H&S Flashcards
What would be your action if you saw a H&S risk?
Trenchard example of fencing / padlocking - speak to site manager and HOE
Or if it were on a live site:
Use my stop work authority
Call the site manager or take the individual to the office to ensure the relevant PPE is in place
Request a tool box talk
Record in the H&S log
Request updates in the progress report
Key H&S related legislation
CDM
H&S at work Act 1974
BSA
At what stage should the PD be involved from?
From stage 1 as per the Building safety act and CDM requirements
What is your understanding of CDM?
‘Construction (Design and Management) (CDM) Regulations 2015
- Regulations produced to ensure that H&S is considered at all stages throughout a project to ensure that risks of harm to all involved are minimised.
- It outlines obligations imposed upon the dutyholders.
What are the three main phases of a project and the CDM docs required?
In general, there are three phases to a project (all governed by CDM):
- Pre-construction: Inception, design and planning. PCI
- Construction: May included continued design and planning. CPP
- Post-construction: PC and handover. H&S File
Can you list the key duty-holders identified under CDM 2015?
‘Clients
- Organisations or individuals for whom a construction project is carried out
- Appoint the other duty-holders including PD & PC
- Ensure suitable arrangements for managing the project are in place
- Provide the pre-construction information (PCI)
- They must take reasonable steps to ensure the PD and PC carry out their duties
Principal Contractors
- Contractors appointed by the client to coordinate the construction phase of a project where it involves more than one contractor
- Plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety in the construction phase of a project. Produce the CPP
- Ensure that: suitable site inductions are provided, reasonable steps are taken to prevent unauthorised access, workers are consulted and engaged in securing their H&S, and welfare facilities are provided
Principal Designers
- Designers appointed by the client in projects involving more than one
contractor
- They can be an organisation or an individual with sufficient knowledge, experience and ability to carry out the role
- Plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety in the pre-construction phase of a project. Produce the PCI and H&S file
Can you list the other duty-holders identified under CDM 2015?
‘Domestic clients - People who have construction work carried out on their own home that is not done as part of a business, whether for profit or not. Their duties are normally transferred to the PC or Contractor as they are not deemed competent.
Designers - Very broad term, can incorporate BS, QS, PM, Engineers etc. “An organisation or individual, who prepares or modifies a design for a construction project; or arranges for, or instruct someone else to do so.”
Contractors - Those who do the actual building work. Can be an individual or company.
Workers - People who work under the control of contractors on a construction site.
What is Pre-Construction Information (PCI)?
‘Pre-Construction Information
- Information about the project that is already in the Client’s possession (or which is reasonably obtainable) and identifies important site arrangements/ restrictions, and existing H&S and design risk information.
- Provides H&S information needed by: Designers and Contractors to enable them to carry out their duties, and PDs and PCs in planning, managing, monitoring and coordinating the work of the project.
- Provides a basis for the preparation of the CPP, and some material may also be relevant to the preparation of the H&S File.
What is a Construction Phase Plan (CPP)?
What specifically might you expect to find a in CPP?
‘Construction Phase Plan
- Records arrangements for managing significant H&S risks
- Forms the basis for communicating those arrangements to those involved in the construction phase.
- Should be: easy to understand, only include information relevant to the project, and provide sufficient information that is proportionate to the scale and complexity of the project and the risks involved.
- The health and safety aims for the project.
- The site rules.
- Arrangements to ensure cooperation between project team members and coordination of their work e.g., regular site meetings.
- Site induction procedures and Welfare facilities.
- Fire and emergency procedures.
What is a H&S file?
‘Health & Safety File
Contains info relating to existing hazards which have not been eliminated through the construction or design process and details for dismantling plant or certain structures:
- A brief description of the work carried out.
- Any hazards that have not been eliminated through the design and construction processes, and how they have been addressed e.g., fragile roofs and asbestos.
- Asbestos register, reports, air testing results, waste removal receipts
- Fire strategy, compartmentation, materials used e.g. fire boarding
- Key structural principles and safe working loads for floors and roofs.
- Hazardous materials used.
- Information regarding the removal or dismantling of installed plant and equipment.
- Equipment provided for cleaning or maintaining the structure.
- The nature, location and markings of significant services, including underground cables; gas supply equipment; fire-fighting services etc.
- Information and as-built drawings of the building, its plant and equipment.
What would you look for within O&Ms?
’- Warranties, Guarantees, and Certificates e.g. for roof coverings, curtain walling, warehouse floor coverings, shutter doors etc.
- Testing procedures
- Details of materials used during construction/ refurbishment.
- Information and as-built drawings of the building, its plant and equipment.
- Operation and maintenance of any equipment that has been installed.
- Maintenance and cleaning procedures for materials.
- Testing & commissioning certificates.
What certificates should you look for in an O&M file?
’- Gas safety cert.
- Electrical installation testing cert.
- Emergency lighting testing cert.
- Fire alarm installation cert.
- PAT (portable appliance testing) cert.
- Other services such as A/C, ventilation etc.
What is your understanding of an F10?
‘An F10 is form for ‘notifiable’ works that must be submitted to the HSE if:
- If the works last longer than 30 days AND have more than 20 workers on site at once
OR
- The works exceed 500 person days.
What is your understanding of the H&S at Work Act?
‘Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
- Imposes general health and safety duties upon all employers, employees and visitors to a place of work
- Sets out general duties of employers and employees to safeguard the H&S of themselves, employees, and public who may be affected by their work. Primary provisions include:
- Safe operation including maintenance of equipment
- Maintenance of safe access and exits
- Safe handling, usage and storage of dangerous chemicals and substances (COSHH)
- Adequate and appropriate H&S trained staff
- Adequate and appropriate welfare (duty of employer)
- Keep H&S policy up to date and consult with the employees or their representatives
What is your understanding of Management of H&S at Work?
‘Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
- Imposes a duty on employers to manage H&S at work e.g., via RISK ASSESSMENTS
- Employers must make arrangements to ensure H&S of the workplace, including:
- Making arrangements for emergencies
- Adequate information and training for employees
- Health surveillance, where appropriate
What is your understanding of the Control of Asbestos Regulations?
‘Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012
- Creates a ‘duty holder’ who has a duty to manage any asbestos within the building
- They should take reasonable steps to find out if there are any ACMs in a premises, document them; where they are, and the condition they are in
- If existing ACMs are in good condition and are not likely to be damaged, they may be left in place, and their condition monitored to ensure they are not disturbed.
What is your understanding of COSHH?
‘Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 2002
- General requirements imposed upon employers to identify, manage and protect people for any hazardous substances used in the workplace
What is your understanding of RIDDOR?
‘The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013
- Sets out legal duties to report serious workplace accidents, occupational diseases and specified dangerous occurrences (near misses)
- Accurate records must be maintained within 10 days of the occurrence
- Companies with 10 or more employees must have an accident book
- Incidents that cause people to be off work for 3 or more days should be recorded
- All information should be kept in an accident log. This should be kept for a minimum of 3 years after any incident
What are the regulations relating to noise and vibrations at work?
‘Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005
- Aim to protect workers from risks associated with from vibration
- Introduces actions and limit values for hand-arm vibration, and whole-body vibration
What is the HSE?
‘The Health and Safety Executive
- UK government agency responsible for the encouragement, regulation and enforcement of workplace health, safety and welfare and for research into occupational risks in GB
Can you explain the principles set out in the RICS surveying safely guidance note?
‘RICS GN - Surveying Safely 2018
The guidance note sets out basic, good practice principles for management of health and safety for RICS regulated firms and members. Including:
- Personal and corporate responsibilities
- Assessing hazards and risks
- RICS members place of work
- Occupational hygiene and health
- Visiting premises or sites
- Fire safety
- Residential property surveying
- General procurement and management of contractors
Can you explain the ‘safe person’ concept?
’- RICS considers the concept of a ‘safe person’ to mean that each individual assumes individual behavioural responsibility for their own, their colleagues’ and others’ health and safety while at work
Give me examples of the H&S considerations before an inspection?
‘H&S Before Inspections - Desktop Risk Assessment
- Review existing documentation e.g. asbestos reports
- Travel to and from site
- The condition of the property, occupation & activity/use
- Arrange access. Collecting keys or meeting somebody?
- Hire of access equipment. Hazards working at height?
- Make arrangements for lone working. Buddy/ check-in system
What particular H&S issues would you consider when inspecting a construction site?
’- Loud noise: noisy working
- Plant: vehicles moving around.
- Hazardous materials: are there asbestos removal works ongoing. Dust in the air from cutting.
- Safe high-level access
- Trip hazards such as wiring, floor bolts, nails on the floor
“What is the difference between a hazard and a risk?
“
‘Hazard: Something that has the potential to cause harm
Risk: The likelihood of a hazard occurring
when must you notify the HSE of your project
when work will last longer than 30 days and have more than 20 workers working simultaneously at any point of the project
Key elements under CDM
Duty holders
Pre-construction phase
H&S files
Notifiable projects
Competency & co-operation
What was contained in the AEMP PCI
Notices to HSE
Quality assurance procedures
Permitted working hours
Hoarding requirements
Parties involved
Ground conditions
Existing H&S issues IE asbestos
H&S file requirements
What would you be advising your client if they are querying if they need two PD’s
Two would be required, under CDM and under the Building Safety Act. If they are not appointed under the Building Safety Act then the client automatically assumes the responsibility.
Can be the same person from an AUK perspective, but does require two different skill sets
Building safety Act
Introduced following the Hackitt report
Introduces new legal duties in relation to high risk buildings, at least 18 m high, 7 or more storeys, and include at least 2 residential units.
Introduce duty holder roles:
The client
Designer
PD
Contractor
Principal contractor
Accountable persons
Building safety manager
Gateways under building safety Act
GW1 - At planning application stage (all buildings) 8 weeks
GW 2 - Before building works start (high risk buildings only) 12 weeks
GW 3 - when building works complete (High risk only) 12 weeks
How the building safety act impacts your project
Can impact
Programme durations based on required GWR
Risk transfer
costs
Timing of contractor appointment
Appointments
Procurement route
Contractor selection criteria
What is your role under CDM
While the CDM regulations do not specifically define the role of the project manager, their responsibilities often align with the duties of the principal contractor or principal designer
CDM 2015 is divided into five parts:
Part 1 deals with the application of CDM 2015 and definitions
Part 2 covers the duties of clients for all construction projects. These duties apply in full for commercial clients. However, the duties for domestic clients normally pass to other dutyholders
Part 3 covers the health and safety duties and roles of other dutyholders, including:
Designers
Principal designers
Principal contractors
Contractors
Part 4 contains general requirements for all construction sites
Part 5 contains transitional arrangements and revocations
your client queries how H&S will be managed on the project, what do you advise them
I would advise that the client would need to appoint the roles under CDM, at preconstruction for Arcadis this being the Principal designer. The roles must be undertaken by competent individuals with the required skillsets, and the processes must be followed, for example issuing an F10 to the HSE if works are notifiable.
What duties would you advise your client of under CDM regulations?
- Appoint the right people at the right time - principal designer and a principal contractor
- Ensure there are arrangements in place for managing and organising the project
- Allow adequate time
- Provde infromation to your designer & contractor
- Communicate with your designer and Building Control
- Ensure adequate welfare facilities
- Ensure a construction phase plan is in place
- Keep the H&S file
- Protecting members of the public, including your employees
- Ensure workplaces are designed correctly
CDM aims to improve health and safety in the industry by helping you to:
- sensibly plan the work so the risks involved are managed from start to finish
- have the right people for the right job at the right time
- cooperate and coordinate your work with others
- have the right information about the risks and how they are being managed
- communicate this information effectively to those who need to know
- consult and engage with workers about the risks and how they are being managed
Appointing designers and contractors - considerations under CDM
Anyone appointing a designer or contractor to work on a project must take reasonable steps to satisfy themselves that those who will carry out the work have the skills, knowledge, experience, and, where they are an organisation, the organisational capability to carry out the work in a way that secures health and safety. Reasonable steps will depend on the complexity of the project and the range and nature of the risks involved.
BSA - Golden thred
The Act includes provisions to require the creation and maintenance of a golden thread of
information. The intention is to ensure that the right people have the right information at
the right time to ensure buildings are safe, and building safety risks are managed
throughout the building’s lifecycle
Building safety Act - purpose of the duty holders
The Act allows for a new dutyholder regime to be incorporated across the lifecycle of
higher-risk buildings. This is based on the principle that the person or entity that creates a
building safety risk should, as far as possible, be responsible for managing that risk.
Under the BSA What is the statutory definition of a ‘higher-risk building’?
A higher-risk building (HRB) is defined as a building in England that:
is at least 18m in height or has at least 7 storeys; and
contains at least 2 residential units.
A ‘residential unit’ is defined as a ‘dwelling’ or any other ‘unit of living accommodation’, and so has wide meaning.
is at least 18m in height or has at least 7 storeys
Why was the BSA introduced
Following the Grenfell Tower fire in London in June 2017, it became clear that there was a need for government to step in and change legislation for high rise buildings (HRBs) so that a tragedy like this never occurs again. It builds on the recommendations within Dame Judith Hackitts’ Independent Review of the Building Regulations and Fire Safety final report published in May 2018. RICS has been working closely with and advising government on the changes.
