June 2002 Q8 & Dec 2003 Q10

(a) Describe the possible health effects of

electricity on the body
(4)
(b) Outline FOUR factors that may affect the
severity of harm of injury from contact with
electricity
(4)

CHSS Ltd 2006

Sales ref: sc/639/v3

Examiners Report
For part (a), most candidates were bale to specify the two main effects of
electricity on the human body as interference with nerve/muscle action &
tissue burns
Although some were content to rely on vague references to shock or heart
attack, which were insufficient as a description
More able candidates included reference to

Cardio-respiratory effects
In particular the risk of fatal injury due to disruption of heart rhythm
As far as tissue burns are concerned, candidates should have referred to
the

Main sites of damage as being the entry & exit points

& to the possibility of damage to internal organs
CHSS Ltd 2006
Sales ref: sc/639/v3

For part (b), many answers concentrated almost entirely on the voltages involved
Relatively few candidates outlined additional factors such as
The route taken through the body
The length of contact time
The general health & age of the person involved
& those factors that might affect the size of current passing through the body
In particular, there was little understanding of resistance, based on such things as
Dryness of the skin
Natural body resistance
Ground conditions
& type of footwear

CHSS Ltd 2006

Sales ref: sc/639/v3

Dec 2002 Q4 & Sep 2003 Q4

In relation to electrical safety
Explain the meaning of the following terms
(i) Isolation

(2)

(ii) Earthing

(2)

(iii)Reduced low voltage

(2)

(iv) Overcurrent protection

(2)

CHSS Ltd 2006

Sales ref: sc/639/v3

Examiners Report
The question aimed to test candidates knowledge of some key electrical
terms
Isolation refers to shutting off the electrical supply to an item of equipment
or part of an electrical system & preventing inadvertent reconnection in
order, for instance, to carry out maintenance work
Earthing, on the other hand is a means whereby electrical equipment &
conductive items are connected to earth by a cable or metal pipework such
that the route to earth provides the path of least resistance to a current
flowing under fault conditions
Reduced low voltage, commonly used on construction sites, involves the
reduction of mains voltage by a transformer to a lower, safer voltage
typically 110 or 55 volts
while overcurrent protection is a method of preventing the flow of excess
current by cutting the supply under fault conditions by means of a fuse or
circuit breaker
CHSS Ltd 2006
Sales ref: sc/639/v3

Despite the question, or parts of it, having appeared on previous

papers, it was poorly answered by most candidates, with only the more
able producing answers to a reasonable standard

CHSS Ltd 2006

Sales ref: sc/639/v3

December 2005 Question 1

A joiner has received an electric shock from a hand-held, 230v
drill while fitting floorboards to an upstairs room of a new property
The drill is 5 years old but has not been tested during this time
The injury to the joiner was fortunately not serious
(I) Identify the factors that may have limited the severity of
injury on this occasion (4)
(ii) Outline the physical effects on the body that such contact
with electricity could have caused under different circumstances
(4)
(iii) Describe the types of inspection&/or test to which the drill
should have been subjected , identifying the particular
features
that should be checked by EACH type & the factors that might
affect the frequencies required (12)
CHSS Ltd 2006
Sales ref: sc/639/v3

Examiners Report
Many candidates had difficulty in answering part (i) of the question
However they could have identified factors that could lead to current
limitation such as

High earth path resistance from the wooden floor or the dry conditions
The age & health status of the joiner
& the length of contact time which could also have been reduced by the
speed action of the fuse or circuit breaker

CHSS Ltd 2006

Sales ref: sc/639/v3

For part (ii) candidates were expected to identify tissue burns as one
possible effect of electricity on the body but should have qualified this by
referring to

The main sites of damage as being entry & exit points

& to the possibility of damage to internal organs
Other effects which could have been outlined included interference with

Nerve/muscle action (leading to involuntary grip)

& cardio-respiratory effects
In particular the risk of fatal injury due to the disruption of heart-rhythm
Some candidates could produce only vague terms such as burns or
heart attack which were not sufficiently adequate descriptions of the
effects to gain good marks
CHSS Ltd 2006
Sales ref: sc/639/v3

In answering part (iii), candidates were expected to describe 3 types of

inspection
The 1st of these should have been carried out by the joiner (the user)
He should have checked the general condition of the drill for signs of
damage or overheating & the integrity of the connectors (plug & socket) &
cable
This type of inspection should be carried out on every occasion that the
equipment is to be used
The 2nd type should have been a more formal visual inspection carried out at
periodic intervals (weekly or monthly) depending upon the extent &
conditions of use
It should take the form of a more thorough inspection of the equipment & its
connectors & cable & additionally should include a check to ensure that the
fuses fitted were correctly rated
CHSS Ltd 2006
Sales ref: sc/639/v3

The 3rd type should have involved a combined inspection & test (PAT),
carried out by a competent person on a

3 monthly
Half yearly
Or annual basis
(Again depending upon the extent & conditions of use)
With the objectives of both checking

That the equipment was functioning correctly

& of detecting potential faults such as loss of earth integrity
Deterioration of the integrity of insulation
& possible contamination of internal & external surfaces
CHSS Ltd 2006
Sales ref: sc/639/v3

The factors that might affect the frequency of inspection (apart from the
extent & conditions of use) would include

The age & robustness of the equipment

The type of cable fitted
The number & competency of the users
Manufacturers recommendation foreseeable misuse or abuse
& the results of previous inspections
This part of the question, as was the case with part (i), was poorly
answered
Candidates generally referred to PAT but were unable to outline other
types of inspections & therefore reported to explaining at great length
what was required by PAT
CHSS Ltd 2006
Sales ref: sc/639/v3

June 2001 Q9 & Sep 2004 Q11

State the items that should be included on a
checklist for the routine inspection of portable
electrical appliances
(8)

CHSS Ltd 2006

Sales ref: sc/639/v3

Examiners Report

Most candidates were able to provide reasonable checklists in answer to

this question including items as

The need to check that the appliance is of a suitable type for the operations
to be carried out

That the connecting plugs are in sound condition & sockets not overloaded;
that the fuses fitted are of the correct rating

That the appliance is operated at reduced voltage (where appropriate) &/or

protected by a RCD

That cables are undamaged & routed safely

& that the casing of the appliance is in good condition
Almost without exception, additional reference was made to the need to
check that a PAT has been carried out & is current, & that the relevant
information is provided
CHSS Ltd 2006
Sales ref: sc/639/v3