SMSTS Risk Assessment and Mitigation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, which workers require a 'suitable and sufficient' risk assessment to be conducted for them specifically?
- Workers under 18 years old and new or expectant mothers (Correct answer)
- Workers who have been employed for less than 3 months
- Workers earning below the minimum wage
- Workers employed through a staffing agency
Correct answer: Workers under 18 years old and new or expectant mothers
Regulation 16 and 19 require specific risk assessments for new/expectant mothers and young persons due to their particular vulnerabilities.
Question 2: What does the hierarchy of risk control require a site manager to consider FIRST before implementing any other measure?
- Elimination of the hazard entirely (Correct answer)
- Substitution with a less hazardous alternative
- Engineering controls such as guarding
- Personal protective equipment
Correct answer: Elimination of the hazard entirely
The hierarchy of control places elimination at the top because removing the hazard entirely is the most effective way to prevent harm.
Question 3: A risk assessment identifies a 'significant finding.' What action must the site manager take?
- Record the finding and implement control measures (Correct answer)
- Shut down the site immediately
- Notify the HSE within 24 hours
- Issue a prohibition notice to the relevant trade
Correct answer: Record the finding and implement control measures
Significant findings must be recorded in writing and appropriate control measures must be put in place promptly.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of a 'residual risk' assessment after controls have been applied?
- To determine the level of risk that remains after controls are in place (Correct answer)
- To identify new hazards introduced by the control measures
- To satisfy insurance liability requirements
- To document that the work is complete
Correct answer: To determine the level of risk that remains after controls are in place
Residual risk assessment evaluates the remaining danger once all reasonably practicable controls have been implemented.
Question 5: On a construction site, a method statement is BEST described as:
- A step-by-step description of how a specific task will be carried out safely (Correct answer)
- A legal document signed by the principal contractor
- A record of accidents that occurred during a similar task
- A permit issued by the local authority
Correct answer: A step-by-step description of how a specific task will be carried out safely
A method statement describes the sequence of work, resources, and controls to ensure a high-risk task is performed safely.
Question 6: Which factor should be used to determine whether a risk is 'tolerable' after controls have been applied?
- Whether the risk has been reduced as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP) (Correct answer)
- Whether no workers have objected to the risk level
- Whether the client has approved the risk assessment
- Whether the risk existed on the previous contract
Correct answer: Whether the risk has been reduced as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP)
ALARP (as low as reasonably practicable) is the legal standard for deciding whether residual risk is acceptable.
Question 7: A generic risk assessment has been used for a task, but site conditions differ significantly from those assumed. What should the site manager do?
- Review and adapt the risk assessment to reflect actual site conditions (Correct answer)
- Proceed using the generic assessment since it covers most scenarios
- Suspend work until a new assessment is written by the HSE
- Ask workers to sign the generic assessment to confirm its suitability
Correct answer: Review and adapt the risk assessment to reflect actual site conditions
Generic assessments must be reviewed and tailored whenever actual conditions differ, to ensure controls are site-specific and effective.
SMSTS Risk Assessment and Mitigation 2
Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, which workers require a 'suitable and sufficient' risk assessment to be conducted for them specifically?