Risk Assessment Flashcards
6 cards from real NEBOSH practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Risk Assessment flashcards as text
How are 'likelihood' and 'consequence' typically scored in a 5×5 risk matrix?
Answer: Likelihood 1–5 (rare to almost certain) × Consequence 1–5 (negligible to catastrophic) = Risk score 1–25, with thresholds defining low/medium/high/critical risk bands
A 5×5 risk matrix uses: Likelihood from 1 (rare) to 5 (almost certain) and Consequence from 1 (negligible — first aid only) to 5 (catastrophic — multiple fatalities). Risk score = L × C. Typical banding: 1–5 = low (green), 6–12 = medium (amber), 15–25 = high/critical (red) requiring immediate action.
What is the difference between a 'risk assessment' and a 'job hazard analysis' (JHA)?
Answer: A risk assessment covers a workplace or activity broadly; a JHA (also called job safety analysis/JSA) is a detailed step-by-step breakdown of a specific task identifying hazards at each step
Risk assessments evaluate hazards for a work activity or location at a summary level. JHA/JSA breaks a specific task into sequential steps, identifies hazards at each step, assesses the risk, and prescribes controls for each step. JHAs are widely used in the Gulf oil/gas and construction sectors for task-level safety planning.
What is the purpose of 'sensitivity analysis' in quantitative risk assessment?
Answer: To test how much the risk estimate changes when key assumptions or input parameters are varied — identifying which factors most influence the result
In QRA, sensitivity analysis identifies which input assumptions (failure rates, consequence magnitudes, weather patterns for dispersion) most influence the overall risk estimate. This directs attention to where uncertainty is greatest and where additional data collection or controls will most improve confidence in the assessment.
When should a hot work permit be issued?
Answer: Before any work producing flames, sparks, or heat sufficient to ignite flammable materials — welding, cutting, grinding, brazing, in any area where flammable materials may be present
Hot work permits are required whenever flames, sparks, or heat-generating tools are used in areas where flammable/combustible materials are present or may accumulate. The permit confirms: fire watch assigned, flammable materials removed/protected, fire suppression available, area checked post-work. Hot work is a major cause of construction fires in the Gulf.
What information should be communicated to workers as a result of a risk assessment?
Answer: Hazards identified, risks they face, control measures required, their specific responsibilities, what to do in an emergency, and how to report concerns
Workers have a legal and practical right to know about risks to their health and safety. Effective communication of risk assessment outcomes includes: identified hazards, risk levels, required controls, workers' own duties (PPE use, following procedures), emergency arrangements, and how to report additional hazards. This information must be in a comprehensible form.
What is the purpose of 'pre-task' meetings (toolbox talks) in the Gulf construction industry?
Answer: To communicate daily hazards and task-specific safety requirements to the work crew before work begins — reinforcing risk assessment findings at the point of work
Daily toolbox talks translate risk assessment and method statement requirements into practical, task-specific safety communications at the start of each shift. They address the day's specific activities, weather conditions, new hazards, and near-miss learnings. In the Gulf construction industry, they are a core safety culture activity and increasingly mandated by clients and regulators.