Safe Pass Hazard Identification on Sites 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the main hazard associated with excavation work?
- Collapse of trench walls burying workers (Correct answer)
- Excessive sunshine
- Paper cuts from plans
- Noise from office phones
Correct answer: Collapse of trench walls burying workers
The primary hazard in excavation work is the collapse of unsupported trench walls, which can bury workers and cause suffocation or crushing injuries.
Question 2: What hazard is associated with silica dust on construction sites?
- Silicosis — a serious lung disease (Correct answer)
- Skin rash only
- Temporary headache
- Eye colour change
Correct answer: Silicosis — a serious lung disease
Inhaling respirable crystalline silica dust, generated from cutting or drilling concrete, stone, or brick, can cause silicosis, a serious and irreversible lung disease.
Question 3: What is a safe system of work?
- A formal procedure resulting from systematic examination of a task to identify all hazards (Correct answer)
- Working without any supervision
- Using the fastest method available
- Completing work before the deadline regardless of conditions
Correct answer: A formal procedure resulting from systematic examination of a task to identify all hazards
A safe system of work is a formal procedure developed from systematic examination of a task to identify all hazards and define safe methods of work.
Question 4: What should be done if a new hazard is identified during construction work?
- Stop work, report it, assess the risk, and implement controls before resuming (Correct answer)
- Ignore it and continue working
- Wait until the end of the shift to report it
- Only report it if someone is injured
Correct answer: Stop work, report it, assess the risk, and implement controls before resuming
When a new hazard is identified, work should stop immediately. The hazard must be reported, the risk assessed, and appropriate controls put in place before work can safely resume.
Question 5: What is a Method Statement?
- A document describing how a task will be carried out safely step by step (Correct answer)
- A financial estimate for the project
- A list of materials needed
- A schedule of working hours
Correct answer: A document describing how a task will be carried out safely step by step
A Method Statement is a document that describes the safe working procedures for a specific task, detailing each step and the safety measures required.
Question 6: Which of these is a psychological hazard on a construction site?
- Workplace bullying and excessive stress (Correct answer)
- Falling objects
- Chemical fumes
- UV radiation
Correct answer: Workplace bullying and excessive stress
Psychological hazards include workplace bullying, harassment, excessive workload, and stress, which can affect mental health and lead to unsafe behaviour.
What is the main hazard associated with excavation work?