Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) Practice Test

After an injury at work that results in absence for more than seven days, what must an employer do?

1. Notify your family

2. Inform the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

3. Issue a verbal warning

4. Provide additional training

The correct answer is: Inform the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

When a worker suffers an injury at work that results in an absence of more than seven days, it is the employer's responsibility to inform the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). This requirement is in place to ensure that workplace incidents are properly recorded and investigated, promoting safer working conditions and accountability within the workplace. Reporting such incidents helps the HSE monitor compliance with health and safety regulations and identify trends that could inform preventive measures. The need for this reporting aligns with the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR), which require employers to keep a record of accidents and injuries and report certain types of incidents to safeguard not only the injured employee but also others in the workplace. Immediate notification is critical to maintaining a safe work environment and fostering a culture of safety. Other options do not fulfill necessary legal obligations or improve workplace safety following a significant injury. While notifying a family member may be considerate, it is not an obligation under health and safety law. Issuing a verbal warning or providing additional training does not address the immediate need for reporting the injury to appropriate health and safety authorities.