NEBOSH CC Construction Health Risk Management

Question 1

What is the most common type of occupational ill health in the UK construction industry?

Accepted Answer

Musculoskeletal disorders

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Eliminate, substitute, enclose, LEV, safe systems of work, then PPE as last resort

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Respirable crystalline silica causing silicosis; water suppression or on-tool extraction is most effective

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

To detect early signs of work-related ill health so that action can be taken to prevent progression

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Skin cancer (including melanoma); controls include scheduling work to avoid peak UV, providing shade, and covering exposed skin

Answer

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.

NEBOSH Construction Certificate Practice Test

NEBOSH Construction Certificate Practice Test

NEBOSH CC Construction Health Risk Management