ACSA NCSO EXAM PRACTICE EXAM COMPLETE QUESTIONS
WITH DETAILED ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
LATEST UPDATE 2026/2027
DOMAIN 1: HAZARD CONTROL & RISK ASSESSMENT
QUESTION 1
What is the primary purpose of a formal hazard assessment?
A. To assign blame after an incident occurs
B. To identify potential hazards and implement controls before work begins
C. To document worker discipline
D. To satisfy insurance requirements only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A formal hazard assessment is a proactive process designed to
recognize
potential hazards and put controls in place before any work activity starts. It is
a fundamental duty of an employer and supervisor under safety legislation,
aiming
to prevent incidents rather than react to them.
QUESTION 2
What are the TWO main types of hazards in occupational health and safety?
A. Physical and chemical
B. Health and safety
C. Biological and ergonomic
D. Mechanical and electrical
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hazards are generally classified into two main categories: health
hazards, which can cause illness over time (e.g., chemical exposure, noise, silica),
1
,and safety hazards, which can cause immediate injury (e.g., moving machinery,
falls, struck-by objects). All other options are subcategories of these two.
QUESTION 3
What is the difference between a "job" and a "task" in the context of hazard
assessment?
A. A job is performed by supervisors; a task is performed by workers
B. A job is a position held by a worker; a task is a specific activity performed
as part of that job
C. There is no practical difference
D. A job is always hazardous; a task is never hazardous
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Breaking a "job" down into its component "tasks" allows for a more
detailed and accurate hazard assessment. For example, a "scaffolder" (job)
performs
tasks such as "lifting components," "assembling frames," and "securing
guardrails."
Each task has unique hazards that may not be identified at the job level.
QUESTION 4
What are the four contributing factors to health and safety hazards?
A. People, Equipment, Materials, Environment
B. Time, Cost, Quality, Scope
C. Training, Supervision, Communication, Documentation
D. Location, Weather, Season, Time of Day
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The four contributing factors—People (training, fatigue, condition),
2
,Equipment (maintenance, suitability), Materials (storage, handling, toxicity), and
Environment (site conditions, weather, lighting)—provide a comprehensive
framework
for identifying all potential sources of hazards in the workplace.
QUESTION 5
Which of the following is the most effective control measure according to the
Hierarchy of Controls?
A. Personal Protective Equipment
B. Administrative controls
C. Elimination
D. Engineering controls
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Elimination is the highest and most effective level in the Hierarchy
of Controls. If the hazard is removed entirely, there is zero risk. Engineering
controls (e.g., guards) are next, followed by administrative controls, and finally
PPE, which is the least effective because it relies on human behaviour.
QUESTION 6
What is the correct order of the Hierarchy of Controls from most to least
effective?
A. PPE, Administrative, Engineering, Substitution, Elimination
B. Elimination, Substitution, Engineering, Administrative, PPE
C. Engineering, Administrative, PPE, Elimination, Substitution
D. Elimination, Engineering, PPE, Administrative, Substitution
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct hierarchy is: (1) Elimination – physically remove the hazard;
3
, (2) Substitution – replace the hazard with something safer; (3) Engineering
Controls –
isolate people from the hazard; (4) Administrative Controls – change how people
work;
(5) PPE – protect the worker with equipment. This order reflects effectiveness
from
most to least.
QUESTION 7
A risk assessment is used to:
A. Eliminate all hazards immediately
B. Determine the likelihood and severity of harm from a hazard
C. Assign fault to a worker
D. Provide legal evidence after an incident
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A risk assessment evaluates the probability (likelihood) of a hazardous
event occurring and the potential consequence (severity) of that event. This
evaluation helps prioritize which hazards need the most urgent attention and
which
controls are most appropriate.
QUESTION 8
What is the difference between a "hazard" and a "risk"?
A. A hazard is a potential source of harm; risk is the chance of that harm occurring
B. A hazard is always severe; risk is always minor
C. They are the same thing
D. A risk is a source of harm; a hazard is the probability
4
WITH DETAILED ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
LATEST UPDATE 2026/2027
DOMAIN 1: HAZARD CONTROL & RISK ASSESSMENT
QUESTION 1
What is the primary purpose of a formal hazard assessment?
A. To assign blame after an incident occurs
B. To identify potential hazards and implement controls before work begins
C. To document worker discipline
D. To satisfy insurance requirements only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A formal hazard assessment is a proactive process designed to
recognize
potential hazards and put controls in place before any work activity starts. It is
a fundamental duty of an employer and supervisor under safety legislation,
aiming
to prevent incidents rather than react to them.
QUESTION 2
What are the TWO main types of hazards in occupational health and safety?
A. Physical and chemical
B. Health and safety
C. Biological and ergonomic
D. Mechanical and electrical
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hazards are generally classified into two main categories: health
hazards, which can cause illness over time (e.g., chemical exposure, noise, silica),
1
,and safety hazards, which can cause immediate injury (e.g., moving machinery,
falls, struck-by objects). All other options are subcategories of these two.
QUESTION 3
What is the difference between a "job" and a "task" in the context of hazard
assessment?
A. A job is performed by supervisors; a task is performed by workers
B. A job is a position held by a worker; a task is a specific activity performed
as part of that job
C. There is no practical difference
D. A job is always hazardous; a task is never hazardous
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Breaking a "job" down into its component "tasks" allows for a more
detailed and accurate hazard assessment. For example, a "scaffolder" (job)
performs
tasks such as "lifting components," "assembling frames," and "securing
guardrails."
Each task has unique hazards that may not be identified at the job level.
QUESTION 4
What are the four contributing factors to health and safety hazards?
A. People, Equipment, Materials, Environment
B. Time, Cost, Quality, Scope
C. Training, Supervision, Communication, Documentation
D. Location, Weather, Season, Time of Day
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The four contributing factors—People (training, fatigue, condition),
2
,Equipment (maintenance, suitability), Materials (storage, handling, toxicity), and
Environment (site conditions, weather, lighting)—provide a comprehensive
framework
for identifying all potential sources of hazards in the workplace.
QUESTION 5
Which of the following is the most effective control measure according to the
Hierarchy of Controls?
A. Personal Protective Equipment
B. Administrative controls
C. Elimination
D. Engineering controls
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Elimination is the highest and most effective level in the Hierarchy
of Controls. If the hazard is removed entirely, there is zero risk. Engineering
controls (e.g., guards) are next, followed by administrative controls, and finally
PPE, which is the least effective because it relies on human behaviour.
QUESTION 6
What is the correct order of the Hierarchy of Controls from most to least
effective?
A. PPE, Administrative, Engineering, Substitution, Elimination
B. Elimination, Substitution, Engineering, Administrative, PPE
C. Engineering, Administrative, PPE, Elimination, Substitution
D. Elimination, Engineering, PPE, Administrative, Substitution
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct hierarchy is: (1) Elimination – physically remove the hazard;
3
, (2) Substitution – replace the hazard with something safer; (3) Engineering
Controls –
isolate people from the hazard; (4) Administrative Controls – change how people
work;
(5) PPE – protect the worker with equipment. This order reflects effectiveness
from
most to least.
QUESTION 7
A risk assessment is used to:
A. Eliminate all hazards immediately
B. Determine the likelihood and severity of harm from a hazard
C. Assign fault to a worker
D. Provide legal evidence after an incident
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A risk assessment evaluates the probability (likelihood) of a hazardous
event occurring and the potential consequence (severity) of that event. This
evaluation helps prioritize which hazards need the most urgent attention and
which
controls are most appropriate.
QUESTION 8
What is the difference between a "hazard" and a "risk"?
A. A hazard is a potential source of harm; risk is the chance of that harm occurring
B. A hazard is always severe; risk is always minor
C. They are the same thing
D. A risk is a source of harm; a hazard is the probability
4
