SSSTS Risk Assessment & Method Statement Review 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of a risk assessment in the construction industry?
- To identify hazards, evaluate the likelihood and severity of harm, and determine control measures to reduce risk to an acceptable level (Correct answer)
- To record all accidents that have occurred on a site
- To produce a document for the HSE to inspect
- To determine the commercial programme for the works
Correct answer: To identify hazards, evaluate the likelihood and severity of harm, and determine control measures to reduce risk to an acceptable level
A risk assessment is a structured process for identifying workplace hazards, evaluating the risk (likelihood × severity), and determining suitable control measures. It is a legal requirement under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
Question 2: What does the term 'hazard' mean in health and safety?
- Something with the potential to cause harm (Correct answer)
- The probability that harm will occur
- The severity of an injury if it occurs
- The consequence of an accident
Correct answer: Something with the potential to cause harm
A hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm — for example, a hole in the ground, a chemical, electricity, a vehicle or a heavy load. Identifying hazards is the first step in risk assessment.
Question 3: What does the term 'risk' mean in health and safety?
- The combination of the likelihood of harm occurring and the severity of the consequence (Correct answer)
- Anything with the potential to cause harm
- The number of workers exposed to a hazard
- The cost of an accident
Correct answer: The combination of the likelihood of harm occurring and the severity of the consequence
Risk is the combination of the likelihood that a hazard will cause harm and the severity of that harm. The same hazard can present different levels of risk depending on how many people are exposed and how they are exposed.
Question 4: What is the five-step process for risk assessment?
- Identify hazards; identify who might be harmed and how; evaluate the risk and existing controls; record findings; review and update (Correct answer)
- Spot the hazard, fix it, document it, sign it off, file it
- Measure exposure, compare with WEL, record, control, review
- Eliminate all hazards before work starts
Correct answer: Identify hazards; identify who might be harmed and how; evaluate the risk and existing controls; record findings; review and update
The HSE's five-step approach to risk assessment: (1) identify hazards, (2) decide who might be harmed and how, (3) evaluate risks and existing controls, (4) record significant findings, (5) review the assessment and update when necessary.
Question 5: What does a 'suitable and sufficient' risk assessment mean in practice?
- An assessment that identifies all significant risks, evaluates them properly and leads to appropriate control measures — not necessarily perfect but adequate for the hazards present (Correct answer)
- An assessment that is longer than 10 pages
- An assessment approved by a chartered safety professional
- An assessment that identifies every possible hazard no matter how trivial
Correct answer: An assessment that identifies all significant risks, evaluates them properly and leads to appropriate control measures — not necessarily perfect but adequate for the hazards present
'Suitable and sufficient' means the assessment must be appropriate to the nature and complexity of the work, identify all significant risks, evaluate them properly and lead to control measures commensurate with the risks. It need not be over-elaborate for low-risk activities.
Question 6: How should a site supervisor review a risk assessment submitted by a subcontractor?
- Check that it identifies the actual hazards for the specific task on this site, lists realistic controls and that workers are aware of and follow it (Correct answer)
- Accept it without review if it is signed by the subcontractor's manager
- Only check that it has been signed and dated
- Delegate the review to the subcontractor's workers
Correct answer: Check that it identifies the actual hazards for the specific task on this site, lists realistic controls and that workers are aware of and follow it
A supervisor must critically review subcontractor risk assessments to ensure they are specific to the actual task and site conditions (not generic templates), identify the real hazards, specify achievable control measures, and have been communicated to workers.
SSSTS Risk Assessment & Method Statement Review 1
What is the purpose of a risk assessment in the construction industry?