Site Safe Hazard Identification NZ 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a 'hazard' in the context of New Zealand workplace health and safety?
- Anything that has the potential to cause harm to a person (Correct answer)
- Only chemical substances
- Only machinery that is broken
- Any situation where a worker is unsupervised
Correct answer: Anything that has the potential to cause harm to a person
A hazard is anything that has the potential to cause harm, including physical objects, substances, situations, and work practices.
Question 2: What is a 'risk' in workplace health and safety?
- The likelihood that a hazard will cause harm and the severity of that harm (Correct answer)
- The same thing as a hazard
- The cost of fixing a safety problem
- The number of workers exposed to a hazard
Correct answer: The likelihood that a hazard will cause harm and the severity of that harm
Risk is the combination of the likelihood that a hazard will cause harm and the potential severity of that harm. It differs from a hazard, which is the source of potential harm.
Question 3: What is the first step in managing workplace risks under New Zealand guidelines?
- Identify hazards (Correct answer)
- Purchase safety equipment
- Train all workers
- Write a safety policy
Correct answer: Identify hazards
The risk management process begins with identifying hazards. You must know what the hazards are before you can assess and control the risks they pose.
Question 4: Which of the following is an example of a biological hazard on a NZ construction site?
- Legionella bacteria in stagnant water systems (Correct answer)
- Noise from heavy machinery
- UV radiation from sunlight
- Trip hazards from cables
Correct answer: Legionella bacteria in stagnant water systems
Legionella bacteria, which can grow in stagnant water systems, is a biological hazard. It can cause Legionnaires' disease, a serious form of pneumonia.
Question 5: What does a 'risk assessment' involve?
- Evaluating the likelihood and consequences of harm from identified hazards (Correct answer)
- Counting the number of hazards on site
- Measuring the cost of safety equipment
- Recording the number of accidents in the past year
Correct answer: Evaluating the likelihood and consequences of harm from identified hazards
A risk assessment involves evaluating both how likely it is that a hazard will cause harm and the potential consequences if harm does occur, to prioritise and determine appropriate controls.
Question 6: What is a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) used for in NZ workplaces?
- To provide detailed information about hazardous substances including safe handling, storage, and emergency measures (Correct answer)
- To record employee attendance at safety meetings
- To list all equipment on site
- To document worker qualifications
Correct answer: To provide detailed information about hazardous substances including safe handling, storage, and emergency measures
A Safety Data Sheet provides comprehensive information about a hazardous substance, including its properties, health effects, safe handling procedures, storage requirements, and emergency measures.
Site Safe Hazard Identification NZ 1
What is a 'hazard' in the context of New Zealand workplace health and safety?