HS&E Operatives practice question: COSHH and hazardous substances (1 of 7)
B. Occupational health A free question from our original HS&E Operatives practice exam. Try it, then open the answer to see why each option is right or wrong.
Your gang starts using a new floor adhesive. The supplier has sent a safety data sheet with it.
Which of these is true about the safety data sheet?
Choose one answer.
AA. It is only needed if someone has already been harmed
BB. It helps your employer work out how to use the product safely
CC. It is the COSHH risk assessment, so nothing else is needed
DD. It only matters to the person who ordered the product
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: B
A. Wrong: Wrong. The information is needed before the product is used, so the right controls are in place from the start.
B. Right: Right. A safety data sheet describes the product's hazards and how to handle, store and deal with it in an emergency. Your employer uses it to help make their own COSHH assessment.
C. Wrong: Wrong. HSE says a safety data sheet is not a risk assessment. It gives information that helps your employer make one for the way the product is used on your site.
D. Wrong: Wrong. The information is there so that the people using the product can be protected. Your employer should tell you what it means for the job you are doing.
Explanation
A safety data sheet tells you about a product's hazards and how to handle and store it. It is not a risk assessment, but it helps your employer make one.