June 2002 Q3,March Q2 & Dec 2004

Q11
Outline the particular hazards that may be
present during the demolition of a building (8)

CHSS Ltd 2006

Sales ref: sc/639/v3

Examiners Report
This question was generally well answered by most candidates
The main hazards associated with this type of work include

Falls from a height

Falling debris & premature collapse
Use of explosives
Contact with noise from equipment & heavy plant
Dust (possibly including asbestos)
& the possible presence of services such as electricity, gas & water
A few candidates did not read the question with sufficient care &
included in their answers the precautions to be taken when
undertaking demolition work, which was not what the question
required
CHSS Ltd 2006
Sales ref: sc/639/v3

March 2003 Question 3

Outline the precautions that may be needed
when carrying out repairs to the flat roof of a
building
(8)

CHSS Ltd 2006

Sales ref: sc/639/v3

Examiners Report
Almost all candidates made reference to the more obvious precautions such
as

The provision of safe access to the roof (by scaffolding &/or ladders)
Edge protection to prevent the falls of people or materials
& restricting access to the area below the work by means of barriers & so
forth
Better candidates went on to outline the precautions that might be needed to
protect employees from falling through fragile roof-lights & voids, & from
harmful contact with overhead obstructions & services
Also relevant would be the means of transporting materials to & from the
work area, the possible need for netting under the roof, protection from the
weather, & the positioning & use of hazardous equipment such as bitumen
boilers & gas cylinders
CHSS Ltd 2006
Sales ref: sc/639/v3

Answers were not as good as might have been expected despite the
fact that the question has appeared previously
Too many candidates made general statements about the need for risk
assessment which is the mechanism for identifying the precautions
that should be taken rather than a precaution in its own right
Similarly, some candidates referred to a permit-to-work system, which
is a control measure rather than a precaution the permit, again,
would specify the precautions necessary

CHSS Ltd 2006

Sales ref: sc/639/v3

Sep 2003 Question 1

Damaged corrugated roofing sheets on a single storey
factory are to be replaced
Access to the roof will be via a mobile tower scaffold
(i) Identify the hazards that are likely to be
encountered during such work
(6)
(ii) Outline the precautions needed to ensure the safe
use of the mobile tower scaffold
(6)
(iii) Outline the further precautions that may be
required to control the hazards identified in (i)

(8)
CHSS Ltd 2006
Sales ref: sc/639/v3

Examiners Report
For part (i), the majority of candidates identified the more obvious hazards
of working at height, falls of material & exposure to extreme weather
conditions
Better candidates also referred to hazards associated with work equipment
(including access equipment), manual handling, work on or near fragile
material & contact with hazardous substances, particularly the possibility of
asbestos

CHSS Ltd 2006

Sales ref: sc/639/v3

In answering part (ii), Examiners were looking for candidates to outline such
precautions as
Ensuring that the ratio of the height of the tower to its base dimensions is
appropriate
The provision of adequate diagonal bracing
A fully boarded working platform with toe-boards & guardrails in place
Safe means of access to the platform
Means for locking the wheels of the tower when work is in operation
The use of outriggers
checking that the condition of the ground on which the tower is sited is
suitable (e.g. level & firm) & the erection & inspection of the scaffold by
competent persons

CHSS Ltd 2006

Sales ref: sc/639/v3

There was generally a good response to this part of the question although,
as is often the case, some candidates provided too little information to
achieve the outline required
A few were concerned content to rely on general statements such as
carry out a risk assessment, provide a safe system of work or even
seek specialist advice, for which very few, if any, marks could be
awarded

CHSS Ltd 2006

Sales ref: sc/639/v3

Part (iii) of the question required candidates to identify further precautions

that should be taken to control hazards other than those arising in
connection with the use of the tower scaffold
These might include (depending on the particular circumstances)
The provision & use of roof ladders, crawling boards, protection at roof
edges & voids, & harnesses
The provision of hoists, chutes & covered skips for the removal of material
being stripped from the roof
Protection for those working below (e.g. barriers, netting, signs, safety
helmets)
Isolation of overhead services or ensuring safe distances
The use of reduced low voltage or residual current devices for portable
electrical tools
& protection against extreme weather conditions
Particular precautions would be required if asbestos were involved, including
the avoidance of breaking the sheets, the provision of respiratory protection
& overalls, the need for damping down, & ensuring the safe disposal CHSS
of Ltd 2006
Sales ref: sc/639/v3
waste

Those candidates who had identified a wide range of hazards in their

answers to part (i), generally built on those responses to good effect in the
final part
Others, however, did little more than repeat the information that they
had provided for the previous part of the question & thus could not
expect to gain many marks

CHSS Ltd 2006

Sales ref: sc/639/v3

Dec 2001 Q2 & Mar 2004 Q5

Outline the precautions that might be taken in
order to reduce the risk of injury when using
stepladders
(8)

CHSS Ltd 2006

Sales ref: sc/639/v3

Examiners Report

In answers to this question, Examiners were looking for an outline of

precautions such as
The need to ensure that the stepladder is inspected for defects before use
That it is correctly erected on level ground with its chain or rope fully
extended
That it is suitable for the task to be performed & does not involve carrying
out work from the top step
That it is footed by a second person when necessary
That it is correctly positioned to avoid over-reaching
& that it is not overloaded
In general this question was reasonably well answered by most candidates

CHSS Ltd 2006

Sales ref: sc/639/v3

Some however, confused stepladders with other types of ladder (or

even mobile scaffold towers) & referred to precautions such as 1:4
ratios & the need to tie the tower or ladder to prevent overturning or
slipping
Additionally, answers referring only to the need to carry our a risk
assessment without mentioning specific control measures gained little
reward

CHSS Ltd 2006

Sales ref: sc/639/v3