CSCS Working at Height 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, what is the primary duty of an employer regarding work at height?
- Provide all workers with harnesses
- Avoid work at height where reasonably practicable (Correct answer)
- Ensure all scaffolding is painted yellow
- Allow only supervisors to work above 2 metres
Correct answer: Avoid work at height where reasonably practicable
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require employers to avoid work at height where it is reasonably practicable to do so. Where it cannot be avoided, employers must use equipment or measures to prevent falls.
Question 2: What is the minimum height at which the Work at Height Regulations 2005 apply?
- 2 metres
- 3 metres
- There is no minimum height (Correct answer)
- 1.5 metres
Correct answer: There is no minimum height
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 apply to all work at height where there is a risk of a fall liable to cause personal injury, regardless of the height. There is no minimum height threshold.
Question 3: Which of the following is the correct hierarchy for managing risks when working at height?
- Use PPE first, then collective protection, then avoid
- Avoid, prevent, mitigate (Correct answer)
- Mitigate, prevent, avoid
- Prevent, avoid, use PPE
Correct answer: Avoid, prevent, mitigate
The hierarchy under the Work at Height Regulations 2005 is: first avoid work at height, then prevent falls using collective or personal protection, then mitigate the distance and consequences of a fall.
Question 4: Who is responsible for inspecting a scaffold before it is used on a construction site?
- The site labourer
- A competent person (Correct answer)
- The scaffold manufacturer
- The HSE inspector
Correct answer: A competent person
Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and CDM 2015, scaffolds must be inspected by a competent person before first use, after any event likely to have affected stability, and at regular intervals not exceeding 7 days.
Question 5: What does a scaffold tag system indicate?
- The weight of the scaffold
- Whether the scaffold is safe to use or requires modification (Correct answer)
- The age of the scaffold
- The name of the scaffold erector only
Correct answer: Whether the scaffold is safe to use or requires modification
A scaffold tag system (typically green/red tags) indicates whether a scaffold has been inspected and is safe for use (green) or is incomplete, under modification, or unsafe (red). This is standard practice on UK construction sites.
Question 6: What is the recommended maximum gap between a scaffold platform and the building face to prevent materials falling?
- 300mm (Correct answer)
- 225mm
- 150mm
- 500mm
Correct answer: 300mm
HSE guidance (HSG150) recommends that the gap between a scaffold platform and the building face should not exceed 300mm to prevent materials and tools from falling through.
CSCS Working at Height 1
Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, what is the primary duty of an employer regarding work at height?