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 for RICS members and firms
Assessing hazards and risks
Workplace health and safety
Occupational hygiene and health
Visiting premises and sites
Fire safety
Residential property surveying
Procurement and management of contractors
According to RICS Surveying safely, 2018, what must all RICS regulated firms ensure they provide?
Safe working environment
Safe work equipment
Safe systems of work
Competent staff
What is the concept of a ‘safe person’, as outlined in RICS Surveying safely, 2018?
Each individual assumes individual behavioural 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 they need to do their job safely
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 you companies Lone Working Procedure say about inspecting sites alone?
Our section tends not to allow loan working. Only time is when there is no requirement to enter a property, possibly to check if a property has been demolished or removed. But we always require to check in when finished if not returning to office.
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 present
Identify people at risk from the hazards e.g. employees, contractors, visitors
Evaluate the risk, considering the likelihood and severity of any accidents. Existing controls in place should be identified and evaluated
Record the findings on a suitable form
Review the risk assessment regularly
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 action did the RICS take following the Grenfell Tower fire?
Produce an impartial Fire Safety Guide to highlight the responsibilities of landlords and tenants in keeping their properties safe
Worked with other bodies to provide advice and support to the Government
Advised members of the importance of owners, landlords and managers having robust fire assessments for their properties
Issued guidance on existing high-rise buildings fire safety in October 2017
Provided the government with evidence to assess the effectiveness of the Fire Safety Order 2005
How long does someone have to be incapacitated for to be required to report it under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, 1995 (RIDDOR)?
7 days incapacitation
How quickly do injuries need to be reported to the HSE under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, 1995 (RIDDOR)?
15 days from the date of the accident
How serious does an injury need to be in order for an employer to have to keep a record of it under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, 1995 (RIDDOR)?
3-day plus injuries must be recorded in an accident book
How long must the accident book be kept after an occupational accident or injury?
Minimum of 3 years
What does the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 relate to?
Gross breach of a duty care by a corporate body which leads to a person’s death
What are the penalties under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007?
Range from an unlimited fine, imprisonment and disqualification as a company director
What is asbestos?
An insulating material which can cause serious health problems and fatal diseases
Why is asbestos dangerous?
When it is disturbed or damaged it can release small toxic fibres which can lodge on the lungs and cause illness
What are the 3 types of asbestos?
Brown (amosite)
Blue (crocidolite)
White (chrysotile)
When was asbestos banned in the UK?
Asbestos has been an illegal material in the UK since 1999. Other forms were banned in 1985
What is the key legislation on asbestos?
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012
Who is the defined duty holder under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012?
Owner of the premises if vacant or the tenant if they hold a repairing lease
What does RIDDOR stand for?
- Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013.
- (RIDDOR) requires the ‘responsible person’ to notify any death, reportable injury, disease or
dangerous occurrence to the HSE (on-line or by phone for death and serious injuries). - The responsible person is the employer or, for the self-employed, the contractor or principal
contractor.
What are the 5 steps to risk assessment?
- Step 1 - Identify the hazards.
- Step 2 - Decide who might be harmed and how.
- Step 3 - Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions.
- Step 4 - Record your findings and implement them.
- Step 5 - Review your assessment and update if necessary.
What incidents are reportable?
- Death and major injuries such as loss of consciousness or loss of a limb.
- Occupational diseases.
- Dangerous occurrences for example explosions, hazardous substances, structural collapse or collision etc.
- Gas incidents.
What does COSHH stand for?
- Control of Substances Hazardous to Health.
- The regulations aim to avoid exposure to hazardous substances, or if not possible, to control exposure by measures that are proportionate to the health risk.
What does CSCS stand for?
- Construction Skills Certification Scheme.
What is a risk assessment?
- A risk assessment is simply a careful examination of what, in your work, could cause harm to people, so that you can weigh up whether you have taken sufficient precautions or should do more to prevent harm.
- The law does not expect you to eliminate all risk, but you are required to protect people as far as ‘reasonably practicable’.
What is the role of the HSE?
- To prevent work-related death, injury and ill-health.
- Provide support to the public and businesses with guidance, statistics and research.
What are the powers of the HSE?
- Inspectors can visit site without notice, talk to workers, take pictures and samples.
- To issue written or verbal information and advice.
- Most inspections are planned to encourage good H&S practices.
- Some inspections are to respond to a complaint or follow-up an investigation.
- To impose sanctions including stop and improvement orders.
Which accident kills the most operatives in construction?
Falls from height
What is the considerate contractors scheme?
- CCS was set up in 1997 & is responsible for improving the image of construction.
- It monitors all registered sites and ensures best practices are carried out in particular on items such as engaging with local communities and site cleanliness.
What is the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974?
- This is the primary piece of legislation governing H&S in the United Kingdom.
- It places a statutory duty on all employers to provide and maintain equipment and systems of works that are safe and without risk to the health and safety of employees, or others who may be affected by their undertaking.
- The Act aims to:
o Secure the health, safety and welfare of people at work.
o Protect others against risks to health and safety arising from work activities.
o Control dangerous substances.
o Control of emissions into the atmosphere.
o Employers with 5 or more employees must have written health and safety documents detailing the organisations health and safety structure.
