H&S

Question 1

Tell me what you understand about fire safety

Answer 1

• Fire Risk Assessment must be carried out in buildings identifying fire exits, evacuation routes
• Relevant legislation is the Fire Risk Management Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
• Applies to all non-domestic properties in England & Wales
• Policed by the Fire Department
• Precautions needed such as fire detection, warning alarm system, fire fighting equipment, safe exit routes, emergency lighting and signage and suitable fire doors

Question 2

What’s the key legislation which governs Health & Safety

Answer 2

• The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
• Enforced by the Health and Safety Executive
• Provide adequate training to employees to ensure H&S is adhered to
• Adequate welfare facilities for staff
• A safe working environment which is maintained
• Workplaces with more than 5 employees, employers must keep written record of H&S policies and procedures

Question 3

Can you tell me about the Surveying Safely Guidance?

Answer 3

• It is the 2nd edition, 2018 and the document is a guidance note
• The document is there to provide best practice on health and safety
• Inclusion of a “safe person” concept - someone who takes responsibility for their own H&S, colleagues and others H&S whilst at work
• Guidance on assessing hazards, visiting premises and health and safety whilst on site
• It provides guidance at a corporate level and at a personal level
• It puts emphasis on RICS regulated firms to:
  
  • Provide a safe working environment
  • Safe working equipment
  • Safe systems of work
  • Competent staff

Question 4

Can you tell me about your understanding of the CDM Regulations 2015?

Answer 4

• Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015
• Policed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
• It aims to improve the health and safety, design and management of constructions projects
• The duty holders are:
  
  • The client
  • Principal designer
  • Principal contractor
• The onus is on the client to ensure health and safety is adhered to
• HSE need to be notified if a project lasts longer than 30 constructions days or if there are 20 or more workers working simultaneously on site or more than 500 person days of construction work
• The HSE can issue Improvement and Prohibition Notices when the regulations are breached
• It can also lead to an unlimited fine or imprisonment in serious breaches

Question 5

Can you tell me your understanding of the L153 HSE Guidance?

Answer 5

• Guidance provided by the HSE on CDM Regulations 2015
• It provides guidance on:
  
  • Clients duties
  • Appointing a principal designer and contractor
  • H&S duties and roles
  • Duties of principal designer and contractor
  • Demolitions
  • Inspections
• The main focus for me was to understand the clients responsibility and duties during constructions which are:
  
  • Make suitable arrangements for managing a project
  • Ensure the arrangements are maintained
  • Provide pre-construction information as appropriate
  • A construction phase plan is provided by the contractor or principal contractor
  • The principal designer provides a H&S file
• If there is more than one client, one client states in writing that they are the client or clients in relation to the project for the purposes of health and safety

Question 6

Can you tell me your understanding of fire safety?

Answer 6

• Fire risk assessments must be carried out for all properties showing the fire exits and fire escape routes. These need to be carried out again when changes to the property have been made or every 4 years
• Legislation is the Fire Safety Order 2005
• The duty holder is the occupier who controls the property or if vacant, the owner
• Covered in Part B of the building regulations

Question 7

Can you tell me your understanding of fixed wire testing

Answer 7

• Fixed wire tests need to be carried out at least every 5 years
• If the condition report stipulates, they should be tested every 3 years or annually
• Depends on the asset type

Question 8

Can you tell me what happened at Deptford and why a greater emphasis on health and safety was required?

Answer 8

• Squatters being removed
• More consideration of personal safety
• Security company arranged to be present
• I ensured they were present before arriving at the property
• Drug paraphernalia was present and alerted to me prior to arriving, so thick soled boots were worn