🔧 General Workplace Safety

Q1: What is workplace safety?
A: Workplace safety involves managing risks and hazards to ensure workers are protected from injuries and illnesses at work.

Q2: Why is safety important at work?
A: Safety is essential to protect employees from harm, ensure compliance with regulations, enhance productivity, and reduce financial losses from accidents.

Q3: What are the 5 basic safety rules?
A:

• Always wear appropriate PPE.

• Follow established safety procedures.

• Immediately report unsafe conditions.

• Maintain good housekeeping.

• Be alert and aware of your surroundings.

Q4: How can workplace accidents be prevented?
A:

• Identify and control hazards proactively.

• Train employees regularly.

• Use proper PPE.

• Conduct frequent safety inspections.

• Implement a robust reporting system.

Q5: What are the common causes of workplace injuries?
A: Slips, trips, falls, lifting injuries, machinery-related incidents, electrical hazards, chemical exposure, and human error.

🦺 Occupational Health & Safety (OHS)

Q6: What is the role of OSHA/ILO in safety?
A: OSHA (U.S.) and ILO (International) establish safety standards, enforce compliance, provide training, and advocate safe working conditions.

Q7: What are the key elements of an OHS management system?
A:

• Leadership & commitment

• Hazard identification & risk assessment

• Employee involvement

• Training & awareness

• Monitoring & continuous improvement

Q8: What is the difference between hazard and risk?
A:

• Hazard: Anything that can cause harm (e.g., chemicals, electricity).

• Risk: The likelihood that a hazard will cause harm and the severity of the potential outcome.

Q9: What is Job Safety Analysis (JSA)?
A: JSA is a systematic method to identify job hazards and outline preventive measures before starting a task.

Q10: How do you conduct a risk assessment?
A:

• Identify hazards

• Assess risks (severity & likelihood)

• Determine control measures

• Implement actions

• Review and update regularly

🏗️ Construction & Industrial Safety

Q11: What are the top construction safety hazards?
A: Falls, struck-by incidents, electrocution, caught-in-between incidents, excavation collapses, scaffolding hazards, crane incidents, noise, chemical exposure, and poor housekeeping.

Q12: What is the importance of PPE in construction?
A: PPE protects workers from injuries by reducing exposure to workplace hazards like falling objects, electrical shock, noise, chemicals, and dust.

Q13: What are confined space safety precautions?
A:

• Test atmosphere before entry

• Ensure proper ventilation

• Provide adequate training

• Issue permits to work (PTW)

• Maintain emergency rescue equipment

Q14: What is a Permit to Work (PTW) system?
A: PTW is a documented procedure ensuring tasks involving high risk (confined spaces, hot work, height work) are performed safely, with specific controls and authorizations.

Q15: How to ensure electrical safety on site?
A:

• Use insulated tools and PPE

• Conduct regular inspections

• Lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures

• Proper grounding & circuit protection

• Training and awareness

🔥 Fire & Emergency Safety

Q16: What are the classes of fire?
A:

• Class A: Ordinary combustibles (wood, paper)

• Class B: Flammable liquids (petrol, oil)

• Class C: Electrical fires

• Class D: Combustible metals

• Class K: Cooking fires (grease, fats)

Q17: What are different types of fire extinguishers?
A:

• Water (Class A)

• Foam (Class A, B)

• CO₂ (Class B, C)

• Dry Chemical Powder (Class A, B, C)

• Wet Chemical (Class K)

Q18: How do you respond to a fire emergency?
A:

• Activate the alarm

• Evacuate immediately

• Call emergency services

• Use fire extinguishers if trained and safe

• Follow evacuation procedures

Q19: What is an emergency evacuation plan?
A: A documented procedure outlining evacuation routes, assembly points, responsibilities, and methods for ensuring a safe and organized evacuation during emergencies.

Q20: What is a mock drill and why is it important?
A: A mock drill simulates emergencies (fire, earthquake, chemical spill) to evaluate preparedness, training effectiveness, and ensure personnel respond effectively during real emergencies.

📋 Safety Documentation & Compliance

Q21: What is a safety audit?
A: A systematic examination to verify safety compliance, identify potential hazards, and recommend improvements to the existing safety management system.

Q22: What is HIRA (Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment)?
A: A proactive process to systematically identify workplace hazards, evaluate risks, and implement control measures.

Q23: What is a Safety Data Sheet (SDS)?
A: An SDS provides detailed information on chemicals, their hazards, protective measures, and emergency response actions.

Q24: What are leading and lagging indicators in safety?
A:

• Leading indicators (proactive): Training hours, audits conducted, near-miss reporting, inspections.

• Lagging indicators (reactive): Injury rates, incident frequency, accident severity, lost workdays.

Q25: How to prepare a safety report?
A:

• Identify objectives and scope

• Gather data on incidents, training, audits

• Analyze trends and root causes

• Recommend corrective actions

• Document clearly and distribute to stakeholders