PSSR exit exam questions and answers — Set 17 — Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities
Set 17 of the Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities (PSSR) exit exam bank — 30 of 786 questions, with the correct option marked and a one-line explanation for every one. Read it end to end, jump to a single set, or search it — then sit the same bank as a timed paper. The real DG Shipping exit exam is 30 marks with 15 to pass.
These are the bank's original groupings. Practising deals the whole bank out again every time you reshuffle, so a practice “Set 3” is a different 30 questions each time — the set numbers below are the source file's, and are only used here so the key stays navigable. Options are listed in their original order with fixed letters; when you practise, those move too.
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Set 17 — 30 PSSR exit exam questions with answers
1. Public communication refers to ____
- A. Public speeches that we deliver in front of audiences
- B. Talking to oneself
- C. A conversation between two friends
- D. Sending a private email
Answer: A — Public speeches that we deliver in front of audiences
Public communication is when one speaker addresses an audience, such as a briefing, speech or presentation. It differs from interpersonal communication between individuals and from mass communication through media.
2. Which of the following statements is NOT true when you try to control others?
- A. It creates resentment
- B. It increases your own stress
- C. It gives you peace of mind
- D. It damages relationships
Answer: C — It gives you peace of mind
Trying to control other people's behaviour usually fails, creating frustration, resentment and conflict. It increases stress rather than giving peace of mind; it is better to focus on what you can control, namely your own actions.
3. A vessel in distress using radiotelephony should send the two-tone alarm signal, immediately followed by ____
- A. The word PAN PAN spoken three times
- B. The word SECURITE spoken three times
- C. The word MAYDAY spoken three times
- D. The ship's call sign only
Answer: C — The word MAYDAY spoken three times
The radiotelephone alarm signal is used to attract attention and is followed by the distress call, the word MAYDAY spoken three times, then the ship's identity, and then the distress message with position and nature of distress.
4. Mass communication refers to ____
- A. Any type of media used to communicate with mass audiences
- B. Communication between two crew members
- C. Talking to oneself
- D. Hand signals during mooring
Answer: A — Any type of media used to communicate with mass audiences
Mass communication transmits information to large, dispersed audiences through media such as newspapers, television, radio and the internet. It is distinguished from interpersonal and public communication by the use of media.
5. The radar mast of a ship is located on ____
- A. The forecastle
- B. The monkey island
- C. The poop deck
- D. The engine casing
Answer: B — The monkey island
The monkey island is the uppermost deck above the wheelhouse. It carries the radar scanners, masthead lights, standard compass and other antennas, giving them the highest unobstructed position.
6. A barrier to communication is ____
- A. Anything that hinders the process of communication
- B. A clear and simple message
- C. Feedback from the receiver
- D. A common working language
Answer: A — Anything that hinders the process of communication
A communication barrier is anything that distorts or blocks the message between sender and receiver, such as noise, language differences, cultural differences, emotions or poor listening. These must be overcome for safe operations.
7. What should be used to protect the face from injury when sparks are generated?
- A. Ear muffs
- B. Face shield
- C. Safety shoes
- D. Dust mask
Answer: B — Face shield
Grinding, chipping and hot work produce flying sparks and particles. A face shield, worn with safety goggles where required, protects the face and eyes, as recommended in the Code of Safe Working Practices.
8. Effective listening skills are ____
- A. The ability to actively understand information provided by the speaker and display interest in the topic
- B. The ability to speak loudly
- C. The ability to interrupt to give your view
- D. The ability to remember only the first sentence
Answer: A — The ability to actively understand information provided by the speaker and display interest in the topic
Effective listening is active: giving full attention, understanding the speaker's message, showing interest and asking for clarification when needed. It reduces misunderstandings, which is vital for safe shipboard work.
9. Interpersonal relationship refers to ____
- A. A strong association among individuals working together in the same organisation
- B. A contract between the shipowner and the charterer
- C. A legal relationship with the flag state
- D. The chain of command only
Answer: A — A strong association among individuals working together in the same organisation
An interpersonal relationship is an association between people who interact regularly, such as crew members working together on board. Good relationships build trust, cooperation and teamwork.
10. Which of the following happens during a stress response?
- A. Heart rate decreases
- B. Breathing slows down
- C. Strength increases
- D. Blood pressure falls
Answer: C — Strength increases
The stress response (fight or flight) releases adrenaline, which increases heart rate, breathing, blood pressure and muscle strength to prepare the body to react. Slowed heart rate and breathing are signs of relaxation.
11. Team building is ____
- A. Providing the skills, training and resources that your people need so that they can work in harmony
- B. Selecting only experienced individuals
- C. Allowing everyone to work independently
- D. Reducing communication to save time
Answer: A — Providing the skills, training and resources that your people need so that they can work in harmony
Team building develops a group into an effective team by providing skills, training, resources and trust so that members cooperate in harmony towards common objectives. It improves safety and efficiency on board.
12. Teamwork is ____
- A. Each member working only for personal goals
- B. The collaborative effort of a group to achieve a common goal or complete a task in the most effective and efficient way
- C. Following orders without communication
- D. Competition between departments
Answer: B — The collaborative effort of a group to achieve a common goal or complete a task in the most effective and efficient way
Teamwork is a group of people combining their efforts and skills to achieve a shared goal efficiently. On board, deck and engine teams must cooperate closely for safe navigation, cargo work and emergencies.
13. Social responsibility is defined as ____
- A. The duty to maximise profit at any cost
- B. The duty to do no harm to society
- C. Obeying only the flag state
- D. Supporting only one's own family
Answer: B — The duty to do no harm to society
Social responsibility is the obligation of individuals and organisations to act for the benefit of society and avoid harming it. For seafarers this includes protecting the environment, respecting others and behaving responsibly on board and ashore.
14. A Garbage Record Book is mandatory for every ship of ____
- A. 100 GT and above only
- B. 400 GT and above, and every ship certified to carry 15 or more persons
- C. 500 GT and above only
- D. All passenger ships only
Answer: B — 400 GT and above, and every ship certified to carry 15 or more persons
MARPOL Annex V Regulation 10.3 requires every ship of 400 GT and above, and every ship certified to carry 15 persons or more, to carry a Garbage Record Book. A Garbage Management Plan is required on ships of 100 GT and above.
15. ____ arrive on the ship for inward clearance.
- A. Port officials
- B. Stevedores
- C. Ship chandlers
- D. Classification surveyors
Answer: A — Port officials
On arrival the ship must obtain inward clearance from port officials such as customs, immigration, port health and port state authorities, who check documents and grant free pratique before normal operations proceed.
16. Sleep debt is ____
- A. The cumulative effect of not getting enough sleep
- B. Extra sleep taken in advance
- C. A medical condition caused by oversleeping
- D. Sleep taken during the watch
Answer: A — The cumulative effect of not getting enough sleep
Sleep debt is the accumulated shortfall between the sleep a person needs and the sleep obtained. It builds up over days and causes fatigue and reduced alertness, and can only be recovered by adequate rest.
17. Which of the following precautions should be observed when taking on diesel fuel?
- A. Keep all scuppers open
- B. Prohibit smoking in the area
- C. Leave the manifold unattended
- D. Increase pumping rate when topping off
Answer: B — Prohibit smoking in the area
Fuel vapour can ignite, so smoking and naked lights are prohibited near bunkering operations. Scuppers are plugged, the manifold is manned and the rate is reduced when topping off to prevent spills.
18. Fatigue is ____
- A. The state of feeling very tired, weary or sleepy resulting from insufficient sleep, prolonged mental or physical work, or extended stress or anxiety
- B. Only muscle pain after exercise
- C. A condition caused only by seasickness
- D. An illness caused by bacteria
Answer: A — The state of feeling very tired, weary or sleepy resulting from insufficient sleep, prolonged mental or physical work, or extended stress or anxiety
IMO guidelines on fatigue (MSC.1/Circ.1598) describe fatigue as a state of physical and/or mental impairment from factors such as inadequate sleep, extended wakefulness, work and rest imbalance and stress, reducing alertness and performance.
19. Stress that occurs over a long period of time is referred to as ____
- A. Acute stress
- B. Chronic stress
- C. Eustress
- D. Episodic stress
Answer: B — Chronic stress
Chronic stress is long-term stress persisting over weeks or months, for example from prolonged contracts, family problems or workload. It is more damaging to health than short-term acute stress.
20. The circadian clock is ____
- A. Referred to as the body clock, a roughly 24-hour cycle that regulates sleep and wakefulness
- B. The ship's master clock on the bridge
- C. A 12-hour watch rotation
- D. A device that measures heart rate
Answer: A — Referred to as the body clock, a roughly 24-hour cycle that regulates sleep and wakefulness
The circadian rhythm is the body's internal clock running on an approximately 24-hour cycle, regulating sleep, alertness, body temperature and hormones. Watchkeeping at night disrupts it and increases fatigue.
21. HIV/AIDS is NOT transmitted by ____
- A. Unprotected sexual contact
- B. Sharing needles
- C. Blood transfusion with infected blood
- D. Sharing toilets or washing facilities
Answer: D — Sharing toilets or washing facilities
HIV is transmitted through infected blood, sexual fluids and from mother to child. It is not spread by casual contact such as sharing toilets, washrooms, utensils or shaking hands, so infected crew should not be discriminated against.
22. Being awake for 17 hours is equivalent to a blood alcohol content of about ____
- A. 0.01%
- B. 0.05%
- C. 0.15%
- D. 0.30%
Answer: B — 0.05%
Research on fatigue shows that after about 17 hours awake, performance impairment is equivalent to a blood alcohol concentration of about 0.05%, and after 24 hours to about 0.1%, demonstrating how dangerous fatigue is for watchkeepers.
23. Informal feedback on an individual's performance is typically carried out ____
- A. To maintain a high level of employee motivation
- B. Only when dismissing a crew member
- C. Once at the end of the contract
- D. Only in writing to the company
Answer: A — To maintain a high level of employee motivation
Informal feedback is given regularly and on the spot, recognising good work and correcting minor issues. Its main purpose is to maintain motivation and continuous improvement, unlike formal appraisals done at fixed intervals.
24. The term load on top, used on crude oil carriers, describes a method for ____
- A. Loading new cargo on top of the oil retained in the slop tank after decanting, to minimise pollution
- B. Loading cargo on deck
- C. Loading ballast on top of cargo
- D. Topping off cargo tanks quickly
Answer: A — Loading new cargo on top of the oil retained in the slop tank after decanting, to minimise pollution
Under load on top, tank washings and dirty ballast residues are collected in a slop tank, the water underneath is decanted overboard within MARPOL limits, and the next cargo is loaded on top of the retained oil, minimising pollution.
25. What is the first task to complete before commencing hot work?
- A. Start welding to test the equipment
- B. Obtain a hot work permit
- C. Remove the fire extinguisher from the area
- D. Open all fuel tank vents
Answer: B — Obtain a hot work permit
Hot work must be authorised through the permit-to-work system. The hot work permit ensures a risk assessment, gas testing, removal of combustibles, fire watch and fire-fighting equipment are in place before work starts.
26. Maximum hours of work shall not exceed ____
- A. 12 hours in any 24-hour period
- B. 14 hours in any 24-hour period
- C. 16 hours in any 24-hour period
- D. 18 hours in any 24-hour period
Answer: B — 14 hours in any 24-hour period
MLC 2006 Standard A2.3 sets maximum hours of work at 14 hours in any 24-hour period and 72 hours in any seven-day period, as the alternative to minimum hours of rest.
27. Minimum hours of rest shall not be less than ____
- A. 8 hours in any 24-hour period and 70 hours in any seven-day period
- B. 10 hours in any 24-hour period and 77 hours in any seven-day period
- C. 12 hours in any 24-hour period and 84 hours in any seven-day period
- D. 6 hours in any 24-hour period and 60 hours in any seven-day period
Answer: B — 10 hours in any 24-hour period and 77 hours in any seven-day period
STCW Regulation VIII/1 (Section A-VIII/1) and MLC 2006 require a minimum of 10 hours of rest in any 24-hour period and 77 hours in any seven-day period.
28. The interval between consecutive periods of rest shall not exceed ____
- A. 6 hours
- B. 10 hours
- C. 14 hours
- D. 18 hours
Answer: C — 14 hours
STCW Section A-VIII/1 and MLC 2006 Standard A2.3 require that rest may be divided into no more than two periods, one of at least 6 hours, and the interval between consecutive periods of rest shall not exceed 14 hours.
29. During bunkering, to avoid excessive pressure in the fuel oil filling system you should ____
- A. Close the tank valves quickly
- B. Reduce the loading rate when topping off
- C. Increase the pumping rate at the end
- D. Shut the vent pipes
Answer: B — Reduce the loading rate when topping off
Reducing the rate when topping off tanks lowers line pressure and gives time to change over valves and avoid overflow. Closing valves quickly against the supply pump can cause pressure surges and hose or flange failure.
30. REM sleep is known as rapid eye movement sleep because ____
- A. During this stage the eyes move rapidly under the eyelids
- B. The eyes remain fully open
- C. The person cannot open the eyes
- D. It only occurs in daylight
Answer: A — During this stage the eyes move rapidly under the eyelids
In REM sleep the eyes move rapidly beneath closed eyelids while the brain is very active and most dreaming occurs. It alternates with non-REM sleep in cycles of about 90 minutes and is important for mental recovery.
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