Working at Height Flashcards

A site supervisor notices that a ladder on site has two cracked rungs. What is the correct immediate course of action?

Answer: Tag the ladder as defective, remove it from service immediately and arrange for repair or safe disposal

A ladder with cracked or damaged rungs is clearly defective and must be immediately removed from use; it must be tagged, withdrawn from service and either repaired by a competent person or disposed of.

What is the primary structural purpose of scaffold ties connecting a scaffold to an adjacent building?

Answer: To prevent the scaffold from overturning or moving away from the building under load and wind forces

Scaffold ties resist both inward and outward forces — they prevent the scaffold from overturning (falling outward) or moving inward against the building face, maintaining stability under wind loads and working loads.

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require that arrangements are in place for the prompt rescue of a person who has fallen and is suspended in a fall arrest harness. Why is prompt rescue particularly critical?

Answer: Because suspension trauma (harness-induced pathology) can cause blood to pool in the legs, leading to unconsciousness and death within minutes

Suspension trauma occurs when a motionless person is suspended in an upright harness — blood pools in the legs reducing circulation to vital organs, which can cause unconsciousness and be fatal within minutes, making a pre-planned rescue essential.

What does an 'exclusion zone' protect against when working at height?

Answer: Protecting persons below from being struck by falling objects or a person falling from above

An exclusion zone is a clearly defined and enforced area beneath overhead work where non-essential personnel are excluded to protect them from the hazard of falling objects or a person falling from above.

A worker reports that their fall arrest harness causes discomfort and chafing during use. What action should the site supervisor take?

Answer: Ensure the harness is correctly adjusted for the individual and consider whether a different size or harness type is needed

The supervisor must ensure PPE provided is suitable for the individual; an ill-fitting harness may not perform correctly in a fall and workers are more likely to use PPE that fits comfortably, so correct adjustment and an alternative fit should be considered.

When using a leaning ladder for access, at what height above the landing point should the ladder stiles extend to provide a safe handhold?

Answer: 1000mm (1 metre) above the landing level

Ladder stiles should extend at least 1 metre above the highest landing point to provide a safe handhold for workers stepping on and off the ladder, preventing loss of balance at the transition point.

Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, which of the following activities does NOT constitute 'work at height'?

Answer: A worker sitting at a desk on the third floor of an office building

A worker seated at an interior desk on an upper floor is not 'working at height' under the regulations because there is no reasonably foreseeable risk of them falling — the risk of falling is the defining factor, not simply being in an elevated location.