sample Questions and Model Answers Dec 2002

3) (b) Outline a hierarchy of control measures that may be used to reduce the risk of injury from dangerous parts of machinery. (4)

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and the requirements of Regulation 11 referred to;

fixed guards, other types of guards or protective devices, safety aids such as jigs, holders and push sticks, and the provision of information, instruction, training and supervision

Sample Questions and Model Answers Dec 2002

4) In relation to electrical safety, explain the meaning of the following terms: (i) isolation
(2)

Refers to shutting off the electrical supply to an item of equipment or part of an electrical system and preventing inadvertent reconnection in order, for instance, to carry out maintenance work (ii) earthing (2) Is a means whereby electrical equipment and conductive items are connected to earth by a cable or metal pipework such that the route to earth provides the path of least resistance to a current flowing under fault conditions. (iii) reduced low voltage (2) Commonly used on construction sites, involves the reduction of mains voltage by a transformer to a lower, safer voltage - typically 110 or 55 volts (iv) overcurrent protection (2) Is a method of preventing the flow of excess current by cutting the supply under fault conditions by means of a fuse or circuit breaker.

Sample Questions and Model Answers Dec 2002

5) Outline the precautions to ensure the health and safety of persons engaged in paint spraying in a motor vehicle repair workshop. (8) Segregation of the activity, typically by means of a spray booth fitted with local exhaust ventilation and Protected electrical equipment; Suitable storage and fire precautions for flammable paints and solvents; The provision and use of personal protective equipment (clothing, respiratory protection, etc); Monitoring employees' exposures to airborne substances; Ensuring the examination and maintenance of control measures; Providing appropriate training to employees; and Maintaining welfare and hygiene facilities.

Sample Questions and Model Answer Dec. 2002

6) An employee is engaged in general cleaning activities in a large veterinary practice. (i) Identify FOUR possible hazards the cleaner could encounter when undertaking this activity. (4) Hazards specifically relating to cleaners such as cleaning fluids, manual handling, slips/trips/falls and sharp objects and those associated with the working environment such as biological hazards, contact with animals and those arising from the use of specialised equipment. (ii) Outline the precautions that could be taken to minimise the risk of harm from these hazards. (4) the provision and use of personal protective equipment (including overalls and gloves), the use of suitably maintained and tested equipment, ensuring the adherence to procedures for the handling and disposal of sharps, the need for animals to be kept in secure enclosures, and the possible need for immunisation against diseases known to be transmitted by animals.

Sample Questions and Model Answer Dec. 2002

7) (a) State the primary effect on the body of the following types of hazardous substance: (i) irritant (1) cause inflammation on contact with the skin, eyes or mucous membranes (ii) corrosive (1) cause the destruction of living tissue at the point of contact - for example, the skin, respiratory tract or digestive tract (iii) toxic (1) have a poisonous effect on body organs or systems, affecting normal metabolic functions (iv) carcinogenic. (1) have the ability to alter the genetic material in living cells and to cause cancer

Sample Questions and Model Answer Dec 2002

7) (b) Describe the differences between acute and chronic health effects. (4) Acute health effects appear after a single or short term exposure, usually with a rapid or immediate response, whereas;

Chronic effects are normally produced following prolonged or repeated exposures to an agent, appear gradually, may go unrecognised for long periods of time and may be progressive even without further exposure.

Sample Questions and Model Answer Dec 2002

8) Outline the precautions to be taken when using a mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) to reach a high point such as a streetlight. (8) the need to inspect the equipment before use and to ensure it is in a good state of repair; using only competent workers; using outriggers and brakes; erecting warning signs and barriers to avoid collisions; ensuring the platform is not overloaded; avoiding overhead obstructions; wearing a harness, the protection of those at ground level,

Sample Questions and Model Answer Dec 2002

9) In relation to work related upper limb disorders (WRULDs): (i) Identify the typical symptoms that might be experienced by affected individuals (4) Typical symptoms such as pain to the back, neck, shoulders and/or arms, swollen joints, reduced mobility and stiffness, cramps and muscle fatigue. Typically, such conditions will affect sleep and normal functioning (ii) Outline the factors that would increase the risk of developing WRULDs. (4) workstation layout, the failure to provide sufficient breaks from the task, space constraints resulting in poor working postures, excessive force or awkward hand movements needed to carry out an operation, the frequency with which tasks need to be repeated, the use of vibrating tools and equipment, the involvement of vulnerable workers such as those with pre-existing medical conditions and pregnant women.

Sample Questions and Model Answer Dec 2002

10) (a) Explain the following terms in relation to noise exposure at work: (i) noise-induced hearing loss (2) is normally caused by prolonged exposure to high noise levels causing damage to the hair cells of the inner ear and leading to a permanent threshold shift at particular frequencies, which worsens with continued exposure both in terms of the extent of the threshold shift and of the frequencies affected (ii) 'tinnitus (2) Tinnitus, on the other hand, is typified by a ringing or similar sound in the ears caused by overstimulation of the hair cells. It can be acute or chronic, permanent or intermittent (b) Identify FOUR limitations of personal hearing protection as a means of protecting against the effects of noise. (4) The main limitations of hearing protection, identified in terms of poor fit, resistance to use, comfort factors, incompatibility with other protective equipment, costly in terms of replacement and maintenance, interference with communication, hygiene problems and the need for constant supervision.

Sample Questions and Model Answer Dec 2002

11) List EIGHT ways of reducing the risk of a fire starting in a workplace. (8) control of smoking and smoking materials, good housekeeping to prevent the accumulation of waste paper and other combustible materials, regular lubrication of machinery, frequent inspection of electrical equipment for damage, ensuring ventilation outlets on equipment are not obstructed, controlling hot work, the provision of proper storage facilities for flammable liquids and the segregation of incompatible chemicals and implementing security measures to reduce the risk of arson.

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