Workplace Health and Safety Basics Course (EU): Risk assessment step by step

1. Question 1 of 16

   What is a hazard?

   • ASomething with the potential to cause harm
   • BThe chance that someone will be harmed by something
   • CA fine from the labour inspectorate
   • DA written report about an accident
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   Answer: A. Something with the potential to cause harm

   A hazard is anything at work with the potential to cause harm, such as a wet floor or a chemical.

2. Question 2 of 16

   How is a risk estimated in a risk assessment?

   • ABy the cost of the equipment
   • BBy the age of the building
   • CBy the number of workers who work in the area
   • DBy the severity and probability of harm
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   Answer: D. By the severity and probability of harm

   EU-OSHA's stepwise approach estimates risks from the severity and probability of possible harm.

3. Question 3 of 16

   What is the first step of EU-OSHA's stepwise approach to risk assessment?

   • ABuying personal protective equipment for everyone
   • BMonitoring and reviewing
   • CIdentifying hazards and those at risk
   • DDeciding on preventive action
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   Answer: C. Identifying hazards and those at risk

   Step 1 is identifying hazards and the workers who may be exposed to them.

4. Question 4 of 16

   Which step comes right after identifying hazards and those at risk?

   • AEvaluating and prioritising risks
   • BBuying protective equipment for all workers
   • CMonitoring and reviewing
   • DWriting an accident report
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   Answer: A. Evaluating and prioritising risks

   Step 2 is evaluating and prioritising risks, so that the most serious are dealt with first.

5. Question 5 of 16

   Which step keeps a risk assessment up to date?

   • AEvaluating the cost of equipment
   • BChoosing a company logo
   • CMonitoring and reviewing
   • DIdentifying hazards for the first time
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   Answer: C. Monitoring and reviewing

   The last step is monitoring and reviewing the assessment at regular intervals so it stays up to date.

6. Question 6 of 16

   You find a risk. According to EU-OSHA, what should you ask first?

   • AWhich protective equipment should we buy?
   • BCan this risk be eliminated?
   • CWho is to blame for this risk?
   • DHow large could a fine be?
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   Answer: B. Can this risk be eliminated?

   EU-OSHA says assessment should begin from first principles by asking whether the risk can be eliminated.

7. Question 7 of 16

   Does EU law set one fixed method for carrying out a risk assessment?

   • ANo, there are no fixed EU rules; national law applies
   • BYes, the online OiRA tool is compulsory in every EU country
   • CYes, only licensed consultants may do it
   • DYes, every company must use one EU form
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   Answer: A. No, there are no fixed EU rules; national law applies

   EU-OSHA says there are no fixed rules at EU level on how to carry out a risk assessment; national legislation applies.

8. Question 8 of 16

   What is OiRA?

   • AAn online risk assessment tool from EU-OSHA
   • BA kind of protective glove
   • CA type of EU directive
   • DA national labour inspectorate in each EU country
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   Answer: A. An online risk assessment tool from EU-OSHA

   OiRA (Online interactive Risk Assessment) is EU-OSHA's risk assessment tool. OiRA tools follow the stepwise approach.

9. Question 9 of 16

   Who should take part in a risk assessment?

   • AWorkers and their representatives
   • BOnly the labour inspectorate
   • COnly outside consultants
   • DOnly senior managers and the company owner
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   Answer: A. Workers and their representatives

   Risk assessment records should be drawn up with the consultation and participation of workers and/or their representatives.

10. Question 10 of 16

    Which item should a risk assessment record include?

    • AThe company's yearly sales figures and profit margins
    • BEach worker's salary
    • CThe workers' home addresses
    • DWho is responsible for each measure, and by when
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    Answer: D. Who is responsible for each measure, and by when

    EU-OSHA recommends recording the measures, who is responsible for them and when, as well as the hazards, risks and review dates.

11. Question 11 of 16

    A shop is preparing its risk assessment. Which tasks should it include?

    • ATasks done outside normal hours, such as night cleaning
    • BOnly tasks done by managers
    • COnly tasks done at the cash desk
    • DOnly the tasks done during the busiest trading hour of the day
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    Answer: A. Tasks done outside normal hours, such as night cleaning

    EU-OSHA says the assessment should cover all relevant hazards and risks, including tasks outside normal working hours.

12. Question 12 of 16

    Your workplace installs a new packaging machine. What should happen to the risk assessment?

    • ANothing unless there is an accident
    • BIt should be thrown away and not replaced
    • CNothing until next year's review
    • DIt should be reviewed and updated
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    Answer: D. It should be reviewed and updated

    A risk assessment should be revised when circumstances change, for example when new equipment or procedures are introduced.

13. Question 13 of 16

    Why should a risk assessment note groups of workers who face particular risks, such as young or pregnant workers?

    • AThese workers must pay for their own protection
    • BThese groups must be protected from the dangers that affect them
    • CThese workers are not covered by EU law, so they need a separate list
    • DThese workers do not need any safety training
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    Answer: B. These groups must be protected from the dangers that affect them

    Article 15 of the Framework Directive says particularly sensitive risk groups must be protected against the dangers that specifically affect them.

14. Question 14 of 16

    Using the lesson's example method (score = likelihood × severity, each from 1 to 3), what is the score for likelihood 2 and severity 3?

    • A6
    • B3
    • C9
    • D5
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    Answer: A. 6

    Multiply the two numbers: 2 × 3 = 6. Adding them (5) is a common mistake.

15. Question 15 of 16

    Using the lesson's example method, which hazard in the table should be dealt with first?

    Hazard	Likelihood (1–3)	Severity (1–3)
    A: hot water urn	1	3
    B: boxes stored in a corridor	2	2
    C: sharp edge on a desk	3	1

    • AC: sharp edge on a desk
    • BThey all have the same priority
    • CB: boxes stored in a corridor
    • DA: hot water urn
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    Answer: C. B: boxes stored in a corridor

    Scores: A = 1 × 3 = 3, B = 2 × 2 = 4, C = 3 × 1 = 3. B has the highest score, even though A has the highest severity.

16. Question 16 of 16

    Using the lesson's example bands (1–2 low, 3–4 medium, 6–9 high), how is a risk with likelihood 3 and severity 2 rated?

    • AIt cannot be rated
    • BHigh
    • CMedium
    • DLow
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    Answer: B. High

    3 × 2 = 6, and scores from 6 to 9 are rated high in the example method.

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