Personal Protective Equipment Flashcards
6 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 6 Personal Protective Equipment flashcards as text
What is the purpose of a safety harness inspection regime?
Answer: To identify wear, damage, or deterioration that could cause the harness to fail during a fall
Regular inspection of safety harnesses identifies stitching damage, webbing abrasion, buckle defects, and other deterioration that could cause failure during a fall. Pre-use checks and formal periodic inspections are both required.
What is the shelf life of an unopened dust mask (FFP type)?
Answer: Typically 3-5 years from manufacture — check the expiry date on the packaging
Disposable FFP masks have a shelf life typically of 3-5 years from manufacture when stored correctly in original sealed packaging. The expiry date is printed on the packaging. After expiry, the filter media may degrade.
Can an employer charge workers for PPE required for their job?
Answer: No — PPE required by risk assessment must be provided free of charge
Under the PPE at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended 2022), employers must provide PPE free of charge to all workers, including agency and temporary workers. This was extended in 2022 to cover all limb (b) workers.
What is the purpose of a PPE compatibility assessment?
Answer: To ensure that multiple items of PPE can be worn together without reducing the protection of any item
When workers need to wear multiple items of PPE simultaneously (e.g., hard hat, ear defenders, and safety glasses), a compatibility assessment ensures they can all be worn together without reducing the effectiveness of any item.
What action should be taken with PPE after exposure to a hazardous substance?
Answer: Decontaminate or dispose of it according to the manufacturer's instructions and COSHH assessment
PPE contaminated with hazardous substances must be decontaminated following the manufacturer's instructions and COSHH assessment, or safely disposed of as hazardous waste if decontamination is not possible.
Under the PPE at Work Regulations, what must an employer do if PPE fails to provide adequate protection?
Answer: Investigate the failure, review the risk assessment, and provide alternative protection immediately
If PPE fails to provide adequate protection, the employer must immediately investigate the cause, review the risk assessment, and provide effective alternative protection. Work should not continue with inadequate PPE.