c01_general_workplace_issues_COMPLETE

Question 1

slip / trip potential model Controllable factors

Answer 1

EnvironmentFloor materialsCleaningContamination /obstruction

Question 2

slip / trip potential model Predictable factors

Answer 2

UseFootwearBehaviour

Question 3

The HSL have developed a reliable and robust test method using these instruments to assess floor surface slipperiness. The method has been used as the basis of HSE and local authority advice and enforcement action. The methodology is based on using two instruments:

Answer 3

 A pendulum is used in the coefficient of friction (CoF) test (Figure 1.2). The CoF test is the HSE’s preferred method of slipperiness assessment. It is designed to replicate a pedestrian heel strike, the point at which most slips occur. It works in wet conditions or on clean and dry, or contaminated floors.  A surface micro-roughness meter (Figure 1.3). Measuring the surface roughness (Rz) (the mean of several peak-to-valley measurements) of flooring materials allows slipperiness to be predicted for a range of common materials.

Question 4

A minimum of ? cubic metres of space should be allowed for each worker in a work room.

Answer 4

11 cubic metres

Question 5

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 set general requirements in four broad areas:

Answer 5

 Working environment including: temperature, ventilation, lighting including emergency lighting, room dimensions, suitability of workstations and seating, and outdoor workstations (example: weather protection).  Safety including: safe passage of pedestrians and vehicles, windows and skylights (safe opening, closing and cleaning), glazed doors and partitions (use of safe material and marking), doors, gates and escalators (safety devices), floors (their construction, and obstructions and slipping and tripping hazards), falls from heights and into dangerous substances, and falling objects.  Facilities including: toilets, washing, eating and changing facilities, clothing storage, seating, rest areas, and rest facilities for pregnant women and nursing mothers.  Housekeeping including: maintenance of workplace, equipment and facilities, cleanliness, and removal of waste materials.

Question 6

The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 require employers to

Answer 6

provide, and maintain, a safety sign where there is a significant risk to health and safety that has not been avoided or controlled as required under other legislation, provided it can help reduce the risk.

Question 7

The requirements of the Regulation apply where the risk assessment made under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 indicates that, having adopted the principles of prevention, risks to employees cannot be avoided or adequately reduced, except by the provision of appropriate safety signs to warn or instruct of the nature of those risks, and the measures to be taken to protect against them. Where necessary the employer shall, in accordance with the requirements of Schedule 1: 3

Answer 7

 Provide and maintain any appropriate safety sign or ensure such sign is in place.  Ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that any appropriate hand signal or verbal communication is used.  Provide and maintain any safety sign provided pursuant to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, or ensure such sign is in place.

Question 8

Prohibition (Red) Prohibits behaviour likely to increase or cause danger (example:

Answer 8

no access for unauthorised persons or no smoking).

Question 9

Warning (Yellow) Giving warning of a hazard or danger (example:

Answer 9

danger, electricity).

Question 10

Mandatory (Blue) Must be done, prescribing specific behaviour (example:

Answer 10

eye protection must be worn).

Question 11

A confined space is defined in the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 as:

Answer 11

… any place, including any chamber, tank, vat, silo, pit, trench, pipe, sewer, flue, well or other similar space in which, by virtue of its enclosed nature, there arises a reasonably foreseeable specified risk.

Question 12

Specified risks are risks of:5

Answer 12

 serious injury from a fire or explosion  loss of consciousness as a result of an increase in body temperature  loss of consciousness or asphyxiation arising from gas, fume, vapour or the lack of oxygen  drowning from an increase in the level of liquid  asphyxiation from a free flowing solid, or entrapment by a free flowing solid preventing access to a breathable atmosphere.

Question 13

Examples of doing work without entering a confined space include: 3

Answer 13

 sampling contents using long handled tools  inspection of vessel interiors by remote controlled cameras and CCTV monitors  cleaning by designed-in self-cleaning systems.

Question 14

The main elements to consider when designing a safe system of work are: 18

Answer 14

 supervision  competence  communication  testing / monitoring the atmosphere  gas purging  ventilation  removal of residues  isolation from gases, liquids and other flowing materials  isolation from mechanical and electrical equipment  selection and use of suitable equipment  PPE and RPE  portable gas cylinders and internal combustion engines  access and egress  fire prevention  lighting  static electricity  limiting work time  use of permit-to-work procedure

Question 15

Emergency arrangements factors to consider7

Answer 15

Rescue equipment Raising the alarm and rescue Safeguarding the rescuers Control of plantFirst aid Public emergency servicesTraining

Question 16

Buildings must be strong enough to deal with three main types of loads, known as

Answer 16

static, dynamic, and hidden loads.

Question 17

Signs of damage to building structure 12

Answer 17

 Sagging along the roof line (ridge)  Missing roof timbers and roof coverings  Walls and quoins (corners) out of plumb (vertical alignment)  Cracked and spalling (peeling off) render  Missing or collapsed masonry  Broken gutters and downpipes  Collapsed or damaged arches or lintels at doorways and other openings.  Signs of corrosion on concrete (from reinforcement)  Cracks through structural block work, brick work or masonry  Dampness – mould growth  Signs of wet or dry rot  Signs of insect infestation (woodworm).

Question 18

Causes of damage to building structure 9

Answer 18

Adverse weather conditions Overloading of structures Hot and corrosive atmospheres VibrationAlteration to structural members SubsidenceDeterioration of building materials ExcavationsUnauthorised modifications to buildings

Question 19

Structural collapses can occur for a variety of reasons. They can result from a major structural fault but any seemingly minor faults can contribute to a chain of events that inevitably may lead to a collapse, which can be classified under three categories:

Answer 19

 Localised collapse relates to collapses that are confined to a small part of the building, without any induced damage occurring on other parts.  Progressive collapse occurs when a key member, or members of a structure fails. The isolated failure of the key member or section initiates a sequence of events, causing failure of the entire structure.  Disproportionate collapse occurs if removal of one supporting member causes damage disproportionate to the cause of the damage, for example: where the remaining load bearing elements (walls, floors and roofs) are not strong enough or adequately strengthened, to resist the loads overstress and collapse.

Question 20

Some of the major causes of structural collapse during refurbishment are: 12

Answer 20

 failure to determine structural integrity  inappropriate weakening of structures  accumulation of smaller weaknesses in structures  activity induced (example: poor weakening)  load induced failures (example: debris, climatic)  spontaneous failures of structures (deterioration and sunlight)  remote activity (example: vibration) during partial demolition/removal of any structural element and/or structure  lack of or inadequate method statements for the erection and safe removal of structural elements  lack of appropriate temporary support  early removal of formwork/temporary supports  misunderstanding of load paths  differential settlement (example: liquefaction of soil) of the foundation.

Question 21

Under the Regulations, duty holders (employers, the self-employed, and any person that controls the work of others, such as facilities managers or building owners who may contract others to work at height) must ensure that: 5

Answer 21

 all work at height is properly planned and organised  those involved in work at height are competent  the risks from work at height are assessed and appropriate work equipment is selected and used  the risks from fragile surfaces are properly controlled  equipment for work at height is properly inspected and maintained.

Question 22

Duty holders must also adhere to the following hierarchy for managing and selecting equipment for work at height:3

Answer 22

 avoid work at height where possible  use work equipment or other measures to prevent falls (where working at height cannot be avoided)  use work equipment or other measures to minimise the distance and consequences of a fall should one occur (where the risk of a fall cannot be eliminated).

Question 23

The first step in the risk management hierarchy in the Work at Height Regulations (Regulation 6) is to consider whether or not the need to work at height could be avoided. Examples of solutions, across a range of industrial sectors, include: 6

Answer 23

 Building structures at ground level and lifting them into position on completion, or in the case of road bridges tunnelling beneath them.  Tilt and turn windows which can be cleaned from a safe position inside the building.  Use of water-fed poles that allow windows to be cleaned from ground level.  Use of long-handled tools that can be utilised from ground level, for example: long handled vacuum cleaners to clean dusty surfaces from ground level.  Vacuum filling raised hoppers from ground level.  Shrink-wrapping pallets at ground level can remove the need to sheet vehicles, which requires working at height.

Question 24

When used as roof edge protection, guard rails should include or be equivalent to: 3

Answer 24

 a main guard rail at least 950 mm above the edge  a toe board and brick guard where there is risk of objects being kicked off the edge of the platform  a suitable number of intermediate guard rails or suitable alternatives positioned so that there is no gap more than 470 mm.

Question 25

Emergency rescue All rescue planning and operations should address the following issues: 7

Answer 25

 the safety of the persons carrying out or assisting with the rescue  the anchor points to be used for the rescue equipment  the suitability of equipment (anchors, harnesses, attachments and connectors) that has already arrested the fall of the casualty for use during the rescue  the method that will be used to attach the casualty to the rescue system  the direction that the casualty needs to be moved to get them to the point of safety (raising, lowering or lateral)  the first aid needs the casualty may have with respect to injury or suspension trauma  the possible needs of the casualty following the rescue.

Question 26

Work platforms above 2m and used in construction should be inspected at least

Answer 26

every seven days.

Question 27

Establishing safe working for lone workers is no different from organising the safety of other employees. The key question is whether or not the requirements can be met by people working alone.Issues requiring particular attention include:

Answer 27

Can the risks of the job be adequately controlled by one person? Does the workplace present a special risk to the lone worker? Is there a risk of violence? Are young people or female workers at greater risk?Is the person medically fit and suitable to work alone? What training is required to ensure competency in safety matters?How will the person be supervised? How will lone workers be monitored?

Question 28

Management controls Employers of lone workers should:

Answer 28

 Involve staff or their representatives in the risk assessment process.  Check control measures are in place (examples of control measures include: instruction, training, supervision and issuing protective equipment).  Review risk assessments periodically and when there has been a significant change in working practice.  When a risk assessment shows it is not possible for the work to be conducted safely by a lone worker, address that risk by, for example, making arrangements to provide help or back-up.  Where a lone worker is working at another employer’s workplace, that employer should inform the lone worker’s employer of any risks and the required control measures.

Question 29

Lone workers are those who work by themselves without close or direct supervision, they usually fit into one of the following four categories:

Answer 29

(1) People in fixed establishments where only one person works on the premises, such as in petrol stations or home-workers. (2) People working separately from others, such as in factories, warehouses, or research establishments. (3) People working outside normal hours, such as cleaners, security, special production, maintenance or repair staff. (4) Mobile workers working away from their fixed base, such as plant installation or maintenance contractors, agricultural and forestry workers, and service workers such as rent collectors, postal staff, social workers, estate agents, and others who visit domestic and commercial premises.