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
What does a 'fire risk assessment' specifically require?
Answer: Identify fire hazards (ignition sources, fuel, oxygen), identify people at risk, evaluate and implement controls, record findings, and review — under fire safety regulations separate from the general risk assessment
Fire risk assessment under fire safety regulations follows the same five-step structure but focuses specifically on: identifying ignition sources, fuel types, and oxidants; identifying people at risk (especially in sleeping premises); evaluating fire prevention, detection, suppression, and evacuation systems; and recording and reviewing findings.
How should risk assessment address the hazards of scaffolding in Gulf construction?
Answer: Scaffold risk assessment must address: erection/dismantling hazards (falls, falling objects), design for loads, ground conditions, scaffold inspection regime, access, and weather exposure
Scaffolding risk assessments cover: competence of erectors and dismantlers (falls during erection), design loading capacity, anchorage and stability, weather exposure (high winds are especially dangerous in the Gulf), public/adjacent worker protection, regular inspection (before use, weekly, after adverse weather), and tag systems (green = safe to use, red = unsafe).
What risk controls are most effective for preventing manual handling injuries?
Answer: Mechanize or automate the task (eliminate manual handling), then redesign loads/layout (reduce risk), then provide training and instruction — PPE (back belts) is last and least effective
The hierarchy for manual handling: 1) Avoid manual handling entirely (mechanical aids — forklifts, pallet trucks, hoists), 2) Assess and reduce the risk (lighter loads, shorter carry distances, team lifting, ergonomic workstation design), 3) Train workers in safe technique. Back support belts have no proven benefit for prevention and are not a substitute for engineering controls.
What is the risk assessment implication of 'reasonably foreseeable' harm?
Answer: Employers must control risks from harm that a reasonable person would foresee as likely — they are not required to anticipate every conceivable but highly unlikely event
'Reasonably foreseeable' is the legal test for duty of care. Employers must assess and control hazards where harm could reasonably be anticipated, given the nature of the work and available information. Courts assess this against what a competent employer in the same field should have known and done.
How should a risk assessment address contractors on a shared worksite?
Answer: The main contractor must communicate site hazards to contractors; contractors must inform the main contractor of hazards their work introduces; interfaces between work activities must be coordinated
On shared worksites (construction, offshore, industrial facilities), the principal contractor must: conduct site induction for all contractors, share the site risk assessment findings, receive and review contractors' own risk assessments and method statements, coordinate overlapping activities, and maintain an integrated site safety management system.
What is the purpose of recording near-misses and unsafe conditions alongside accidents in the safety management system?
Answer: Near-misses and unsafe conditions reveal system failures before they cause injury — analyzing them enables prevention, not just reaction
Heinrich's triangle shows many near-misses occur for every serious injury. Organizations that capture and analyze near-miss and unsafe condition reports gain early warning of system failures, enabling proactive intervention. A culture where workers feel safe to report near-misses without blame is associated with significantly lower accident rates.