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Free NEBOSH General Certificate Practice Questions

10 free, exam-style National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety (NEBOSH General Certificate) practice questions with answers and explanations. No signup required. Work through them below, then take the full free NEBOSH General Certificate practice test to study every exam domain.

These 10 free NEBOSH General Certificate questions are organized by exam domain, so you can see how each part of the National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety blueprint is tested. Reveal the answer and explanation under each question.

Domain 1: Why we should manage workplace health and safety

Question 1

A duty described as 'reasonably practicable' means that:

  1. The risk must be reduced unless the cost is grossly disproportionate to the benefit
  2. The duty must be met regardless of cost
  3. The duty only applies when it is convenient for the employer
  4. The duty must be met if it is technically possible, regardless of cost
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A - The risk must be reduced unless the cost is grossly disproportionate to the benefit

Question 2

An HSE inspector serves a Prohibition Notice on an employer. If the employer appeals, what happens to the notice?

  1. The notice is automatically cancelled
  2. The notice remains in force during the appeal
  3. The employer can choose whether to comply during the appeal
  4. The notice is suspended until the appeal is heard
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - The notice remains in force during the appeal

Domain 3: Managing risk - understanding people and processes

Question 3

Which of the following CORRECTLY lists the hierarchy of control from MOST effective to LEAST effective?

  1. Elimination, engineering controls, substitution, administrative controls, PPE
  2. Substitution, elimination, engineering controls, administrative controls, PPE
  3. Elimination, substitution, administrative controls, engineering controls, PPE
  4. Elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, PPE
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D - Elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, PPE

Question 4

A warehouse worker lifts a heavy box incorrectly and injures their back. Investigation reveals they received no manual handling training, the box was poorly labelled, and there were no lifting aids available. Which human factor types are involved?

  1. Individual and job factors only
  2. Organisational, job, and individual factors
  3. Organisational and job factors only
  4. Job and environmental factors only
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - Organisational, job, and individual factors

Domain 4: Health and safety monitoring and measuring

Question 5

A worker slips on oil that leaked from a machine. The immediate cause is the oil on the floor. The root cause is MOST likely:

  1. The type of oil used in the machine
  2. The worker walking too fast
  3. The worker's choice of footwear
  4. A failure in the maintenance system
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D - A failure in the maintenance system

Question 6

A worker fractures their thumb in a workplace accident. Under RIDDOR, this is:

  1. A reportable dangerous occurrence under Schedule 2
  2. A specified injury requiring immediate notification to HSE
  3. NOT a specified injury - fractures of fingers, thumbs, and toes are excluded
  4. An over-7-day injury requiring medical treatment documentation
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - NOT a specified injury - fractures of fingers, thumbs, and toes are excluded

Domain 5: Physical and psychological health

Question 7

Which of the following CORRECTLY lists ALL SIX HSE Management Standards for work-related stress?

  1. Salary, Hours, Location, Benefits, Training, Promotion
  2. Planning, Organising, Controlling, Monitoring, Reviewing, Auditing
  3. Noise, Vibration, Temperature, Lighting, Ventilation, Space
  4. Demands, Control, Support, Relationships, Role, Change
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D - Demands, Control, Support, Relationships, Role, Change

Domain 8: General workplace issues

Question 8

A competent standby person stationed outside a confined space is required to:

  1. Maintain communication with workers inside and raise alarms without entering to attempt rescue
  2. Enter the space immediately if the worker does not respond to calls
  3. Monitor the space continuously and maintain emergency communication equipment
  4. Leave the area to summon emergency responders if an incident occurs
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A - Maintain communication with workers inside and raise alarms without entering to attempt rescue

Domain 10: Fire

Question 9

Water should NEVER be used on which types of fire?

  1. Class B, Class F, and electrical fires
  2. Class A fires involving wood and paper
  3. Water can be used safely on all fire types
  4. Only Class D metal fires
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A - Class B, Class F, and electrical fires

Domain 11: Electricity

Question 10

A Residual Current Device (RCD) protects against electric shock by:

  1. Increasing the voltage to the equipment
  2. Only working with three-phase systems
  3. Detecting current imbalance between conductors
  4. Only protecting against overloaded circuits
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - Detecting current imbalance between conductors

The rest of the NEBOSH General Certificate blueprint

The NEBOSH General Certificate exam also covers these domains. Drill them in the full free practice test:

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