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Subjects · Leaving Cert Engineering

Leaving Cert Engineering: Health & safety

How often Health & safety comes up on the Engineering papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 4 of the last 9 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2023.

OL Asked on 8 of the last 9 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

June 2028 is the first exam on the new Engineering course. These come from the 2016–2025 papers, so read them as a guide.

Health & safety, Higher Level(6 marks)

Quick ones on Health & safety.

(a)Irish state body that enforces workplace health and safety law?
  1. Environmental Protection Agency
  2. Health and Safety Authority (HSA)
  3. Sustainable Energy Authority
(b)Why must the chuck key never be left in a lathe chuck?
  1. It unbalances the tailstock during cutting
  2. It blunts the chuck jaws as they are tightened
  3. It will be flung out when the spindle starts
(c)A blue circular safety sign means?
  1. A mandatory action, e.g. wear eye protection
  2. A hazard warning, e.g. risk of electric shock
  3. Something is prohibited, e.g. no smoking
Show the answers

(a) Health and Safety Authority (HSA)

(b) It will be flung out when the spindle starts

(c) A mandatory action, e.g. wear eye protection

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Health & safety.

Higher Level

Asked on 4 of the last 9 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2023.

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Not asked
2024Not asked
2023Q1(g)
2022Q1(a), Q1(j), Q8
2021Q8
2019Q1(m)
2018Not asked
2017Not asked
2016Not asked

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Health & safety questions

Health & safety, 2 marks

The first step in a risk assessment is to?

  1. Buy personal protective equipment
  2. Write the accident report
  3. Identify the hazards
Show the answer

Identify the hazards

You first find what could cause harm, then judge who is at risk and how likely it is, then decide controls. PPE is the last line of defence.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 8 of the last 9 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q1(a)
2024Q1(e)
2023Q1(g)
2022Q1(a)
2021Q1(a)
2019Q1(a), Q1(k)
2018Not asked
2017Q1(h)
2016Q1(a)

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Health & safety questions

Health & safety, 2 marks

What is a hazard?

  1. The chance that harm will actually happen
  2. A sign warning of danger
  3. Anything with the potential to cause harm
Show the answer

Anything with the potential to cause harm

A hazard is the danger itself, e.g. a spinning chuck or hot metal. Risk is how likely that hazard is to cause harm and how serious it would be.

Health & safety, 3 marks

A key safety step before cutting on a bandsaw?

  1. Remove the guard to see the blade
  2. Set the blade guard just above the work
  3. Wear loose gloves near the blade
Show the answer

Set the blade guard just above the work

Keeping the guard low exposes only the part of the blade that is cutting. Also use a push stick for small pieces and keep fingers out of line with the blade.

Health & safety, 2 marks

A blue circular safety sign tells you what?

  1. Something you must do
  2. Something you must not do
  3. Where the fire exit is
Show the answer

Something you must do

Blue circles are mandatory signs, e.g. wear eye protection. Red circles with a bar prohibit, yellow triangles warn, and green signs show safe conditions and exits.

Other Engineering topics

All of Leaving Cert Engineering