CITB Working at Height 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What checks should be made on a safety harness before each use?
- Confirm it has a valid LOLER certificate only
- Inspect webbing for cuts and chemical damage; check buckles, D-rings, and stitching; ensure correct fit for the user (Correct answer)
- Ensure it is the correct colour for the site
- Check it was manufactured within the last 10 years
Correct answer: Inspect webbing for cuts and chemical damage; check buckles, D-rings, and stitching; ensure correct fit for the user
Pre-use inspection of a harness checks for physical damage to straps, hardware function, and correct fit — a harness that fails during a fall provides no protection.
Question 2: What does 'suspension trauma' mean in the context of fall arrest?
- Psychological distress caused by working at height
- A potentially fatal condition caused by immobility in a suspended harness after a fall, restricting blood flow to the heart (Correct answer)
- Injuries caused by the harness tightening on impact
- Trauma caused by fear of heights affecting work performance
Correct answer: A potentially fatal condition caused by immobility in a suspended harness after a fall, restricting blood flow to the heart
Suspension trauma (orthostatic intolerance) can develop within minutes of hanging motionless in a harness after arrest — it can cause unconsciousness and death, making fast rescue critical.
Question 3: Is there a maximum height for working from a standard step ladder without additional edge protection?
- 2 metres
- There is no fixed maximum — the risk assessment determines suitability for each task (Correct answer)
- 4 metres
- 1.2 metres
Correct answer: There is no fixed maximum — the risk assessment determines suitability for each task
There is no single height limit in legislation for step ladders — suitability depends on the risk assessment considering the task, duration, load, and stability for the specific job.
Question 4: Under LOLER 1998, how often must harnesses used as work at height equipment be thoroughly examined?
- Every 10 years by a competent person
- At least every 6 months where used to lift people, every 12 months otherwise, and after any incident affecting integrity (Correct answer)
- Only if they show visible damage
- Annually by the manufacturer
Correct answer: At least every 6 months where used to lift people, every 12 months otherwise, and after any incident affecting integrity
LOLER requires thorough examination of lifting equipment and accessories at defined intervals and after any exceptional circumstances such as a fall arrest event.
Question 5: Why is it important to calculate the free fall distance before using a fall arrest system?
- To determine the correct lanyard colour to use
- To ensure sufficient clearance below the worker for the lanyard and shock absorber to fully deploy without hitting a lower level (Correct answer)
- To comply with insurance policy requirements
- To calculate the maximum permitted working speed
Correct answer: To ensure sufficient clearance below the worker for the lanyard and shock absorber to fully deploy without hitting a lower level
Free fall distance determines how far the worker travels before arrest begins; combined with shock absorber extension and body stretch, the total fall distance must not exceed available clearance to the next level.
Question 6: Using a scaffold with guard rails rather than relying on a harness is an example of which level of the WAH hierarchy?
- Not required if the task is quick
- Preventing a fall through collective protection, which is a higher level of control than mitigating its consequences (Correct answer)
- Only relevant for work above 4 metres
- A commercial decision, not a safety requirement
Correct answer: Preventing a fall through collective protection, which is a higher level of control than mitigating its consequences
A scaffold with guard rails prevents falls from occurring; a harness and lanyard mitigates the consequences of a fall — prevention is higher in the hierarchy than mitigation.
CITB Working at Height 3
What checks should be made on a safety harness before each use?