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ECS Test 14

Mock Tests > ECS Test 14

You have 30 minutes to answer 50 multiple choice ECS Test questions. You need 43 out of 50 to pass. You can review your answer after each question or wait until the end of the test for your result. Good luck!

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1. Why should different types of waste be separated on site? Give one answer
A So the local council can charge Landfill Tax
B So the main contractor can check what's being thrown away
C So waste can be recovered more easily
D They will take up less room in the skip
Correct Answer: C So waste can be recovered more easily
Explanation: This is good practice, since waste recovery can save both energy and materials, compared to creating brand new materials or items. It will also cut the amount of waste that goes to landfill. If the waste is classed as hazardous (special waste in Scotland) then the effective separation of different wastes is a legal requirement.
2. What are fire-stops designed to do? Give one answer
A Close the fire doors automatically
B Delay the passage of fire and smoke through openings in walls and floors
C Estinguish a fire
D Protect services (such as wiring systems) against fire damage
Correct Answer: B Delay the passage of fire and smoke through openings in walls and floors
Explanation: Fire-stops are designed to maintain the fireproofing of a wall or floor assembly. Fire-stopping delays the spread of fire and, generally, the spread of smoke as well.
3. In addition to preserving fire separation between areas of a building, which other important fire safety function can fire-stopping achieve? Give one answer
A Preventing premature structural collapse
B Reducing noise transmission
C Reducing nuisance fire alarms
D Saving energy
Correct Answer: A Preventing premature structural collapse
Explanation: During the fire, it is essential that the load-bearing capacity of elements of the building structure are maintained until the occupants have escaped. Timber studs, joists or 'I' beams, for example, may only have a short survival time if exposed to fire and may rely on linings, such as plasterboard ceiling, for fire resistance. Services passing through such linings should therefore be fire-stopped.
4. Intumescent materials used to provide fire-stopping are designed to: Give one answer
A Expand when subjected to heat
B Expand when subjected to smoke
C Prevent noise transmission
D Shrink when subjected to heat
Correct Answer: A Expand when subjected to heat
Explanation: A limited number of fire-resistant materials may be used to provide fire-stopping. These include intumescent products, which are designed to expand and provide fire-stopping when subjected to heat. Examples include intumescent 'pillows' (used to provide internal sealing of trunking) and intumescent mastic.
5. What should you do if you disturb fire-stopping around a wiring system penetrating a wall or floor whilst carrying out work? Give one answer
A Ensure that the fire-stopping is reinstated to the necessary standard as soon as possible
B Fill any holes or gaps with squashed paper
C Highlight this on any certification
D Nail a piece of wood over any gaps
Correct Answer: A Ensure that the fire-stopping is reinstated to the necessary standard as soon as possible
Explanation: It is essential that the integrity of fire compartments is maintained during the construction of buildings and on their completion. Compromising compartmentation, such as failing to adequately fire-stop (seal) openings for services to pass through, can undermine fire precautions catastrophically. Only a limited range of products are suitable and they must be correctly applied to provide the required degree of fire-stopping.
6. If you discover a hole or gap in a fire rated wall or floor that has not been fire-stopped, what should you do? Give one answer
A Cover the hole or gap with insulating tape
B Ignore it unless it is causing a draught
C Report it to your supervisor without delay
D Use decorators' sealant to fill the gap
Correct Answer: C Report it to your supervisor without delay
Explanation: Supervisors need to be made aware of any observed inadequacies in fire-stopping - which can undermine fire precautions catastrophically during the construction of buildings and on their completion. Only a limited range of products are suitable and they must be correctly applied to provide the required degree of fire-stopping.
7. Which of the following should be used to prove a circuit or equipment is dead after isolation? Give one answer
A A lamp holder with a length of flex attached
B A multimeter
C A proprietary test lamp or two-pole voltage detector
D A voltage stick
Correct Answer: C A proprietary test lamp or two-pole voltage detector
Explanation: Accident history has shown that using incorrectly set multimeters or makeshift devices for voltage detection has often caused accidents. The use of non-contact voltage indicators (voltage sticks) is also not advised as the sole means of proving dead.
8. Which of the following procedures should be used when more than one person will be working on circuits supplied from a distribution board which has been switched off? Give one answer
A Blowing a horn before the power is switched on again
B Giving each operative a volt stick
C Telling everyone what time the power will be switched on again
D The use of a multi-lock hasp on the isolator with a padlock for each operative
Correct Answer: D The use of a multi-lock hasp on the isolator with a padlock for each operative
Explanation: A multi-lock hasp can be used to prevent operation of the isolator until such time that all persons working on the electrical installation have completed their work and removed their padlocks from the hasp.
9. How should you get rid of hazardous/special waste? Give one answer
A In accordance with the correct site waste rules
B Put it at the bottom of any site skip
C Take it home, they won't want it on site
D Take it to the nearest local authority waste tip
Correct Answer: A In accordance with the correct site waste rules
Explanation: The Hazardous Waste Regulations (Special Waste Regulations in Scotland) require hazardous/special waste to be properly segregated or otherwise treated, and then recovered or disposed of in an officially approved way.
10. Do individuals have any responsibility for sustainability when on site? Give one answer
A No, it is a matter for the Environment Agency/NIEA/SEPA
B No, it is dealt with by the site manager
C Only on sites where there is asbestos
D Yes, on every site
Correct Answer: D Yes, on every site
Explanation: Your responsibility is to follow the site and company rules aimed at environmental protection and sustainability, and to help your company to comply with relevant legal requirements, such as the need to segregate waste properly (e.g. so that it can be recovered).
11. The nominal single phase voltage in the UK is? Give one answer
A 230 volts
B 240 volts
C 400 volts
D 415 volts
Correct Answer: A 230 volts
Explanation: This is the nominal voltage for public electricity supply systems within Europe.
12. Electrical installations on construction sites should be periodically inspected and tested: Give one answer
A Every 3 months
B Every 6 months
C Every month
D Every year
Correct Answer: A Every 3 months
Explanation: Three monthly inspections of construction site installations are recommended in IEE Guidance Note 3.
13. An electrical Permit to Work is primarily a statement that: Give one answer
A Certain instructions need to be followed
B Someone else has taken responsibility for the work
C The circuit or equipment has been isolated and is safe to work on
D The circuit or equipment is live
Correct Answer: C The circuit or equipment has been isolated and is safe to work on
Explanation: Permits to work describe the procedures that prevent a major hazard, such as electricity or moving machinery, from causing harm, usually by isolation to effectively ensure (in the case of electricity) 'dead' working with no chance of it going 'live'.
14. Before entering an excavation to start work, it must first be: Give one answer
A Covered over and left overnight
B Filled with water then drained
C Inspected by a competent person
D Inspected by the HSE
Correct Answer: C Inspected by a competent person
Explanation: Excavation work is hazardous. A competent person, knowledgeable about how to reduce risks, notably from collapse of the walls, must inspect the excavation first.
15. You have to enter a manhole in which you know there are toxic gases. You have all the PPE but there does not appear to be a rescue plan in place. What should you do? Give one answer
A Ask your mate to stand-by at the top of the manhole with a length of rope
B Do not enter the manhole until a rescue plan and rescue equipment are in place
C Just get on and do the job, it will probably be alright
D Plan to carry out the job in short bursts
Correct Answer: B Do not enter the manhole until a rescue plan and rescue equipment are in place
Explanation: A rescue plan must be in place before anyone enters a confined space. This is one of the requirements of the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997.
16. You have to walk across a site several times a day, but have to dodge a lot of site traffic. The first thing you should do is: Give one answer
A Have word with the drivers
B Jump on the back of a vehicle if you can, it's safer than walking
C Tell your supervisor about the danger
D Walk around the edges of the site to keep out of the way
Correct Answer: C Tell your supervisor about the danger
Explanation: Pedestrian routes should have been set up to keep people and vehicles apart, so inform your employer if the system is not working. Don't hitch rides on vehicles unless safe seating is provided.
17. The normal procedure for working on electrical equipment should be which one of the following? Give one answer
A Dead working
B Live working
C Using insulated tools
D Wearing insulated gloves
Correct Answer: A Dead working
Explanation: Dead working should be considered as the norm and work on or near live conductors should rarely be permitted
18. What action should you take if an electric drill cuts out while you are using it? Give one answer
A Put it back into the tool box
B Remove it from use and tell your supervisor
C Shake it about a bit
D Switch the power off and on
Correct Answer: B Remove it from use and tell your supervisor
Explanation: The drill may be faulty. If so, tell your supervisor and remove the drill from service.
19. What is the preferred nominal voltage for local lighting up to 2 kW on construction sites? Give one answer
A 110 volts
B 230 volts
C 400 volts
D 55 volts
Correct Answer: A 110 volts
Explanation: 110 volt reduced low voltage systems are strongly preferred for the supply to such equipment.
20. To operate a powered hand tool you must be: Give one answer
A 16 years old or over
B 18 years old or over
C 21 years old or over
D Trained and competent
Correct Answer: D Trained and competent
Explanation: There are no general age restrictions in legislation relating to the use of work equipment. Any person using work equipment, however, must be competent to do so, which will require initial and refresher training.
21. On a mobile elevating work platform, what should you attach your safety harness to? Give one answer
A A nearby pipe or scaffold
B A secure anchorage point inside the platform
C A strong part of the structure you are working on
D The boom of the machine
Correct Answer: B A secure anchorage point inside the platform
Explanation: The priority is to stay within the platform (which is the safest place), and in any event you cannot be sure of the strength of other fixtures.
22. What should you do if your work activity requires you to wear a full body safety harness and one is not available? Give one answer
A Borrow a harness from a colleague
B Carry on working and hope that everything will be alright
C Make a harness from items found on site
D Stop work immediately and tell your supervisor that you do not have the correct PPE
Correct Answer: D Stop work immediately and tell your supervisor that you do not have the correct PPE
Explanation: Always advise the supervisor if you do not have the correct PPE.
23. Of the following, which is the poorest method of securing a ladder? Give one answer
A Having someone foot the ladder
B Securing the base of the ladder
C Tying the ladder
D Using a ladder stability device
Correct Answer: A Having someone foot the ladder
Explanation: Footing a ladder is the last resort and should be avoided. Other more suitable access equipment should be used where practicable.
24. Any damaged equipment must be: Give one answer
A Labelled as
B Locked up so no one can use it
C Reported to your supervisor
D Thrown away immediately
Correct Answer: C Reported to your supervisor
Explanation: It is essential that supervisors are aware of faulty or damaged equipment.
25. Your workmate suddenly gets a foreign body in the eye. What should you do? Give one answer
A Send someone for the first-aider
B Take your workmate to the supervisor
C Use a clean handkerchief to try and remove it
D Wash your hands before touching your mate's face
Correct Answer: A Send someone for the first-aider
Explanation: Competent first-aid treatment is essential, and should be summoned immediately.
26. In an emergency situation at work you should do what? Give one answer
A Ensure your work mates are all accounted for
B Leave the site immediately
C Obey the site emergency procedure
D Phone the HSE Inspectorate
Correct Answer: C Obey the site emergency procedure
Explanation: A site emergency plan should have been drawn up and you should be familiar with the emergency procedure.
27. The type of accident that kills most construction site workers is: Give one answer
A Being hit by falling objects
B Electrical accident
C Falling from heights
D Trench collapses
Correct Answer: C Falling from heights
Explanation: Although the other dangers can kill or cause injury, falling from height is the biggest cause of fatalities.
28. When can you work from a ladder? Give one answer
A For short periods and then only if it is safe to do so
B When it is available
C When it is long enough
D When not being used for access
Correct Answer: A For short periods and then only if it is safe to do so
Explanation: Ladders are primarily means of access, not workplaces. They can be worked from, but only if the use of other, more suitable, work equipment is not appropriate and the task is of low risk and of short duration.
29. If you came across an injury on site, what is the first thing you should do? Give one answer
A Contact a first aider
B Inform the HSE
C Tell the casualty to visit their doctor
D Try and find out what happened
Correct Answer: A Contact a first aider
Explanation: Competent first-aid treatment is essential, and should be summoned immediately.
30. What should you do if the toilets on your site are continually dirty? Give one answer
A Ask in a nearby cafe or pub if you can use their toilets
B Find some cleaning materials and clean it up yourself
C Ignore the problem - its normal on a construction site
D Make sure you tell someone who can sort it out
Correct Answer: D Make sure you tell someone who can sort it out
Explanation: How often welfare facilities on site require cleaning will depend on the number of people on site and how quickly they get dirty. The person in control of the site should make sure someone is responsible for keeping the facilities clean and tidy.
31. If there had been a small fire, who should you report it to? Give one answer
A The main contractor's site agent
B The resident site engineer
C The site's fire marshal
D Your supervisor
Correct Answer: D Your supervisor
Explanation: The supervisor should be aware, so that further preventative measures can be considered.
32. When is head protection required to be worn on a construction site to comply with the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations? Give one answer
A At all times except by those who are self employed
B At all times unless there is no foreseeable risk of injury to the head other than by falling.
C At all times unless you are working on scaffold
D Only when you feel like it
Correct Answer: B At all times unless there is no foreseeable risk of injury to the head other than by falling.
Explanation: If there is no risk of injury to the head, then hard hats are not required by law. However, on construction sites, despite controls being in place, there will almost always be situations where a risk of head injury remains and require head protection to be worn. Site rules will also require the wearing of head protection other than in any designated safe areas.
33. Exposure to asbestos fibres may cause which one of the following? Give one answer
A Asbestosis
B Asthma
C Dermatitis
D Glandular fever
Correct Answer: A Asbestosis
Explanation: Breathing in asbestos fibres can also lead to a number of other diseases, including lung cancer and mesothelioma
34. The number of toilets provided on site depends on: Give one answer
A The duration of the work on site
B The number of personnel on site
C The ratio of male and female workers on site
D The type of work being completed
Correct Answer: B The number of personnel on site
Explanation: Guidance on the provision of welfare facilities is given in HSE publication 'Health and Safety in Construction'.
35. If personal protective equipment (PPE) is defective, what should you do? Give one answer
A Complain to the Health and Safety Inspector
B Get your work mate to mend it if possible
C Repair if possible and continue to use it
D Report it to your supervisor
Correct Answer: D Report it to your supervisor
Explanation: Employees are required to report any defective PPE to their employer (PPE at Work Regulations 1992, Regulation 7)
36. What type of eye protection would you wear when using a cartridge-operated tool, such as a nail gun? Give one answer
A Chemical protection glasses
B Impact goggles
C Safety spectacles
D Sun glasses
Correct Answer: B Impact goggles
Explanation: When using a cartridge-operated tool, such as a nail gun, shatter proof goggles should be worn.
37. When using personal protective equipment (PPE) legally you must do which of the following? Give one answer
A Clean it properly once a week
B Not interfere with it or misuse it
C Replace it at your own expense if it is damaged
D Return it to the manufacturer when damaged
Correct Answer: B Not interfere with it or misuse it
Explanation: Interfering with or misusing items provided in the interests of health, safety or welfare is an offence under the HSW Act 1974 (section 8)
38. What is the aim of carrying out an accident investigation? Give one answer
A To determine the cause(s) and prevent similar accidents
B To establish the cost of any damage incurred
C To establish what injuries were sustained
D To find out who is at fault
Correct Answer: A To determine the cause(s) and prevent similar accidents
Explanation: An accident investigation should not only assess the cause, but also how similar accidents can be prevented in the future.
39. Before picking up a load, you should: Give one answer
A Ask a work mate to help you
B Assess the risks
C Bend your knees
D Choose a pair of gloves
Correct Answer: B Assess the risks
Explanation: You or your employer must assess the risk of injury before lifting.
40. If a load has an uneven centre of gravity, how should you lift it? Give one answer
A Keep the heaviest side of the load away from you
B Keep the heaviest side of the load on the strongest arm
C Keep the heaviest side of the load on the weakest arm
D Keep the heaviest side of the load towards you
Correct Answer: D Keep the heaviest side of the load towards you
Explanation: There is less risk of injury if a weight's centre of gravity is near the torso.
41. What should you ensure if you suffer an injury through a manual handling operation? Give one answer
A The injury is recorded
B You get help and carry on working
C You get paid for the job
D You take time off work
Correct Answer: A The injury is recorded
Explanation: All injuries must be recorded in the Company accident book (BI 510)
42. If a person at work suffers an injury (other than a specified injury) due to an accident at work, it is reportable under RIDDOR if they are incapacitated for work for: Give one answer
A Over 1 day
B Over 2 days
C Over 7 days
D Over half a day
Correct Answer: C Over 7 days
Explanation: An over-seven-day injury is one which is not a specified injury but results in the injured person being away from work or unable to do the full range of their normal duties for more than seven days (including any days they wouldn't normally be expected to work such as weekends, rest days or holidays) not counting the day of the injury itself.
43. Before performing manual lifting what is the first thing you should do? Give one answer
A Assess the whole task
B Check the headroom
C Kick it to see if it is stable
D Weigh the article
Correct Answer: A Assess the whole task
Explanation: If you assess the whole task first, you will have a clear idea of possible hazards and how to overcome them, before lifting
44. Where there has been a major change in a manual handling operation, what should the employer do? Give one answer
A Monitor the cost of change
B Monitor the operation being undertaken
C Review the number of people involved
D Review the original risk assessment
Correct Answer: D Review the original risk assessment
Explanation: This is a specific requirement of the Manual Handling Operations regulations 1992.
45. Where should you look for Official advice on health and safety matters? Give one answer
A A professionally approved guide book on regulations
B A set of health and safety guidelines provided by suppliers
C Guidance issued by the Health and Safety Executive
D The health and safety rules as laid down by the employer
Correct Answer: C Guidance issued by the Health and Safety Executive
Explanation: The HSE is the UK enforcing body and its guidance can be regarded as 'official'
46. In the context of a risk assessment, what do you understand by the term risk? Give one answer
A An unsafe act or condition
B Any work activity that can be described as dangerous
C Something with the potential to cause injury
D The likelihood that harm from a particular hazard will occur
Correct Answer: D The likelihood that harm from a particular hazard will occur
Explanation: Hazard and risk are not the same. Risk reflects the chance of being harmed by a hazard
47. The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations require the colour coding of safety signs. What colours are used on a sign indicating a mandatory activity, for example "Safety helmets must be worn"? Give one answer
A Blue and white
B Green and white
C Red, black and white
D Yellow and black
Correct Answer: A Blue and white
Explanation: Mandatory signs are round and feature a white pictogram on a blue background.
48. What do the letters CDM stand for? Give one answer
A Construction (Demolition Management) Regulations
B Construction (Design and Management) Regulations
C Control of Dangerous Materials Regulations
D Control of Demolition and Management Regulations
Correct Answer: B Construction (Design and Management) Regulations
Explanation: The CDM Regulations impose duties to manage construction projects, ensure physical safeguards are provided to prevent danger during such projects and that adequate welfare facilities are provided.
49. Which one of the following must be in a company's written Health and Safety Policy: Give one answer
A Aims and objectives of the company
B Company Director's home address
C Name of the Health and Safety Adviser
D Organization and arrangements in force for carrying out the health and safety policy
Correct Answer: D Organization and arrangements in force for carrying out the health and safety policy
Explanation: This is a specific requirement of the Health and Safety at Work Act.
50. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and any regulations made under the Act are: Give one answer
A Advisory to companies and individuals
B Legally binding
C Not compulsory, but should be complied with if convenient
D Practical advice for the employer to follow
Correct Answer: B Legally binding
Explanation: The requirements of health and safety law are mandatory and failure to follow them can lead to prosecution.