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Pollution and spillages questions for the CSCS test

7 free questions on Pollution and spillages, from section A. Working environment. Every question is original and explains why each option is right or wrong.

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Question 1

Medium ·Link to this question (question 1)

A fuel bowser, a mobile diesel tank, is leaking diesel onto the ground. The diesel is running towards a drain with a blue-marked cover.

What should you do?

Choose one answer.

  1. A. Cover the spill with soil from the site and carry on working
  2. B. Leave it, as a drain like that goes to a sewage works
  3. C. If safe, stop the leak and use a spill kit to protect the drain
  4. D. Hose it into the drain with plenty of water to dilute it
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: C

  • A. Wrong: Wrong. Covering the spill hides it but does not stop it soaking into the ground or reaching the drain. It must be contained and reported.
  • B. Wrong: Wrong. Blue marks a surface water drain, which goes straight to a watercourse, not to a sewage works. Red marks a foul drain.
  • C. Right: Right. Stop the source if you safely can, and use the spill kit to stop the diesel reaching the drain. Then tell your supervisor, so it can be cleaned up and reported to the regulator if needed.
  • D. Wrong: Wrong. A blue-marked drain is a surface water drain. It goes straight to a river or stream, so washing diesel into it causes pollution.

Explanation

Surface water drains go straight to rivers and streams. If there is a spill, stop it at the source if it is safe, use the spill kit to protect drains, and tell your supervisor straight away.

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Question 2

Medium ·Link to this question (question 2)

At the end of the day, a concrete mixer needs washing out. The nearest drain is a surface water drain at the edge of the road.

Can the wash water go down that drain?

Choose one answer.

  1. A. Yes, as long as the water company is told afterwards
  2. B. No, because these drains lead straight to rivers and streams
  3. C. No, because only water from the welfare cabins can go down it
  4. D. Yes, because the concrete is diluted by the water
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B

  • A. Wrong: Wrong. Telling someone afterwards does not undo pollution. Concrete wash water must be collected and dealt with properly, not put down a surface water drain.
  • B. Right: Right. Surface water drains carry rainwater straight to a watercourse. Concrete wash water must be collected in a sealed container and dealt with properly.
  • C. Wrong: Wrong. Waste water from welfare cabins goes to the foul sewer, not to a surface water drain. Surface water drains should only carry clean rainwater.
  • D. Wrong: Wrong. Dilution does not make concrete wash water safe. It can still kill fish and plants in the river or stream the drain leads to.

Explanation

Never put concrete wash water, or anything other than clean rainwater, down a surface water drain. Wash out in the area set aside for it on site.

Study

Question 3

Medium ·Link to this question (question 3)

A 205-litre drum of diesel is being stored on site.

How should it be stored to stop pollution if it leaks?

Choose one answer.

  1. A. In a bund that holds 110% of the drum's contents
  2. B. On bare ground, as the soil will soak up any leak
  3. C. Next to a drain, so leaks can be washed away
  4. D. In a bund that holds half of the drum's contents
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A

  • A. Right: Right. NetRegs says secondary containment for single drums should hold 110% of the container's volume.
  • B. Wrong: Wrong. Diesel soaking into the ground pollutes the soil and groundwater.
  • C. Wrong: Wrong. Diesel in a drain can reach a river or stream and cause serious pollution.
  • D. Wrong: Wrong. A bund that only holds half would overflow if the drum split. It needs to hold 110%.

Explanation

Store oil and fuel in secondary containment, such as a bund that holds 110% of the container, away from drains and watercourses.

Study

Question 4

Easier ·Link to this question (question 4)

At the end of the day you finish using the site's fuel bowser.

What should you do before you leave it?

Choose one answer.

  1. A. Leave the key in it for the morning shift
  2. B. Lock its valves and nozzle
  3. C. Leave the valve open so it is ready tomorrow
  4. D. Park it next to a drain so any leak drains away
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B

  • A. Wrong: Wrong. The locks are there to stop tampering and leaks. Keep the key secure.
  • B. Right: Right. NetRegs says make sure the locks are used when oil storage is not in use. This stops leaks and vandalism.
  • C. Wrong: Wrong. An open valve could leak overnight or be tampered with.
  • D. Wrong: Wrong. Fuel must be kept away from drains. A leak could reach a river or stream.

Explanation

Lock fuel bowsers and storage tanks when they are not in use, and keep them away from drains.

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Question 5

Medium ·Link to this question (question 5)

An excavation has filled with muddy rainwater. Your gang needs to pump it out, and the nearest place is a stream next to the site.

What should happen to the water?

Choose one answer.

  1. A. Pump it into the nearest surface water drain
  2. B. Pump it at night when nobody will notice
  3. C. Treat it first, for example by letting the silt settle
  4. D. Pump it straight into the stream, as it is only rainwater
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: C

  • A. Wrong: Wrong. Surface water drains go straight to rivers and streams, so it is the same as pumping into the stream.
  • B. Wrong: Wrong. Pollution is an offence whenever it happens.
  • C. Right: Right. NetRegs says silty water must not be pumped into the water environment without treatment. Contain it and let the silt settle out first.
  • D. Wrong: Wrong. The silt in muddy water harms fish and plants in the stream.

Explanation

Never pump muddy water straight into a river, stream or surface water drain. It must be treated first, for example in a settlement tank.

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Question 6

Easier ·Link to this question (question 6)

Lorries leaving site are dropping mud on the road, so a wheel wash is being set up.

Where should the dirty water from the wheel wash go?

Choose one answer.

  1. A. Into the nearest surface water drain in the road
  2. B. Straight into the ditch at the edge of the site
  3. C. Anywhere, as mud is natural
  4. D. Into a contained system, not a drain
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: D

  • A. Wrong: Wrong. Surface water drains go straight to rivers and streams, so the mud would pollute them.
  • B. Wrong: Wrong. Ditches often lead to watercourses. The dirty water must be contained and treated.
  • C. Wrong: Wrong. Silt from mud can harm wildlife in rivers and streams.
  • D. Right: Right. NetRegs says never carry out wheel washing where the run-off goes directly into surface water drains or watercourses.

Explanation

Wheel wash water is polluted with silt. Keep it out of surface water drains and watercourses.

Study

Question 7

Medium ·Link to this question (question 7)

Drains on site are often marked so you know where they go.

Match each drain marking to where the drain leads.

Match each item to one answer. An answer can be used more than once, and some may not be used.

Items

  1. A blue-marked drain cover
  2. A red-marked drain cover
  3. A drain with a yellow fish symbol

Answers

  1. A. A surface water drain that goes to a river or stream
  2. B. A foul sewer that goes to a sewage works
  3. C. A soakaway that is safe for any liquid
Show the answer and explanation

Correct matches

  • A blue-marked drain cover: A. A surface water drain that goes to a river or stream
  • A red-marked drain cover: B. A foul sewer that goes to a sewage works
  • A drain with a yellow fish symbol: A. A surface water drain that goes to a river or stream

About each answer

  • A. Blue markings, or a yellow fish symbol, show a surface water drain. Only clean rainwater should go into it.
  • B. Red markings show a connection to the foul sewer, such as from toilets and washbasins.
  • C. No drain is safe for any liquid. None of these markings means that.

Explanation

Blue or a yellow fish: surface water, which goes to rivers and streams. Red: foul sewer. Keep pollution out of every drain.

Study

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