NEBOSH CC Construction Health Risk Management — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the most common type of occupational ill health in the UK construction industry?
- Musculoskeletal disorders (Correct answer)
- Skin diseases
- Respiratory diseases
- Hearing loss
Correct answer: Musculoskeletal disorders
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the most common type of occupational ill health in construction, caused by manual handling of heavy materials, repetitive movements, awkward postures, and whole-body vibration. The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 require employers to avoid hazardous manual handling where reasonably practicable.
Question 2: Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), what is the hierarchy of control for managing exposure to hazardous substances?
- Eliminate, substitute, enclose, LEV, safe systems of work, then PPE as last resort (Correct answer)
- Provide PPE first, then consider other measures
- Train workers and rely on their vigilance
- Monitor exposure and treat any health effects
Correct answer: Eliminate, substitute, enclose, LEV, safe systems of work, then PPE as last resort
COSHH requires a hierarchy: first eliminate the substance; if not possible, substitute with a less hazardous alternative; then use engineering controls (enclosure, local exhaust ventilation); then administrative controls (safe systems of work, reduced exposure time); and finally PPE as a last resort. PPE should never be the primary control.
Question 3: A construction worker regularly cuts concrete blocks with a disc cutter. What is the primary health risk and what control measure is most effective?
- Respirable crystalline silica causing silicosis; water suppression or on-tool extraction is most effective (Correct answer)
- Noise exposure; ear plugs are most effective
- UV exposure; sunscreen is most effective
- Whole-body vibration; anti-vibration gloves are most effective
Correct answer: Respirable crystalline silica causing silicosis; water suppression or on-tool extraction is most effective
Cutting concrete generates respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust, which causes silicosis and is associated with lung cancer. Water suppression (wet cutting) or on-tool local exhaust ventilation (LEV) are the most effective controls as they capture dust at source. RPE should be used as additional protection, not as the primary control.
Question 4: What is the purpose of health surveillance under the COSHH Regulations?
- To detect early signs of work-related ill health so that action can be taken to prevent progression (Correct answer)
- To determine whether workers are fit for employment
- To monitor productivity levels
- To satisfy insurance requirements only
Correct answer: To detect early signs of work-related ill health so that action can be taken to prevent progression
Health surveillance aims to detect adverse health effects at an early, reversible stage. For construction workers, this may include lung function testing (for dust exposure), skin checks (for cement dermatitis), hearing tests (for noise exposure), and HAVS assessments. Results should feed back into risk assessment to improve controls.
Question 5: Construction workers are exposed to UV radiation from the sun. What is the long-term health risk and what controls should be implemented?
- Skin cancer (including melanoma); controls include scheduling work to avoid peak UV, providing shade, and covering exposed skin (Correct answer)
- Sunburn only with no long-term effects
- Vitamin D deficiency
- Eye strain from bright light only
Correct answer: Skin cancer (including melanoma); controls include scheduling work to avoid peak UV, providing shade, and covering exposed skin
Outdoor construction workers have significantly higher rates of skin cancer due to chronic UV exposure. Controls include scheduling outdoor work outside peak UV hours (11am-3pm), providing shade for break areas, wearing long-sleeved clothing and wide-brimmed hats, and applying sunscreen (minimum SPF 30). Awareness training about skin checks is also important.
Question 6: What is a Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL) and how is it used in construction health risk management?
- The maximum concentration of an airborne substance averaged over a reference period, above which exposure should not occur (Correct answer)
- The minimum temperature at which work should stop
- The maximum weight that can be manually handled
- The longest shift length permitted by law
Correct answer: The maximum concentration of an airborne substance averaged over a reference period, above which exposure should not occur
A WEL is the maximum concentration of an airborne substance (expressed in mg/m3 or ppm) to which workers may be exposed, averaged over either 8 hours (long-term) or 15 minutes (short-term). WELs are listed in EH40. Exposure must be reduced to as low as reasonably practicable, and in any case must not exceed the WEL.
NEBOSH CC Construction Health Risk Management
What is the most common type of occupational ill health in the UK construction industry?