Health and Safety

Question 1

Why do you think RICS Guidance Note, Surveying Safely 2nd Edition (2018) was changed to a Standard?

Answer 1

Guidance offers suggestions, whereas a standard sets mandatory rules or benchmarks. Health and Safety is recognised as an important topic.

Question 2

What does the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) outline?

Answer 2

Duty of care of employer to ensure health, safety and welfare at work.

Must report injuries / dangerous occurrences at work

It is a CRIMINAL offence

Question 3

What does the RICS Professional Standard ‘ Surveying Safely 2nd Edition. outline?

Answer 3

This document outlines basic good practice principles for the management of health and safety. For example, taking the appropriate PPE or fully charged mobile phone to an inspection.

Question 4

How would you take a risk assessment before going on inspection?

Answer 4

I would undertake a desktop inspection, whereby I analyse the property, firstly looking at how I can access the site, then understand what kind of property it is, who the occupier is. In the instance that e.g. I attend an industrial site with machinery, I would make sure to take hard hat, high vis, steel capped boots

Question 5

How do you know if you can use a hard hat?

Answer 5

The use by date will be embossed on the inner side of the hard hat

Question 6

Provide 6 examples of PPE

Answer 6

Steel toe capped boots,
Hard hat
High vis
Goggles
Protective gloves
Ear plugs
mobile phone

Question 7

What are the potential hazards?

Answer 7

On a site inspection the potential hazard include heavy machinery, moving vehicles, asbestos,

Question 8

What is the effective date of Surveying Safely

Answer 8

Effective 2019 but has been made into a professional standard in March 2024

Question 9

How is Surveying Safely important in your role?

Answer 9

It sets out the principles for those engaged in the built environment and includes our health and safety responsibilities.

Question 9

Why is it important that you sign in to a site whilst under an inspection?

Answer 9

This keeps a record of who has entered and left the building, so that in the event of an emergency this information can be used to identify who was there.

Question 9

Can you tell me what Surveying safely says regarding taking a phone on inspections?

Answer 9

You require a fully charged phone whenever attending an inspection

Question 9

Hazard

Answer 9

Anything that could potentially cause harm (wet floor)

Question 10

Risk

Answer 10

Likelihood of harm occurring (falling over a wet floor)

Question 11

Who is responsible for your health and safety at work?

Answer 11

Company and building owner (occupiers liability act 1957).

Question 12

What are the 7 sections in RICs Professional Standard ‘Surveying Safely?

Answer 12

1 - Personal and corporate responsibilities

2 - Assessing hazards and risks (to identify and prevent)

3 - Workplace health and safety (prevent accidents at work)

4 - Occupational hygiene (identify exposure to harmful materials).

5 - Site inspections (comply with H&S rules).

6 - Fire safety (strategies to prevent fires and respond effectively).

7 - Resi property surveying (ensure integrity / safety features and compliance to building codes).

8 - Management of contractors (oversee work and make sure it is done safely and meets standards).

Question 13

PPE at Work Regulations 2022

Answer 13

This extends the employers duty of care to ensure the provision of appropriate PPE to employees

Question 14

What are risk assessments?

Answer 14

A legal requirement for organisations employing more than 5 people to carry out H&S assessments for all hazards.

This will include

1 - Identify hazards
2 - Identify people at risk
3 - Evaluate the risk
4 - Record potential risks
5 - Review risk regularly
6 - Advise those affected of potential risks

Question 15

What is RIDDOR?

Answer 15

Reporting Injuries Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013

1 - Must report any injury over 7 day incapacitation to health and safety executive

2 - Must keep a record any injury over 3 day incapacitation (keep record for min 3 years).

Question 16

What is Fire Risk Management Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

Answer 16

The need to have fire precautions in place.

Applies to non-domestic properties England & Wales

Need to keep a record of risk

Regular reviews of assessments

e.g. fire alarm system every week in office, extinguisher.

Question 17

How do you make sure tom comply with H&S regulations?

Answer 17

1 - I always undertake risk assessments before going on inspections

2 - I comply with my firm’s H&S procedures

3 - I make sure to have the appropriate PPE

Question 18

What is your firm’s H&S procedures?

Answer 18

1 - to undertake regular training via the company training provided

2 - Ensure safe environment

3 - Adhere to lone working

4 - PPE

Question 19

What is asbestos?

Answer 19

Asbestos is a material used for insulation.

This material can case serious health problems

Question 20

What does the Fire Safety Act 2021 and the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 outline?

Answer 20

The Act:

1 - Applies to all premises in England and Wales

2 - Fire risk assessments must be done regularly

3 - Responsible person must assess, manage and reduce fire risk

4 - Additional requirements for blocks of 11m and 18m

5 - Evacuation plans in place

6 - Regular inspections of lifts

7 - Residents provided with instructions on fire safety

8 - Materials are up to standard with doors and EWS.

Question 21

What is EWS?

Answer 21

External Wall Systems

Following Grenfell fire. Many high rise buildings have been found to be unsafe.

EWS1 forms were introduced by the government.

This form enables a qualified professional to confirm that the EWS has been assessed and is safe. This has to be done every 5 years

Some high rise buildings are exempt.

Question 22

what is the Building Safety Act 2022?

Answer 22

Legislation intended to enhance regulations for building safety and ensure residents have a stronger voice in ensuring safety.

The Act looks to strengthen:

1 - The accountability and duty for those responsible for safety of high-rise buildings

2 -Residents ability to contribute to maintain safety

3 -Enforcement to deter non-compliance

4 -A national framework to ensure the suitability of construction materials

5 -The requirement for new build developers to be a part of a New Homes Ombudsman.

Question 23

What is the Occupiers Liability Act 1957?

Answer 23

This act regulates the liability of occupiers for injuries caused to lawful visitors as a result of “dangers due to the state of the property or due to things done there”.

Trespassers are covered by the Occupiers Liability Act 1957

Question 24

What are the different types of asbestos? (year they were banned).

Answer 24

White - chrysotile (1999)
Blue - crocidolite (1985)
Brown - Amosite (1985)

Question 25

What is the key legislation with asbestos?

Answer 25

The Control of Asbestos Regulations (2012)

Non-compliance is a criminal offence

Question 26

What do you understand about the regulations around asbestos? What is the procedure?

Answer 26

The Control of Asbestos Regulations (2012).

You have a statutory duty to maintain asbestos in commercial buildings.

1 - Duty holder must assess whether the premises has asbestos. If so, where and what condition is it in?

2 - Assess the risk and produce a management plan - does it need to be removed?

3 - Produce an asbestos register

4 - Make the register available to all parties that who might disturb it

5 - Review the register regularly (every 6 months)

Question 27

What are the different surveys for asbestos?

Answer 27

There are two asbestos surveys..

1 - Management survey - To locate and assess asbestos during occupation

2 - Refurbishment / demolition survey - To take samples of materials suspected of containing asbestos to be analysed.

Question 28

Where is it common to find asbestos?

Answer 28

The London Underground system is believed to have used an extensive amount of asbestos. This is said to be reduced.

Question 29

Is there any RICS publications on Asbestos?

Answer 29

RICS Professional Standard - Asbestos 2021.

Overview of the law and industry guidance on asbestos

Question 30

What are the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015?

Answer 30

This is a set of regulations which aims to improve H&S at all stages of the construction project.

Main duty holders are: The Client, the principal designer and the principal contractor.

Question 31

What are the statutory requirements for a commercial property owner?

Answer 31

• Asbestos management
• Contamination
• Equality Act 2010
• EPC
• Fire Safety
• H&S
• Occupiers liability
• Waste management

Question 32

What is the Six Pack of the Health and Safety Regulations?

Answer 32

This clarifies how employers must comply with the duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

1 - Management of H&S at work

2 - Display screen equipment

3 - Manual handling operations

4 - PPE

5 - Provision and use of work equipment

6 - Workplace health and safety at work

Question 33

Fire Safety Act 2021

Answer 33

This was brought in following the Hackitt Review in 2018.

Amends the Regulatory Reform Order 2005 - main difference is that it now applies to all property (before it was just non-domestic) - (there is a greater focus on residential blocks over 11m and 18m, additional requirements)

The act requires all responsible persons to assess, manage and reduce the risk of fire to the building.

This allows the fire service to take action against the responsible persons who fail to comply.