Login Sign Up

Personal Protective Equipment at Work

Mock Tests > Personal Protective Equipment at Work

You need 24 out of 28 to pass the Personal Protective Equipment at Work ECS Test. There is no time limit for this test. You can review your answer after each question or wait until the end of the test for your result. Good luck!

Sign up to keep track of your progress

Tests Taken

Last Score

Average Score

Your Progress

0 votes - average 0 out of 5

Personal Protective Equipment at Work Quick View

Click the question box to reveal the correct answer. You can print the Personal Protective Equipment at Work questions and answers by clicking the printer icon below.

1. A colleague has drilled holes in the top of his safety helmet because the weather is hot. Is this: Give one answer
A Acceptable
B Acceptable if the holes are small
C His choice
D In breach of legal requirements
Correct Answer: D In breach of legal requirements
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).
2. Who has a duty to provide PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for use by an employee? Give one answer
A The client
B The employee
C The employer
D The principal contractor
Correct Answer: C The employer
Explanation: This is a requirement of the PPE at Work Regulations 1992(Regulation 4).
3. When would it be appropriate to wear a bump-cap instead of a safety helmet? Give one answer
A In warm weather
B In warm weather
C When there is no foreseeable risk of injury from falling or swinging objects
D When working on a ladder
Correct Answer: C When there is no foreseeable risk of injury from falling or swinging objects
Explanation: Industrial scalp protectors (bump caps) can protect against striking fixed obstacles, scalping or entanglements. They do not provide suitable protection against falling or swinging objects.
4. How can you protect your eyesight while working on site? Give one answer
A By not looking directly at what you are doing
B By squinting
C By wearing sunglasses
D By wearing the correct type of eye protection
Correct Answer: D By wearing the correct type of eye protection
5. 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.
6. Why should a high visibility vest be worn when working on roads? Give one answer
A Because it will keep you warm
B Because you were told to do so
C So road users and plant operators can see you
D So that your mates can see you
Correct Answer: C So road users and plant operators can see you
Explanation: Many workers are struck and injured, often seriously, by moving vehicles.
7. When considering what measures to take to protect people's health and safety, PPE should always be regarded as: Give one answer
A The best way to tackle the job
B The first line of defence
C The last resort
D The only practical measure
Correct Answer: C The last resort
Explanation: Engineering controls and safe systems of work should always be considered first.
8. In hot weather which one of the following is correct with regard to safety helmets? Give one answer
A You can drill holes in your safety hat for ventilation
B You can take off your helmet while working inside the building
C You do not need to wear your helmet
D You must continue to wear your helmet
Correct Answer: D You must continue to wear your helmet
Explanation: On construction sites, despite controls being put in place, there will always be situations where a risk of head injury remains. Taking off your helmet would put you at a much greater risk of a head injury and any unauthorised modification would be in breach of legal requirements and could render the helmet next to useless.
9. Which one of the following should you do if your personal protective equipment (PPE) is damaged? Give one answer
A Carry on working
B Obtain new equipment when available
C Reduce the amount of time you use it
D Report to your Supervisor without delay
Correct Answer: D Report to your Supervisor without delay
Explanation: Employees are required to report any defective PPE to their employer (PPE at Work Regulations 1992, Regulation 7)
10. 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)
11. In normal use, what item of PPE is NOT essential for the operator of a cartridge-operated tool, such as a nail gun? Give one answer
A Hearing protection
B Safety eyewear
C Safety helmet
D Wellington boots
Correct Answer: D Wellington boots
Explanation: Wellingtons do not offer protection against the specific risks associated with the use of a cartridge-operated tool, although safety footwear must always be worn when there is a risk of a foot injury.
12. Can you opt out of wearing personal protective equipment (PPE)? Give one answer
A No, you cannot opt out
B Yes, by informing the site supervisor
C Yes, by writing officially to your employer
D Yes, if it is uncomfortable
Correct Answer: A No, you cannot opt out
Explanation: You cannot legally "opt out" of being protected from significant risks at work. This includes wearing the necessary PPE.
13. What is the most important item of personal protective equipment (PPE) when working on or near a highway? Give one answer
A Hard hat
B High visibility vest
C Safety footwear
D Waterproof clothing
Correct Answer: B High visibility vest
Explanation: The other PPE may also be required.
14. If you are drilling into concrete with a masonry drill, in which one of the following circumstances will you need to wear eye protection? Give one answer
A Always
B Not if drilling into the floor
C Only if the drill is bigger than 10mm
D Only when drilling overhead
Correct Answer: A Always
Explanation: Suitable eye protection must always be worn when working with power-driven tools where chippings are likely to fly or abrasive materials could be propelled.
15. When must you wear all personal protective equipment (PPE) provided by your employer? Give one answer
A As instructed by your employer
B Only if it fits
C Only when you need to
D When you want to
Correct Answer: A As instructed by your employer
Explanation: Under the PPE at Work Regulations 1992, employees must wear PPE as instructed.
16. When MUST an employer provide their employees with personal protective equipment (PPE)? Give one answer
A Every 5 years
B If the client or main contractor specifies it in the contract
C Twice a year
D When they may be exposed to a risk to their health & safety which cannot be controlled another way
Correct Answer: D When they may be exposed to a risk to their health & safety which cannot be controlled another way
Explanation: As required by regulation 4 of the PPE Regulations.
17. 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.
18. Which of the following must your safety helmet comply with to meet with the requirements of the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations? Give one answer
A It can be adjusted to suit your head size
B It has a label with your name on it
C It is a good visible colour
D It is less than 1 year old
Correct Answer: A It can be adjusted to suit your head size
Explanation: An assessment of the suitability of head protection would include consideration of whether it can be adjusted to suit the individual who is to wear it, that it is compatible with the work to be done and that it is comfortable to wear.
19. In which of the following ways should you wear your safety helmet? Give one answer
A Square on your head, properly adjusted
B With the helmet back to front
C With the peak raised to deflect falling material
D With the peak raised to give good vision
Correct Answer: A Square on your head, properly adjusted
Explanation: Any item of personal protective equipment must be used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, which will include how to correctly fit and wear it and what its limitations are.
20. When an employee has been issued with eye protection, what are their duties under the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations? Give one answer
A Not to loan the equipment to other operatives
B To ensure that they are the right type of protector
C To pay for replacement of lost eye protection
D To use the protection in accordance with training and instruction
Correct Answer: D To use the protection in accordance with training and instruction
Explanation: Regulation 10(2) requires that every employee shall use any PPE in accordance with the training and instruction received.
21. When should you wear safety footwear on site? Give one answer
A Only if the site conditions are wet
B Only when working on scaffolds
C Only when working outdoors
D When there is a risk of a foot injury
Correct Answer: D When there is a risk of a foot injury
Explanation: Suitable safety footwear should be worn if there is a risk of injury from objects falling onto the foot or sharp objects, such as nails, penetrating the sole.
22. With regard to the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), which one of the following statements is true? Give one answer
A If you do not use the personal protective equipment (PPE) provided you will probably not come to any harm
B Personal protective equipment (PPE) need only be provided if it is not too expensive
C Personal protective equipment (PPE) need only be used if it is available
D Personal protective equipment (PPE) protects only the user from the dangers present
Correct Answer: D Personal protective equipment (PPE) protects only the user from the dangers present
Explanation: PPE is there to protect the individual. Wearing PPE does not protect other people nearby.
23. Which of the following statements is TRUE when an employer issues personal protective equipment (PPE)? Give one answer
A The employer can charge you for the full cost of it
B The employer can charge you for up to half the cost of it
C The employer can only charge you for it if you lose or damage it
D The employer cannot charge you for it
Correct Answer: D The employer cannot charge you for it
Explanation: Employers cannot charge for PPE such as hard hats, gloves, required by law (and the bulk of PPE is required by law).
24. Which one of the following must apply to any hard hat provided? Give one answer
A It is CE - marked
B It is less than 1 year old
C It is less than 2 years old
D It is less than 5 years old
Correct Answer: A It is CE - marked
Explanation: All PPE should be CE - marked, indicating that it meets the basic health and safety requirements.
25. 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)
26. If it is necessary for an employee to use personal protective equipment, who has a duty to provide it? Give one answer
A The employee
B The employer
C The principal contractor
D The trade union
Correct Answer: B The employer
Explanation: This is a requirement of the PPE at Work Regulations 1992 (Regulation 4).
27. When should a safety helmet be worn on site? Give one answer
A At all times unless there is no foreseeable risk of injury to the head other than by falling.
B Only when something may fall
C When walking to and from a place of work
D When you are out in the open air
Correct Answer: A At all times unless there is no foreseeable risk of injury to the head other than by falling.
Explanation: The circumstances when there is no foreseeable risk of head injury from falling or swinging objects or striking the head against something will be very limited in most construction work.
28. When working in dusty conditions, what of the following would give the LEAST level of protection? Give one answer
A Compressed airline breathing helmet
B Half mask dust respirator
C Positive pressure powered respirator
D Self contained breathing apparatus
Correct Answer: B Half mask dust respirator
Explanation: Protection factors are given in HSE publication HSG53 'Respiratory protective equipment at work - A practical guide'