Looking for parties, events or school? Go →

Health and safety representative quiz: OHS Act 85 of 1993 (South Africa)

by Quizhat · 14 questions · Updated · CC BY

SafetyEnglish

The Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 in 14 questions for health and safety (SHE) representatives: when they are needed, how many, their functions, committees, employee duties and incident reporting. Free quiz with instant feedback and a short explanation citing the rule for every answer. Based on South African law (Occupational Health and Safety Act, No. 85 of 1993). Practice material written by Quizhat: these are not the questions of any official test, course or assessment, and Quizhat is not affiliated with the Department of Employment and Labour, NOSA, SAMTRAC or any training provider. Sources: Occupational Health and Safety Act, No. 85 of 1993, ss. 8, 14, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24 and 26.

Practise now

Quiz questions

Question 1 · Single choice · 60s · 1 pt

Above how many employees at a workplace must the employer designate health and safety representatives?

  • More than 20
  • More than 5
  • More than 50
  • More than 100

Question 2 · Single choice · 60s · 1 pt

How many representatives does a shop or office need at least?

  • One for every 50 employees or part of 50
  • One for every 20 employees or part of 20
  • One for every 100 employees or part of 100
  • One for every 250 employees or part of 250

Question 3 · Single choice · 60s · 1 pt

How many representatives does any other workplace, such as a factory or a site, need at least?

  • One for every 100 employees or part of 100
  • One for every 20 employees or part of 20
  • One for every 50 employees or part of 50
  • One for every 500 employees or part of 500

Question 4 · Single choice · 60s · 1 pt

Who can be designated as a health and safety representative?

  • Full-time employees who know that workplace
  • Any outside safety consultant
  • Only managers and supervisors appointed by the employer
  • Only part-time or temporary staff

Question 5 · Single choice · 60s · 1 pt

When are the representative's activities and training carried out?

  • After working hours, as unpaid voluntary work
  • Only at weekends, as a volunteer
  • During the representative's annual leave
  • In ordinary working hours, counted as work

Question 6 · Single choice · 60s · 1 pt

Which of these is a function of a health and safety representative under section 18?

  • Disciplining workers who break the safety rules
  • Reviewing how effective safety measures are
  • Approving the employer's yearly budget
  • Issuing fines to the employer

Question 7 · Single choice · 60s · 1 pt

How may a representative inspect the workplace?

  • At agreed intervals, giving reasonable notice
  • At any time, without telling the employer beforehand
  • Only together with a labour inspector
  • Only after a serious injury has occurred

Question 8 · Single choice · 60s · 1 pt

Is a representative civilly liable just because they failed to do something the Act lets them do?

  • Yes, in every such case
  • No, not for that reason alone
  • Yes, unless the employer agrees
  • Only if they had no training

Question 9 · Single choice · 60s · 1 pt

When must an employer set up a health and safety committee?

  • Only above 500 employees
  • Only when an inspector orders one in writing to the employer
  • When ten or more representatives exist
  • When two or more representatives are designated

Question 10 · Single choice · 60s · 1 pt

How often must a health and safety committee meet at least?

  • Once a month, on the first working day
  • Once every six months
  • Once every three months
  • Once a year

Question 11 · Single choice · 60s · 1 pt

You are injured at work. By when must you report the incident?

  • Within 14 days, in writing, on the official form
  • As soon as practicable, by the end of the shift
  • Only if you need to see a doctor
  • At the next committee meeting

Question 12 · Single choice · 60s · 1 pt

When may an employer rely on personal protective equipment?

  • First, because it is cheapest and quickest to provide
  • Only when workers ask for it
  • After trying to eliminate or reduce the hazard
  • Never: the Act forbids PPE

Question 13 · Single choice · 60s · 1 pt

Can an employer deduct from wages for safety equipment the Act requires?

  • No, except for wilful damage after an investigation
  • Yes, half of the cost of it
  • Yes, provided the employee signs a written agreement first
  • Only for boots and helmets

Question 14 · Single choice · 60s · 1 pt

An injury is likely to keep a worker off work for at least how long before it must be reported to an inspector?

  • 3 days
  • 7 days
  • 30 days
  • 14 days

How to use it

Copy the quiz into your free account, edit it if needed and run it live: players join from their phones with a code or a QR code, no app needed. The correct answers are not published here: you see them in your copy.

Related quizzes

Report this quiz

If you leave your email we confirm receipt and tell you our decision. To report child sexual abuse material you do not need to say who you are.