Risk Assessment and Method Statements Flashcards

Which statement about risk assessments for young persons (under 18) is correct?

Answer: Employers must specifically consider risks to young persons due to their lack of experience, immaturity, and physical development — the risk assessment must reflect these factors

Regulation 19 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 requires specific consideration of risks to young workers because they may lack experience, not fully understand risks, and may be physically less developed. Their risk assessment must address these specific vulnerabilities.

A risk assessment identifies that a task must only be carried out by trained workers. This is an example of which type of control?

Answer: Administrative control

Restricting a task to trained workers is an administrative control — it manages risk through procedures, rules, and training rather than by physically changing the work or environment. Administrative controls rely on human compliance.

Why is it important to involve workers in the risk assessment process?

Answer: Workers have practical knowledge of how tasks are actually performed, which improves the quality of the assessment and increases worker ownership of the controls

Workers who actually carry out the task have first-hand knowledge of how it is done, the practical hazards involved, and whether proposed controls are workable. This knowledge improves the quality of the assessment. Worker involvement also increases commitment to following controls.

A risk assessment for a demolition project must include assessment of which specific hazard?

Answer: Structural instability — the risk that the structure or parts of it may collapse unexpectedly during demolition

Structural instability during demolition is one of the highest-risk hazards. Removing structural elements can cause unexpected progressive collapse. A pre-demolition structural survey must inform the risk assessment and method statement for the demolition sequence.

What is the purpose of a 'risk register' on a construction project?

Answer: A document listing all identified risks, their assessment, control measures, and the responsible person — updated throughout the project

A risk register is a project management tool listing all identified risks, their likelihood and severity, current controls, residual risk level, and the person responsible for managing each risk. It is a live document updated as the project progresses.

A manager is reviewing a risk assessment completed by a subcontractor. The assessment uses generic, vague language such as 'take care' and 'use common sense'. This is:

Answer: Inadequate — risk assessments must specify actual controls, not vague aspirations, so that workers know exactly what to do

Vague language such as 'take care' or 'be careful' provides no actionable guidance to workers. Risk assessments must specify the actual controls to be implemented (e.g., 'erect edge protection before any work begins', 'use a MEWP rather than a ladder for this task').