Safe Pass Working at Height Ireland 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under Irish regulations, what is considered 'working at height'?
- Any work where a person could fall a distance likely to cause personal injury (Correct answer)
- Only work above 10 metres
- Only work on scaffolding
- Only work on roofs
Correct answer: Any work where a person could fall a distance likely to cause personal injury
Working at height includes any place where a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury, regardless of the height involved.
Question 2: What is the first control measure to consider for working at height?
- Avoid working at height if possible (Correct answer)
- Use a safety harness
- Erect scaffolding
- Use a ladder
Correct answer: Avoid working at height if possible
The first and most effective control is to avoid working at height altogether by doing the work at ground level where possible.
Question 3: When can a ladder be used for work at height under Irish regulations?
- Only for short duration, low-risk work where other equipment is not justified (Correct answer)
- For any job at any height
- Only for painting
- Never under any circumstances
Correct answer: Only for short duration, low-risk work where other equipment is not justified
Ladders should only be used for work of short duration (generally up to 30 minutes) and low risk, where more suitable equipment is not justified.
Question 4: What angle should a ladder be placed at against a wall?
- 75 degrees — a ratio of 1 out for every 4 up (Correct answer)
- 90 degrees — straight up
- 45 degrees
- 60 degrees
Correct answer: 75 degrees — a ratio of 1 out for every 4 up
A ladder should be placed at approximately 75 degrees to the horizontal, which is achieved by a ratio of 1 unit out from the base for every 4 units of height.
Question 5: How far should a ladder extend above a landing platform?
- At least 1 metre (approximately 5 rungs) (Correct answer)
- It should be level with the platform
- At least 3 metres
- It doesn't matter
Correct answer: At least 1 metre (approximately 5 rungs)
A ladder should extend at least 1 metre (about 5 rungs) above the landing point to provide a safe handhold when stepping on and off.
Question 6: What is a guardrail system for edge protection?
- A barrier with a top rail, mid-rail, and toe board to prevent falls from edges (Correct answer)
- A handrail on stairs only
- A fence around the site perimeter
- A traffic barrier on roads
Correct answer: A barrier with a top rail, mid-rail, and toe board to prevent falls from edges
A guardrail system consists of a top rail at 950mm minimum, a mid-rail, and a toe board at least 150mm high, providing collective protection against falls from edges.
Safe Pass Working at Height Ireland 1
Under Irish regulations, what is considered 'working at height'?