ECS - Electrotechnical Certification Scheme Accident Reporting and First-Aid Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An electrician falls from a stepladder, fracturing their arm. They are taken to hospital and are unable to perform their normal work duties for 10 consecutive days. Under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR), what is the employer's legal responsibility?
- Record the incident in the accident book but no further action is required.
- Report the incident to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) immediately by phone.
- Report the incident to the HSE within 15 days of the incident occurring. (Correct answer)
- Only report the incident if the employee is off work for more than 30 days.
Correct answer: Report the incident to the HSE within 15 days of the incident occurring.
RIDDOR requires employers to report injuries that result in an employee being incapacitated and unable to perform their normal work for more than seven consecutive days. The report must be submitted to the HSE, usually via an online form, within 15 days of the accident. A fractured arm is a 'specified injury' but only requires immediate reporting if it's diagnosed as such by a doctor; the 'over-seven-day' rule is the primary trigger in this scenario.
Question 2: You arrive at a scene where a colleague is in contact with a live electrical component and is unresponsive. What is the absolute first and most critical action you must take?
- Immediately start chest compressions on the casualty.
- Check the casualty's airway and breathing.
- Use a wooden broom handle to push the casualty away.
- Safely isolate the power supply to the circuit. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Safely isolate the power supply to the circuit.
The primary rule in any first-aid situation, especially involving electricity, is to ensure your own safety and make the scene safe before approaching the casualty. The only way to do this reliably is to isolate the electrical supply at the source (e.g., mains switch, consumer unit). Touching the casualty while they are still in contact with a live supply will result in you also receiving an electric shock.
Question 3: According to the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981, which of the following is a key principle regarding the contents of a workplace first-aid kit?
- The kit must contain a specified mandatory list of items published by the HSE.
- The contents should be based on the findings of a workplace first-aid needs assessment. (Correct answer)
- Every first-aid kit must include a supply of antiseptic creams and painkillers.
- The kit only needs to be restocked once per year during the annual safety audit.
Correct answer: The contents should be based on the findings of a workplace first-aid needs assessment.
The regulations require employers to provide 'adequate and appropriate' equipment. This is determined by a first-aid needs assessment, which considers workplace hazards, number of employees, and other factors. The HSE provides guidance but no longer mandates a universal list of contents, and tablets or creams should not be included in workplace kits.
Question 4: An electrician sustains a minor thermal burn on their hand from an overheating component. The skin is red and painful but not broken or blistered. What is the recommended immediate first-aid treatment?
- Apply ice directly to the burn to cool it rapidly.
- Cool the burn under running cold or lukewarm water for at least 20 minutes. (Correct answer)
- Apply antiseptic cream or butter to the affected area.
- Cover the burn immediately with a large adhesive plaster.
Correct answer: Cool the burn under running cold or lukewarm water for at least 20 minutes.
NHS and St John Ambulance guidance for thermal burns is to cool the affected area under cool or lukewarm running water for 20 minutes as soon as possible after the injury. This helps to stop the burning process, reduce pain, and minimise scarring. Applying ice can cause further tissue damage, while creams or greasy substances can trap heat and increase the risk of infection.
Question 5: What is the primary legal purpose of an employer maintaining an accident book for a business with 15 employees?
- To track employee attendance and sick leave following an injury.
- To determine which employee is at fault for an accident.
- To provide a legal record of work-related incidents for compliance and potential claims. (Correct answer)
- To act as the official report submitted directly to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Correct answer: To provide a legal record of work-related incidents for compliance and potential claims.
For businesses with 10 or more employees, keeping an accident book is a legal requirement under social security law. It provides a documented, legally recognised record of incidents, which is essential for complying with health and safety legislation (like RIDDOR) and serves as valuable evidence for both the business and the employee if an industrial injuries claim is made.
Question 6: A small electrical contracting business is conducting its annual first-aid needs assessment. Which of the following factors is MOST critical for determining the level of first-aid provision for its site-based electricians?
- The brand of power tools used by the electricians.
- The distance of the company's head office from the nearest hospital.
- The specific hazards of electrical work, such as shock, burns, and falls from height. (Correct answer)
- The average age of the electricians employed by the company.
Correct answer: The specific hazards of electrical work, such as shock, burns, and falls from height.
The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require the needs assessment to be based on the specific circumstances of the workplace. For electricians, the inherent hazards and risks of the job (electric shock, falls, cuts, burns) are the most significant factor in determining the type of first-aid equipment, facilities, and personnel needed.
ECS - Electrotechnical Certification Scheme Accident Reporting and First-Aid Questions and Answers
An electrician falls from a stepladder, fracturing their arm.
They are taken to hospital and are unable to perform their normal work duties for 10 consecutive days.
Under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR), what is the employer's legal responsibility?