CSCS Site Hazard Awareness and Risk Assessment 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a 'hazard' in the context of a construction site?
- An action taken to reduce danger
- Something with the potential to cause harm (Correct answer)
- A written plan for carrying out work safely
- A piece of protective clothing
Correct answer: Something with the potential to cause harm
A hazard is anything that has the potential to cause harm, such as an unguarded edge, a trailing cable, or a chemical substance.
Question 2: What does 'risk' mean in health and safety terms?
- The total number of workers on a site
- The likelihood that a hazard will cause harm and the severity of that harm (Correct answer)
- A legal document required before starting work
- The type of PPE needed for a task
Correct answer: The likelihood that a hazard will cause harm and the severity of that harm
Risk is the combination of the likelihood that a hazard will cause harm and how serious that harm could be.
Question 3: What is a method statement on a construction site?
- A record of workers' wages
- A document describing step-by-step how a task will be carried out safely (Correct answer)
- A permit to enter a confined space
- A daily attendance register
Correct answer: A document describing step-by-step how a task will be carried out safely
A method statement outlines the planned sequence of work and the safety measures to be used for each step of a specific task.
Question 4: Which of the following is the FIRST step in the hierarchy of hazard control?
- Provide personal protective equipment
- Issue a warning sign
- Eliminate the hazard entirely (Correct answer)
- Substitute the hazardous activity with a safer one
Correct answer: Eliminate the hazard entirely
The hierarchy of controls starts with elimination — completely removing the hazard — as it is the most effective control measure.
Question 5: What is a 'near miss' on a construction site?
- An incident that causes a minor injury
- An incident that had the potential to cause injury or damage but did not (Correct answer)
- A planned safety drill
- A fire that was quickly extinguished
Correct answer: An incident that had the potential to cause injury or damage but did not
A near miss is an unplanned event that did not result in injury or damage but had the potential to do so, and must be reported so corrective action can be taken.
Question 6: What color is typically used for safety signs that indicate a mandatory action (e.g., 'wear hard hat')?
- Red
- Yellow
- Green
- Blue (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Blue
Blue circular signs indicate mandatory requirements, such as wearing personal protective equipment, on a construction site.
CSCS Site Hazard Awareness and Risk Assessment 1
What is a 'hazard' in the context of a construction site?