Workplace Health and Safety Basics Course (EU): Employer duties: prevention and training

1. Question 1 of 17

   Under the Framework Directive, who has the duty to ensure workers' safety and health in every aspect related to the work?

   • AThe workers' safety representative
   • BThe employer
   • CThe national labour inspectorate
   • DEach worker alone
   Show answer

   Answer: B. The employer

   Article 5 says the employer has a duty to ensure the safety and health of workers in every aspect related to the work.

2. Question 2 of 17

   An employer hires an outside safety consultant. Who is responsible for workers' safety now?

   • AThe consultant takes over full responsibility
   • BThe employer is still responsible
   • CThe workers become responsible
   • DNobody until the consultant's report is finished
   Show answer

   Answer: B. The employer is still responsible

   Using external services or persons does not take away the employer's responsibility.

3. Question 3 of 17

   Which general principle of prevention comes first in the Framework Directive's list?

   • AGiving workers personal protective equipment
   • BAvoiding risks
   • CGiving workers instructions
   • DAdapting to technical progress
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Avoiding risks

   The list of principles starts with avoiding risks. Risks that cannot be avoided must then be evaluated.

4. Question 4 of 17

   A leaking pipe keeps making the floor wet. Which action is "combating the risk at source"?

   • ARepairing the leaking pipe
   • BGiving workers non-slip shoes
   • CPutting a warning sign next to the puddle
   • DTelling workers to walk carefully
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Repairing the leaking pipe

   Combating a risk at source means dealing with the cause of the hazard, here the leak, not just its effects.

5. Question 5 of 17

   Which action follows the principle of replacing the dangerous with the less dangerous?

   • ASwitching to a cleaning product that is less hazardous
   • BAdding a second copy of the same label
   • CBuying a larger supply of the same cleaning product at a lower price
   • DStoring the product in a bigger container
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Switching to a cleaning product that is less hazardous

   One principle of prevention is replacing what is dangerous with something non-dangerous or less dangerous (substitution).

6. Question 6 of 17

   There is an open edge where workers could fall. Which option do the principles of prevention prefer?

   • AA harness for each worker, with no guardrail
   • BA guardrail along the edge that protects everyone
   • CA rule that only experienced workers go near the edge
   • DA sign asking workers to be careful
   Show answer

   Answer: B. A guardrail along the edge that protects everyone

   The principles give collective protective measures priority over individual ones. A guardrail protects everyone at once.

7. Question 7 of 17

   When must personal protective equipment (PPE) be used?

   • AOnly when a worker asks for it
   • BAlways, as the very first measure, before any other control is considered
   • COnly when a labour inspector is visiting
   • DWhen other measures cannot avoid or limit the risk enough
   Show answer

   Answer: D. When other measures cannot avoid or limit the risk enough

   Directive 89/656/EEC makes PPE the measure to use when other measures cannot avoid or sufficiently limit the risk.

8. Question 8 of 17

   Who pays for the personal protective equipment a worker needs for the job?

   • AThe worker, through small deductions from their monthly wages
   • BThe employer, free of charge to the worker
   • CThe worker and employer share the cost
   • DThe worker, unless they stay for one year
   Show answer

   Answer: B. The employer, free of charge to the worker

   The employer must provide appropriate PPE free of charge and keep it in good working order and hygienic condition.

9. Question 9 of 17

   Can a worker be asked to pay for safety and health measures at work?

   • AYes, but only part-time workers
   • BYes, if the worker agrees to it in writing beforehand
   • CYes, up to a small limit set by the EU
   • DNo, never; they may not cost workers anything
   Show answer

   Answer: D. No, never; they may not cost workers anything

   Article 6(5) says safety, hygiene and health measures may in no circumstances involve workers in financial cost.

10. Question 10 of 17

    Which event requires the employer to give a worker safety and health training?

    • ANew equipment is introduced in the worker's job
    • BThe company changes its logo
    • CThe worker moves to a new home address
    • DThe worker comes back to work after their annual leave
    Show answer

    Answer: A. New equipment is introduced in the worker's job

    Training must be given on recruitment, on a transfer or change of job, and when new equipment or technology is introduced, and repeated when needed.

11. Question 11 of 17

    When must workers' safety and health training take place?

    • ADuring working hours
    • BAt weekends, at the worker's own cost
    • COnly at home, in the worker's free time
    • DIn unpaid evening classes
    Show answer

    Answer: A. During working hours

    Article 12 says worker training must take place during working hours and may not be at the worker's cost.

12. Question 12 of 17

    Several employers share one building. What does the Framework Directive require?

    • AThey cooperate, coordinate and inform each other and their workers
    • BEach employer looks after its own staff only and can ignore the others
    • COnly the largest employer is responsible for safety
    • DThe building owner takes over all safety duties
    Show answer

    Answer: A. They cooperate, coordinate and inform each other and their workers

    Article 6(4) requires employers sharing a workplace to cooperate, coordinate and inform each other and their workers about risks.

13. Question 13 of 17

    Which emergency arrangements must every employer make?

    • AA yearly fire drill run by the police
    • BAn on-site doctor who is present during all working hours
    • CA private ambulance parked at every site
    • DFirst aid, firefighting and evacuation of workers
    Show answer

    Answer: D. First aid, firefighting and evacuation of workers

    Article 8 requires measures for first aid, firefighting and evacuation, suited to the size and nature of the work, plus contact with outside emergency services.

14. Question 14 of 17

    An employer has nobody with the skills to carry out prevention work. What must they do?

    • AEnlist competent external services or persons
    • BAsk the workers to pay for a consultant
    • CLeave prevention until a worker learns the skills
    • DAsk the labour inspectorate to do the work
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Enlist competent external services or persons

    Employers must designate competent workers for prevention work, or, if they lack them in-house, use competent external services or persons.

15. Question 15 of 17

    What information must the employer give workers about safety and health?

    • AThe risks and the safety measures for the workplace and their job
    • BThe names and home addresses of all workers who have had accidents
    • CThe company's yearly profit figures
    • DThe home addresses of other workers
    Show answer

    Answer: A. The risks and the safety measures for the workplace and their job

    Article 10 requires information on the risks and on the protective and preventive measures for the undertaking in general and for each type of job.

16. Question 16 of 17

    An employer plans to bring in a new computer-controlled machine. What must happen first?

    • AWorkers or their representatives are consulted
    • BWorkers vote on whether the company may buy it
    • CNothing, workers are told on the day it arrives
    • DThe employer asks EU-OSHA for permission
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Workers or their representatives are consulted

    The employer must ensure that the planning and introduction of new technologies are the subject of consultation with workers or their representatives.

17. Question 17 of 17

    A safety representative needs time to carry out their duties. What must the employer allow?

    • AEnough paid time off and the means they need
    • BTime outside working hours only
    • CUnpaid leave only
    • DTime off that is taken from their yearly holiday allowance
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Enough paid time off and the means they need

    Article 11(5) says safety representatives must get adequate time off work without loss of pay, and the means they need.

Keyboard: 1–4 to answer, Enter for the next question.