HS&E Operatives practice question: COSHH and hazardous substances (5 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 is clearing out an old drainage ditch next to a canal. There are signs of rats everywhere.
Which precaution helps protect you from leptospirosis (Weil's disease)?
Choose one answer.
AA. Nothing, as it only affects people who are bitten by rats
BB. Cover cuts with waterproof dressings and wear gloves
CC. Eat your lunch at the work area so you don't lose time
DD. Wear a dust mask, as the disease is caught by breathing it in
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: B
A. Wrong: Wrong. You don't need to be bitten. Water or soil contaminated with rat urine can infect you through a cut or scratch.
B. Right: Right. Leptospirosis is caught from rat urine, which can get in through cuts and scratches or through your mouth and eyes. Covering cuts, wearing gloves and washing your hands before eating all help.
C. Wrong: Wrong. Take breaks away from the work area and wash your hands first. Otherwise you can carry the bacteria to your mouth on your hands or food.
D. Wrong: Wrong. Weil's disease is mainly caught when infected rat urine gets into cuts or the mouth, nose or eyes, not by breathing in dust.
Explanation
Leptospirosis comes from rat urine. Cover cuts, wear gloves, wash your hands before eating or drinking, and take breaks away from the work area. It starts like flu, so tell your doctor about your work if you feel ill.