SSSTS Working at Height 3

Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

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ladder with cracked or damaged rungs is clearly defective and must be immediately removed from use; it must be tagged, withdrawn from service and either repaired by a competent person or disposed of.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

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.

Question 3

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?

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

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.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

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.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

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.

SSSTS Practice Test

SSSTS Practice Test

SSSTS Working at Height 3