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HS&E Operatives practice question: Asbestos awareness (3 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.

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You are about to chase a wall for cables in a 1970s school. Nobody has checked whether there is asbestos where you will be working.

Should you start the job?

Choose one answer.

  1. A. Yes, because chasing a wall makes less dust than drilling
  2. B. Yes, because you can stop if you spot something suspicious
  3. C. No, because the asbestos information must be checked first
  4. D. No, because only licensed contractors may work in old schools
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: C

  • A. Wrong: Wrong. Any work that breaks into a material containing asbestos can release fibres. How much dust you can see tells you nothing about the fibres.
  • B. Wrong: Wrong. Asbestos can be hidden, for example in cavity walls. Your employer must check the asbestos survey before the work starts, not part way through.
  • C. Right: Right. In a building from before 2000, your employer should check the asbestos register or survey for the area. HSE says not to do any work until that has been done.
  • D. Wrong: Wrong. Many jobs in older buildings can be done safely once the asbestos information has been checked. A licence is needed for certain asbestos work, not for every job in an old building.

Explanation

Before working on a building from before 2000, find out whether there is asbestos where you will work. If no one has checked, don't start.

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