H&S Questions

Question 1

What is the Pre-construction information pack?

Answer 1

A Pre-Construction Information Pack is included with the Tender Documents and provides information to bidding contractors on:
- Description of the project
- Client considerations and management requirements,
- Environmental restrictions and existing on site risks,
- Significant design and construction hazards,
- Information on the format / presentation of the health and safety file

Question 2

Who is responsible for H&S?

Answer 2

The client is responsible for making arrangements for managing their project to ensure that health and safety risks are managed in a proportionate way. They must:
- Appoint competent duty holders.
- Allow sufficient time and resources.
- Prepare and provide relevant information to duty holders.
- Ensure that the Principal Designer and Contractor carry out their duties.
- Ensure welfare facilities.

Question 3

What is included in a H&S file?

Answer 3

A) a brief description of the work carried out
B) any residual hazards which remain and how they have been dealt with (e.g surveys or info concerning asbestos; contaminated land; water bearing strata; buried services etc)
C) key structural principles and safe working loads for floors and roofs
D) hazardous materials used (for example lead paint; pesticides; special coatings which should not be burnt off etc);,
E) information regarding the removal or dismantling of installed plant and equipment (for example any special arrangements for lifting, order or other special instructions for dismantling etc)
F) health and safety information about equipment provided for cleaning or maintaining the structure
G) the nature, location and markings of significant services, including underground cables; gas supply equipment; fire-fighting services etc
H) information and as-built drawings of the structure, its plant and equipment

Question 4

When is a BS a designer?

Answer 4

Under the CDM regulations, the BS is described as a ‘designer’ as they carry out work in connection with the structure or parts of the structure, make decisions on which materials will be used and on the preferred construction processes. There are five main responsibilities of designers

Question 5

What is CDM?

Answer 5

Construction, design and management regulations

Question 6

What is it and what does it mean?

Answer 6

Improves safety on site through design, planning and management

Question 7

What do CDM regulations state?

Answer 7

Approved code of practice which gives advice on how to comply with HSE law.

Question 8

Do CDM regulations apply to every project?

Answer 8

CDM Regulatons apply to all construction projects unless the client is domestic.

Question 9

What is an F10?

Answer 9

Notification of a project to the HSE detailing numbers on site, location, which local authority it’s in, when, duration.

Question 10

What are your responsibilities under CDM as a BS?

Answer 10

• Eliminate hazards and reduce risks during, design
• Provide information about remaining risks
• Check client is aware of their duties
• Check HSE has been notified,
• Provide any information needed for the health and safety file, by the end of the project
• Check own competence,
• Cooperate with others and coordinate work so as to ensure the health and safety of construction workers

Question 11

What is the CSCS?

Answer 11

Construction Skills Certification Scheme

Question 12

What safety precautions would you expect to see on site?

Answer 12

Accident book, site security, first aid, fire extinguishers, PPE, visitor sign in book (for fire evacuation)

Question 13

What information do you have to provide the HSE with for a notifiable project?

Answer 13

Form F10 rev 1

Question 14

If the principal designer is negligent who is responsible?

Answer 14

The Client, as they have to appoint someone competent.

Question 15

Who is responsible for health and safety pre and post contract?

Answer 15

The Client

Question 16

What can be done on site construction work to prevent accidents?

Answer 16

Trips, working at height, confined space, hot permits, joint fire code

Question 17

If you see a sub-contractor not complying with safety regs, what would you do?

Answer 17

Tell them to stop and notify the contractor

Question 18

Where is the H&S file kept when the project finishes?

Answer 18

Remains with the finished building for use by future tenant/ landlord

Question 19

What is the contractors responsibility regarding H&S?

Answer 19

• check clients are aware of their duties
• satisfy themselves that they and anyone they employ or engage are competent and adequately resourced
• plan, manage and monitor their own work to make sure that workers under their control are safe
• ensure that any contractor who they appoint or engage to work on the project is informed of the minimum amount of time which will be allowed for them to plan and prepare before starting work on site
• provide workers under their control with any necessary information, including about relevant aspects of other contractors’ work, and site induction (where not provided by a principal contractor) which they need to work safely, to report problems or to respond appropriately in an emergency
• co-operate with others and co-ordinate their work with others working on the project
• ensure the workforce is properly consulted on matters affecting their health and safety; and, obtain specialist advice

Question 20

How do CDM regulation influence the preparation of an estimate?

Answer 20

CDM influences the preparation of an estimate by requiring the Cost Manager to make adequate provision to ensure all obligations are priced unless specifically excluded.

Question 21

What are the latest asbestos regulations and who is the duty holder?

Answer 21

Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. The duty holder is the owner of the premises or the person or organisation that has clear responsibility for the maintenance or repair of the premises.

Question 22

Who would need to be informed if the contractor found contaminated land

Answer 22

Environmental Agency should be informed of any land contamination that is found.

Question 23

When do the CDM regulations not apply

Answer 23

CDM regulations apply to all construction projects except domestic clients.

Question 24

Who is the principal designer?

Answer 24

The principal designer is appointed by the client and is responsible for managing H&S pre-consruction. They :
- Plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety (pre-construction).
- Identify, eliminate or control foreseeable risks.
- Ensure Client and designers are aware of their duties and advise the Client on bringing together the pre-construction information.
- Provide relevant information to other duty holders.
- Liaise with Principal Contractor in the planning management, monitoring and coordination of the construction phase

Question 25

Is there any additional responsibilities upon the client under the CDM regulations?

Answer 25

The Client must take reasonable steps to ensure there is adequate time and resources to enable the construction work is carried out without risk to health and safety. Also to ensure that adequate resources is assigned to ensure any structure designed for use as a place of work can be used without risk to health and safety. The Client must also provide all reasonably expected information which is relevant to health and safety for the those involved in the project e.g. soil investigations, asbestos surveys, existing services routes, capacities and conditions, existing structure information.

Question 26

What are the categories of duty holders under the CDM Regulations?

Answer 26

Commercial clients, Domestic clients, Designers, Principal designer, Contractors, Principal contractor, Workers

Question 27

What constitutes a designer under the CDM Regulations?

Answer 27

Organisations or individuals who as part of a business, prepare or modify designs for a building, product or system relating to construction work.

Question 28

What types of contract are not covered under the CDM regulations

Answer 28

All construction is covered by CDM regulations except works which are to be undertaken by a domestic client.

Question 29

What are the 5 steps to risk assessment?

Answer 29

• Step 1 - Identify the hazards.
• Step 2 - Decide who might be harmed and how.
• Step 3 - Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions.
• Step 4 - Record your findings and implement them.
• Step 5 - Review your assessment and update if necessary.

Question 30

What does RIDDOR stand for?

Answer 30

Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013. (RIDDOR) requires the ‘responsible person’ to notify any death, reportable injury, disease or dangerous occurrence to the HSE (on-line or by phone for death and serious injuries). The responsible person is the employer or, for the self-employed, the contractor or principal contractor.

Question 31

What is the role of the HSE?

Answer 31

To prevent work-related death, injury and ill-health

Question 32

What is the considerate contractors scheme?

Answer 32

CCS was set up in 1997 & is responsible for improving the image of construction. It monitors all registered sites and ensures best practices are carried out in particular on items such as engaging with local communities and site cleanliness.

Question 33

What is the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974?

Answer 33

This is the primary piece of legislation governing H&S in the United Kingdom. It places a statutory duty on all employers to provide and maintain equipment and systems of works that are safe and without risk to the health and safety of employees, or others who may be affected by their undertaking.