Top 40 Health and Safety Interview Questions and Answers

1. What is the primary goal of health and safety in the workplace?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeTheppe ppeprimaryppe ppegoalppe ppeisppe ppetoppe ppepreventppe ppeaccidentsppe, ppeinjuriesppe, ppeandppe ppeillnessesppe ppebyppe ppecreatingppe ppeappe ppesafeppe ppeandppe ppehealthyppe ppeworkppe ppeenvironmentppe ppeforppe ppeallppe ppeemployeesppe.

2. Can you explain the term “risk assessment”?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeRiskppe ppeassessmentppe ppeisppe ppetheppe ppeprocessppe ppeofppe ppeidentifyingppe ppepotentialppe ppehazardsppe, ppeanalyzingppe ppetheppe pperisksppe ppeassociatedppe ppewithppe ppethemppe, ppeandppe ppeimplementingppe ppemeasuresppe ppetoppe ppecontrolppe ppeorppe ppeeliminateppe ppethoseppe pperisksppe.

3. What are some common workplace hazards?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeCommonppe ppehazardsppe ppeincludeppe ppephysicalppe ppehazardsppe (ppeeppe.ppegppe., ppemachineryppe), ppechemicalppe ppehazardsppe (ppeeppe.ppegppe., ppetoxicppe ppesubstancesppe), ppebiologicalppe ppehazardsppe (ppeeppe.ppegppe., ppebacteriappe), ppeergonomicppe ppehazardsppe (ppeeppe.ppegppe., pperepetitiveppe ppestrainppe), ppeandppe ppepsychosocialppe ppehazardsppe (ppeeppe.ppegppe., ppestressppe).

4. How do you ensure compliance with health and safety regulations?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeByppe ppestayingppe ppeupdatedppe ppewithppe ppecurrentppe pperegulationsppe, ppeconductingppe pperegularppe ppeauditsppe ppeandppe ppeinspectionsppe, ppeprovidingppe ppeongoingppe ppetrainingppe, ppeandppe ppefosteringppe ppeappe ppecultureppe ppeofppe ppesafetyppe.

5. What is a Safety Data Sheet (SDS)?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeAnppe ppeSDSppe ppeisppe ppeappe ppedocumentppe ppethatppe ppeprovidesppe ppedetailedppe ppeinformationppe ppeaboutppe ppeappe ppehazardousppe ppesubstanceppe, ppeincludingppe ppeitsppe ppepropertiesppe, ppehazardsppe, ppeprotectiveppe ppemeasuresppe, ppeandppe ppesafetyppe ppeprecautionsppe.

6. How would you handle an employee who consistently ignores safety procedures?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeIppe ppewouldppe ppeaddressppe ppetheppe ppeissueppe ppebyppe ppediscussingppe ppetheppe ppeimportanceppe ppeofppe ppesafetyppe, ppeprovidingppe ppeadditionalppe ppetrainingppe ppeifppe ppenecessaryppe, ppeandppe ppeenforcingppe ppedisciplinaryppe ppeactionsppe ppeifppe ppetheppe ppebehaviorppe ppepersistsppe.

7. Can you explain the concept of “safety culture”?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeSafetyppe ppecultureppe pperefersppe ppetoppe ppetheppe ppecollectiveppe ppeattitudesppe, ppebeliefsppe, ppeandppe ppebehaviorsppe ppewithinppe ppeanppe ppeorganizationppe ppethatppe ppeprioritizeppe ppeandppe ppepromoteppe ppesafetyppe ppeatppe ppeallppe ppelevelsppe.

8. What steps would you take following a workplace accident?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeIppe ppewouldppe ppeensureppe ppeimmediateppe ppemedicalppe ppeattentionppe ppeisppe ppeprovidedppe, ppesecureppe ppetheppe ppeareappe ppetoppe ppepreventppe ppefurtherppe ppeaccidentsppe, ppeinvestigateppe ppetheppe ppecauseppe, ppedocumentppe ppetheppe ppeincidentppe, ppeandppe ppeimplementppe ppecorrectiveppe ppeactionsppe.

9. How do you conduct a hazard identification process?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeIppe ppewouldppe ppestartppe ppebyppe ppereviewingppe ppepastppe ppeincidentsppe, ppeinspectingppe ppetheppe ppeworkplaceppe, ppeconsultingppe ppewithppe ppeemployeesppe, ppeandppe ppeanalyzingppe ppejobppe ppetasksppe ppetoppe ppeidentifyppe ppepotentialppe ppehazardsppe.

10. What is the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE)?

• ppeAnswerppe: PPEppe ppeisppe ppecrucialppe ppeforppe ppeprotectingppe ppeemployeesppe ppefromppe ppehazardsppe ppethatppe ppecannotppe ppebeppe ppeeliminatedppe ppeorppe ppecontrolledppe ppethroughppe ppeotherppe ppemeansppe, ppesuchppe ppeasppe ppeengineeringppe ppeorppe ppeadministrativeppe ppecontrolsppe.

11. How do you prioritize health and safety tasks?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeTasksppe ppeareppe ppeprioritizedppe ppebasedppe ppeonppe ppetheppe ppeseverityppe ppeandppe ppelikelihoodppe ppeofppe pperisksppe, ppelegalppe pperequirementsppe, ppeandppe ppetheppe ppepotentialppe ppeimpactppe ppeonppe ppeemployeeppe ppehealthppe ppeandppe ppesafetyppe.

12. Can you describe a time when you improved workplace safety?

• ppeAnswerppe: [ppeInsertppe ppeappe ppepersonalppe ppeexampleppe, ppesuchppe ppeasppe ppeimplementingppe ppeappe ppenewppe ppetrainingppe ppeprogramppe ppeorppe ppeupgradingppe safety equipmentppe, ppeexplainingppe ppetheppe ppepositiveppe ppeoutcomesppe.]

13. What role does employee training play in health and safety?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeTrainingppe ppeensuresppe ppethatppe ppeemployeesppe ppeareppe ppeawareppe ppeofppe ppepotentialppe ppehazardsppe, ppeknowppe ppehowppe ppetoppe ppeperformppe ppetheirppe ppetasksppe ppesafelyppe, ppeandppe ppeunderstandppe ppetheppe ppeimportanceppe ppeofppe ppefollowingppe ppesafetyppe ppeprotocolsppe.

14. How do you stay informed about new health and safety regulations?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeIppe ppestayppe ppeinformedppe ppebyppe ppesubscribingppe ppetoppe ppeindustryppe ppenewslettersppe, ppeattendingppe ppeworkshopsppe ppeandppe ppeseminarsppe, ppeandppe ppenetworkingppe ppewithppe ppeotherppe ppeprofessionalsppe ppeinppe ppetheppe ppefieldppe.

15. What is an emergency response plan?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeAnppe ppeemergencyppe pperesponseppe ppeplanppe ppeoutlinesppe ppetheppe ppeproceduresppe ppetoppe ppebeppe ppefollowedppe ppeinppe ppetheppe ppeeventppe ppeofppe ppeanppe ppeemergencyppe, ppesuchppe ppeasppe ppeappe ppefireppe, ppechemicalppe ppespillppe, ppeorppe ppenaturalppe ppedisasterppe, ppetoppe ppeensureppe ppetheppe ppesafetyppe ppeofppe ppeallppe ppeemployeesppe.

16. How do you involve employees in health and safety initiatives?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeIppe ppeinvolveppe ppeemployeesppe ppebyppe ppeencouragingppe ppethemppe ppetoppe ppeparticipateppe ppeinppe ppesafetyppe ppecommitteesppe, ppeprovidingppe ppefeedbackppe ppeduringppe ppeinspectionsppe, ppeandppe pperecognizingppe ppetheirppe ppecontributionsppe ppetoppe ppeimprovingppe ppesafetyppe.

17. What is the difference between a hazard and a risk?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeAppe ppehazardppe ppeisppe ppesomethingppe ppethatppe ppehasppe ppetheppe ppepotentialppe ppetoppe ppecauseppe ppeharmppe, ppewhileppe ppeappe pperiskppe ppeisppe ppetheppe ppelikelihoodppe ppeofppe ppethatppe ppehazardppe ppecausingppe ppeharmppe.

18. How do you handle stress and mental health issues related to the workplace?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeIppe ppeaddressppe ppetheseppe ppeissuesppe ppebyppe ppepromotingppe ppeworkppe-ppelifeppe ppebalanceppe, ppeofferingppe pperesourcesppe ppelikeppe ppecounselingppe, ppeandppe ppecreatingppe ppeanppe ppeopenppe ppeenvironmentppe ppewhereppe ppeemployeesppe ppefeelppe ppecomfortableppe ppediscussingppe ppetheirppe ppeconcernsppe.

19. What is a near-miss, and how should it be reported?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeAppe ppenearppe-ppemissppe ppeisppe ppeanppe ppeincidentppe ppethatppe ppecouldppe ppehaveppe pperesultedppe ppeinppe ppeanppe ppeaccidentppe ppebutppe ppedidnppe&#ppe8217ppe;ppetppe. ppeItppe ppeshouldppe ppebeppe ppereportedppe ppeimmediatelyppe ppetoppe ppeallowppe ppeforppe ppeinvestigationppe ppeandppe ppetheppe ppepreventionppe ppeofppe ppefutureppe ppeincidentsppe.

20. How do you implement a new safety policy?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeImplementationppe ppeinvolvesppe ppedraftingppe ppetheppe ppepolicyppe, ppecommunicatingppe ppeitppe ppeclearlyppe ppetoppe ppeallppe ppeemployeesppe, ppeprovidingppe ppetrainingppe, ppeandppe ppemonitoringppe ppecomplianceppe.

21. What is the role of a safety committee?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeAppe ppesafetyppe ppecommitteeppe ppeisppe pperesponsibleppe ppeforppe ppeidentifyingppe ppehazardsppe, pperecommendingppe ppecorrectiveppe ppeactionsppe, ppeandppe ppepromotingppe ppeappe ppesafeppe ppeworkppe ppeenvironmentppe ppethroughppe pperegularppe ppemeetingsppe ppeandppe ppeinspectionsppe.

22. How do you evaluate the effectiveness of a health and safety program?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeEffectivenessppe ppeisppe ppeevaluatedppe ppethroughppe pperegularppe ppeauditsppe, ppeanalyzingppe ppeincidentppe ppereportsppe, ppeemployeeppe ppefeedbackppe, ppeandppe ppecomparingppe ppeperformanceppe ppemetricsppe ppebeforeppe ppeandppe ppeafterppe ppeprogramppe ppeimplementationppe.

23. What is an incident investigation?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeAnppe ppeincidentppe ppeinvestigationppe ppeinvolvesppe ppedeterminingppe ppetheppe pperootppe ppecauseppe ppeofppe ppeanppe ppeaccidentppe ppeorppe ppenearppe-ppemissppe ppetoppe ppepreventppe ppefutureppe ppeoccurrencesppe ppebyppe ppeimplementingppe ppecorrectiveppe ppeactionsppe.

24. How do you ensure that contractors follow health and safety rules?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeContractorsppe ppeareppe pperequiredppe ppetoppe ppeundergoppe ppetheppe ppesameppe ppesafetyppe ppetrainingppe ppeasppe ppeemployeesppe, ppeandppe ppetheirppe ppecomplianceppe ppeisppe ppemonitoredppe ppethroughppe pperegularppe ppeinspectionsppe ppeandppe ppeauditsppe.

25. What is ergonomic safety?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeErgonomicppe ppesafetyppe ppefocusesppe ppeonppe ppedesigningppe ppeworkstationsppe ppeandppe ppetasksppe ppetoppe ppefitppe ppetheppe ppeemployeeppe, ppereducingppe ppestrainppe, ppefatigueppe, ppeandppe ppetheppe pperiskppe ppeofppe ppemusculoskeletalppe ppedisordersppe.

26. How do you handle health and safety in a multi-cultural workplace?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeIppe ppeensureppe ppethatppe ppeallppe ppesafetyppe ppematerialsppe ppeandppe ppetrainingppe ppeareppe ppeprovidedppe ppeinppe ppemultipleppe ppelanguagesppe ppeandppe ppethatppe ppeculturalppe ppedifferencesppe ppeareppe pperespectedppe ppeinppe ppesafetyppe ppepracticesppe.

27. What is the significance of safety signage?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeSafetyppe ppesignageppe ppeprovidesppe ppeclearppe, ppevisibleppe ppewarningsppe ppeandppe ppeinstructionsppe ppetoppe ppepreventppe ppeaccidentsppe ppeandppe ppeguideppe ppeemployeesppe ppeinppe ppeemergencyppe ppesituationsppe.

28. How do you manage hazardous materials?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeHazardousppe ppematerialsppe ppeareppe ppemanagedppe ppethroughppe ppeproperppe ppelabelingppe, ppestorageppe, ppehandlingppe ppeproceduresppe, ppeandppe ppeensuringppe ppeemployeesppe ppeareppe ppetrainedppe ppeinppe ppetheirppe ppesafeppe ppeuseppe.

29. What steps would you take to improve safety in an aging workforce?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeIppe ppewouldppe ppefocusppe ppeonppe ppeergonomicppe ppeadjustmentsppe, ppeprovideppe ppetrainingppe ppeonppe ppenewppe ppetechnologiesppe, ppeandppe ppeimplementppe ppewellnessppe ppeprogramsppe ppethatppe ppeaddressppe ppetheppe ppespecificppe ppeneedsppe ppeofppe ppeolderppe ppeworkersppe.

30. How do you address workplace violence?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeWorkplaceppe ppeviolenceppe ppeisppe ppeaddressedppe ppebyppe ppeimplementingppe ppestrictppe ppepoliciesppe, ppeprovidingppe ppetrainingppe ppeonppe ppeconflictppe pperesolutionppe, ppeandppe ppeensuringppe ppethereppe ppeareppe ppeproceduresppe ppeforppe ppereportingppe ppeandppe pperespondingppe ppetoppe ppeincidentsppe.

31. Can you explain the “hierarchy of controls”?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeTheppe ppehierarchyppe ppeofppe ppecontrolsppe ppeisppe ppeappe ppesystemppe ppeusedppe ppetoppe ppeminimizeppe ppeexposureppe ppetoppe ppehazardsppe, pperankedppe ppefromppe ppemostppe ppetoppe ppeleastppe ppeeffectiveppe: ppeeliminationppe, ppesubstitutionppe, ppeengineeringppe ppecontrolsppe, ppeadministrativeppe ppecontrolsppe, ppeandppe PPEppe.

32. What is occupational health?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeOccupationalppe ppehealthppe ppefocusesppe ppeonppe ppetheppe ppepreventionppe ppeandppe ppemanagementppe ppeofppe ppeworkppe-pperelatedppe ppeinjuriesppe, ppeillnessesppe, ppeandppe ppediseasesppe, ppeensuringppe ppetheppe ppewellppe-ppebeingppe ppeofppe ppeemployeesppe.

33. How do you promote a zero-accident culture?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeByppe ppesettingppe ppeclearppe ppesafetyppe ppegoalsppe, ppeprovidingppe pperegularppe ppetrainingppe, ppeencouragingppe ppeemployeeppe ppeinvolvementppe, ppeandppe pperecognizingppe ppeandppe pperewardingppe ppesafeppe ppebehaviorsppe.

34. What is the role of leadership in workplace safety?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeLeadershipppe ppeplaysppe ppeappe ppecrucialppe pperoleppe ppebyppe ppesettingppe ppetheppe ppetoneppe ppeforppe ppesafetyppe ppecultureppe, ppeprovidingppe pperesourcesppe, ppeenforcingppe ppepoliciesppe, ppeandppe ppeleadingppe ppebyppe ppeexampleppe.

35. How do you ensure that safety procedures are followed during high-risk activities?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeIppe ppeensureppe ppethatppe ppeallppe ppeemployeesppe ppeinvolvedppe ppeinppe ppehighppe-pperiskppe ppeactivitiesppe ppeareppe ppeproperlyppe ppetrainedppe, ppethatppe ppeproceduresppe ppeareppe ppeclearlyppe ppedocumentedppe, ppeandppe ppethatppe ppethereppe ppeisppe ppestrictppe ppesupervisionppe ppeduringppe ppetheseppe ppetasksppe.

36. What is a job safety analysis (JSA)?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeAppe ppeJSAppe ppeisppe ppeappe ppeprocessppe ppethatppe ppeinvolvesppe ppebreakingppe ppedownppe ppeappe ppejobppe ppeintoppe ppeitsppe ppecomponentppe ppetasksppe, ppeidentifyingppe ppepotentialppe ppehazardsppe ppeatppe ppeeachppe ppestepppe, ppeandppe ppedeterminingppe ppetheppe ppesafestppe ppewayppe ppetoppe ppeperformppe ppetheppe ppejobppe.

37. How do you handle the safety of remote workers?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeIppe ppeensureppe pperemoteppe ppeworkersppe ppehaveppe ppetheppe ppenecessaryppe ppetoolsppe ppeandppe ppetrainingppe, ppeassessppe ppetheirppe ppeworkppe ppeenvironmentppe ppeforppe ppehazardsppe, ppeandppe ppemaintainppe pperegularppe ppecommunicationppe ppetoppe ppeaddressppe ppeanyppe ppesafetyppe ppeconcernsppe.

38. What is the role of safety audits?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeSafetyppe ppeauditsppe ppeareppe ppeconductedppe ppetoppe ppeassessppe ppetheppe ppeeffectivenessppe ppeofppe ppesafetyppe ppeprogramsppe, ppeensureppe ppecomplianceppe ppewithppe pperegulationsppe, ppeandppe ppeidentifyppe ppeareasppe ppeforppe ppeimprovementppe.

39. How do you integrate health and safety into daily operations?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeByppe ppemakingppe ppesafetyppe ppeappe ppecoreppe ppevalueppe, ppeintegratingppe ppeitppe ppeintoppe ppeallppe ppebusinessppe ppeprocessesppe, ppeandppe ppeensuringppe ppethatppe ppesafetyppe ppeconsiderationsppe ppeareppe ppepartppe ppeofppe ppeeveryppe ppedecisionppe-ppemakingppe ppeprocessppe.

40. How do you measure the success of your safety initiatives?

• ppeAnswerppe: ppeSuccessppe ppeisppe ppemeasuredppe ppethroughppe ppekeyppe ppeperformanceppe ppeindicatorsppe ppesuchppe ppeasppe ppereducedppe ppeincidentppe pperatesppe, ppeincreasedppe ppeemployeeppe ppeengagementppe, ppeandppe ppepositiveppe ppefeedbackppe ppefromppe ppesafetyppe ppeauditsppe.

ppeTheseppe ppequestionsppe ppeandppe ppeanswersppe ppeshouldppe ppeprovideppe ppeappe ppestrongppe ppefoundationppe ppeforppe ppeevaluatingppe ppehealthppe ppeandppe ppesafetyppe ppeknowledgeppe ppeandppe ppepracticesppe ppeduringppe ppeinterviewsppe.