Health and Safety Flashcards
Explain your understanding of the term HSE
- ‘Health and Safety Executive’
- UK national authority for managing work related health, safety and illness issues
Acts in public interest to reduce work related issues by ensuring risks are properly managed
Also support businesses to change and adapt in order to remain compliant with occupational health and safety legislation
What is the considerate constructor’s scheme?
A not for profit independent organisation
Aims to improve the image of the construction industry
Encourages contractors and their supply chain to implement best practice in site operations and engagement with surrounding communities
Eg by promoting cleanliness of building sites, minimising noise pollution, engaging with local communities, etc
What kinds of incidents are the causation of most deaths within the construction industry?
Falls from height
What is the biggest cause of long term health issues in the construction industry?
Breathing in Hazardous Dust and Fumes
What does the Beaufort scale measure?
Wind speed
Very significant when working at height
When are visitors most likely to have an accident on a construction site?
When they first arrive on a new site
What should you do if you find an injured person on site
Assess the situation first without putting yourself in immediate danger
Call emergency services if serious
Raise the alarm and call for help`
What is the ‘Health and Safety Work Act 1974’?
Primark UK legislation governing H&S
Sets out duties for employers, self-employer persons, persons in control of premises, employees, manufacturers and suppliers
Must safe guard H&S of employees and public who may be affected by their work
Enforced by HSE - penalties can include fines and imprisonment
What are the ‘Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999’?
Requires employers to carry out risk assessments, make arrangements to implement necessary measures, appoint competent people and arrange for appropriate information and training
What are the key implications of the updates to CDM-2015 regulations?
More focus on clients to put in place arrangements to ensure health and safety
Clients can no longer assign their legal responsibilities to agents
Must be a declaration of how long contractors will be given to plan and prepare for construction work
Clients deemed principal contractor or CDM co-ordinator for any period during which other appointments aren’t made
What are the key implications for cost consultants?
If they specify materials, working methods or prepare specifications they will be deemed to be designers
Means they have to comply with
What are the key implications for cost consultants?
If they specify materials, working methods or prepare specifications they will be deemed to be designers
Means they have to comply with obligations for designers, under the regulations
What would you usually find in the pre construction information pack?
Project description
Client’s considerations and management requirements (hoarding, welfare, facilities, traffic restrictions, permit to work, etc)
Environmental restrictions and existing on-site risks (site restrictions, previous H&S files, ground conditions, existing services, asbestos surveys, contamination, unsafe structures, etc)
Significant design and construction hazards (design risks assessments, suggested method statements, etc)
Health and Safety file requirements`
What would you find in the Construction Phase Plan?
Project Description
Management of the works (site induction, training, communication, welfare facilities, design coordination, site rules, emergency procedures, etc)
Arrangements for controlling significant site risks
Health and Safety File proposals
What would you find in the H&S file?
Any health and safety information that would be useful for the planning of future works or maintenance
A brief description of the work carried out
Any residual hazards which remain and how they have been dealt with
Key structural principles
Reference to hazardous materials used
What is an F10?
Form used to notify the HSE of the project?
What components would you normally find in an F10?
Should contain address of construction site
Name of Local Authority where site is located
Give a brief description of the project and the construction work it entails
Provide contact details for client, principle designer and Principal Contractor
Indication of time allowed by client for PC to plan and prepare for construction work
Planned date for start of work, duration of construction phase
No. people at work on site at any one time. Signed by client
What is the RICS related Guidance for Health and Safety?
RICS Guidance Note ‘Surveying Safely - Health and Safety Principles for Property Professionals’ (2nd Edition) 2019
What are the key areas of the RICS Guidance Note ‘Surveying Safely’ (2019)?
- Personal responsibilities for RICS members and firms - up to date personal and corporate responsibilities
- Assessing hazards and risks
- Workplace health and safety
- Occupational hygiene and health
- Visiting premises and sites
- Fire safety
- Residential property surveying
- Procurement and management of contractors
What is the ‘safe person’ concept?
Individual assumes behaviour responsibility for self, colleagues, and others while at work. Ensure people have the tools to undertake their jobs safely
What should you consider when going out on inspection?
Tell someone where you are going when you leave
Wear PPE
Sign in and out - may require a site induction
Consider whether it is safe to inspect alone
Check dated tag if going on scaffolding
Non slip shoes if climbing a ladder
What are the legal requirements of Risk Assessments for employers of five or more?
- Identify hazards
- Identify people at risk
- Evaluate risk - likelihood and severity
- Record findings on suitable form
- Review risk assessment regularly
Can you tell me about the ‘Six Pack’ of Health and Safety Regulations?
Introduced in January 1983
Clarifies how employers must comply with Health and Safety Work Act 1974
- Management of Health and Safety at Work
- Display Screen Equipment
- Manual Handling Operations
- Personal Protective Equipment at Work
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment
- Workplace Health, Safety and Welfare
Can you tell me about the Fire Safety Act 2021?
Requires all responsible persons to assess, manage, and reduce fire risk in multi-occupied domestic buildings posed by:
- Structure
- External walls
- Common areas
Allows Fire Service to take enforcement action
Consider relevant fire safety plans, evacuation plans, regular inspections of lifts to be reported to Fire Service
Can you tell me about safety regulations regarding External Wall Systems?
Following Grenfell and Hackitt Review
UK Government produced External Wall Systems 1 Form to enable valuation of tall residential buildings (exc. hotels)
Form requires a ‘qualified professional’ to confirm external wall system has been assessed for safety
Forms are valid for 5 years
What should a ‘qualified professional’ consider when carrying out a safety assessment for an External Wall Systems 1 Form?
The height of the building
Type of cladding, and how much
Presence of balconies and combustible material
Can you tell me about the Building Safety Bill (2021)?
Received Royal Assent on 28/04/22. Currently developing secondary legislation
Designed to enhance building safety. Overseeing whole of built environment with local enforcement and national regulation to:
- Ensure accountability for those responsible for high-rise buildings
- Provide resident’s ability to contribute towards safety
- Enforcement for non-compliance
- National framework to ensure suitability of building products
- New build developers must belong to New Homes Ombudsman
- Imposes new separate duties on CDM duty-holders
- Changes to Defective Premises Act and s.38 Buildings Act limitation periods
- Can now introduce claims up to 30 years after completion of the dwelling
Can you tell me a bit about asbestos?
Insulating material
If disturbed, can produce small toxic fibres which can lodge in lungs and cause diseases
Health and Safety Executive estimates affects 4 million properties in UK
Three common types:
- Brown (amosite)
- Blue (most dangerous) (crocidolite)
- White (chrysotile)
Can you tell me about the ‘Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012’?
Applies to non-domestic and communal areas of domestic
Non-compliance is a criminal offence
Regulation 4 - statutory duty to manage existing asbestos in commercial property. Two obligations:
- Duty holder Regulation 4 - owner if vacant, tenant if holding repair lease. Must manage risk - risk assessment, written plan and reviews recorded
- Employer Regulation 5
What are the five steps for managing asbestos?
- Duty holder must assess whether premises contain asbestos - where and condition
- Assess risk and produce asbestos management plan - encapsulating/ removal needed?
- Produce asbestos register
- Make asbestos register available to parties who might disturb
- Review register (HSE recommends every 6 months)
Can you tell me about asbestos surveys?
- Management survey - locate and assess, advise on management during normal use of property. No samples taken
- Refurbishment/ demolition survey - needed when part/ all of premises upgraded / redeveloped etc. Samples taken and analysed. Recommendations made regarding management
Possibility of fines and imprisonment if persons did not take all reasonable precautions and exercised due diligence
What is contained in the RICS Guidance Note ‘Asbestos: Legal Requirements and Best Practice for Property Professionals’ 4th Edition, 2021?
Contains law and industry guidance and how to comply
- Details of common asbestos containing materials
- How to commission survey
- Suggested contents of asbestos management plan
- Property life cycle and asbestos management - demolition/ redevelopment, disposal, lease end, occupational
- Risk assessment - for buildings pre 2000 - ask if known before inspection
