Health and Safety Flashcards
How do you safeguard employees working at height?
- Comply with WAH Regulations 05
- make sure work is properly planned, supervised and carried out by competent people.
- avoid work at height where it is reasonably practicable to do so;
- ensure workers can get safely to and from where they work at height;
- ensure equipment is suitable, stable and strong enough for the job, maintained and checked regularly;
- make sure you don’t overload or overreach when working at height;
- take precautions when working on or near fragile surfaces;
- Use the right ladder
- provide protection from falling objects (safety nets, railings);
- consider your emergency evacuation and rescue procedures.
What dangers does working at height pose?
- falling from a ladder or roof
- falling through a fragile surface
- falling through a void
- dropping something that falls on someone
Who to WAH regulations apply to?
Employer or if you control work at height
How do you make sure somebody is competent enough to work at height?
For low risk; ensure employees receive instruction/training e.g. how to tie a ladder properly
For high risk e.g. scaffolding; there are training and certification schemes by trade associations to demonstrate competence
What is collective protection?
Protection for everyone else at risk, e.g. temporary guard rail to stop things falling
What is personal protection?
Protection to the individual at height, e.g. harness correctly worn and connected
What should you consider when working at height?
- Weather
- Check roof etc is safe
- Stop materials from falling
- Store materials and objects safely so they don’t injure people if it collapses
- Plan emergency and rescue procedures
How can you avoid working at height?
- extendable rods
- drones
- lowering things to ground level
If you return to site after a big storm, what should you do before returning to WAH?
Do an inspection every time something happens that may affect the safety or stability of the equipment, eg adverse weather, accidental damage.
You are required to keep a record of any inspection for work equipment. What equipment does this include?
- Guard rails
- toe boards
- barriers
- working platform eg scaffolding or MEWP
- ladder
How often should working platforms be inspected?
- after assembly in any position
- after event liable to affect the stability
- at intervals not exceeding 7 days
What are employees responsibilities when WAH?
- report hazard to employer
- use equipment and safety devices properly
Where can you find guidance on WAH?
HSE “Working at Height - A brief guide”
What is asbestos?
A group of naturally occurring minerals used in many products
Why was asbetsos used?
Strengthens materials
Fire and chemical resistance
Why is asbestos dangerous?
Asbestos fibres are microscopic. They can become stuck in lungs causing asbestosis/cancer
Kills over 100k people/year
What are the most commonly known asbestos types?
- Chrysotile (white)
- Amosite (brown)
- Crocidolite (blue)
When was asbestos banned in the UK?
Crocidolite - 1970 (voluntary industrial ban)
Amosite - 1985
Chrysolite - 1999
EU banned remaining uses of chrysolite in 2002
WHen might you come across asbestos?
- Maintenance work
- refurbishment
- demolition
Where can asbestos be found?
- Spray coatings to steel beams
- Laggings to insulate pipes etc
- Insulating boards
- Asbestos yarn in fire protecting clothing
- Fibre cement for wall cladding, roofing (ACM)
- Textures coatings and paints
How can you work to manage asbestos?
1 Know where it is 2 Record where it is 3 Complete a risk assessment 4 Create a management plan 5 Planning to work on ACMs 6 Inform those who are potentially exposed 7 Train workers 8 Investigate asbestos incidents
What should you do if a building constructed pre-2000 was to be demolished?
- Asbestos survey
- Specialists will remove asbestos from building before demolition
What is the Health & Safety at work act 1974?
Primary legislation covering occupational health and safety in the UK
Defines the general duties of everyone from employers (section 2) and employees (section 7,8) to owners, managers and maintainers of work premises (etc) for maintaining health and safety within most workplaces.
Who enforces the HSWA?
The HSE