CSCS Personal Protective Equipment 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which regulation primarily governs the use of PPE in the workplace in the UK?
- The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
- The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended 2022) (Correct answer)
- The Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015
- The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002
Correct answer: The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended 2022)
The PPE at Work Regulations 1992 (updated 2022) set out employers' and workers' duties regarding the provision and use of PPE.
Question 2: A site manager conducts a risk assessment and determines that PPE is needed. According to the hierarchy of controls, where does PPE sit?
- First line of defence — implement PPE before other controls
- As a supplement to engineering controls and administrative measures (Correct answer)
- As the only control needed if it is CE-marked
- Second only to elimination as a preferred control
Correct answer: As a supplement to engineering controls and administrative measures
PPE sits at the bottom of the hierarchy of controls and should only be used when hazards cannot be adequately controlled by other means.
Question 3: A worker with a beard wants to wear a tight-fitting respiratory facepiece. What is the issue?
- There is no issue — beards do not affect respirator performance
- Facial hair breaks the face seal, reducing protection significantly (Correct answer)
- Beards are prohibited on all UK construction sites for safety reasons
- Only full-face respirators are affected by facial hair, not half-masks
Correct answer: Facial hair breaks the face seal, reducing protection significantly
Facial hair along the seal line of a tight-fitting respirator prevents an adequate seal, allowing contaminated air to bypass the filter.
Question 4: What is the key difference between 'safety glasses' and 'safety goggles'?
- Safety glasses are stronger than goggles
- Goggles provide a sealed fit around the eyes protecting against liquid splashes and dust (Correct answer)
- Safety glasses protect against UV; goggles do not
- There is no practical difference between the two
Correct answer: Goggles provide a sealed fit around the eyes protecting against liquid splashes and dust
Safety goggles form a sealed barrier around the eye socket, providing protection against splashes and fine dust that can get around the sides of safety glasses.
Question 5: A new subcontractor arrives on site without any PPE. What should happen before they start work?
- They can start work in a low-risk area while PPE is arranged
- The site manager must issue appropriate PPE before allowing them to work (Correct answer)
- They should purchase PPE from the site welfare store immediately
- They should work only with an experienced buddy until PPE arrives
Correct answer: The site manager must issue appropriate PPE before allowing them to work
No worker should begin site activities without the required PPE; the site manager is responsible for ensuring PPE is issued before work starts.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes the purpose of anti-vibration gloves on a construction site?
- To improve grip on vibrating tools only
- To reduce the transmission of vibration to the hands and lower the risk of hand-arm vibration syndrome (Correct answer)
- To protect hands from cuts when using power tools
- To keep hands warm in cold weather when operating machinery
Correct answer: To reduce the transmission of vibration to the hands and lower the risk of hand-arm vibration syndrome
Anti-vibration gloves are designed to attenuate vibration transmitted to the hand and wrist, helping reduce the risk of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS).
Question 7: What action should be taken if PPE provided does not fit a worker correctly?
- The worker should adjust it themselves using available tools
- Inform the supervisor immediately and request a correctly fitting replacement (Correct answer)
- Use it anyway as some protection is better than none
- Modify the PPE to improve the fit
Correct answer: Inform the supervisor immediately and request a correctly fitting replacement
Ill-fitting PPE may not provide the required protection and the worker must notify their supervisor to obtain properly fitting equipment.
CSCS Personal Protective Equipment 5
Which regulation primarily governs the use of PPE in the workplace in the UK?