NEBOSH National General Certificate in
Occupational Health and Safety Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. Which of the following is the primary purpose of risk
assessment?
A. To eliminate all hazards completely
B. To identify hazards and evaluate the associated risks
C. To ensure employees are disciplined for unsafe behavior
D. To calculate financial loss due to accidents
B
Rationale: The primary purpose of a risk assessment is to identify
hazards in the workplace and evaluate the risks associated with them,
allowing appropriate control measures to be implemented. Eliminating
all hazards is often impossible, and financial calculations or disciplining
staff are secondary considerations.
2. The hierarchy of control prioritizes control measures based on:
A. Cost of implementation
B. Effectiveness in reducing risk
C. Employee preference
D. Ease of training
B
Rationale: The hierarchy of control ranks safety measures by their
effectiveness at reducing risk, starting with elimination, substitution,
engineering controls, administrative controls, and finally PPE.
, 3. Which of the following is not considered a physical hazard?
A. Noise
B. Vibration
C. Chemical fumes
D. Radiation
C
Rationale: Chemical fumes are classified as a chemical hazard. Physical
hazards include noise, vibration, temperature extremes, and radiation,
which can affect the body through direct physical exposure.
4. A “hazard” in occupational health and safety is:
A. The likelihood of an accident occurring
B. Something with the potential to cause harm
C. The control measure used to prevent accidents
D. The financial cost of an incident
B
Rationale: A hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm, such
as machinery, chemicals, electricity, or work practices. Risk is the
likelihood of that harm occurring.
5. Which piece of legislation is the primary framework for health
and safety in the UK?
A. Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
B. Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
C. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations
2002
D. Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences
Regulations (RIDDOR) 2013
,B
Rationale: The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 establishes the
general duties of employers, employees, and others to ensure workplace
safety. Other regulations provide more specific rules under this
framework.
6. Which of the following is a common feature of an effective health
and safety management system?
A. Written policies only
B. Employee consultation, risk assessment, and continual review
C. Annual inspections without follow-up
D. Punitive measures for breaches only
B
Rationale: Effective systems integrate written policies, employee
consultation, identification and control of risks, monitoring, review, and
continual improvement, rather than relying solely on inspections or
punitive measures.
7. Which of the following best describes a “near miss”?
A. An incident that caused minor injury
B. An accident resulting in lost workdays
C. An event that could have caused harm but did not
D. A hazard that has been removed
C
Rationale: A near miss is an unplanned event that did not result in injury
or damage but had the potential to do so. Recording near misses helps
identify hazards before accidents occur.
8. The main reason for employee health surveillance is to:
A. Check attendance records
, B. Detect early signs of work-related ill health
C. Discipline employees for unsafe practices
D. Monitor productivity
B
Rationale: Health surveillance is aimed at detecting early signs of work-
related ill health caused by exposure to hazardous substances or
conditions, allowing timely intervention.
9. Which of the following is a legal duty of an employer under the
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974?
A. To eliminate all hazards immediately
B. To provide a safe working environment so far as is reasonably
practicable
C. To ensure employees never make mistakes
D. To cover all accident costs personally
B
Rationale: Employers are legally required to ensure, as far as reasonably
practicable, the health, safety, and welfare of employees. Absolute
elimination of hazards is often impractical.
10. Which of the following best explains the term “reasonably
practicable”?
A. Measures that are cheap and easy to implement
B. Measures that balance risk against the cost, time, and effort of
control
C. Measures that fully eliminate risk
D. Measures that employees prefer
B
Rationale: “Reasonably practicable” refers to actions where the risk is
Occupational Health and Safety Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. Which of the following is the primary purpose of risk
assessment?
A. To eliminate all hazards completely
B. To identify hazards and evaluate the associated risks
C. To ensure employees are disciplined for unsafe behavior
D. To calculate financial loss due to accidents
B
Rationale: The primary purpose of a risk assessment is to identify
hazards in the workplace and evaluate the risks associated with them,
allowing appropriate control measures to be implemented. Eliminating
all hazards is often impossible, and financial calculations or disciplining
staff are secondary considerations.
2. The hierarchy of control prioritizes control measures based on:
A. Cost of implementation
B. Effectiveness in reducing risk
C. Employee preference
D. Ease of training
B
Rationale: The hierarchy of control ranks safety measures by their
effectiveness at reducing risk, starting with elimination, substitution,
engineering controls, administrative controls, and finally PPE.
, 3. Which of the following is not considered a physical hazard?
A. Noise
B. Vibration
C. Chemical fumes
D. Radiation
C
Rationale: Chemical fumes are classified as a chemical hazard. Physical
hazards include noise, vibration, temperature extremes, and radiation,
which can affect the body through direct physical exposure.
4. A “hazard” in occupational health and safety is:
A. The likelihood of an accident occurring
B. Something with the potential to cause harm
C. The control measure used to prevent accidents
D. The financial cost of an incident
B
Rationale: A hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm, such
as machinery, chemicals, electricity, or work practices. Risk is the
likelihood of that harm occurring.
5. Which piece of legislation is the primary framework for health
and safety in the UK?
A. Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
B. Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
C. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations
2002
D. Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences
Regulations (RIDDOR) 2013
,B
Rationale: The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 establishes the
general duties of employers, employees, and others to ensure workplace
safety. Other regulations provide more specific rules under this
framework.
6. Which of the following is a common feature of an effective health
and safety management system?
A. Written policies only
B. Employee consultation, risk assessment, and continual review
C. Annual inspections without follow-up
D. Punitive measures for breaches only
B
Rationale: Effective systems integrate written policies, employee
consultation, identification and control of risks, monitoring, review, and
continual improvement, rather than relying solely on inspections or
punitive measures.
7. Which of the following best describes a “near miss”?
A. An incident that caused minor injury
B. An accident resulting in lost workdays
C. An event that could have caused harm but did not
D. A hazard that has been removed
C
Rationale: A near miss is an unplanned event that did not result in injury
or damage but had the potential to do so. Recording near misses helps
identify hazards before accidents occur.
8. The main reason for employee health surveillance is to:
A. Check attendance records
, B. Detect early signs of work-related ill health
C. Discipline employees for unsafe practices
D. Monitor productivity
B
Rationale: Health surveillance is aimed at detecting early signs of work-
related ill health caused by exposure to hazardous substances or
conditions, allowing timely intervention.
9. Which of the following is a legal duty of an employer under the
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974?
A. To eliminate all hazards immediately
B. To provide a safe working environment so far as is reasonably
practicable
C. To ensure employees never make mistakes
D. To cover all accident costs personally
B
Rationale: Employers are legally required to ensure, as far as reasonably
practicable, the health, safety, and welfare of employees. Absolute
elimination of hazards is often impractical.
10. Which of the following best explains the term “reasonably
practicable”?
A. Measures that are cheap and easy to implement
B. Measures that balance risk against the cost, time, and effort of
control
C. Measures that fully eliminate risk
D. Measures that employees prefer
B
Rationale: “Reasonably practicable” refers to actions where the risk is
