PASMA Rescue and Emergency Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the abbreviation RIDDOR stand for?
- Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (Correct answer)
- Reporting of Industrial Diseases, Damages and Occurrences Regulations
- Recording of Incidents, Disasters and Dangerous Operations Regulations
- Regulations for Injuries, Dangers, Defects and Occupational Risks
Correct answer: Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations
RIDDOR stands for the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013, which govern mandatory incident reporting to the HSE.
Question 2: For how long must records of reportable incidents under RIDDOR 2013 be retained by an employer?
- 1 year from the date of the incident
- 10 years from the date of the entry
- 5 years from the date of the incident
- 3 years from the date of the entry (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 3 years from the date of the entry
Under RIDDOR 2013, records of all reportable incidents must be kept for a minimum of 3 years from the date the entry was made.
Question 3: What serious medical condition can occur when a person remains suspended motionless in a harness following a fall arrest?
- Decompression sickness
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Suspension trauma (orthostatic intolerance) (Correct answer)
- Hyperthermia
Correct answer: Suspension trauma (orthostatic intolerance)
Suspension trauma occurs when blood pools in the legs during motionless harness suspension, potentially causing unconsciousness or cardiac arrest within minutes.
Question 4: When first responding to a person who has fallen from a mobile access tower, which of the following actions should you NOT take?
- Call 999 or 112 for emergency services
- Move the casualty unless there is immediate danger to life (Correct answer)
- Make the area safe to prevent further accidents
- Provide verbal reassurance to the conscious casualty
Correct answer: Move the casualty unless there is immediate danger to life
A fallen casualty should not be moved unless there is an immediate threat to life, as movement could worsen potential spinal or neck injuries sustained during the fall.
Question 5: Who bears ultimate responsibility for ensuring a rescue plan is in place before work on a mobile access tower begins?
- The PASMA-trained tower operative
- The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
- The local authority building control officer
- The employer or person in control of the work (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The employer or person in control of the work
The employer or person in control of the work is ultimately responsible for ensuring an adequate rescue plan is established before work at height commences.
Question 6: A near-miss incident involving a mobile access tower should be treated in which of the following ways?
- Recorded and reported only if someone was actually injured
- Reported in accordance with company procedures regardless of whether anyone was hurt (Correct answer)
- Reported only if there is a likelihood of the near-miss recurring
- Kept confidential between those directly involved
Correct answer: Reported in accordance with company procedures regardless of whether anyone was hurt
All near-miss incidents must be reported following company procedures so that lessons can be learned and corrective action taken to prevent future accidents.
Question 7: What colour scheme identifies a standard first aid box in UK workplaces in accordance with BS 8599?
- Red with a white cross
- White with a red cross
- Yellow with a green cross
- Green with a white cross (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Green with a white cross
In UK workplaces, first aid boxes conforming to BS 8599 are green with a white cross, distinguishing them from other safety equipment containers.
PASMA Rescue and Emergency Procedures 2
What does the abbreviation RIDDOR stand for?