Health and Safety Flashcards
Key points of H & S at work act 1974?
It is the duty of every employer to ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees. It is policed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as a criminal offence with fines/ imprisonment.
The 1995 regulation dictates that you must report injuries and dangerous occurrence, with the 1999 regulation dictating that you must undertake, record and regularly review a risk assessment. With detailed H&S information to be held on site, usually in the operations and Maintenance Manual
Provide employees with clear and understandable ways to improve safety
Defines a hazard – anything that could cause harm
Defines risk – the probability that someone will be harmed
What are the key points of RICS Guidance note: Surveying Safely – Health and safety principles for property professionals Second edition 2018 (effective FEB 2019)?
The guidance note sets out; basic, good practice principals for the management of health and safety for RICS regulated firms and members. Also, principles for those engaged in the built environment as property professionals and includes health and safety responsibilities at corporate level and at the level of the individual RICS member.
The structure of the document is:
1) Personal responsibilities for RICS members and firms.
2) Assessing hazards and risks.
3) Workplace health and safety.
4) Occupational hygiene and health.
5) Visiting premises and sites.
6) Fire safety.
7) Residential property surveying.
8) Procurement and management of contractors.
The guidance note also covers the concept of a safe person, to mean that each individual assumes individual behavioral responsibility for their own, their colleagues and others health and safety while at work, seeks to ensure that individuals accept responsibility for their own actions and they have the tools to do their job safely.
Also covers lone working, Personal Protective Equipment and risk assessments.
Considers the concept of a ‘safe person’ to mean an individual assumes individual behavioural responsibility for their own, their colleagues and others health and safety while at works
What is a safe person?
‘safe person’ to mean an individual assumes individual behavioural responsibility for their own, their colleagues and others health and safety while at works
Individuals accept responsibility for their own actions and they have the tools they need to do their job safely
Legal considerations and duties – for employers and employees to include advice on asbestos
Assessing hazards and risk
Visiting sites and premises (to include travel arrangements, lone working, ppe)
Tell someone where you are going and when you leave the site
Sign in and out of buildings and receive a site inductions
Check tag dates on construction sites
How do you apply the guidance to your working practices?
I take responsibility for my safety and my colleagues safety. When completing inspections I ensure that I have the correct PPE by completing a risk assessment prior to inspection/viewing, and that I comply with my company’s lone working policy.
How do you identify Risks and Hazards?
I take a proactive approach. I take sufficient time prior to attending a site visit identifying all the inherent hazards that could cause harm. Based upon the potential risks I would decide who might be harmed, evaluate the risk and decide on the precautions, record the findings and implement them. I would update the risk assessment if necessary, and then advise others on the outcome.
For example prior to inspecting a live development site, I identified that there was a hazard of objects or machinery running over your feet or falling on you causing injury and there was a risk of this happening therefore I decided the precaution would be to wear appropriate PPE.
Or if I was inspecting a property by myself in a rural location, prior to inspection I identified the hazards of falling over, injuring myself, or not returning home therefore to mitigate the risk I ensured I had a fully charged mobile phone and ensured my colleagues knew where I was going by sharing my calendar, and if I didn’t come back into the office or notify my buddy on my return then it would be escalated.
What do you do while on site to identify risk and hazards?
While on site I’d continue to identify risks and hazards by undertaking a dynamic risk assessment. I would assess the risks immediately prior to undertaking the work or while undertaking the work. This is due to the changing situations ‘on the day’ compared with when you undertook a risk assessment. For example, if when I got to an inspection and noticed that there were hazardous chemicals on sight and I did not have adequate ppe, I would not go in the building
What are the different types of risk assessment?
There is a static and dynamic risk assessment. Static is undertaken prior to undertaking activities and is usually desk bases. Dynamic risk assessments are undertaken immediately to or while undertaking the activities.
How do you protect yourself from risks when on site?
By being aware of the hazards that could cause harm and being proactive in identifying these quickly by conducting dynamic risk assessments.
Why is it important to keep your calendar updated and shared with colleagues?
So when out on site my colleagues know my whereabouts, and if I don’t return into the office when I am meant to then can implement a plan of action to assess when I am, and if I am in any danger. It is also important that if I am meeting people on site that there are details of these people in my calendar.
Did you complete a risk assessment prior to viewing?
Yes, I assessed the various hazards that could be on site considering the use of the current site. As this was not a live construction site, I identified that PPE would not be necessary and confirmed this with my client.
Name 3 Types of PPE?
Steel toe capped boots, high visibility jacket, hard hat
What is Asbestos?
An insulating material that can cause serious health problems and fatal diseases. If left undamaged it poses no risk to health. However, when it is disturbed or damaged it can release very small toxic fibers which can lodge in the lungs and cause illness. 4 Million Uk properties contain asbestos and cause 5k deaths per year.
How do you identify Asbestos?
I hopefully identify asbestos prior to an inspection, by requesting any Asbestos survey information from my client. If no information was held then on inspection I would be diligent and wary of any areas that are common to where asbestos is found (roof tiles, around pipes for insulation, on ceiling tiles, or in concrete). If I saw a broken roof tile or rope around pipework I would exit the room immediately and report to my client.
If I was inspecting a building that had been constructed after 2000s I would assume the risk of asbestos is low.
What are the different types of Asbestos and when were they stopped being used in the UK?
Brown-Amosite- Illegal since 1985
Blue- Crocidolite- Illegal since 1985
White-Chrysolite- Illegal since 1999
Asbestos register must be produced and regularly updated. It should contain a priority score to triage remediation.
Difference between a deleterious material and a hazardous material?
Deleterious materials cause damage to buildings, and degrade with age causing structural problems.
Hazardous materials are those that a harmful to occupants, such as asbestos.
