Health and Safety Interview Questions and Answers
Below are 100 common health and safety interview questions along with their answers to help you prepare for your next job interview.
1. What is health and safety in the workplace?
Answer: Health and safety in the workplace refers to policies, procedures, and practices designed to prevent accidents, injuries, and illnesses among employees while ensuring a safe working environment.
2. Why is health and safety important in the workplace?
Answer: Health and safety are important because they protect employees from harm, reduce workplace accidents, improve productivity, ensure legal compliance, and enhance employee morale.
3. What are the key responsibilities of an employer under health and safety laws?
Answer: Employers must provide a safe workplace, conduct risk assessments, offer training, provide safety equipment, report accidents, and comply with health and safety regulations.
4. What are the key responsibilities of an employee in health and safety?
Answer: Employees must follow safety procedures, use PPE correctly, report hazards, attend training, and avoid reckless behavior that could endanger themselves or others.
5. What is a risk assessment?
Answer: A risk assessment is a process of identifying workplace hazards, evaluating risks, and implementing control measures to minimize or eliminate those risks.
6. What are the five steps of a risk assessment?
Answer:
- Identify hazards
- Determine who might be harmed
- Evaluate risks and implement controls
- Record findings
- Review and update as needed
7. What is a hazard?
Answer: A hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm, such as chemicals, machinery, electricity, or poor ergonomics.
8. What is a risk?
Answer: Risk is the likelihood that a hazard will cause harm, combined with the severity of that harm.
9. What is PPE?
Answer: PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) includes safety gear like helmets, gloves, goggles, and masks that protect workers from hazards.
10. When should PPE be used?
Answer: PPE should be used when hazards cannot be eliminated or controlled by other means, such as engineering or administrative controls.
11. What is a near-miss in health and safety?
Answer: A near-miss is an unplanned event that could have caused injury or damage but did not, providing an opportunity to prevent future incidents.
12. What is the difference between an accident and an incident?
Answer: An accident results in injury or damage, while an incident is any unexpected event, including near-misses.
13. What should you do if you witness a workplace accident?
Answer: Secure the area, provide first aid if trained, report the accident to a supervisor, and document the details.
14. What is a safety audit?
Answer: A safety audit is a systematic review of workplace safety policies, procedures, and compliance with regulations.
15. What is a safety culture?
Answer: Safety culture refers to the shared attitudes, beliefs, and practices regarding health and safety within an organization.
16. How can you promote a strong safety culture?
Answer: By encouraging employee participation, providing training, recognizing safe behaviors, and ensuring management commitment to safety.
17. What is the hierarchy of controls?
Answer: A system for minimizing risks, ranked from most to least effective:
- Elimination
- Substitution
- Engineering controls
- Administrative controls
- PPE
18. What is ergonomics?
Answer: Ergonomics is the study of designing workspaces and equipment to fit workers’ needs, reducing strain and injury.
19. What are common ergonomic hazards?
Answer: Poor posture, repetitive motions, improper workstation setup, and heavy lifting.
20. What is manual handling?
Answer: Manual handling involves lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling objects, which can lead to musculoskeletal injuries if done incorrectly.
21. What are safe manual handling techniques?
Answer: Keep the back straight, bend knees, hold loads close to the body, avoid twisting, and use mechanical aids when possible.
22. What is COSHH?
Answer: COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) is a UK regulation requiring employers to control exposure to hazardous substances.
23. What are some hazardous substances in the workplace?
Answer: Chemicals, fumes, dust, asbestos, and biological agents like bacteria or viruses.
24. How can hazardous substances be controlled?
Answer: Through substitution, ventilation, PPE, proper storage, and employee training.
25. What is RIDDOR?
Answer: RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) requires reporting serious workplace incidents in the UK.
26. What incidents must be reported under RIDDOR?
Answer: Deaths, major injuries, occupational diseases, and dangerous occurrences (near-misses with high risk).
27. What is a fire risk assessment?
Answer: An evaluation of fire hazards, people at risk, and measures to prevent and control fires.
28. What are the three elements of the fire triangle?
Answer: Heat, fuel, and oxygen.
29. How can fires be prevented in the workplace?
Answer: By removing ignition sources, storing flammables safely, maintaining electrical equipment, and training employees.
30. What are the different types of fire extinguishers?
Answer:
- Water (Class A fires)
- Foam (Class A & B)
- CO₂ (Class B & electrical)
- Dry powder (Class A, B, C, electrical)
- Wet chemical (Class F – cooking oils)
31. What is an emergency evacuation plan?
Answer: A documented procedure for safely exiting a building during emergencies like fires or chemical spills.
32. What is a first aider?
Answer: A trained individual who provides initial medical assistance in emergencies until professional help arrives.
33. How many first aiders should a workplace have?
Answer: Depends on workplace size and risk level, but at least one trained first aider per 50 employees is a common guideline.
34. What is the purpose of a safety data sheet (SDS)?
Answer: An SDS provides information on hazardous chemicals, including handling, storage, and emergency measures.
35. What is workplace stress?
Answer: A harmful reaction to excessive work pressure, leading to physical or mental health issues.
36. How can workplace stress be managed?
Answer: By promoting work-life balance, providing support, encouraging breaks, and addressing workload issues.
37. What is a permit-to-work system?
Answer: A formal procedure authorizing high-risk tasks (e.g., confined space entry) after safety checks are completed.
38. What is a confined space?
Answer: An enclosed area with limited entry/exit and potential hazards like poor ventilation or toxic gases.
39. What are the dangers of working at height?
Answer: Falls, falling objects, and structural collapses, which can cause serious injuries or fatalities.
40. What safety measures should be taken when working at height?
Answer: Use guardrails, harnesses, secure ladders, and ensure proper training and supervision.
41. What is the role of a health and safety representative?
Answer: To represent employees in safety matters, conduct inspections, and raise concerns with management.
42. What is asbestos, and why is it dangerous?
Answer: A hazardous material that, when disturbed, releases fibers causing lung diseases like mesothelioma.
43. What is the legal requirement for asbestos in buildings?
Answer: Asbestos must be identified, managed, and removed by licensed professionals if necessary.
44. What is noise-induced hearing loss?
Answer: Permanent hearing damage caused by prolonged exposure to loud noises.
45. How can noise hazards be controlled?
Answer: Through engineering controls (soundproofing), administrative controls (job rotation), and PPE (earplugs).
46. What is a safety committee?
Answer: A group of employees and managers who meet regularly to discuss and improve workplace safety.
47. What is a safety inspection?
Answer: A routine check of the workplace to identify hazards and ensure compliance with safety standards.
48. What is the difference between a safety inspection and an audit?
Answer: An inspection checks physical conditions, while an audit reviews policies and compliance.
49. What is a lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedure?
Answer: A safety protocol to ensure machinery is shut off and cannot be restarted during maintenance.
50. Why is LOTO important?
Answer: It prevents accidental machine startups, protecting workers from injuries like electrocution or crushing.
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51. What is a hazardous energy source?
Answer: Any form of energy (electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, etc.) that could cause injury if not properly controlled during maintenance.
52. What is the purpose of a Job Safety Analysis (JSA)?
Answer: A JSA breaks down job tasks to identify hazards and determine safe work procedures.
53. What is a safety policy?
Answer: A written document outlining an organization’s commitment to health and safety, including roles and responsibilities.
54. What should be included in a safety policy?
Answer: Management commitment, employee responsibilities, hazard reporting procedures, and emergency plans.
55. What is the role of OSHA (or equivalent agencies)?
Answer: OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) enforces workplace safety regulations in the U.S. (Similar agencies exist in other countries, like HSE in the UK).
56. What is a workplace inspection checklist?
Answer: A tool used to systematically identify hazards in areas like fire safety, electrical systems, and machinery.
57. What is the difference between a hazard and a risk?
Answer: A hazard is a potential source of harm, while risk is the likelihood and severity of harm occurring.
58. What is a safety training program?
Answer: A structured plan to educate employees on workplace hazards, emergency procedures, and safe work practices.
59. What are the common causes of workplace accidents?
Answer: Slips/trips/falls, improper lifting, machinery misuse, electrical hazards, and lack of training.
60. How can slips, trips, and falls be prevented?
Answer: Keep floors clean and dry, use anti-slip mats, ensure proper lighting, and mark hazards clearly.
61. What is electrical safety?
Answer: Practices to prevent electrical hazards, such as proper wiring, grounding, and avoiding overloaded circuits.
62. What are the dangers of working with electricity?
Answer: Electric shock, burns, fires, and explosions.
63. What is a safe lifting technique?
Answer: Bend knees, keep back straight, hold load close to the body, and avoid twisting.
64. What is a safety sign, and what are the different types?
Answer: Visual warnings to communicate hazards:
- Prohibition (red circle with slash)
- Warning (yellow triangle)
- Mandatory (blue circle)
- Emergency (green rectangle)
65. What is the importance of safety signage?
Answer: It alerts workers to hazards, provides instructions, and helps prevent accidents.
66. What is a chemical spill response plan?
Answer: Procedures for safely containing, cleaning, and reporting chemical spills to minimize harm.
67. What is the first step in responding to a chemical spill?
Answer: Evacuate the area if necessary, alert others, and contain the spill if safe to do so.
68. What is a safety drill?
Answer: A practice exercise (e.g., fire or evacuation drill) to prepare employees for emergencies.
69. Why are safety drills important?
Answer: They ensure employees know evacuation routes, emergency procedures, and response actions.
70. What is the purpose of a safety harness?
Answer: To prevent falls when working at heights by securing the worker to an anchor point.
71. What is a confined space entry permit?
Answer: A document authorizing entry after verifying hazards are controlled (e.g., gas testing, ventilation).
72. What are the dangers of confined spaces?
Answer: Lack of oxygen, toxic gases, explosions, and entrapment.
73. What is a safety observation program?
Answer: A system where employees and supervisors record unsafe acts/conditions to improve safety.
74. What is the difference between proactive and reactive safety measures?
Answer:
- Proactive: Preventing incidents (e.g., training, inspections).
- Reactive: Responding after incidents (e.g., investigations, corrective actions).
75. What is a safety incentive program?
Answer: Rewards for employees who follow safety rules or report hazards, encouraging a safer workplace.
76. What is the role of a safety officer?
Answer: To implement safety policies, conduct inspections, investigate incidents, and ensure compliance.
77. What is a heat stress hazard?
Answer: Overexposure to high temperatures, leading to dehydration, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke.
78. How can heat stress be prevented?
Answer: Provide water, rest breaks, shade, and cooling PPE in hot environments.
79. What is cold stress?
Answer: Health risks from prolonged exposure to cold (e.g., hypothermia, frostbite).
80. How can cold stress be prevented?
Answer: Wear insulated clothing, take warm breaks, and monitor weather conditions.
81. What is a safety data sheet (SDS)?
Answer: A document detailing chemical hazards, handling, storage, and emergency measures.
82. What is the Globally Harmonized System (GHS)?
Answer: A standardized system for classifying and labeling chemicals internationally.
83. What is a safety moment?
Answer: A brief safety discussion at the start of meetings to reinforce awareness.
84. What is a safety stand-down?
Answer: A temporary work stoppage to address urgent safety concerns or retrain employees.
85. What is the importance of machine guarding?
Answer: Prevents contact with moving parts, reducing injuries like amputations or crushing.
86. What is a forklift safety checklist?
Answer: A pre-operation inspection list (e.g., brakes, lights, hydraulics) to ensure safe forklift use.
87. What is the most common forklift accident?
Answer: Tip-overs due to unbalanced loads or speeding.
88. What is a hazard communication program?
Answer: A system to inform employees about chemical hazards through labels, SDS, and training.
89. What is the “buddy system” in safety?
Answer: Pairing workers to monitor each other in high-risk environments (e.g., confined spaces).
90. What is a safety violation?
Answer: Failure to follow safety rules, which can result in disciplinary action or legal penalties.
91. What is the purpose of a safety committee meeting?
Answer: To discuss incidents, review safety performance, and plan improvements.
92. What is a safety culture survey?
Answer: A questionnaire assessing employee perceptions of workplace safety to identify gaps.
93. What is a near-miss reporting system?
Answer: A process for employees to report close calls without blame, helping prevent future accidents.
94. What is the role of management in safety?
Answer: To lead by example, allocate resources, enforce policies, and prioritize safety.
95. What is behavioral safety?
Answer: A focus on changing unsafe behaviors through observation, feedback, and training.
96. What is the difference between safety and security?
Answer:
- Safety: Preventing accidental harm (e.g., falls, chemicals).
- Security: Protecting against intentional harm (e.g., theft, violence).
97. What is a safety induction?
Answer: Initial training for new employees covering site hazards, emergency procedures, and safety rules.
98. What is a safety leadership program?
Answer: Training for managers to promote a strong safety culture through engagement and accountability.
99. What is the biggest challenge in workplace safety?
Answer: Ensuring consistent compliance and engagement from all employees.
100. How do you stay updated on health and safety regulations?
Answer: By attending training, reading industry publications, and following updates from OSHA/HSE or other regulatory bodies.
