Health and Safety Flashcards
What health & safety legislation are you aware of?
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 – Primary legislation for workplace safety.
Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 – Requires risk assessments.
Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) – Covers health & safety in construction projects.
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 – Governs asbestos management.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at Work Regulations 1992 (amended 2022) – Covers PPE provision and use.
How do you ensure that you comply with this h&s legislation?
Conducting risk assessments before inspections.
Following company H&S policies and procedures.
Wearing appropriate PPE.
Keeping up to date with CPD on H&S regulations.
What are the penalties under current health & safety legislation?
Criminal penalties: Unlimited fines and imprisonment for serious breaches.
Is it a criminal offence to breach the H&S at Work Act 1974?
Yes, breaching the Act can result in corporate manslaughter charges.
Tell me about your employer’s health & safety policy?
Duty of care to yourself and others.
Risk assessment and hazard identification before site visits.
Following lone working policies.
What are your health & safety duties as an individual surveyor?
Surveying Safely: Health & Safety Principles for Property Professionals.
Fire Safety of Buildings (1st Edition, 2021).
What guidance does the RICS produce about H&S?
Surveying Safely: Health & Safety Principles for Property Professionals.
Fire Safety of Buildings (1st Edition, 2021).
Tell me something you understand from reading Surveying Safely.
Introduces the ‘safe person’ concept, encouraging individual responsibility for safety.
When was Surveying Safely last updated?
Last updated in 2018.
What are the key changes?
Greater Emphasis on Risk Management.
Application to All RICS Members.
Expanded Focus on Lone Working.
What is the safe person concept?
Focuses on risk awareness, competency, and proactive decision-making to stay safe on-site.
What must Regulated Firms provide?
H&S training, risk assessments, and PPE for employees.
What happened in the case of Suzy Lamplugh?
Estate agent Suzy Lamplugh disappeared in 1986 during a property viewing.
Why is this important for surveyors?
Led to improvements in lone working policies and personal safety awareness.
What is Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?
Equipment used to minimise exposure to hazards (e.g., hard hats, gloves, boots).
What is a risk assessment?
A systematic process to identify hazards, evaluate risks, and implement control measures.
What is a risk?
Risk: The likelihood of harm occurring.
What is a hazard?
Hazard: A potential source of harm (e.g., asbestos).
How would you undertake a risk assessment before attending site?
Review previous reports, conduct a pre-site visit assessment, and use PPE.
What is asbestos?
A hazardous mineral once used in construction, banned in the UK in 1999.
What legislation are you aware of in relation to asbestos?
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.
What do you understand by the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012?
Requires identification, management, and removal of asbestos.
Who is the duty holder?
Duty holder: The building owner, landlord, or employer.
How does asbestos cause lung damage?
Inhalation of asbestos fibres can lead to asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.
What are the two types of asbestos survey?
- Management survey – Identifies and manages asbestos.
- Refurbishment & demolition survey – Required before structural work.
When was asbestos banned?
1999.
What is an asbestos survey/management plan?
A document detailing asbestos presence, risks, and control measures.
Explain the key principles of the new RICS guidance relating to asbestos.
The new RICS guidance on asbestos – the Professional Standard: Management of Asbestos Risks (1st Edition, 2021) – sets out clear expectations for surveyors in identifying, managing, and advising on asbestos risks.
Duty of care.
Competence.
Inspection awareness.
Risk communication.
Record keeping and reporting.
Professional judgement.
What is occupational health?
Health and well-being management of employees to prevent work-related illnesses.
Why is it important?
Helps to prevent work related illnesses.
What are the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015?
Set out H&S roles and responsibilities in construction.
When were they last updated?
September 2022.
What changes were made?
No changes were made, the recommendation was for it to remain the same.
What is a notifiable project?
A project lasting more than 30 working days or involving 500+ person-days.
What are the BSI competence requirements (PAS) that relate to the CDM roles?
🔹 PAS 8671 (Principal Designers) – Competence framework for Principal Designers under CDM 2015.
🔹 PAS 8672 (Principal Contractors) – Defines competence for Principal Contractors managing construction safety.
🔹 PAS 8673 (Accountable Persons) – Relevant to building safety under the Building Safety Act 2022.
Which BSI competence requirement (PAS) relates to the management of safety in residential buildings?
🔹 PAS 8673 – Establishes competence for the Principal Accountable Person (PAP) and Accountable Persons (APs) under the Building Safety Act 2022, focusing on managing high-risk residential buildings.
Tell me about your understanding of fire safety?
Fire safety regulations aim to prevent, detect, and manage fire risks.
What is the key fire safety legislation?
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Fire Safety Act 2021.
Tell me about your understanding of the Equality Act 2010.
🔹 Protects against discrimination in property, workplaces, and public spaces.
🔹 Requires reasonable adjustments to improve accessibility for disabled people.
🔹 Covers protected characteristics such as age, disability, gender, and race.
Explain what RIDDOR is.
🔹 Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 2013.
🔹 Requires employers to report:
Fatalities & major injuries.
Work-related diseases.
Dangerous occurrences (e.g., structural failures, fires, gas leaks).
What is a CSCS card?
🔹 Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card.
🔹 Demonstrates a worker’s competence and health & safety training in the construction industry.
What is COSHH?
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 – Governs hazardous substances.
What changes have recently been made to COSHH?
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 remains unchanged.
🔹 Recent updates focus on:
Stricter limits on silica and welding fumes.
Emphasis on workplace exposure monitoring.
Explain any recent changes to Part B that you are aware of.
Approved Document B (Fire Safety) was updated in June 2022.
🔹 Key changes:
Banning combustible materials in all new residential buildings above 18m.
Mandatory sprinklers in new blocks above 11m.
Wayfinding signage requirements for firefighters.
Explain your understanding of the Fire Safety Act 2021.
Clarifies fire risk assessment duties for building owners.
What is the role of the Building Safety Regulator?
Oversees compliance with the Building Safety Act 2022.
Explain your understanding of the Building Safety Act 2022.
🔹 Introduced post-Grenfell to improve safety in high-risk buildings (over 18m/7 storeys).
🔹 Key changes:
Accountable Persons & Building Safety Regulator (BSR).
Stronger compliance for design & construction.
New leaseholder protections from cladding costs.
How do the key roles differ under the BSA 2022 and CDM 2015?
🔹 CDM 2015 – Principal Designer & Principal Contractor manage safety during construction.
🔹 BSA 2022 – Principal Accountable Person (PAP) oversees safety in occupied high-risk buildings.
Which is the most common type of asbestos?
Chrysotile (White Asbestos) – Found in roofing, ceiling tiles, and insulation.
On an electricity site, would you wear steel toed boots - if not, why?
No, unless electrically insulated.
What are the requirements of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER)?
Ensures lifting equipment is safe and properly maintained.
🔹 Key requirements:
Thorough pre-use inspections.
Routine maintenance and load testing.
Only competent personnel operate lifting equipment.
How often should a lift be inspected under LOLER?
🔹 Every 6 months for passenger lifts.
🔹 Every 12 months for other lifting equipment.
Do you think that you may have a duty of care to keep a property secure, even if there is no express provision in your contract?
🔹 Yes, under common law and Occupiers’ Liability Acts (1957 & 1984).
What case law relates to this duty of care?
🔹 Wheat v Lacon (1966) – Defined occupiers’ liability.
🔹 British Railways Board v Herrington (1972) – Established a duty of care even to trespassers.
What changes were brought in by the Personal Protective Equipment at Work (Amendment) Regulations 2022?
🔹 Extended PPE requirements to ‘limb (b)’ workers (e.g., self-employed contractors).
🔹 Employers must now provide PPE free of charge to all workers, including agency staff and gig workers.
Why might tagging be used on scaffolding?
To indicate inspection status and safety compliance.
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 development.
Apply to all building and construction work.
What items would you expect to find in the pre-construction information?
Focus on client putting in the arrangements for safety.
Clients responsibility can no longer be assigned to agents.
What would you find in the construction phase plan?
Project description.
Health and safety file.
Client considerations and management requirements.
What would you find in the H&S file?
H&S information that is useful for the planning of future works or maintenance.
Description of work carried out.
Any residual hazards.
What is an f10?
The form to notify HSE of a project.
What does RIDDOR stand for?
Reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences regulations 2013.
What incidents are reportable?
Death and major injuries.
Occupational diseases.
Dangerous occurrences.
Gas incidents.
What does COSHH stand for?
Control of substances hazardous to health.
Aim to avoid exposure to hazardous substances.
What H&S precautions do you take when going on site?
I ensure that I have PPE and that I have had a site induction.
Who do you inform that you are going on site?
I sign the attendance register and report to the site office.
I ensure my own company is kept updated on my whereabouts.
What does PPE stand for?
Personal protective equipment.
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.
At 94 Mostyn Street what measures did you take to ensure good standards of Health and safety?
Followed risk assessments.
Wearing PPE.
Adhering to site rules.
Attending site inductions.
Ensuring health and safety was discussed at meetings.
Reporting visible risk.
What is a risk assessment?
A risk assessment is a careful examination of what in your work could cause harm to people so you can weigh up what precautions are required.
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 is the role of 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 HSE?
Inspectors can visit sites without notice.
Issue written or verbal information and advice.
To impose sanctions including stop and improvement orders.
What is your company’s health and safety policy?
Prevent work related injuries or illnesses.
Prevent damage to property and/or equipment from our activities.
Prevent adverse impacts to the environment from our ongoing operations.
What is the RICS surveying safely publications?
The RICS guidance on personal safety at work.
The document covers:
1- general statement – employers have a duty of care.
2 – safety of employees – actions must be taken by employers.
3. Workplace – fire and first aid provisions.
4. Hazards and risk assessment requirements.
5. Visiting sites – PPE, lone working, access provisions.
6. During site visits – key hazards assessments.
7. Safety of you and others – everyone to take responsibility for their own H&S.
8. Legal duties – criminal liability and CDM guidance.
What other guidance is available?
Health and safety in Great Britain – HSE.
HSE Five steps to risk assessment.
What is the health and safety at work act 1974?
This is the primary piece of legislation governing H&S in the UK.
It places a statutory duty on all employers to provide and maintain equipment and systems of works that are safe.
The act aims to:
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.
Employers with 5 or more employees must have written H&S documents detailing the organisation’s health and safety structure.
How do you ensure your personal safety on site?
Conduct pre-site risk assessments.
Use appropriate PPE.
Follow lone-working policies.
How do you ensure the security of your personal possessions on site?
Keeping valuables locked away or in a secure vehicle.
How do you ensure good health & safety practices whilst on site?
Conducting risk assessments before inspections.
Following safe access procedures.
Reporting hazards immediately.
When have you used PPE on an inspection?
On Argyl Road which was a construction site – wore steel toe cap boots, a hard hat and high visibility clothing.
What would you do if you suspected asbestos existed on a site inspection?
Stop work immediately.
Inform the property manager and refer to an asbestos specialist.
What specific precautions would you take when inspecting a dilapidated property?
Wear appropriate PPE.
Ensure safe access and emergency procedures.
What hazardous materials have you come across in your work?
Asbestos and mould.
Why did you review the asbestos management survey at 94 Mostyn Street?
To assess risk before an inspection.
What are the risks of asbestos at 94 Mostyn Street?
Airborne fibre inhalation, leading to respiratory diseases.
How do you ensure you inspect safely when asbestos is present?
Avoid disturbing materials.
Wear appropriate PPE.
Follow control measures outlined in the asbestos survey.
What PPE did you use on Argyl Road and why?
Steel toe cap boots, hard hat and high visibility clothing for my own safety on a construction site.
Did you carry out pre-inspection checks to ensure safety on site at Argyl Road?
Yes, reviewed risk assessments and previous reports.
How would you adhere to lone working policies in the Argyl Road example?
Notifying a colleague of my location.
Carrying a mobile phone.
