CPC Health and Safety — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under UK health and safety law, what is a driver's personal responsibility?
- The driver has no health and safety responsibilities
- To take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions (Correct answer)
- Only to follow instructions — they are not personally liable
- Health and safety is entirely the employer's responsibility
Correct answer: To take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, every employee (including drivers) has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others affected by their work. They must cooperate with their employer on health and safety matters.
Question 2: What is the recommended maximum weight for a single person to lift manually without mechanical assistance?
- 10 kg
- 25 kg (Correct answer)
- 50 kg
- No limit if you are strong enough
Correct answer: 25 kg
The HSE guidelines suggest a maximum of 25 kg for routine lifting in ideal conditions, though this varies based on the position of the load, frequency, and individual capability. A risk assessment should be carried out for manual handling tasks.
Question 3: What should a driver do before manually handling a heavy item?
- Just pick it up quickly before thinking too much
- Carry out a manual handling assessment — consider the task, individual capability, load, and environment (Correct answer)
- Ask someone else to do it without assessing the task
- Only consider the weight of the item
Correct answer: Carry out a manual handling assessment — consider the task, individual capability, load, and environment
Before manual handling, a driver should assess the Task (what needs doing), Individual capability (their own fitness and ability), Load (weight, size, shape, grip), and Environment (floor condition, space, temperature). This TILE assessment helps prevent injuries.
Question 4: What is the purpose of a risk assessment?
- To provide paperwork for insurance companies
- To identify hazards, evaluate risks, and determine appropriate control measures (Correct answer)
- To blame workers for accidents
- To satisfy customers that work is being done
Correct answer: To identify hazards, evaluate risks, and determine appropriate control measures
A risk assessment systematically identifies hazards (things that could cause harm), evaluates the likelihood and severity of the risk, and determines what control measures are needed to reduce that risk to an acceptable level.
Question 5: When working at height on an HGV (such as sheeting a flatbed), what precautions should be taken?
- No precautions are needed for experienced drivers
- Use fall prevention equipment, ensure stable footing, and never work at height in adverse weather (Correct answer)
- Just hold on tightly and work quickly
- Only use a ladder if the vehicle is over 5 metres tall
Correct answer: Use fall prevention equipment, ensure stable footing, and never work at height in adverse weather
Falls from vehicles are one of the most common causes of serious injury to HGV drivers. Precautions include using proper fall prevention equipment, maintaining three points of contact when climbing, ensuring stable footing, and avoiding work at height in wet, icy, or windy conditions.
Question 6: What does RIDDOR require regarding workplace accidents?
- Nothing — accidents do not need to be reported
- Certain types of accidents, injuries, and dangerous occurrences must be reported to the HSE (Correct answer)
- Only fatal accidents need reporting
- Reports are only required for accidents involving visitors
Correct answer: Certain types of accidents, injuries, and dangerous occurrences must be reported to the HSE
RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) requires employers to report specified injuries (fractures, amputations, loss of consciousness), over-7-day incapacitation, occupational diseases, and dangerous occurrences to the HSE.
CPC Health and Safety
Under UK health and safety law, what is a driver's personal responsibility?