CSCS Working at Height 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What training must a worker receive before using a harness and lanyard system?
- No training is needed if they have a CSCS card
- Specific training in the correct fitting, use, and inspection of the harness system (Correct answer)
- A one-hour online course is sufficient
- Training is only needed for supervisors
Correct answer: Specific training in the correct fitting, use, and inspection of the harness system
Workers must receive specific, practical training in the correct fitting, use, inspection, and limitations of harness and lanyard systems before use. This includes understanding anchor points, fall factors, and pre-use checks.
Question 2: What is the recommended inspection frequency for a safety harness?
- Every 12 months by a competent person, plus pre-use checks by the wearer (Correct answer)
- Once when purchased
- Every 5 years
- Only after a fall has occurred
Correct answer: Every 12 months by a competent person, plus pre-use checks by the wearer
Safety harnesses should undergo a detailed inspection by a competent person at least every 12 months, in addition to pre-use visual and tactile checks carried out by the wearer before each use.
Question 3: What is suspension trauma and why is it a concern in work at height?
- A fear of heights that prevents work
- A potentially fatal condition caused by prolonged suspension in a harness after a fall (Correct answer)
- A type of repetitive strain injury
- A psychological condition from working alone
Correct answer: A potentially fatal condition caused by prolonged suspension in a harness after a fall
Suspension trauma (orthostatic intolerance) occurs when a worker is suspended motionless in a harness after a fall. Blood pools in the legs, and if not rescued quickly (within 15-20 minutes), it can lead to renal failure and death.
Question 4: Under PUWER 1998, what must employers ensure regarding work equipment used at height?
- Equipment must be purchased from UK suppliers only
- Equipment must be suitable, maintained, inspected, and used only by trained persons (Correct answer)
- Equipment over 5 years old must be replaced
- Equipment must be tested by HSE annually
Correct answer: Equipment must be suitable, maintained, inspected, and used only by trained persons
PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998) requires employers to ensure work equipment is suitable for its intended use, properly maintained, inspected at regular intervals, and used only by persons who have received adequate training.
Question 5: What is the legal definition of 'work at height' under UK regulations?
- Working above 2 metres from the ground
- Working at any place from which a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury (Correct answer)
- Working on any scaffold or ladder
- Working above 3 metres indoors only
Correct answer: Working at any place from which a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury
Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, work at height means work in any place, including at or below ground level, from which a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury. This includes working near excavations or openings.
Question 6: What colour hard hat typically identifies a visitor on a UK construction site?
- Blue
- White (Correct answer)
- Yellow
- Orange
Correct answer: White
On most UK construction sites following the Build UK colour-coding scheme, white hard hats are typically worn by site managers and visitors. However, site-specific rules may vary, so always check the site induction requirements.
CSCS Working at Height 4
What training must a worker receive before using a harness and lanyard system?