G22 Monitoring Safe Work Operations

Question 1

Where can you source reliable H&S information from?

Answer 1

The government’s website

Question 2

What are the main responsibilities of employers under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974)?

Answer 2

Ensure to a reasonable degree that the employee follows health and safety regulations whilst at work.

Be responsible for any self-employed people that work on the premises, clients and any other visitor on the premises

Question 3

What are the main responsibilities of employees under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974)?

Answer 3

Cooperate with their employer on health and safety regulations and make sure that health and safety regulations are conformed to by the employer.

Cooperate with other employees and work as a team to make sure health and safety regulations are met.

Question 4

How should Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) be complied with?

Answer 4

Storing chemicals in a cool, dry place

Following the manufacturer’s instructions when using and disposing of chemicals along with local by-laws

Following the salon policy and training for use

The employer should also carry out risk assessments on all substances used.

Question 5

How should Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) be complied with?

Answer 5

Report any death, major injury, dangerous occurrence that happens to anybody on the premises. This should be done by either employee or employer.

Report any diseases and injury that prevents an employee from carrying out their full range of tasks. An employee should report this to the employer.

Question 6

How should Manual Handling Operations Regulations be complied with?

Answer 6

Employer should carry out a risk assessment of every employees for manual handling

Employees should follow lifting instructions to minimise the risk from lifting heavy or awkwardly shaped loads

Question 7

How should Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations be complied with?

Answer 7

Employer should provide PPE for the employees

Employees should use PPE provided

Question 8

How can information relating to health and safety workplace instructions be passed on?

Answer 8

By making sure all employees are informed about the instructions and also by making sure that employees have reference material if it relates to a certain task, for example how to do a task that requires adhering to health and safety regulation.

Question 9

How and when can issues of health and safety be fed back from staff to prevent a hazard becoming a risk?

Answer 9

If it can be fixed immediately, make people aware of it and move it (e.g. trailing lead)

If it’s faulty equipment, make others aware of it and take it out of service until it can be fixed or a replacement is bought.

Question 10

What records need to be filled out under Health & Safety (First Aid) Regulations?

Answer 10

Accident reports need to be filled out for any accident that happens on the premises, no matter who the accident happens to.

Question 11

What records need to be filled out under RIDDOR?

Answer 11

Records need to be completed and submitted to relevant authorities within ten working days in the incidence of a death, serious injury or dangerous occurrence. A copy should also be kept by the employer for reference.

Question 12

What records need to be filled out under Health and Safety (Monitoring Systems) Regulations?

Answer 12

Monitoring machines should be recorded, particularly when a machine was purchased, when it was checked last and who it was last checked by.

Question 13

How and when can you identify workplace health and safety competence with staff?

Answer 13

You can identify health and safety competence with staff by observing them whilst completing health and safety tasks and making sure that they are adhering to health and safety regulations (e.g. manual handling regulations)

Question 14

If a skills gap is identified what actions must you take and why?

Answer 14

It’s important that the employee is given further proper training in that area to allow them to develop that skill. They should be shown how to carry out that task and be monitored further when carrying out that task in the future.

Question 15

What is the purpose of the workplace health and safety policy?

Answer 15

As it ensures that everybody is on the same page when it comes to health and safety and what the employees need to do to protect not only themselves but also their colleagues and clients.

Question 16

Why must regular health and safety checks be carried out in the workplace?

Answer 16

To prevent accidents or dangerous occurrences that may happen by preempting them and making sure all equipment is safe for use by both employees and clients.

Question 17

When must an employer have a work place health and safety policy and what information should it include?

Answer 17

An employer must have a health and safety policy when they employ 5 or more people and it should include the employer’s responsibilities and the employee’s responsibilities.

Question 18

Why is staff personal conduct important to maintaining the health and safety of themselves, clients and colleagues?

Answer 18

As it makes sure that accidents that are preventable are avoided and ensures the health and safety of employers, employees and clients.

Question 19

The air conditioning system in the salon has broken. In what way is this a hazard and how should this be reported in accordance with workplace health and safety instructions?

Answer 19

It is a potential fire hazard. Any mains to the system should be shut off immediately. Report it immediately and take it out of use until it is fixed.

Question 20

Why is it necessary to keep accurate and legible records of any risks reported and the action taken?

Answer 20

Because it makes it easier to track if something is continuously going wrong (e.g. something keeps breaking) so you can decide on what further action needs to be taken (for example, moving or replacing it) and it is also needed in case a risk turns into a dangerous occurrence.

Question 21

Why must staff always be aware of potential hazards?

Answer 21

To protect not only themselves but their clients and colleagues from it.

Question 22

What is the purpose of a risk assessment and when should this be completed?

Answer 22

A risk assessment helps to create awareness of potential hazards that may cause an accident or dangerous occurrence and they also help to identify who will be at risk from it, for example, the whole team, a set employee or clients.

Risk assessments should be completed every time there is a new machine, substance, product or treatment introduced to the salon and employees should be aware of these when carrying out treatments or tasks.

Question 23

Why is it important to follow manufacturers’ instructions for the safe use of equipment and products?

Answer 23

To prevent accidents, dangerous occurrences and near misses from happening.

Question 24

In the event of a fire, after having safely evacuated the building, how would you contact the appropriate emergency service?

Answer 24

By calling 999 and asking for the fire service and then explaining the situation and where you are calling from. There should be one person designated to call 999.

Question 25

What is the procedure for dealing with an accident in the workplace? When would it need to be reported to the HSE incident contact centre?

Answer 25

You would need to fill out a form in the accident book and you would need to report this to the HSE incident contact centre if it is an accident that requires going to the hospital or a medical centre or it results in legal action against the salon.

Question 26

When precaution procedures need to be put in place when a hazard is identified who should these be agreed with initially?

Answer 26

When precaution procedures need to be put into place, they should be initially agreed with the employer and then whichever employees the hazard precaution is likely to affect.

Question 27

Why is it important for staff to know the extent of their health and safety responsibilities and competency requirements and why should their capabilities and training received be monitored?

Answer 27

It is important for staff to know the extent of their responsibilities so that everybody who works there does their part to maintain a safe and smooth running of a salon and prevent injuries, accidents and dangerous occurrences. Thus it is also important that they are monitored to identify any learning gaps that could potentially cause a risk if not corrected and this will also help to identify if any further training needs to be given in regards to health and safety, especially if there’s a common thing that all staff are or are not doing.

Question 28

What health and safety guidance should be available for reference for the correct use and storage of hazardous substances?

Answer 28

The information on a bottle giving health and safety guidance should always be followed and legible when using or storing hazardous substances and also the salons own policy on the safe handling of chemicals should be available for reference.