First aid and emergency procedures questions for the CSCS test
7 free questions on First aid and emergency procedures, from section A. Working environment. Every question is original and explains why each option is right or wrong.
You cut your hand on the sharp edge of a metal sheet. The cut is small, but it is bleeding through your torn glove.
What should you do?
Choose one answer.
AA. Wrap it in a rag and carry on with the job
BB. Use a plaster from your van and tell no one
CC. Wait until the end of your shift and treat it at home
DD. Get it treated by a first-aider and recorded
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: D
A. Wrong: Wrong. A dirty rag can cause infection, and carrying on means the cause is not dealt with. Get it treated properly and reported.
B. Wrong: Wrong. Treating it yourself may stop the bleeding, but no one learns about the sharp edge. Report it so it is recorded and the hazard can be dealt with.
C. Wrong: Wrong. A cut should be treated straight away, and the site needs to know it happened. Use the first-aid arrangements on site.
D. Right: Right. The site's first-aid arrangements are there for injuries like this. Recording it means a pattern of injuries, such as from sharp sheet edges, can be spotted and fixed.
Explanation
Report every injury, however small, and get it treated through the site's first-aid arrangements. Your site induction tells you who the first-aiders are and where the first-aid kit is.
The fire alarm sounds while you are working on the second floor of a building that is still being built.
Put these actions in order, starting with the first.
Put these 5 steps in order.
AA. Go to the assembly point
BB. Stay until you are told it is safe to go back
CC. Stop work and quickly make it safe, such as switching off tools
DD. Report to the person checking who is out
EE. Leave by the nearest safe escape route
Show the answer and explanation
Correct order: C, E, A, D, B
C. Stop work and quickly make it safe, such as switching off tools First. Stop at once. If it takes only a moment, switch off tools so they don't add to the danger. Never delay your escape to do this.
E. Leave by the nearest safe escape route Second. Use the escape route you were shown at your induction. Don't use a hoist or go back for belongings.
A. Go to the assembly point Third. Go to the assembly point for your area, so everyone can be counted in one place.
D. Report to the person checking who is out Fourth. The roll call tells the emergency services whether anyone is still inside. If you are missing, someone may go in to look for you.
B. Stay until you are told it is safe to go back Last. Only go back into the building when the person in charge says it is safe.
Explanation
When the fire alarm sounds: stop and make safe if it takes a moment, leave by the nearest safe route, go to the assembly point, report in, and wait until you are told it is safe.
A small site has an appointed person for first aid, but no trained first-aider.
What does the appointed person do?
Choose one answer.
AA. Decides whether accidents get reported to HSE
BB. Checks everyone's first-aid certificates at the gate
CC. Runs first aid and calls for help
DD. Gives full first-aid treatment to anyone who is hurt
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: C
A. Wrong: Wrong. RIDDOR reporting is the duty of the responsible person, such as the employer or principal contractor.
B. Wrong: Wrong. That is not the appointed person's role. They look after the first-aid arrangements.
C. Right: Right. An appointed person takes charge of first-aid arrangements, looks after the equipment and calls the emergency services when needed. They don't need first-aid training.
D. Wrong: Wrong. An appointed person may have no first-aid training. Treatment should be given by a trained first-aider or paramedics.
Explanation
An appointed person looks after first-aid arrangements and equipment and calls the emergency services. A first-aider has been trained to give first aid.
It is your first week on a large site. You need to know who the first-aider is in case of an accident.
Where should you find this out?
Choose one answer.
AA. From your induction and the notices in the site cabin
BB. You don't need to, as someone will find you if you are hurt
CC. By asking the client when they visit
DD. By checking the internet for local first-aiders
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: A
A. Right: Right. Workers must be told who the appointed person or first-aider is and where to find them. A notice in the site hut is one way HSE suggests.
B. Wrong: Wrong. In an emergency you need to know who to call straight away.
C. Wrong: Wrong. The information should be given to you as part of the site's first-aid arrangements.
D. Wrong: Wrong. Your site must have its own first-aid arrangements and tell you about them.
Explanation
Your employer must tell you about the first-aid arrangements, including who the first-aider or appointed person is and where the kit is.
A workmate falls from a stepladder, hits their head and is lying still and not answering you.
What should you do first?
Choose one answer.
AA. Leave them to come round on their own
BB. Call for the first-aider and the emergency services
CC. Sit them up and give them a drink of water
DD. Finish the job you are doing, then check on them
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: B
A. Wrong: Wrong. Loss of consciousness from a head injury is serious. Get help straight away.
B. Right: Right. Get help straight away: call the first-aider or appointed person, and the emergency services. Don't move them unless they are in danger.
C. Wrong: Wrong. Moving them could make a head or neck injury worse, and they may choke on water.
D. Wrong: Wrong. An unconscious person needs help immediately.
Explanation
If someone is badly hurt, get help straight away from the first-aider and the emergency services. Don't move them unless they are in danger.
After a busy week, the first-aid kit in the site cabin has run out of plasters and dressings.
What should happen?
Choose one answer.
AA. Bring plasters from home and keep them in your pocket
BB. Wait until the next accident, then order more
CC. Tell the appointed person so it can be restocked
DD. Leave it, as the kit only needs to be full for inspections
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: C
A. Wrong: Wrong. The site's kit needs restocking so everyone can use it.
B. Wrong: Wrong. By then it is too late. Restock the kit now.
C. Right: Right. The appointed person looks after the first-aid equipment. HSE says check kits regularly and replace items that are used up or out of date.
D. Wrong: Wrong. The kit must be ready for use at any time, not just for inspections.
Explanation
First-aid kits must be suitably stocked. Tell the appointed person if a kit is running low.