Health and Safety Flashcards
What health & safety legislation are you aware of?
- Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 – Occupational Health
- Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) – Put duties on clients, designers, contractors and workers to ensure safety.
- Work at Heights Regulations 2005 – Prevent death and injury from falls from height.
How do you ensure that you comply with this legislation?
- Risk assessments – identify risks, evaluate and implement controls.
- Assign roles and responsibilities, CDM 2015, ensuring all stakeholders understand their responsibilities.
- Sufficient training and competence.
- Implement control measure for specific risks, edge protection for working at height.
What are the penalties under current health & safety legislation?
- Fines, ranging from thousands to millions, dependant on the breach.
- Imprisonment, more likely if there is gross negligence, repeated violations, max custodial sentence is 2 years.
- Improvement notice, Issued by HSE when there is a breach, but not an immediate risk of injury.
Tell me about your employer’s health & safety policy?
- Statement of Intent, declaration saying company is committed to managing H&S
- Responsibilities of H&S, who is responsible.
- Arrangements for H&S, outlines specific measures to ensure that the company has put in place to manage H&S.
Is it a criminal offence to breach the H&S at Work Act 1974?
Yes, breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSWA) is indeed a criminal offence in the UK. The HSWA imposes legal duties on employers, employees, and other stakeholders to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of people at work, as well as the safety of others who might be affected by work activities (such as the general public).
What guidance does the RICS produce about H&S?
RICS Surveying Safely: Health and Safety Principles for Property Professionals (2nd edition, 2018). Contents includes:
- Risk Assessments – emphasis importance of carrying out risk assessments for all surveying activities.
- Safe systems of works – guidance on implementing safe working operations such as working in derelict buildings.
- PPE
What are your health & safety duties as an individual surveyor?
- Adhere to legislation such as H&S at Work 1974, CDM 2015 and all site-specific rules. Keep up to date with legislation changes.
- Conduct risk assessments – Identify specific hazards and assess the associated risks.
- Use PPE.
When was Surveying Safely last updated?
November 2018, effective from February 2019
What are the key changes? RICS guidance
- Updated guidance to align with CDM 2015.
- Enhanced focus on risk management, stressing the importance.
- Greater emphasis on personal responsibility for a surveyors own safety.
- Guidance on PPE.
What must Regulated Firms provide?
- H&S Policy.
- Conduct risk assessment.
- Health and Safety training.
What is the safe person concept?
The Safe Person Concept is a health and safety approach that emphasizes individual responsibility, awareness, and proactive behaviour in managing personal safety and the safety of others in the workplace
- Reduces accidents and incidents.
- Promotes safety culture.
- Enhanced risk perception.
What happened in the case of Suzy Lamplugh?
- Left her office in Fulham to meet a potential buyer of a property. She then disappeared and was never seen again, the case remains unsolved.
Why is the Suzy Lamplugh case important for surveyors?
- Surveyors should put who they are meeting and where in their diary when going to a meeting alone. Apps like stay safe are good which require check ins etc to alert employers of your activities.
What is Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?
Any equipment or clothing designed to protect individuals from hazards. Steel toe boots, hard hat, high vis, safety goggles, respiratory protection, hearing protection.
What is a risk assessment?
A risk assessment is a systematic process used to identify, evaluate, and manage risks associated with a particular activity, task, or environment.
- Determine what could cause harm
- Evaluate harm and likelihood to create a risk matrix.
- Identify and implement control measures.
- Record findings.
- Review and monitor.
What is a risk?
Risk is the likelihood that a hazard will cause harm or adverse effect, combined with the severity of it occurring.
What legislation are you aware of in relation to asbestos?
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012)
What is a hazard?
A hazard is a source of potential harm damage or adverse health effects.
How would you undertake a risk assessment before attending site?
- Review site documents such as layout etc and any previous risk assessments.
- Understand the scope to identify particular hazards.
- Identify particular hazards.
- Use a risk matrix to determine high, medium and low risk.
- Develop control measures – PPE etc.
- Communicate, distribute risk assessment and give a safety briefing.
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring fibrous minerals that were widely used in construction and various industrial applications due to their durability, heat resistance, and insulating properties. 3 main types are:
- Chrysotile (White) – roofing materials and insulation.
- Amosite (Brown) – thermal insulation products.
- Crocidolite (Blue) – high heat resistance , pipe insulation.
What do you understand by the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012?
Primary legislation specifically governing the management of asbestos in the UK. Owners and occupiers of non-domestic properties must manage asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) to prevent exposure. This includes identifying and assessing the condition of ACMs and implementing control measures. Asbestos surveys, asbestos management plans, training and licensing.
