Electrical Safety Flashcards
7 cards from real CSCS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Electrical Safety flashcards as text
Which type of power tool is safest to use in wet conditions or confined spaces where electrical shock risk is highest?
Answer: Battery-powered or pneumatic tools
Battery-powered and pneumatic tools eliminate the electrical shock hazard entirely, making them the safest option in wet or confined environments.
How often should portable electrical equipment on a construction site be checked?
Answer: Before each use by the operator and at formal intervals for PAT testing
A quick visual check before every use can identify obvious defects, while periodic formal PAT testing catches hidden faults that visual checks may miss.
What is the purpose of a 'permit to work' system in relation to electrical work on site?
Answer: To formally control high-risk electrical work and ensure equipment is safely isolated before work begins
A permit to work is a formal document that controls who may perform electrical work, specifies the work to be done, and confirms safe isolation, preventing accidental energization.
What does 'safe isolation' of an electrical circuit mean before maintenance work begins?
Answer: Switching off the supply, locking off the isolator, and confirming the circuit is dead with a voltage indicator
Safe isolation requires switching off, locking off (to prevent inadvertent re-energization), and proving dead with a calibrated voltage indicator before any work commences.
Under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, what is the employer's primary legal duty regarding electrical systems?
Answer: To ensure all electrical systems and equipment are constructed and maintained so as to prevent danger
Regulation 4 of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 requires that all electrical systems be constructed and maintained to prevent danger to any person.
What is the correct immediate action if you witness a colleague receiving an electric shock?
Answer: Do not touch them; switch off the power supply first, then call for emergency help
Touching someone who is still in contact with a live circuit can result in you also receiving a fatal shock; the supply must be isolated before any physical contact with the casualty.
How is a 'competent person' for electrical work on a construction site best described?
Answer: A person with sufficient training, knowledge, and experience to prevent danger from electrical hazards
Competence for electrical work requires a combination of appropriate formal training, relevant knowledge, and practical experience specific to the electrical tasks being undertaken.