Health and Safety

Question 1

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, the minimum you must do is:

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

Answer 1

HSE.gov.uk

identify what could cause injury or illness in your business (hazards) (IDENTIFY THE RISK)

decide how likely it is that someone could be harmed and how seriously (the risk) (ASSESS THE RISKS)

take action to eliminate the hazard, or if this isn’t possible, control the risk (PREVENT OR CONTROL THE RISK)

do everything ‘reasonably practicable’ to protect people from harm.

Question 2

EXAMPLE of HSE of Tree Surgeon

Answer 2

1. Avoid working at height
2. Prevent falls by using appropriate access equipment
3. Reduce the distance and consequences of a fall.

Question 3

Define a biocidal product

Answer 3

Typically it’s a mixture of chemicals and will include the ‘active substance’. The active substance has the controlling effect on the harmful organism.

Can sometimes be inactive until combined with another product causing a reaction.

Question 4

What is the legislation for biocidal called?

Answer 4

GB Biocidal Products Regulations (GB BPR)

Question 5

How to determine what/when to use biocides

Answer 5

1. Do you need to use it or alternative available?
2. Do you already have something suitable?
3. Only buy what you need
4. Be sure the biocide will do what you require.
5. ALWAYS follow label instructions.

Question 6

When are you considered a professional user of biocides?

Answer 6

use biocides as part of their job or in their business

have received appropriate information, instruction and training in the use of those biocides

hold specific certification relating to a particular use of biocides

Question 7

What is PPE ?

Answer 7

Personal Protective Equipment

Gloves
Coveralls
Eye protection

Question 8

How to use biocide without harming wildlife?

Answer 8

Not treat near bodies of water

Not treating areas with roosting bats

Not treating beehives.

Question 9

How do you store the product?

Answer 9

cool, dry place

Original Container

Locked up (if req’d) or out of reach of pets and children

Question 10

How to dispose of product?

Answer 10

Hazardous waste

In accordance with local regulations.

Question 11

What are the common risks in cleaning?

Answer 11

slips
trips
skin disease
back pain
working at height
window cleaning

Question 12

What are rhe health issues with commercial composting?

Answer 12

Bioaerosols -

Aeration important

Turning of compost aerates

In-vessel systems usually have forced air ventilation which is less likely to create bioaerosols.

at the end of either process often the compost is screened (sieved) to produce a quality soil supplement and this could create bioaerosols.

Repeated inhalation triggers immune system developing asthma, farmer’s lung.

Question 13

What is COSHH

Answer 13

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 2002 (as amended)

IDENTIFY
ASSESS
CONTROL

1. Ensure safety of staff
2. Substitution preference
3. apply protection measures appropriate to the activity and consistent with the risk assessment
4. Control exposure
5. Appropriate work systems
6. Reduce quantity on site
   .

Question 14

What is the Health and Safety at Work Etc. Act 1974

Answer 14

It ensures that all employers provide a safe working environment and look out for the health of their employees—wherever their place of work.

Provide Safe Place
Provide Safe Equipment
Provide adequate training
Carry out risk assessments
Provide proper facilities (toilets, water, heating and AC - if kitchen, equip must be safe and clean)

Appoint competent person to oversee H&S.
WHO: Yourself, anyone competent, but not necessarily trained, or outside organization.

Question 15

What is the The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (updated 2022)

Answer 15

Every employer and self employed shall ensure that suitable personal protective equipment is provided to his employees who may be exposed to a risk to their health or safety unless the risk has been adequately controlled by other means which are more effective.

1. Appropriate
2. fits
3. effective
4. complies

Question 16

Manual Handling Operations
Regulations 1992 (updated 2002)

Answer 16

control and reduce the risk of injury from manual handling.

is very varied (such as construction or maintenance);
■ takes place at more than one location (such as making deliveries);
■ involves dealing with emergencies (such as fire-fighting, rescue and medical emergencies).

Individual
Group
Multi-Stage Assessments
Guide to handling people as well

Question 17

What is the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989

Answer 17

You must ensure an assessment has been made of any electrical hazards, which covers:

who could be harmed by them
how the level of risk has been established
the precautions taken

The risk assessment incl electrical equipment used, the way used and the environment it is used in.

You must make sure that the electrical installation and the electrical equipment are:

suitable for their intended use
conditions used
only used for their intended purpose

Users of electrical equipment, including portable appliances, should check the equipment each time they use it and remove the equipment from use immediately if:

the plug or connector is damaged
the cable has been repaired with tape, is not secure, or internal wires are visible etc
there are burn marks or stains (suggesting overheating)

Question 18

What is The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 (Noise Regulations 2005)

Answer 18

require employers to prevent or reduce risks to health and safety from exposure to noise at work.

ASSESS
TAKE ACTION to reduce noise
Provide hearing protection
Make sure legal limits of noise are not exceeded
Provide instruction and training

lower exposure action values:
daily or weekly exposure of 80 dB(A)
peak sound pressure of 135 dB(C)
upper exposure action values:
daily or weekly exposure of 85 dB(A)
peak sound pressure of 137 dB(C)

Question 19

What are hazards in a horticultural sense?

Answer 19

A range of factors that could cause injury or illness:
Chemical - pesticides
Biological/Bioaerosols - Biocides
Electrical - Equipment
Heights - Tree maintenance
Noise - equipment
Equipment - handled correctly and maintained well
Personal Protection Equipment

Question 20

What is a risk assessment for hort?

Answer 20

documents in which the impacts of hazards and risks are stored.

1. Identify,
   a. think about what may cause harm
   b. Look at records/see chemicals used etc.
   c. Pay attention to maintenance schedules etc.
2. Assess the level of risk,
   a. How likely will someone be harmed
   b. What is already being done and what to improve?
   c. What further action required
3. Prevent or Control
   a. Remove risk completely, if possible
   b. How can this be improved?
   c. Provide PPE?
4. Record findings if 5 or more employees
5. Review the controls - required

Question 21

What are DATA SHEETS

Answer 21

Safety data sheets provide information on chemical products to make a risk assessment. They describe the hazards the chemical presents, and give information on handling, storage and emergency measures in case of accident.

RUN BY COSHH - file ONLINE

NOT A RISK ASSESSMENT - use this info to build risk assessment

If you supply chemicals to others, you must pass on this info.

Question 22

How would you review a risk assessment?

Answer 22

• the impact the risk assessment might have on working practices
• Options to eliminate or control risks

Identify hazards
Assess the risks
Control the risks
Record your findings
Review the controls

Question 23

Safety Sign Colours

Answer 23

RED: PROHBITION SIGN - Danger/Alarm - Evacuate/Emergency Cut-off; dangerous behavior’s.
Behaviour likely to increase or cause danger (eg: No access for unathorized persons)/ Red circle with line striking thru.

Yellow/Amber: Warning Sign; Take precautions (Ex: danger: electricity).

Blue: Mandatory Sign: Specific behaviour or action: Eg. Wear protective gear

Green: Emergency escape/first aid sign. Used for doors, escape routes, equip and faciliites
NO danger/Return to normal

Question 24

What to list on a risk assessment form?

Answer 24

What are the hazards
Who might be harmed and how?
What are you already doing to control the risk?
What further action should you take to control the risk?
Who needs to carry out the action?
When is the action needed by?

Question 25

Storage, care & maintenance of PPE, tools and equipment

Answer 25

demonstrate you understand about the storage,
care and maintenance of PPE, tools and equipment
AO2 – you should demonstrate you can apply theoretical concepts to horticultural scenarios
AO3 – you should be able to demonstrate how you integrate this knowledge across the topic areas covered in Level 2

Question 26

DEFINE PPE

Answer 26

“PPE is defined in the PPER 1992 as ‘all equipment (including clothing affording
protection against the weather) which is intended to be worn or held by a
person at work and which protects the person against one or more risks to that
person’s health or safety, and any addition or accessory designed to meet that
objective’.
PPER 1992 places a duty on every employer in Great Britain to ensure that suitable PPE is provided to ‘employees’ who may be exposed to a risk to their health or safety while at work.

PPER 2022 extends this duty to limb (b) workers and came into force on 6 April 2022. Employers need to carefully consider whether the changes to UK law
apply to them and their workforce and make the necessary preparations to comply.

If PPE is required, employers must ensure their workers have sufficient information, instruction and training on the use of PPE.

PPE should be regarded as the last resort to protect against risks to health and safety. Engineering controls and safe systems of work should be considered first.”

Question 27

What are the “controls” in order for PPE

Answer 27

“Consider controls in the following order, with elimination being the most effective and PPE being the least effective:

• Elimination – physically remove the hazard
• Substitution – replace the hazard
• Engineering controls – isolate people from the hazard
• Administrative controls – change the way people work
• PPE – protect the worker with personal protective equipment”

Question 28

How to select what PPE?

Answer 28

who is exposed

• what they are exposed to
• how long and how much they are exposed to

Additional PPE selection considerations:
COSHH data sheets, risk assessments, operator, instruction and product
manuals should help to inform the most appropriate PPE for each horticultural
task, process and situation.

Choose products which are CE (EU Safety approved) OR
UKCA marked

Check the PPE is the right size and fit for the worker.

Question 29

How to store PPE?

Answer 29

should be stored and cared for appropriately – for example in a clean and dry cupboard.

If PPE is reusable it must be cleaned and kept in good condition.

Workers should report any PPE issues with equipment or clothing issued to them.

PPE should be regularly monitored and reviewed:

Question 30

What is PUWER requirement

Answer 30

Work Equipment Requirements:

*“suitable

*safe for use,

• received training

*suitable health and safety measures, such as protective devices and controls.

*used in accordance with specific requirements

Question 31

What are the hardware and software risk controls?

Answer 31

HARDWARE: providing suitable guards,
protection devices, markings and warning devices, system control devices (such as emergency stop buttons) and personal protective equipment;

SOFTWARE: following safe systems of
work (eg ensuring maintenance is only performed when equipment is shut
down etc), and providing adequate information, instruction and training about
the specific equipment.