Health and Safety Flashcards
What guidance did the RICS release on good practice principals for the management of health and safety in RICS regulated firms and for RICS members?
RICS Surveying safely, 2018
What is the structure of RICS Surveying safely, 2018?
Personal Responsibilities & Compliance: RICS members and firms uphold health and safety standards.
Workplace Safety & Hygiene: Assessing hazards, risks, and ensuring occupational health.
Site Visits & Management: Fire safety, residential surveying, and contractor procurement.
According to RICS Surveying safely, 2018, what must all RICS regulated firms ensure they provide?
Safe:
* working environment
* work equipment
* systems of work
- Competent staff
What is the concept of a ‘safe person’, as outlined in RICS Surveying safely, 2018?
Everyone is accountable for their own and others’ safety at work.
Provides tools and training for safe job execution.
What new guidance was contained in the 2nd edition of RICS Surveying safely?
- Inclusion of advice of mental health and wellbeing
* Introduced the concept of a ‘safe person’
What should you consider when undertaking an inspection of a building site?
- Consider precautions and potential hazards/risk assessments
- Sign in an out of building construction site and receive a site induction
- Check dated tag if going on scaffolding
- Wear non-slip sole shoes/boots when going up a ladder
What personal protective equipment (PPE) should a surveyor consider wearing?
High visibility jack, protective footwear, hard hat, protective goggles, gloves and ear defenders
What does Lone working mean
Workers without close supervision, including those outside “normal” hours or away from a base.
What does your companies Lone Working Policy say?
Purpose: Outlines responsibilities and safety for staff working alone.
Safety Measures: Managers conduct risk assessments, implement controls, and ensure communication for lone workers.
- Tell someone where you are going when you leave the office
- Have a “buddy” as someone you will check in with at the end of the day if you aren’t returning to the office
- Carry a charged mobile phone and personal alarm
- Have your “escape lines” ready
What is included in Health & Safety at Work, 1974 (as amended)?
- “Duty to very employer to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees”
- Must report injuries and dangerous occurrences
- Must undertake, record and regularly review a risk assessment
- Detailed Health & Safety information is to be held on site, usually in the Operations & Maintenance Manual
Who polices the Health & Safety at Work Act, 1974?
Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
How large does an organisation have to be to carry out a documented health and safety risk assessment?
Firms employing more than 5 staff
What is a hazard in a risk assessment?
Anything that has the potential to cause harm (e.g. a wet floor)
What is a likelihood/probability in a risk assessment?
The risk that someone is harmed (e.g. the risk of fall over on the wet floor)
What are then FIVE steps of a risk assessment?
Identify Hazards: Recognize potential dangers in the workplace.
Determine Risks: Evaluate who might be harmed and how.
Evaluate Risks: Assess the severity and likelihood of the risks.
Implement Controls: Decide on precautions and safety measures.
Review and Update: Regularly reassess and adjust the risk assessment as needed.
What is a method statement?
- Document that details the way a work task or process is to be completed
- Outlines the hazards involved and a step by step guide on how to do the job safely
- Details the control measures introduced to ensure the safety of anyone who is affected by the task or process
What documents need to be provided before a contractor can begin their work?
All risks and public liability insurance
What FOUR points must be contained within a companies Health & Safety policy?
- A policy setting out the organisations commitment to Health and Safety
- Details of the organisation’s Health and Safety structure, with roles and responsibilities for organising Health and Safety
- A risk assessment setting the risk within the workplace and the preventative measures in place
- Details of the planning, implementation of the Health and Safety Policy and control measures
The ‘Six Pack’ of Health and Safety Regulations clarify how employers must comply with their duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. What are the SIX regulations?
- 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 Heath, Safety and Welfare
What do the Construction (Design and Management) (CDM) Regulations, 2015 aim to improve?
• Aim to improve the overall management and co-ordnination of Health & Safety at all stages of a construction project
Who are the THREE main duty holders under the Construction (Design and Management) (CDM) Regulations, 2015?
- Client
- Principal Designer
- Principal Contractor
Who is the principle onus on to ensure that there are CDM arrangements?
Client
When must the HSE be notified with an F10 form about a construction project?
• If a project lasts longer than 30 construction days with 20 or more worker working simultaneously on site
or
• More than 500 ‘person’ days of construction work / demolition work
What is an F10?
The form which is sent to the HSE to notify the project
What must be maintained during the construction of a building and passed onto the owner/occupier? What does this contain?
- Construction Design and Management (CDM) file - produced by Pricipal Designer.
- Contains all aspects of H&S information regarding the property and the operation/running of the building, including construction plan, schematics, environmental reports.
Cradle to grave
Who polices the Construction (Design and Management) (CDM) Regulations, 2015?
HSE
What can the HSE do if the Construction (Design and Management) (CDM) Regulations, 2015 are breached?
Issue:
* Contravention Notices - FFI
* Improvement Notices
* Prohibition Notices
can be appealed
What are the statutory obligations of a commercial property owner ?
- Asbestos management
- Contamination
- Disability discrimination and equality
- Energy performance certificates
- Fire safety
- Health and safety
- Legionnaires disease
- Occupiers liability
- PAT testing (for portable electrical equipment)
- Waste management
Who’s has responsibilities for Health and Safety?
You, your employer, building owners, occupiers and managing agents
What is involved in a site induction?
Site specific risks
Site rules
PPE requirements
Evacuation procedures
Smoking requirements
House keeping
What is a Site Waste Management Plan?
A planning document created prior to construction and submitted to the local council.
Applies to all projects over £300k.
What power does the HSE give it’s employees?
The right to enter all construction sites
This is a right greater than that of a police officer, who would need a warrant to enter a site
How do you report an accident on site?
Report the accident to a site manager
Record accident in accident book along with treatment
Employer to report accident to HSE
HSE can be contacted by phone or online
Accident report must be completed and where necessary returned to HSE
Injury, disease, dangerous occurrence must be documented + a copy of the accident report retained for record.
What is COSHH?
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
Requires employers to prevent or reduce workers exposure to substances hazardous to health
Chemicals, dusts, Biological agents and germs
What is RIDDOR?
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013
Regulations for ‘responsible person’ to notify and keep record of specified workplace incidents
What are an employer’s duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974?
Provide a safe place of work
Provide a safe system of work
Provide safe equipment
Provide safe and competent people to work alongside
Carry out risk assessments
Inform workers of all potential hazards of the workplace
Appoint a competent person responsible for health and safety
Consult with the workplace safety representatives
Provide adequate welfare at the workplace
What are an employee’s duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974?
Duty of care under common law
Under HSAWA 1974 - Take reasonable skill and care for the health and safety of yourself and others in the workplace
Co-operate with employer to enable them to fulfil their legal duty
Do not interfere or obstruct anything provided in the interests of health and safety at work
What can the HSE do if there is a breach of Health and Safety?
Issue and Improvement Notice - works can continue with 21 days to remedy breach. The contractor can appeal the notice and continue work in the meantime
Issue a Prohibition Notice - works must stop immediately. The contractor can appeal the notice but works must stop in the meantime
What different types of asbestos are you aware of?
Blue
Brown
White
What are the types of asbestos survey?
Management - Non-intrusive desktop study
Demolition / Refurbisment - Intrusive
What regulations are there regarding asbestos?
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.
What risks did you identify on one of your projects?
Work requires you to enter dusty areas - respiratory damage - do not enter visibly dusty areas
Work requires you to approach excavations - do not enter excavations where there is standing water
Slips, trips and falls - do not enter untidy areas on site
Work requires you to cross a vechicle road - wait at safe crossing point, to ensure plant operators have seen you and utilise thumbs up signal to ensure safe to cross.
What else do you do before visiting site?
Risk assessment
Correct PPE
Let your line manager know where you are and when you will be back
Site induction - information of site procedures, risks and off limit areas. First aid points & individuals and emergency procedures.
What ISO standard is for H&S
ISO 45001
What must you do if discover Japanese Knotweed on site
Notify EA
Can Burn it / Use chemicals / Bury it
If buried - must notify EA / a least 5 m deep /restrict growth with mat over top
If break rules - fines & prison sentences
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015)
Apply to all construction projects, including maintenance. Except for mineral exploration and working.
Construction Phase Plan: Must be developed before work starts.
Risk Management: Prioritize health & safety by applying prevention principles.
HSE Notification: Larger projects (30 days+ 20 simi workers) need to be notified to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Appointments: Client appoints other duty holders. inc Principal Designer and Principal Contractor.
Information & Training: Ensure everyone has the necessary information, instruction, and training.
Co-operation & Communication: Duty holders must co-operate, communicate, and co-ordinate.
Worker Consultation: Engage with workers to promote health, safety, and welfare measures.e.
The Quarries Regulations 1999 (SI 1999 No.2024)(as amended)
H&S regulation specific to quarries, enforced by HSE.
- Roles & Responsibilities for competently running a quarry and tip - 81C, 81D
- Detailed procedures
Repeals and modifies parts of:
- Mines and Quarries Act 1954
- Mines and Quarries (Tips) Act 1969
- Mines and Quarries (Tips) Regulations 1971
- Fatories Act 1961.
Tell me about your Company’s H&S policy
Safety First: Grundon emphasizes hazard identification, risk assessment, and control implementation.
Compliance & Consultation: Adheres to legal standards, including ISO 45001:2018, with active stakeholder participation.
Roles and responsibilities.
Ongoing Improvement: Dedication to enhancing safety management and fostering a positive safety culture.
