ECS - Electrotechnical Certification Scheme Accident Reporting and First-Aid Questions and Answers

Question 1

An electrician falls from a stepladder, fracturing their arm.
They are taken to hospital and are unable to perform their normal work duties for 10 consecutive days.
Under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR), what is the employer's legal responsibility?

Accepted Answer

Report the incident to the HSE within 15 days of the incident occurring.

Answer

Record the incident in the accident book but no further action is required.

Answer

Report the incident to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) immediately by phone.

Answer

Only report the incident if the employee is off work for more than 30 days.

Question 2

You arrive at a scene where a colleague is in contact with a live electrical component and is unresponsive. What is the absolute first and most critical action you must take?

Accepted Answer

Safely isolate the power supply to the circuit.

Answer

Immediately start chest compressions on the casualty.

Answer

Check the casualty's airway and breathing.

Answer

Use a wooden broom handle to push the casualty away.

Question 3

According to the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981, which of the following is a key principle regarding the contents of a workplace first-aid kit?

Accepted Answer

The contents should be based on the findings of a workplace first-aid needs assessment.

Answer

The kit must contain a specified mandatory list of items published by the HSE.

Answer

Every first-aid kit must include a supply of antiseptic creams and painkillers.

Answer

The kit only needs to be restocked once per year during the annual safety audit.

Question 4

An electrician sustains a minor thermal burn on their hand from an overheating component. The skin is red and painful but not broken or blistered. What is the recommended immediate first-aid treatment?

Accepted Answer

Cool the burn under running cold or lukewarm water for at least 20 minutes.

Answer

Apply ice directly to the burn to cool it rapidly.

Answer

Apply antiseptic cream or butter to the affected area.

Answer

Cover the burn immediately with a large adhesive plaster.

Question 5

What is the primary legal purpose of an employer maintaining an accident book for a business with 15 employees?

Accepted Answer

To provide a legal record of work-related incidents for compliance and potential claims.

Answer

To track employee attendance and sick leave following an injury.

Answer

To determine which employee is at fault for an accident.

Answer

To act as the official report submitted directly to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Question 6

A small electrical contracting business is conducting its annual first-aid needs assessment. Which of the following factors is MOST critical for determining the level of first-aid provision for its site-based electricians?

Accepted Answer

The specific hazards of electrical work, such as shock, burns, and falls from height.

Answer

The brand of power tools used by the electricians.

Answer

The distance of the company's head office from the nearest hospital.

Answer

The average age of the electricians employed by the company.