CITB Working at Height Safety 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Who is permitted to erect, alter, or dismantle a scaffold on a construction site?
- Any experienced operative on site
- Only a competent person who has received appropriate training (Correct answer)
- The site manager or their deputy
- Any person wearing a safety harness
Correct answer: Only a competent person who has received appropriate training
Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, scaffolding must only be erected, altered, or dismantled by competent persons who have received adequate training, such as a CISRS card holder. Using untrained persons creates serious fall risks.
Question 2: What is the maximum height at which a stepladder should normally be used for work?
- Any height as long as it feels stable
- Where you can maintain three points of contact and the task is short duration (Correct answer)
- Up to 10 metres with a spotter
- Only at ground level
Correct answer: Where you can maintain three points of contact and the task is short duration
Stepladders should only be used for short-duration, light work where you can maintain three points of contact. They are not suitable for heavy or prolonged tasks. HSE guidance states they should be a last resort when other safer equipment is not practicable.
Question 3: What should be fitted to the base of a ladder to prevent it slipping on a hard surface?
- Bricks or blocks under each leg
- Anti-slip rubber feet or a proprietary ladder mat (Correct answer)
- Rags wrapped around the feet
- Nothing, if someone is footing the ladder
Correct answer: Anti-slip rubber feet or a proprietary ladder mat
Ladders used on hard, smooth surfaces should have anti-slip rubber feet in good condition or be placed on a proprietary ladder stability device. Improvised methods such as rags or loose blocks are unreliable and unsafe.
Question 4: When using a harness and lanyard for fall arrest, what is the maximum free-fall distance permitted?
- 4 metres
- 6 metres
- 2 metres (Correct answer)
- 1 metre
Correct answer: 2 metres
The maximum permissible free-fall distance when using a fall-arrest harness and lanyard is 2 metres under UK regulations. This limits the impact forces on the body. Lanyards must be short enough, or incorporate a shock absorber, to achieve this.
Question 5: What is the minimum width for a scaffold working platform?
- 400mm
- 600mm (Correct answer)
- 450mm
- 800mm
Correct answer: 600mm
The minimum width for a scaffold working platform is 600mm (3 boards wide). However, for general construction work, platforms are typically wider to allow safe movement and storage of materials. The exact requirement depends on the intended use.
Question 6: What does a 'rescue plan' require when working at height with harnesses?
- A plan to call 999 if someone falls
- A pre-arranged method to rescue a suspended worker promptly to avoid suspension trauma (Correct answer)
- A first aid kit at the base of the structure
- Insurance documentation for all workers
Correct answer: A pre-arranged method to rescue a suspended worker promptly to avoid suspension trauma
When fall-arrest harnesses are used, a rescue plan must be in place before work begins. If a worker falls and is left suspended in a harness, suspension trauma (orthostatic intolerance) can develop within minutes and can be fatal. Prompt rescue is essential.
CITB Working at Height Safety 2
Who is permitted to erect, alter, or dismantle a scaffold on a construction site?