🦺 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

1. In the hierarchy of control, where does personal protective equipment (PPE) sit?

1. It is the first and most important control to put in place
2. It is the last line of defence, used only after other controls
3. It replaces the need for any other control measures
4. It is only used when a risk assessment is not available

PPE protects only the wearer and relies on it being worn correctly, so it is the last resort once higher controls have reduced the risk as far as possible. Source: Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992; MHSWR 1999

2. Who must pay for the personal protective equipment you need for your work?

1. The worker, who buys their own kit
2. The employer, who must provide it free of charge
3. The main contractor, but only for new starters
4. It is shared equally between worker and employer

Employers must provide suitable PPE free of charge where risks cannot be controlled by other means; workers must never be charged for it. Source: Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992; HASAWA 1974 s.9

3. Why is using PPE considered less reliable than controlling a hazard at source?

1. PPE is always more expensive than other controls
2. PPE only protects the person wearing it and must be worn correctly to work
3. PPE removes the hazard completely from the workplace
4. PPE protects everyone in the area at the same time

Unlike engineering controls, PPE does nothing to remove the hazard and only protects the individual, and only if it is suitable, in good condition and worn properly. Source: PPE at Work Regulations 1992; HSE guidance INDG174

4. You are issued with PPE that does not fit you properly and is uncomfortable. What should you do?

1. Wear it anyway as it is the only kit available
2. Tell your supervisor so suitable, well-fitting PPE can be provided
3. Take it home and modify it yourself to fit
4. Carry on without PPE until a better set turns up

PPE must be suitable for the wearer and the task; ill-fitting PPE may not protect you, so report it so a proper alternative can be supplied. Source: PPE at Work Regulations 1992 (suitability and fit)

5. Before relying on PPE to control a risk, what should an employer do first?

1. Issue PPE to everyone on site as a precaution
2. Try to remove or reduce the risk using other control measures
3. Wait until someone is injured to decide what is needed
4. Ask each worker to choose their own PPE

PPE is the last resort; higher controls such as elimination, substitution and engineering controls must be considered before relying on PPE. Source: MHSWR 1999; PPE at Work Regulations 1992

6. What is your legal duty as a worker once your employer has provided you with PPE?

1. To use it correctly and as instructed and report any defects
2. To keep it at home so it does not get damaged on site
3. To lend it to colleagues who have forgotten theirs
4. To use it only when an inspector is on site

Workers must use PPE in accordance with training and instruction and report any loss or obvious defect to their employer. Source: PPE at Work Regulations 1992; HASAWA 1974 s.7

7. Which of these is the most effective way to control a risk, making it better than relying on PPE?

1. Giving workers more breaks during the task
2. Eliminating the hazard so the danger no longer exists
3. Putting up a warning sign next to the hazard
4. Issuing a stronger grade of PPE

Elimination removes the hazard entirely and is the top of the hierarchy of control, whereas PPE only manages the residual risk. Source: MHSWR 1999 (principles of prevention)

8. Your respirator's filter is past its replacement date and you have no spare. What is the correct action?

1. Carry on, as an old filter is better than nothing
2. Stop the task and get a new filter before continuing
3. Blow the dust out of the old filter and reuse it
4. Swap to a colleague's used filter

PPE must be maintained and used within its limits; an out-of-date filter may not protect you, so stop and replace it before continuing. Source: COSHH 2002; PPE at Work Regulations 1992 (maintenance)

9. When two different types of PPE must be worn together, what must the employer ensure?

1. That the worker chooses which item to leave off
2. That the items are compatible and still work effectively together
3. That only the more expensive item is actually worn
4. That each item is worn on alternate days

Where more than one item of PPE is needed, they must be compatible so that each continues to be effective, for example a respirator that still seals when goggles are worn. Source: PPE at Work Regulations 1992 (compatibility)

10. A risk assessment shows that local exhaust ventilation (LEV) could capture most of the dust from a task. What is the correct approach to PPE?

1. Skip the LEV and just give everyone respirators
2. Fit the LEV first, then use RPE for any remaining risk
3. Use respirators instead because they are cheaper to provide
4. Do nothing until the dust becomes visible

Engineering controls such as LEV come above PPE in the hierarchy; RPE should only deal with the residual risk after such controls are in place. Source: COSHH 2002; HSE guidance on control hierarchy

11. What does a 'mandatory' safety sign with a blue circle on site usually tell you?

1. That a hazard is present nearby
2. That specific PPE must be worn in that area
3. That an action is prohibited
4. Where the fire assembly point is located

Blue circular mandatory signs instruct a required action, commonly that particular PPE such as a hard hat or eye protection must be worn. Source: Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996

12. You notice your safety helmet has a deep crack after it was dropped from height. What should you do?

1. Keep wearing it as the crack looks small
2. Take it out of use and get a replacement
3. Tape over the crack and carry on
4. Only replace it at the end of the project

A cracked helmet has lost its protective strength and must be replaced; damaged PPE cannot be relied upon to protect you. Source: PPE at Work Regulations 1992 (maintenance and replacement)

13. Which statement about training for PPE is correct?

1. No training is needed because PPE is simple to use
2. Workers must be told how to use, store and look after their PPE
3. Only managers need to understand how PPE works
4. Training is only required for breathing apparatus

Employers must provide information, instruction and training so workers know what the PPE is for and how to use, maintain and store it correctly. Source: PPE at Work Regulations 1992 (information and training)

14. A colleague says PPE alone is enough so the dust extraction can be switched off to save power. How should you respond?

1. Agree, because everyone is wearing a mask
2. Explain that controls like extraction must stay in place because PPE is only a last resort
3. Switch it off but work faster to reduce exposure time
4. Leave the decision entirely to the colleague

PPE does not replace higher controls; engineering controls must remain in use, with PPE protecting against any residual risk only. Source: COSHH 2002; PPE at Work Regulations 1992

15. Which of the following correctly orders the hierarchy of control from most to least effective?

1. PPE, engineering controls, substitution, elimination
2. Elimination, substitution, engineering controls, PPE
3. Substitution, PPE, elimination, engineering controls
4. Engineering controls, PPE, elimination, substitution

The hierarchy runs elimination, then substitution, then engineering controls, then administrative controls, with PPE always last. Source: MHSWR 1999 (principles of prevention)

16. Hearing protection has been issued because a tool produces high noise levels, but no other controls have been considered. Why is this not fully acceptable?

1. Because hearing protection is too expensive to issue
2. Because reducing noise at source should be considered before relying on hearing protection
3. Because hearing protection never works in practice
4. Because workers prefer to keep the noise levels high

Noise should be controlled at source where reasonably practicable; hearing protection is a last resort and does not remove the duty to reduce noise by other means. Source: Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005

17. Which everyday work item is generally NOT classed as PPE under the Regulations?

1. Safety helmet
2. High-visibility waistcoat
3. An ordinary uniform worn mainly for appearance, not protection
4. Safety footwear with toe protection

PPE is equipment worn to protect against a health or safety risk; ordinary work clothing or uniform worn purely for appearance is not classed as PPE. Source: PPE at Work Regulations 1992 (definition of PPE)

18. What is the main purpose of high-visibility (hi-vis) clothing on a construction site?

1. To keep the wearer warm in cold weather
2. To make the wearer easier to see, especially near moving vehicles and plant
3. To identify which trade a worker belongs to
4. To protect the wearer from falling objects

Hi-vis clothing makes workers conspicuous so that drivers of vehicles and plant can see them and avoid collisions. Source: HSE guidance on workplace transport; PPE at Work Regulations 1992

19. When is hi-vis clothing most important to wear on site?

1. Only during your lunch break
2. Where you could be struck by moving vehicles, plant or in poor visibility
3. Only when working indoors in a finished building
4. Only when the site manager is present

Hi-vis is required wherever workers are at risk from moving vehicles or plant, or where visibility is poor, so they can be seen in good time. Source: HSE guidance on workplace transport safety

20. Your hi-vis vest has become so dirty and faded that the bright colour is barely visible. What should you do?

1. Keep wearing it because it still has the reflective strips
2. Replace it, because faded hi-vis no longer makes you easy to see
3. Turn it inside out to use the cleaner side
4. Only wear it at night when colour matters less

Dirty or faded hi-vis loses its conspicuity; PPE must be kept in good condition, so worn-out hi-vis should be replaced. Source: PPE at Work Regulations 1992 (maintenance); BS EN ISO 20471

21. Why do hi-vis garments include reflective strips as well as bright fluorescent colour?

1. To make the garment heavier and harder-wearing
2. So the wearer can be seen in low light when vehicle headlights shine on them
3. To show the manufacturer's logo more clearly
4. To keep the wearer cooler in hot weather

Fluorescent colour aids daytime visibility, while retroreflective tape bounces back vehicle headlights so the wearer is seen in the dark. Source: BS EN ISO 20471 (high-visibility clothing)

22. You arrive at a site that requires hi-vis at all times, but you have forgotten yours. What is the correct action?

1. Walk onto site quickly and stay out of the way
2. Do not enter the working area until you have suitable hi-vis
3. Borrow a dark jacket so you blend in less
4. Wait until it gets dark before going on site

If hi-vis is a site requirement you must not enter the working area without it, as you would be at risk of not being seen by plant and vehicles. Source: HSE guidance on workplace transport; site rules

23. Hi-vis clothing is still classed as which level of control on a site with moving traffic?

1. A primary control that removes the risk of being struck
2. A last line of defence that supports, but does not replace, traffic management
3. An alternative to having any traffic routes at all
4. A control only needed by visitors, not workers

Hi-vis is PPE and therefore a last resort; segregating people from vehicles with traffic management remains the primary control. Source: HSE guidance on workplace transport; PPE at Work Regulations 1992

24. It is raining heavily and you put a waterproof coat over your hi-vis vest, hiding it. What should you do?

1. Leave the coat over the vest as the weather matters more
2. Wear hi-vis on the outside, such as a hi-vis waterproof, so you stay visible
3. Take the hi-vis off completely to stay dry
4. Only show the hi-vis when a vehicle is near

Covering hi-vis defeats its purpose; the outermost layer should be high-visibility so you remain conspicuous in the rain. Source: BS EN ISO 20471; HSE guidance on workplace transport

25. Which of these workers would most clearly need to wear high-visibility clothing?

1. An office worker in a fully separate site cabin away from any traffic
2. A banksman directing reversing vehicles and plant
3. A planner reviewing drawings off site
4. A visitor watching from behind a permanent barrier far from the works

A banksman works close to moving vehicles and must be highly visible to drivers, making hi-vis essential to their safety. Source: HSE guidance on workplace transport; vehicle banksman safety

26. You are working on a road or highway alongside live traffic. What does this typically mean for your hi-vis?

1. Any coloured jacket will do
2. A higher class of hi-vis clothing may be required for greater visibility
3. Hi-vis is not needed because drivers should be watching the road
4. Only reflective trousers are required, not a top

Higher-risk environments such as live highways generally call for a higher class of hi-vis (for example Class 3) to ensure workers are seen by fast-moving traffic. Source: BS EN ISO 20471; Chapter 8 Traffic Signs Manual

27. A site insists everyone wears hi-vis, but managers say this on its own makes the site safe from vehicle strikes. Why is this view flawed?

1. Because hi-vis works only during daylight hours
2. Because hi-vis is a last resort and does not remove the need to separate people from vehicles
3. Because hi-vis is not legally allowed on construction sites
4. Because only drivers, not pedestrians, need to be protected

Relying on hi-vis alone ignores the hierarchy of control; the most effective measure is segregating pedestrians from vehicles, with hi-vis as a final safeguard. Source: HSE guidance on workplace transport; MHSWR 1999

28. What does the 'class' of a high-visibility garment (for example Class 1, 2 or 3) indicate?

1. The colour the garment must be dyed
2. The level of visibility it provides, based on the amount of fluorescent and reflective material
3. The price band the garment falls into
4. The number of times it can be washed before disposal

Garment classes reflect the minimum areas of background and retroreflective material, with higher classes giving greater conspicuity for higher-risk settings. Source: BS EN ISO 20471 (high-visibility clothing classes)

29. On a typical construction site, when must you wear a safety helmet?

1. Only when working at height
2. At all times in designated head protection areas, which usually means the whole site
3. Only when carrying out demolition work
4. Only when your supervisor is watching

Most construction sites are designated head protection areas where helmets must be worn at all times, as falling or swinging objects are a constant risk. Source: PPE at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended) / HSE guidance

30. Who must provide your safety helmet and any other required PPE?

1. You must buy it yourself
2. Your employer must provide it free of charge
3. The main contractor charges it to your wages
4. You hire it from the site office

PPE, including head protection, must be provided free of charge by the employer; workers cannot be charged for equipment needed to protect their health and safety. Source: PPE at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended) / HASAWA 1974 s.2 & s.9

31. You notice your safety helmet has a deep crack in the shell after a tool fell on it. What should you do?

1. Carry on wearing it as the crack is only small
2. Tape over the crack and continue using it
3. Stop using it and get it replaced before continuing work
4. Turn it round so the crack is at the back

A cracked shell can no longer absorb impact reliably, so a damaged helmet must be taken out of use and replaced immediately. Source: HSE guidance / PPE at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended)

32. Why should you NOT paint a safety helmet or apply solvent-based stickers to it?

1. It makes the helmet too heavy
2. The chemicals can weaken the shell without any visible sign
3. It voids the manufacturer's colour scheme only
4. It stops the helmet from fitting properly

Paints, solvents and adhesives can attack and weaken the plastic shell, reducing its ability to protect you even though the damage may not be visible. Source: HSE guidance / manufacturer's instructions

33. What is the main purpose of a safety helmet on a construction site?

1. To keep the sun out of your eyes
2. To protect your head from falling and swinging objects and from knocks
3. To identify which trade you belong to
4. To keep your head warm in cold weather

A safety helmet is designed to protect the head from impact by falling or swinging objects and from striking fixed objects. Source: HSE guidance / PPE at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended)

34. Your safety helmet feels loose and slips forward over your eyes when you bend down. What should you do?

1. Wear it tilted back so it stays on
2. Adjust the headband and harness so it fits snugly and level
3. Wear it without the harness fitted
4. Carry it in your hand until you need it

A helmet only protects properly when it fits correctly and sits level, so you should adjust the headband and harness for a secure fit. Source: HSE guidance / manufacturer's instructions

35. How should you decide when a safety helmet has reached the end of its useful life?

1. When it changes colour slightly
2. By following the manufacturer's stated replacement guidance and the date marked inside
3. Only when the chin strap breaks
4. After exactly ten years regardless of make

Helmets carry a manufacture date and the manufacturer specifies a service life; you should replace the helmet in line with that guidance and after any significant impact. Source: HSE guidance / manufacturer's instructions