Health and safety exam questions and answers; PPE

Sample health and safety exam questions and answers from HSE courses are posted here.
This post is on PPE exam questions and answers.
OHS exam Q&A extracts are posted for comparison to local approaches and training
material. The extract is not comprehensive and does not represent a full course, exam, or
qualification. Approaches and legislative elements vary among African countries.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) exam questions and answers
Q; Which law requires workers to wear PPE?
A; Section 14 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act requires workers to look after their
own safety first, and after other employees health and safety. Workers are also required to
comply with management requirements regarding health and safety. Workers have to wear
PPE when and where directed by management, procedures or signage, or be in breach of
the law.
Q; Name eye injury hazards?
A; Chemical or metal splash, dust, projectiles, gas and vapour, radiation.
Q Name eye protection options?
A; Safety spectacles, goggles, face shields, visors.
Q; Name head injury hazards?
A; Impact from falling or flying objects, risk of head bumping, hair entanglement, hair (piece)
ignition, sunburn.
Q; Name head protection options?
A; Helmet, hard hat, bump cap, cape, non-flammable head scarve, wide brimmed hat.
Q; Name breathing (respiratory) hazards?
A; Dust, vapour, gas, oxygen-deficient atmospheres.
Q; Name respiratory (breathing) protection options?
A; Disposable filtering face piece or respiratory, half or full-face respirators, air-fed helmets,
self-contained breathing apparatus
Q; Name body hazards?
A; Temperature extremes, adverse weather, chemical or metal splash, spray from pressure
leaks or spray guns, impact or penetration, contaminated dust, excessive wear or
entanglement of own clothing.
Q; Name body protection options?
A; Conventional or disposable overalls, boiler suits, specialist protective clothing, like chain-
mail aprons, high visibility clothing.
Q; Name hand injury hazards?
A; Abrasion, temperature extremes, cuts and punctures, impact, chemicals, electric shock,
skin infection, disease or contamination.
Q; Name hand protection options?
A; Gloves, gauntlets, mitts, wrist cuffs, armlets.
Q; Name feet injury hazards?
A; Wet, electrostatic build-up, slipping, cuts and punctures, falling objects, metal and
chemical splash, abrasion.
Q; Name feet protection options?
A; Safety boots and shoes with protective toe caps and penetration-resistant mid-sole,
leggings.
Q; What type of risk is managed by PPE?
A; Residual risk, that could not be removed or further reduced, could be managed by PPE.
Employers must maintain health and safety workplaces, and first seek ways of removing or
reducing hazards and risks. Residual risk that could be termed reasonable in terms of
relevant laws, may be managed by issuing relevant, effective PPE. PPE is the last resort in
the line of defence against hazards. First look at ways of doing the work more safely or
engineering out risks arising from likely hazards and likely worker behaviour.
Q; How is PPE graded?
A; Tested PPE is marked with a SABS mark or internationally recognised standards such as
CE or BS kite mark. This signifies that the PPE satisfies certain basic safety requirements
and, where required, tested and certified by an independent body.
Q; Name incidents that could be managed by PPE?
A; Typical incidents caused by workers not wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), or
wearing incorrect or defective or damaged PPE, are:
cuts or abrasions
heat burns
chemical burns
amputations of fingers or toes
fractures
head impacts
skin irritations
respiratory diseases
noise induced hearing loss (NIHL).
Q; List PPE incident investigation role players, and issues?
Health and safety managers, internal auditors and incident investigators should consider
these questions;
Why are employees not wearing relevant PPE?
Which PPE are identified in risk assessment and standard procedures?
Are workers trained in PPE selection and use?
Are PPE available, correct, clean, comfortable?
Is PPE use supported by standardised signage?
Do managers follow PPE rules?
Is a PPE defaulting disciplinary procedure in place?
Was the incident caused or aggravated (made worse) partly due to errors in PPE
management or PPE use?
Was the PPE relevant to the risk?
Was the PPE of sufficient quality?
Recommendations to management and trainers.
Q; How could management rectify non-compliant PPE behaviour?
A; Typical management interventions in PPE behaviour could include;
Training
Set a good example
Issue appropriate equipment if uncomfortable
Implement a competition or other incentives
Warnings
Discipline as a last resort.