68 HSE Interview Questions

Workplace health and safety are both the moral and legal responsibilities of most employers. Whether you’re working in an office or in a manufacturing warehouse, any type of workplace has its share of hazards. It is important for employers to thoroughly assess and effectively address each issue. This means performing a job safety analysis, providing education and training for your employees, supplying appropriate PPE at no cost to the worker, removing or controlling hazards, and cultivating a culture of safety.

Table of Contents

If you are planning to attend the HSE interview, the following questions and answers will help you to understand the basics of HSE.

Also Read: High Rise Fire Safety Questions and Answers

Q 1: WHAT IS A WORK METHOD STATEMENT?

Ans: A document showing the various methods through which a particular work is accomplished. It also provides a section for the safety measures for these activities.

Q: 2: WHAT IS THE USE OF A WORK METHOD STATEMENT?

Ans: WMS describes the method by which a particular job is to be done. This can give complete awareness to the working crew. A JSA can be prepared based on the WMS. In fact, it helps to finish the job safely.

Q3: WHAT IS A JSA AND ITS USE?

Ans: Job Safety Analysis (JSA) is part of many existing accident prevention programs. In general, JSA breaks a job into basic steps and identifies the hazards associated with each step. It also prescribes controls for each hazard. The JSA has to be reviewed during the investigation if it has been conducted for the job involved in an accident. If one is not available, it has to be performed as part of the investigation to determine the events and conditions that led to the accident.

Q 4: WHAT IS A WORK PERMIT?

Ans: A written document authorizing a person or a group to perform maintenance, inspection, testing, or construction work.

Q 5: WHAT IS A CONFINED SPACE?

Ans: Any area not normally occupied by personnel, having limited means of access and egress, and which could be subject to the hazards of Oxygen deficiency or the accumulation of toxic or flammable gases or dust.

Q 6: IN WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES A CONFINED SPACE WORK PERMIT CAN BE ISSUED?

Ans: If the gas test is done and the result is favorable. Experience & trained working crew.

Trained Entry watch with Entry Log Sheet. Effective Emergency Evacuation plan.

Q 7: WHO IS THE CONFINED SPACE WATCHMAN?

Ans: The trained person who stands outside the entrance of the confined space with the log sheet and records the details of the entrants. He always keeps in communication with the entrants. In an emergency, he calls for assistance.

Q 8: WHAT ARE THE HAZARDS IN A CONFINED SPACE?

Ans:

limited access/egress. Limited visibility.
Oxygen deficiency.
The presence of toxic or flammable gases or mixtures Falls hazards.

Q 9: WHAT ARE THE DUTIES OF A CONFINED SPACE ATTENDANT?

Ans: Stay outside the entrance of the confined space. Record the details of the entrants such as name, trade, ID #, time going in, time coming out, etc. Keep communication with the entrants. Call for rescue in case of an emergency.

Q 10: GIVE SOME EXAMPLES OF CONFINED SPACES?

Ans: Tanks, Vessels, Column, Silos, Pits, Excavation, Boiler, Sub-marine Pipelines Re-actors, etc.

Q 11: NAME ONE HAZARDOUS JOB INSIDE A CONFINED SPACE.

Ans: Hot work

Q 12: WHO IS A COMPETENT PERSON?

Ans: A person, who has qualifications and experience in a specific job, and has the necessary skill to perform the stated duties is called a competent person.

Q 13: WHAT IS AN ACCIDENT?

Ans: An accident is an unplanned and undesired event, which results in unacceptable and undesired consequences. It does not necessarily involve human injury. The consequences might be injuries and/ or damage to equipment, machinery, and the environment.

There are two types of accidents:

NON-REPORTABLE ACCIDENT:

A person may receive a minor physical or bodily injury while working as the outcome of an accident. After such an injury, if he resumes his duties within 48 hours then such an accident is called a non-reportable accident. Many times a person may resume his work someday after receiving first aid.

REPORTABLE OR LOST TIME ACCIDENT:

If the injured person remains absent for 48 hours or more, due to injury at

the workplace, the accident is called a reportable or lost time accident. As per statutory requirements, such incidents are to be reported to the government authorities in a prescribed form. The injury in such a case is called a major or disabling injury.

Q 14: WHAT IS A NEAR MISS?

Ans: Until now nothing happened, but if not controlled an accident can happen.

Q 15: WHO MAKES AN ACCIDENT REPORT?

Ans: The work supervisor.

Q 16: EXPLAIN WASTE MANAGEMENT

Ans: The collection, segregation, and disposal of various waste materials according to the rules and regulations of the authorities.

Q 17: WHAT IS MSDS STAND FOR?

Ans: Material safety data sheet. It is issued by the manufacturer about hazardous substances along with the material. It shows all details regarding that material, including related to health hazards and their precautions.

Q 18: WHAT IS AN ISOTOPE?

Ans: Two or more forms of the same element having the same atomic numbers but different atomic weights.

Q 19: Describe Radioactivity.

Ans: The spontaneous emission of radiation by atomic nuclei resulting in their disintegration is called Radioactivity.

Q 20: WHAT IS THE UNIT FOR MEASURING RADIATION?

Ans: Sievert (Sv), Roentgen.

Q 21: STATE CONDITIONS FOR A RADIOGRAPHY WORK PERMIT?

Ans: Valid documents for the source, certified radiographer, trained crew, barricading, and signboards placed, properly using radiation monitors, and the area evacuated.

Q22: WHAT ARE THE SAFETY MEASURES TO BE TAKEN WHILE DOING RADIOGRAPHY?

Ans: Authorized and trained crew, proper PPEs, use of radiation monitors including film-badge, barricading, signboards, warning lights, and monitoring the observed area.

Q 23: DESCRIBE THE CONTROLLED AREA.

Ans: An area cordoned and posted prior to exposing a sealed source or starting up an X-Ray machine, where at the periphery the pre-calculated radiation dose shall not exceed 0.75 mR averages over any one hour.

Q 24: WHAT IS THE USE OF THE GEIGER METER?

Ans: It is used for monitoring radiation.

Q 25: WRITE A BRIEF NOTE ON THE FILM BADGE.

Ans: After exposure, can be analyzed to find the amount of radiation to which the person is exposed.

Q 26: WHAT IS A DECAY CHART?

Ans: The chart shows the rate of decomposition of a radioactive element over a period of time.

Q 27: WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A MAN-BASKET?

Ans: Valid third-party certification, SWL marked on the side and tag-line

Q 28: WHO INSPECTS THE SLINGS?

Ans: A competent person such as a rigging supervisor.

Q 29: WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR RIGGING?

Ans: Valid documents including third-party certificate of the crane, certified rigger, inspected rigging gears, barricading the required area as per radius, signboards, lifting permit, lifting plan, JSA, STA, proper PPEs for workers, and favorable climatic conditions.

Q 30: WHAT IS THE WORKING RADIUS?

Ans: The distance from the center pin of the crane to the center of gravity of the load.

Q 31: WHAT IS SWL STAND FOR?

Ans: Safe workload.

Q 32: WHAT IS THE LIFTING PLAN?

Ans: The document describing the plan for safe lifting. It shows the details of the crane to be used, lifting tackles (gears) to be used, details of the load, details of crane set-up, lifting steps, etc.

Q 33: EXPLAIN EXCAVATION AND TRENCH.

Ans: Any work is done by breaking the surface of the earth by using hand tools or by machines. A trench is an excavation, where the depth is greater than the width, but not greater than 15 feet at the base.

Q 34: WHAT IS SHORING?

Ans: The safety measure adopted to avoid cave-ins by providing wooden planks or metal sheets (plates) at the side of the excavation with hydraulic or screw jacks.

Q 35: WHAT ARE THE CLASSES OF FIRE AND WHAT TYPES OF EXTINGUISHERS ARE USED FOR THEM?

Ans: A-class for ordinary combustible materials like wood, cloth, etc. B-class for flammable liquids or gases like petrol, thinner, etc

C-class for an electrical fire. DCP extinguishers are used for A, B, and C. DCP and Carbon dioxide extinguishers are used for C-class fire.

Q 36: STATE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF A FIRE WATCH.

Ans: Wear a red visible vest, stay alert at the job area, identify any fire hazard, inspect, and arrange firefighting equipment properly and know how to use them in an emergency, if any unsafe conditions arise, stop the job.

Q 37: WHAT IS A COLOR CODING SYSTEM?

Ans: All tools and equipment are inspected periodically by concerned competent persons and color-coded accordingly.

Q 38: WHAT IS THE MAX DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO ADJACENT ACCESSES IN A LONG EXCAVATION?

Ans: 20 meters.

Q 39: WHEN IS AN EXCAVATION CONSIDERED AS A CONFINED SPACE?

Ans: If the depth is more than 1.2 meters.

Q 40: STATE TAG SYSTEM IN SCAFFOLDING.

Ans: Tang is applied on scaffoldings. They are of three colors, RED, YELLOW, and GREEN. Red means do not use the scaffolding. Yellow means the scaffolding is not complete but can be used with adequate fall protection. Green means the scaffolding is complete and safe for work.

Also Read: Scaffold Safety self Audit and checklist

Q 41: WHAT ARE THE DETAILS IN A SCAFF TAG?

Ans: Location, date of erection, request No., SWL, name, and signature of the inspected scaffolding supervisor and columns for future inspection. Inspection is done by the scaffolding supervisor/inspector.

Q 42: EXPLAIN THE GUARD RAIL SYSTEM.

Ans: Guard rail system consists of the top rail, mid-rail, and toe board.

Q 43: WHAT IS TOE BOARD?

Ans: The plank or metal sheet is kept vertical to the platform at a minimum height of 4 inches in order to avoid materials falling down and to protect personnel.

Q 44: WHAT IS THE HEIGHT OF THE TOP RAIL FROM THE PLATFORM?

Ans: 0.95 cm or 1.15 m or 42 inches.

Q 45: WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR PLACING AN ACCESS LADDER ON A SCAFFOLD?

Ans: The base of the ladder is fixed to firm ground, the ladder fix in a ratio of 4:1 (75 degrees), the ladder must not be damaged or painted and the top of the ladder should extend a minimum of 3 feet above the landing platform.

Q 46: WHAT IS THE MINIMUM WIDTH REQUIRED FOR A WALKWAY?

Ans: 27 inches or three planks.

Q 47: WHAT IS A LIFELINE?

Ans: Wherever no other fall arrest systems are feasible, lifelines can be provided with wire ropes. The lifelines should be able to support a minimum of 5000 pounds per person hooking.

Q 48: WHAT IS A LOCK-OUT/TAG-OUT SYSTEM (LOTO)?

Ans: The procedure of applying a LOTO on an energy-isolating device in order to make sure that the energy-isolating device will not be operated until the lock or tag is not removed.

Q 49: WHY DOES CONDUCT A TOOLBOX TALK MEETING?

Ans: A communication session between the work supervisor and his crew regarding the work activities that they have to perform in order to help in completing the work in a safe manner.

Q 50: WHAT IS HYDRO TEST AND HYPOT TEST?

Ans: The pressure test is done in pipelines, vessels, etc, by filling with water and giving pressure in order to find any defects related to leakage.

The test is done in cables by giving high voltage in order to check the voltage holding capacity of the cable.

Q 51: What are the safety requirements for doing hot work?

Ans: Work permit, fire extinguishers, housekeeping, proper PPEs, inspected tools and equipment, barricading and signboards, grounding of the power equipment, GFCI, use of fire blankets, and a trained fire watch.

Q 52: WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF NEAR-MISS REPORTING?

Ans: It makes it possible to analyze the accidents/incidents and help in finding the root cause, develop remedial measures and implement them.

Q 55: WHAT IS RISK ASSESSMENT?

Ans: The document prepared before starting the job for assessing the risks involved in the various steps of a particular job and to find the necessary remedial measures.

Q 56: STATE EMERGENCY PLAN.

Ans: Stop all activities, shut down all equipment, move out of the working area in an orderly way, check the direction of the windsock and move a cross windway to the nearest assembly point and wait there until headcount is done and further instructions are given.

Q 57: WHAT IS MEANT BY HEADCOUNT?

Ans: After evacuating to the Assembly Area, the supervisors will make a count for their employees according to that day’s attendance register. It helps to find if

anybody is missing.

Q 58: DESCRIBE THE RIGGING LOAD CAPACITY OF RIGGERS OF ALL LEVELS.

Ans: Ω: RIGGER I is required for lifts over 40 tons and must approve all lift plans.

Ω: RIGGER II cannot rig a load over 40 tons. Ω: RIGGER III cannot rig a load over 10 tons.

Q 59: WHAT IS THE WIND SPEED LIMIT DURING RIGGING?

Ans: Lifting will be stopped if the wind speed is 32 km/ph, 20 miles per hour, and 8.998 meters per second.

Q 60: List three reasons for managing safely.

Ans:

Moral
Legal
Financial
Happier Workforce
More productive workforce
Creates a good reputation.
Reduces the likelihood of fines.
Reduces personal injury claims.

Q 61: List three factors which are to be balanced against the benefits of risk control when reducing risk ‘so far as is reasonably practicable.

Ans:

Time
Effort
Money
Inconvenience

Q 62: List three types of work-related accidents and incidents that are reportable to the enforcing authority.

Ans:

Death
Major injury
Injuries that lead to more than three days’ absence from work
Injuries that lead to someone being unable to do normal work duties for more than three days Certain dangerous occurrences.

Q 63: To prove negligence, what are the three things the claimant must show?

Ans:

The defendant owed the person a duty of care.
That the duty of care was breached.
The injury was caused by a breach of duty.

Q 64: List the three main headings under which the effects of stress can be grouped.

Ans:

Physiological
Emotional
Behavioral

Q 65: List the three types of evidence used for auditing management systems. Ans:

Documentation
Interviews
Observation

Q 66: List three key benefits of investigating accidents and incidents.

Ans:

To identify the cause of the accident/incident so that it can be prevented from happening again.
To prevent further business losses from disruption, downtime, and lost business
To improve worker morale/promote a positive safety culture.
To collect the information required for notifying the enforcing authority.
To get the information needed for insurance claims.
To find out the cost of an accident/incident
To develop skills that can be applied elsewhere in the organization.

Q 67: List three key benefits of introducing a health and safety management system.

Ans: