Health and Safety Flashcards
1
Q
What is corporate manslaughter?
A
- An organisation is guilty of this if the way its activities were managed / organised causes person’s death
- Gross breach of care from organisation to deceased
2
Q
A member of the public has been injured by work activities and taken to hospital for treatment. What should happen next?
A
Accident reported by responsible party to HSE
3
Q
When are employers required to have written H&S policy in the UK?
A
5+ people
4
Q
Is having a CSCS card mandatory?
A
No, at preference of client/contractor
5
Q
When are visitors / workers most likely to have an accident on construction site?
A
First starting on new site
6
Q
When completing a site valuation on your own, what should you do?
A
- Before leaving office, advise manager when I’m going, who I’m meeting
- Make site manager aware of visit
- Register / report my visit to site office
- Bring/wear correct PPE
- Request to be escorted around the site by site manager if still concerned
7
Q
What does it mean if a site has been issued with a prohibition notice by HSE?
A
- Requires site to stop particular activity immediately
- Must not resume activity until action has been taken to remove/control risk
8
Q
When does the H&S at work act apply?
A
All times- requires consideration from employers, employees, wider public
9
Q
Are you aware of any recent amendments to Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005?
A
- Fire Safety Act 2021 (received Royal Assent 29/04/2021)
- Amends Regulatory Reform (fire safety) Order 2005 with intention of improving fire safety in multi-occupancy domestic premises
10
Q
Key changes as a result of the Fire Safety Act 2021?
A
- Clarification for who is accountable for reducing fire risk
- ‘Responsible Person’ must assess and mitigate fire safety risk with both 1- structure and ext wall of building and 2- entrance doors to individual flats and communal parts of building
- Fire risk assessment for building must be updated to reflect above. Responsible Person can appoint fire risk assessor to assist with compliance
- Failure to comply can result in enforcement action against Responsible Person
11
Q
What is the role of the principal designer?
A
- Influence how H&S risks managed throughout project
- Plan, manage, monitor, coordinate H&S in pre-construction phase
- Advise client when bringing together pre-construction info, provide info designers and contractors need to carry out duties
- Work with other designers to eliminate / reduce / control foreseeable H&S risk to anyone affected by work
- Ensure everyone involved in pre-construction phase communicates, cooperates and coordinates work
- Liaise with principal contractor, keep them informed of risks that need to be controlled during construction phase
12
Q
What is the role of the principal contractor?
A
- Manage H&S risks during construction phase
- Plan, manage, monitor, coordinate construction phase
- Account for H&S risks to everyone affected by work (including members of public)- plan and manage measures needed to control them
- Prepare written construction phase plan before construction begins, implement and regularly review/revise to ensure it remains fit for purpose
- Ongoing arrangements in place for managing H&S throughout construction
- Consult and engage with workers about health, safety and welfare
- Ensure suitable welfare facilities provided and maintained during construction
- Ensure workers have site-specific inductions and any further info/training
- Prevent unauthorised access to site
- Liaise with PD to share info relevant to planning, management, monitoring and coordination of pre-construction phase
13
Q
When is a project notifiable to HSE under CDM Regs?
A
- The construction is scheduled to last longer than 30 working days, and it will have more than 20 workers working at the same time at any point in the building project.
- Or, if the construction work has more than 500 person days.
14
Q
Who issues F10?
A
Client’s responsibility- this is often delegated to PD or H&S advisor
15
Q
Who should the PD pass H&S file to when project reaches completion?
A
Employer and end user
16
Q
What do you do if you find asbestos on site?
A
- Stop work immediately, ensure area is safe and nobody can access
- Report to site manager, potentially notify HSE
- Test this by competent contractor to identify type
17
Q
What is the process for removing asbestos?
A
- Identify, mark location, type, condition
- Seal off area, appoint licenced asbestos removal contractor
- Wear apt PPE, air lock created
- Remove and double bag
- Taken away by licenced asbestos removal company
18
Q
3 common types of asbestos?
A
- Chrysotile (white, industrial and commercial, long curly fibres), most common
- Amosite (brown)
- Crocidolite (blue), most lethal
19
Q
Asbestos surveys available?
A
- Asbestos management survey (manage asbestos-containing materials) during normal occupation and use of premises
- Refurbishment/demolition survey (R&D survey) - required where premises needs upgrading, refurbishment or demo
20
Q
Where is asbestos commonly found in older buildings?
A
- Cement gutters and downpipes
- Corrugated roofs
- Floor and ceiling tiles
- Insulated boards, lagging
- Textiles
- Soffits
21
Q
How can asbestos be managed on site?
A
- Remove it (eliminates risk)
- Encapsulate - apply protective layer to contain and protect fibres from damage
- Manage - set up asbestos management plan
22
Q
What does RAMS stand for?
A
Risk Assessment and Method Statement
23
Q
What is a method statement?
A
Methodology detailing the way work will be completed. Outlines hazards involved, step-by-step guide on how to execute safely
24
Q
What is the hierarchy of H&S risk control?
A
Most Effective
- Elimination (physically remove hazard)
- Substitution (replace hazard)
- Engineering (isolate people from hazard)
- Administrative (change how people work)
- PPE
Least effective
25
What are the CDM 2015 Regulations?
The Construction Design and Management Regulations are intended to ensure that health and safety issues are properly considered during a project's development so that the risk of harm to those that have to build, use and maintain structures is reduced. The CDM regulations apply to all building and construction work.
26
What are "domestic clients" required to do under CDM 2015 Regulations?
Domestic clients are not generally required to carry out their duties as these are typically passed to the other duty holders such as the contractor.
27
What are "commercial clients" required to do under CDM 2015 Regulations?
Commercial clients must make arrangements for managing their project to ensure that health and safety risks are managed in a proportionate way.
28
What are the Principal Designer duties under CDM 2015?
* Plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety (pre-construction).
* Identify, eliminate or control foreseeable risks.
* Ensure Client and designers are aware of their duties and advise the Client on bringing together the pre-construction information.
* Provide relevant information to other duty holders.
* Liaise with Principal Contractor in the planning management, monitoring and coordination of the construction phase.
29
What are the Client duties under CDM 2015?
* Appoint competent duty holders.
* Allow sufficient time and resources.
* Prepare and provide relevant information to duty holders.
* Ensure that the Principal Designer and Contractor carry out their duties.
* Ensure welfare facilities.
30
What are the Contractor's duties under CDM 2015?
* Confirm that the client is aware of the client's duties under CDM 2015.
* Plan, manage and monitor their own work and that of their workers.
* Comply with directions given by the Principal Designer.
* Prepare the Construction Phase Plan
* Check that any appointee has, or is in the process of obtaining, the necessary skills, knowledge, training and experience.
* Take reasonable steps to prevent access by unauthorised persons to that site.
* Ensure that suitable welfare facilities are provided.
31
What is everyones duties under CDM 2015?
* Be able to demonstrate they have the necessary health and safety skills, knowledge and experience to carry out the work.
* Co-operate with others involved with the project or any project on an adjoining site.
* Report instances where they or others are working in a way that puts them or anyone else in danger.
* Provide requested health and safety information in an easy to understand and timely manner.
32
What are the key implications of the CDM 2015 Regulations?
* There is more focus on clients to put in place arrangements to ensure health and safety.
* Clients can no longer assign their legal responsibilities to agents.
* There must be a declaration of how long contractors will be given to plan and prepare for construction work.
* Clients are deemed to assume the role of the principal contractor for any period during which other appointments aren’t made.
33
What is Pre-construction information?
Typically provided by the clinet
Pre-construction information is a collection of documents and data that is gathered before a construction project begins. It includes information about the project, the design, and health and safety.
34
What items would you expect to find in the pre-construction information?
* A project description.
* The Client’s considerations and management requirements for hoarding, welfare facilities, traffic restrictions and permits to work.
* Environmental restrictions and existing on-site risks such as site restrictions, previous H&S files, ground conditions, existing services, asbestos surveys, contamination and unsafe structures.
* Significant design and construction hazards such as design risks assessments, suggested method statements, arrangement for coordination post contract design work and changes.
* Health and Safety File requirements
35
What is a construction phase plan?
Typically provided by the contractor
A construction phase plan (CPP) is a document that outlines health and safety risks for a construction project. It also details the control measures that will be used to reduce or eliminate those risks.
36
What would you find in the Construction Phase Plan?
* A Project description.
* Processes for management of the works including site inductions, training, communication, welfare facilities, design coordination, site rules and emergency procedures.
* Arrangements for controlling significant site risks such as handling of deliveries, working at height, deep excavations, preventing falls, site segregation, maintenance of plant and equipment, removal of asbestos, reducing noise and vibrations and manual handling.
37
What would you find in the H&S File?
H&S information that is useful for the planning of future works or maintenance. This comprises:-
* A brief description of the work carried out.
* Any residual hazards which remain and how they have been dealt with for example surveys or other information concerning asbestos, contaminated land, water bearing strata and buried services.
* Key structural principles for example, bracing and sources of substantial stored energy.
* Hazardous materials used for example lead paint, pesticides, special coatings which should not be burnt off.
* The nature and location of significant services, including underground cables, gas supply equipment and fire-fighting services.
38
What is an F10?
The F10 form is used to notify the HSE of the project. It should contain:-
* The address of the construction site.
* The name of the local authority where the site is located.
* A brief description of the project and the construction work it entails.
* Contact details for the client and Principal Contractor.
* It should give an indication of the time allowed by the client for the PC to plan and prepare for the construction work
* It should provide a planned date for the start of work, duration of construction phase and give a number of people at work on site at any one time.
39
What does RIDDOR stand for?
* Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences
40
What is RIDDOR?
* (RIDDOR) requires the ‘responsible person’ to notify any death, reportable injury, disease or dangerous occurrence to the HSE.
* The responsible person is the employer or, for the self-employed, the contractor or principal contractor.
41
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.
42
What does COSHH stand for?
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health.
43
What is COSHH?
Regulations aimed to avoid exposure to hazardous substances, or if not possible, to control exposure by measures that are proportionate to the health risk.
44
What H&S precautions do you take when going on site?
* I have PPE
* I have had a site induction
45
Who do you inform that you are going on site?
* I sign in the attendance register and report to the site office to make them aware of my presence.
* I ensure my own company is kept updated on my whereabouts.
46
What does PPE stand for?
Personal Protective Equipment.
47
What PPE would you wear when visiting a site?
* Hard hat.
* Boots.
* Goggles.
* Gloves.
* Hi-vis vest.
* Ear defenders if required.
* Face mask if required.
48
What does CSCS stand for?
Construction Skills Certification Scheme.
49
Have you passed the CSCS test, how did it benefit you?
Yes, it made me aware of health and safety issues to consider when attending construction sites.
50
On the project described in your case study, what measures did you or your company take to ensure good standards of health and safety when either undertaking your work or delivering the project?
* Wearing personal protective equipment on site.
* Adhering to contractor’s site rules.
* Attending site inductions.
* Ensuring health and safety was discussed at meetings.
* Reporting visible risks for example lack of pedestrian walking routes
* Travel plan as the site was long distance
* Company was information of location plus check ins
51
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’.
52
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.
53
What does HSE stand for?
Health and Safety Executive
54
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.
55
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.
56
What is your company’s Health and Safety policy?
- Prevent work-related injuries / illnesses / damage to property / equipment
- Prevent adverse impacts to the environment
- Take responsibility for safety, comply with safe systems of work
- Act responsively, report incidents and near misses
- Risk assessments
- Attend site inductions
57
What is the RICS Surveying Safely publication?
A professional standard that sets out basic, good practice principles for the management of health and safety for RICS-regulated firms and RICS members.
58
What H&S guidance is available?
* RICS Surveying Safely publication
* HSE ‘Health and Safety in Great Britain’ but it is more generic and not focused on construction.
* HSE Five Steps to Risk Assessments.
* HSE Managing H&S in Construction
59
The construction industry is notorious for accidents and death on site and death; what measures are there to prevent this occurring?
- Eliminate risk of accidents at source (i.e. assembly on ground not at height)
- Planning and programming - allowing sufficient time to construct effectively
- Risk assessments, method statements and educating workers
- Training inductions and CSCS qualifications
- Ensure safe working sites, access & egress points
60
Which accident kills the most operatives in construction?
Falls from height.
61
What is the considerate contractors scheme?
* CCS was 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.
62
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.
63
What are the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 aims?
* Secure the health, safety and welfare of people at work.
* Protect others against risks to health and safety arising from work activities.
* Control dangerous substances.
* Control of emissions into the atmosphere.
* Employers with 5 or more employees must have written health and safety documents detailing the organisations health and safety structure.
64
You are managing a construction project, and a subcontractor reports that they have identified asbestos in an old building that is being renovated. What steps would you take to address this issue?
* Stop Work: Immediately halt any work in the affected area to prevent exposure.
* Risk Assessment: Conduct a risk assessment to understand the extent of the asbestos contamination.
* Specialist Consultation: Engage a licensed asbestos removal specialist to assess and manage the situation.
* Communication: Inform all relevant parties, including workers, clients, and regulatory bodies, about the asbestos discovery and the steps being taken.
* Removal Plan: Develop and implement a safe asbestos removal plan in accordance with local regulations and guidelines.
* Monitoring: Ensure continuous monitoring of the site to prevent any further exposure.
* Documentation: Keep detailed records of the incident, actions taken, and communications for future reference and compliance.
65
During a routine site inspection, you notice that several workers are not wearing the required personal protective equipment (PPE). How would you handle this situation?
* Immediate Action: Safely get the attention of and stop the workers.
* Education: Remind the workers of the importance of PPE and the specific risks associated with not wearing it.
* Investigation: Inform the responsible persons, typically a site manager
* Follow-Up: Monitor the site regularly to ensure ongoing compliance with PPE requirements.
* Documentation: Record the incident and the actions taken to address it.
66
A worker has been injured on-site due to a fall from height. What are the immediate and follow-up actions you would take?
* Immediate Medical Attention: Ensure the injured worker receives immediate medical attention.
* Secure the Area: Make the area safe to prevent further accidents.
* Incident Report: Report the incident to the relevant authorities and complete an incident report.
* Investigation: Conduct a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the fall.
* Preventive Measures: Implement measures to prevent similar incidents in the future, such as improving fall protection systems or providing additional training.
* Communication: Inform all stakeholders about the incident and the steps being taken to address it.
67
Can you provide examples of H&S hazards you would look for on site?
* Working at heights
* Moving machinery
* Exposed electrical wiring
* Falling objects
* Slips, trips, and falls
* Hazardous materials
* Missing PPE
* Inadequate welfare
