Health and Safety Flashcards
What is the purpose of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974?
It provides the legal framework to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of employees and others affected by workplace activities.
What are the key principles of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015)?
To ensure health and safety risks are managed throughout the lifecycle of a project by fostering collaboration between duty holders and planning for risk mitigation during design and construction.
Who are the duty holders under the CDM 2015 Regulations, and what are their responsibilities?
Client: Ensures suitable arrangements for managing health and safety.
Principal Designer: Manages and coordinates health and safety during the design phase.
Principal Contractor: Manages and coordinates health and safety during the construction phase.
Designer: Minimizes risks through design decisions.
Contractor: Manages on-site health and safety.
What are the key requirements for managing health and safety under CDM 2015?
Preparing a construction phase plan, maintaining a health and safety file, and ensuring effective communication and coordination among duty holders.
How does the CDM 2015 regulation differ from its predecessor (CDM 2007)?
CDM 2015 places greater responsibility on clients and introduced the role of the principal designer, replacing the CDM coordinator.
Why is asbestos a significant health and safety concern in construction?
Asbestos exposure can cause serious illnesses, including asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer, making it a critical risk in refurbishment and demolition projects.
What do you check for during site visits to identify potential asbestos risks?
I review asbestos surveys, ensure proper signage is in place, and verify whether any asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) have been identified and managed.
What training have you undertaken for asbestos awareness?
I have completed asbestos awareness courses and refresher training, which covered identifying ACMs, understanding risks, and managing exposure.
What should be done if asbestos is discovered on-site?
Work should stop immediately, the area should be sealed off, and a licensed asbestos removal contractor should be contacted to manage the issue safely.
What is the purpose of an asbestos register?
It records the location, condition, and type of asbestos-containing materials in a building, ensuring appropriate management and risk mitigation.
Why is wearing appropriate PPE important when visiting construction sites?
PPE provides protection against hazards such as falling objects, slips, and harmful substances, reducing the risk of injury or illness.
What PPE do you typically wear when visiting construction sites?
Standard PPE includes a hard hat, high-visibility vest, safety boots, gloves, and any task-specific items such as goggles or hearing protection.
How do you ensure PPE is used correctly on-site?
By inspecting PPE for damage, ensuring it fits properly, and complying with site-specific health and safety rules.
What are the limitations of relying on PPE for site safety?
PPE does not eliminate hazards and should be a last line of defence. Effective risk management should prioritise hazard elimination and control measures before PPE.
How do you assess whether PPE is suitable for a specific task?
By reviewing the task-specific risk assessment and ensuring the PPE provides adequate protection against identified risks.
What are the most common health and safety risks on construction sites?
Falls from height, slips and trips, moving vehicles, manual handling injuries, and exposure to hazardous substances such as asbestos.
What steps can be taken to minimise risks on construction sites?
Conducting risk assessments, implementing control measures, ensuring proper training, maintaining clear communication, and enforcing compliance with health and safety regulations.
How do you ensure health and safety risks are communicated effectively to all site workers?
Through site inductions, toolbox talks, signage, and regular safety briefings.
What is a risk assessment, and why is it important?
A risk assessment identifies potential hazards, evaluates the likelihood and severity of harm, and implements control measures to minimise risks, ensuring a safe working environment.
What is the hierarchy of risk control, and how is it applied in construction?
Eliminate the hazard.
Substitute with a less hazardous option.
Isolate the hazard from workers.
Use engineering controls (e.g., barriers).
Apply administrative controls (e.g., training).
Use PPE as a last resort.
What would you do if you observed unsafe working practices on-site?
I would stop the work immediately, report the issue to the site manager or principal contractor, and ensure corrective actions are taken before work resumes.
If you noticed a team working at height without proper fall protection, how would you handle the situation?
I would stop the work, ensure the team was informed of the risk, and require proper fall protection measures (e.g., harnesses, guardrails) to be implemented.
How would you respond if a client requested to bypass a health and safety procedure to save time or costs?
I would explain the legal and safety implications, emphasise the importance of compliance, and refuse to compromise on health and safety standards.
What would you do if an asbestos-containing material was damaged on-site?
I would ensure the area was evacuated and sealed off, report the incident to the site manager, and contact a licensed asbestos contractor to manage the situation.
