Safe Pass Working at Height Ireland 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a Mobile Elevated Work Platform (MEWP)?
- A machine with a working platform that can be raised and positioned at height (Correct answer)
- A portable staircase
- A crane with a basket
- A forklift truck
Correct answer: A machine with a working platform that can be raised and positioned at height
A MEWP (such as a cherry picker or scissor lift) is a machine that provides a temporary working platform that can be moved to the required position and height.
Question 2: Who can operate a MEWP on an Irish construction site?
- A person who has received adequate training and is competent (Correct answer)
- Any worker on site
- Only the site manager
- Anyone with a driving licence
Correct answer: A person who has received adequate training and is competent
Only persons who have received adequate training and have been deemed competent should operate MEWPs, and they should hold the relevant CSCS card.
Question 3: What is the main risk when using a MEWP in windy conditions?
- The platform can become unstable and overturn (Correct answer)
- The paint will dry too fast
- Workers get cold
- The engine overheats
Correct answer: The platform can become unstable and overturn
Wind can destabilise a MEWP, particularly boom-type machines, creating a risk of overturning. Manufacturers specify maximum safe wind speeds for operation.
Question 4: What must be done before erecting scaffolding on a construction site?
- A risk assessment and method statement must be prepared by a competent person (Correct answer)
- Nothing special is required
- Only a verbal instruction is needed
- Just buy the scaffold tubes
Correct answer: A risk assessment and method statement must be prepared by a competent person
Before erecting scaffolding, a risk assessment and detailed method statement must be prepared, and the work must be supervised by a competent person.
Question 5: What is the purpose of scaffold ties?
- To secure the scaffold structure to the building for stability (Correct answer)
- To tie workers to the scaffold
- To connect electrical cables
- To mark the scaffold with hazard tape
Correct answer: To secure the scaffold structure to the building for stability
Scaffold ties connect the scaffold structure to the building or permanent structure to prevent it from pulling away or collapsing, especially in wind.
Question 6: What is the minimum width for a scaffold working platform?
- 600mm for a working platform, wider where materials are stored (Correct answer)
- 300mm
- 100mm
- Any width is acceptable
Correct answer: 600mm for a working platform, wider where materials are stored
The minimum width for a scaffold working platform used for access only is 600mm, with wider platforms required where materials are being stored or work is being carried out.
Safe Pass Working at Height Ireland 3
What is a Mobile Elevated Work Platform (MEWP)?