English for the Canadian Workplace Course: Instructions and safety language

1. Question 1 of 16

   Your supervisor says, "Don't lift that box alone." What does she mean?

   • AGet help before you lift the box
   • BLift the box slowly by yourself
   • CLeave the box there all day
   • DLift the box by yourself after your break
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Get help before you lift the box

   "Don't" at the start of an instruction means the action is not allowed. Here, lifting alone is not allowed.

2. Question 2 of 16

   What does PPE stand for?

   • APersonal protective equipment
   • BPrivate parking entrance
   • CPublic protection emergency
   • DPersonal permit for employment
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   Answer: A. Personal protective equipment

   PPE means personal protective equipment, such as gloves, safety glasses, hard hats and safety boots.

3. Question 3 of 16

   A coworker shouts "Heads up!" What should you do?

   • ALift your head to stretch your neck
   • BRaise your hand to ask a question
   • CGo to the meeting room
   • DLook around: there may be danger
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Look around: there may be danger

   "Heads up!" is a warning to pay attention right away, for example to something falling or moving.

4. Question 4 of 16

   The instruction says, "Turn off the power before you open the panel." What do you do first?

   • ACall your supervisor
   • BTurn off the power
   • COpen the panel
   • DCheck the panel for damage
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   Answer: B. Turn off the power

   "Before" shows order: the action after "before" happens second. Turn off the power, then open the panel.

5. Question 5 of 16

   In a safety rule, which word means the action is required?

   • Amight
   • Bcould
   • Cmust
   • Dmay
   Show answer

   Answer: C. must

   "Must" and "have to" mean required. "May" and "could" mean allowed or possible.

6. Question 6 of 16

   Listen. What must you do just before you plug the slicer back in?

   Play audioListen, then answer. The transcript is shown after you answer.

   No sound? Read the text instead

   Ravi: Before you clean the slicer, unplug it. Then put on the cut-resistant gloves. Wipe the blade from the centre out, never across the edge. When you're done, put the guard back on before you plug it in again.

   • AWipe the blade one more time with a cloth
   • BPut the guard back on
   • CUnplug it
   • DPut on the gloves
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Put the guard back on

   Ravi says to put the guard back on before you plug it in again. Words like "then", "when" and "before" show the order of steps.

   Transcript

   Ravi: Before you clean the slicer, unplug it. Then put on the cut-resistant gloves. Wipe the blade from the centre out, never across the edge. When you're done, put the guard back on before you plug it in again.

7. Question 7 of 16

   Listen. How should you wipe the blade?

   Play audioListen, then answer. The transcript is shown after you answer.

   No sound? Read the text instead

   Ravi: Before you clean the slicer, unplug it. Then put on the cut-resistant gloves. Wipe the blade from the centre out, never across the edge. When you're done, put the guard back on before you plug it in again.

   • AQuickly up and down
   • BAcross the edge
   • CWith the gloves off
   • DFrom the centre out
   Show answer

   Answer: D. From the centre out

   Ravi says to wipe from the centre out, never across the edge. Listen carefully for "never" in safety instructions.

   Transcript

   Ravi: Before you clean the slicer, unplug it. Then put on the cut-resistant gloves. Wipe the blade from the centre out, never across the edge. When you're done, put the guard back on before you plug it in again.

8. Question 8 of 16

   What is the right to know?

   • AKnowing first aid before you start
   • BSeeing your coworkers' pay records
   • CChoosing which of the safety rules you follow
   • DBeing told about known or likely hazards
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Being told about known or likely hazards

   The right to know means your employer must tell you about known or likely hazards and give you the training you need.

9. Question 9 of 16

   What are the three basic health and safety rights of workers in Canada?

   • ATo rest, to be paid overtime and to refuse
   • BTo know, to sue and to quit
   • CTo know, to participate and to refuse
   • DTo know, to vote and to strike
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   Answer: C. To know, to participate and to refuse

   Health and safety laws in Canada give workers the right to know, the right to participate and the right to refuse dangerous work.

10. Question 10 of 16

    Which is a duty of employees under workplace safety rules?

    • AKeep small injuries to yourself
    • BWrite new safety procedures for your own job site
    • CUse the safety equipment the employer gives you
    • DBuy all your own safety equipment
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    Answer: C. Use the safety equipment the employer gives you

    Employees must use the safety equipment provided, follow safety procedures and report hazards and injuries.

11. Question 11 of 16

    You see oil on the floor near loading dock 3. Which report is clearest?

    • AThe floor somewhere near the back looks kind of bad, I think.
    • BSomething's wrong over there.
    • CBe careful out there, okay?
    • DThere's oil on the floor by dock 3. I put a cone there.
    Show answer

    Answer: D. There's oil on the floor by dock 3. I put a cone there.

    A clear hazard report says what the problem is, where it is and what you did. Report hazards right away.

12. Question 12 of 16

    Listen. What did Lena do with the ladder?

    Play audioListen, then answer. The transcript is shown after you answer.

    No sound? Read the text instead

    Lena: Hey Omar, the ladder in aisle 6 has a cracked step.
    Omar: Did anyone use it today?
    Lena: No. I tagged it "Do not use" and moved it to the back wall.
    Omar: Good. I'll call maintenance and order a new one.

    • AShe fixed the cracked step
    • BShe called maintenance
    • CShe tagged it and moved it to the back wall
    • DShe kept using it carefully in aisle 6 all day
    Show answer

    Answer: C. She tagged it and moved it to the back wall

    Lena tagged the ladder "Do not use" and moved it. Omar is the one who will call maintenance.

    Transcript

    Lena: Hey Omar, the ladder in aisle 6 has a cracked step.
    Omar: Did anyone use it today?
    Lena: No. I tagged it "Do not use" and moved it to the back wall.
    Omar: Good. I'll call maintenance and order a new one.

13. Question 13 of 16

    When you call 9-1-1, what should you tell the operator as soon as they ask?

    • AYour employer's name and your job title
    • BYour full work history
    • CWhat the emergency is and where it is
    • DWhy the emergency is not your fault
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    Answer: C. What the emergency is and where it is

    The CRTC says to tell the 9-1-1 operator the nature and location of the emergency as soon as they ask.

14. Question 14 of 16

    You dial 9-1-1 by mistake. What should you do?

    • AHang up right away
    • BStay on the line and say there is no emergency
    • CHang up, then call back tomorrow to explain the mistake
    • DTurn off your phone
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Stay on the line and say there is no emergency

    If you call 9-1-1 by mistake, stay on the line and tell the operator there is no emergency.

15. Question 15 of 16

    Read the notice. What must you do after 30 minutes in Room B?

    SAFETY NOTICE: Freezer Room B

    Starting Monday, March 9, all staff must wear insulated gloves and a freezer jacket in Room B. Jackets are on the hooks by the door.

    Never work in Room B for more than 30 minutes at a time. After each 30 minutes, take a 10-minute warm-up break in the break room.

    If the door alarm sounds, leave the room right away and tell your supervisor.

    Questions? Ask Paul in Facilities.

    • ATell Paul in Facilities
    • BTake a 10-minute warm-up break
    • CPut on a second freezer jacket and keep working
    • DCheck the door alarm
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Take a 10-minute warm-up break

    The notice says to take a 10-minute warm-up break after each 30 minutes in the freezer room.

16. Question 16 of 16

    Read the notice. What should you do if the door alarm sounds?

    SAFETY NOTICE: Freezer Room B

    Starting Monday, March 9, all staff must wear insulated gloves and a freezer jacket in Room B. Jackets are on the hooks by the door.

    Never work in Room B for more than 30 minutes at a time. After each 30 minutes, take a 10-minute warm-up break in the break room.

    If the door alarm sounds, leave the room right away and tell your supervisor.

    Questions? Ask Paul in Facilities.

    • AFinish your task, then leave
    • BLeave right away and tell your supervisor
    • CPut on your insulated gloves and finish the job
    • DCall Paul in Facilities first
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Leave right away and tell your supervisor

    The notice says to leave the room right away and tell your supervisor. "Right away" means now, not after you finish.

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