Health and Safety

Question 1

What is a risk assessment

Answer 1

A risk assessment is a systematic method of looking at work activities, considering what could go wrong, and deciding on suitable control measures.

Question 2

What types of risk assessment are there

Answer 2

Qualitative Risk Assessment Quantitative Risk Assessment Generic Risk Assessment Site-Specific Risk Assessment Dynamic Risk Assessment

Question 3

What is a Qualitative Risk Assessment

Answer 3

Qualitative Risk Assessment - A qualitative risk assessment will look at the risk of somebody being injured, and if that is high, medium or low. The risk is calculated by the severity of harm x likelihood of harm.

Question 4

What is a Quantitative Risk Assessment

Answer 4

Quantitative Risk Assessment - The quantitative risk assessment is used to measure risk by assigning a numerical value. Often qualitative risk assessments might assign numbers to different levels of risk such as a 5x5 matrix. These are often colour coded to indicate the severity of the hazard.

Question 5

What is a Generic Risk Assessment

Answer 5

Generic Risk Assessment - A generic risk assessment will often be used for similar activities or equipment across different sites, departments or companies.

Question 6

What is a Site-Specific Risk Assessment

Answer 6

Site-Specific Risk Assessment - A site-specific risk assessment is a risk assessment that has been completed for a specific item of work, that takes account of the site-location, environment, and people doing the work.

Question 7

What is a Dynamic Risk Assessment

Answer 7

Dynamic Risk Assessment - A dynamic risk assessment is a process of assessing risk in an on the spot situation. This type of risk assessment is often used to cope with unknown risks and handling uncertainty. workers need to have the skills and awareness to recognise and deal with danger.

Question 8

What are the steps to undertaking a risk assessment

Answer 8

There are typically 5 steps to a risk assessment; Step 1: Identify hazards, anything that may cause harm. Step 2: Decide who may be harmed, and how. Step 3: Assess the risks and take action. Step 4: Make a record of the findings. Step 5: Review the risk assessment.

Question 9

What are the colours of asbestos

Answer 9

The colours of asbestos are only visible under a special type of microscope and are as follows; White = Chrysotile Brown = Amosite Blue real name = Chrocidolite

Question 10

What are some examples of asbestos-containing materials

Answer 10

HSE guide 264 Appendix 2 identifies ACMs in order of ease of fibre release. To name a few; Asbestos cement board Cement Pipes Blown-in insulation & Spray-applied insulation (Flock) Boiler Insulation Fire prevention; Fire curtains, Fire blankets, Fire doors Packing materials Pipe lagging Textured ceilings (Artex) Vinyl floor tiles Vinyl sheet flooring

Question 11

When did asbestos get banned

Answer 11

Chrysotile banned in 1999 (Serpentine) Amosite and Crocidolite banned in 1985 (Amphibole)

Question 12

What is relevant asbestos regulation

Answer 12

Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012

Question 13

What is licenced asbestos removal

Answer 13

• Large removal tasked e.g. asbestos flock removal - Notifiable if 0.1 asbestos fibers per cubic centimeter of air per 4 hours - ASB5 form at least 14 days before the work starts

Question 14

What is non-licenced asbestos removal

Answer 14

• Sporadic and of low intensity - to be considered sporadic and of low intensity the concentration of asbestos in the air should not exceed 0.6f/cm3 measured over 10 minutes
• Controlled - Carried out in such a way that the exposure of workers to asbestos will not exceed the legal control limit of 0.1 asbestos fibres per cubic centimetre of air (0.1 f/cm3) (averaged over a four hour period)
• Meet at least one of the four following conditions:

1. It is a short non-continuous maintenance task, with only non-friable materials
2. It is a removal task, where the ACMs are in reasonable condition and are not being deliberately broken up, and the asbestos fibres are firmly contained within a matrix, eg the asbestos is coated, covered or contained within another material, such as cement, paint or plastic
3. It is a task where the ACMs are in good condition and are being sealed or encapsulated
4. It is an air monitoring and control task to check fibre concentrations in the air, or it’s the collection and analysis of asbestos samples to confirm the presence of asbestos in a material.

Question 15

What is the Abestos Register

Answer 15

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (Regulation 4) creates a legal duty to manage asbestos. If asbestos is present, or is presumed to be present, then it must be managed appropriately. An asbestos register will contain; The location of any ACMs. The type of asbestos they contain. The condition of the materials.

Question 16

What is Legionnaires

Answer 16

The term Legionnaires is used to describe bacterial infections including Legionnaires disease and Pontiac fever. Legionella is typically inhaled by the form of aerosol and small particles penetrate the lungs. Legionnaires is a notifiable disease since 2010.

Question 17

What are some sources of Legionella

Answer 17

Typical sources include; - Cooling towers - Pipework (dead legs) - Water storage tanks - Hot water systems - Spa pools - Natural (soil, ground water, sea water)

Question 18

When is Legionella active

Answer 18

Legionella is active between 20 & 46°C with its optimum temperature being 37°C.

Question 19

How can Legionella be prevented

Answer 19

• Temperature regulation below 20°C or above 60°C - Installation of drift eliminators - Biocides such as oxidization agents - UV disinfection - Regular maintenance

Question 20

What was the Hackitt Review?

Answer 20

A series of 53 recomendations to improve safety of construction and buildings. Her recomendations formed “Building a safer future review” which identified unsatisfactory processes and practices within the industry.

Question 21

What were some recormendations in the Hackitt Review?

Answer 21

• Ban of the use of combustable cladding - Improve regulatory oversight - Improve the change control process - Introduce a new building safety regulator

Question 22

What are the principles of the working at height regulations?

Answer 22

1 - Avoid working at height where practical 2 - Where it cannot be avoided to prevent falls using a safe place or safety equipment. 3 - Minimise the distance and consequences of a fall e.g. crash deck.

Question 23

What is the aim of the working at height regulations 2005

Answer 23

To prevent death and injury caused by a fall from height

Question 24

What are some example of Primary H&S legislation

Answer 24

• Building Act 1984 - HASAWA 1974 - Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996

Question 25

What are some examples of Secondary H&S legislation

Answer 25

• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 - Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 - Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015 - Working at Height Regulations 2005

Question 26

What is Surveying Safley 2nd edition

Answer 26

A guidance note produced by the RICS covering the following topics; - Visiting sites - Undertaking risk assessments - Lone working - Personal responsibilities - Corporate responsibilities - Occupational health and hygiene - Fire safety

Question 27

How do you undertake an inspection?

Answer 27

I would undertake an inspection in accordance with Surveying Safely 2nd edition; Before visiting sites - PPE check, Access, appropriate instruction, notify colleague e.c.t Checklist of things to consider - PVP occupants, lone working, site rules, roofs, Diseases, hazardous substances, unsafe atmospheres, ensure risk assessment is accurate e.c.t Securing the site and leaving - the premises or site should be left secure and any occupier or manager who is present at the premises or site should be informed that you are leaving. Review on completion of the visit - any accidents, incidents or ‘near miss’ occurrences, any high risk hazards that need to be reported, lessons learnt e.c.t

Question 28

What is the HSE

Answer 28

The Health and Safety Executive is a UK government agency responsible for the encouragement, regulation and enforcement of workplace health, safety and welfare, and for research into occupational risks.

Question 29

What is a RIDDOR

Answer 29

Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations

Question 30

When is an accident reportable

Answer 30

accidents resulting in the death of any person accidents resulting in specified injuries to workers non-fatal accidents requiring hospital treatment to non-workers dangerous occurrences

Question 31

What are some examples of reportable RIDDORS

Answer 31

Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome, Amputation, crush to head or torso, Fractures mesothelioma, legionella

Question 32

When are RIDDORS exempt

Answer 32

accidents during medical or dental treatment, accidents involving a moving vehicle on a public road, accidents to members of the armed forces on duty.

Question 33

What is an accident book?

Answer 33

An accident book is used on construction projects to record details of any accidents that occur. This is a requirement of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR). Companies are legally required to have an accident book on sites that have 10 or more employees. Details of accidents that must be recorded include: The date and time on which it occurred. The person who was injured. Any witnesses. The type and nature of the injuries sustained. The cause and full circumstances of the accident.

Question 34

When is a health and safety required and why?

Answer 34

Where projects involve more than one contractor, the CDM Regulations require the client ensures the principal designer prepares a health and safety file so that, at the end of the project, the client is in possession of information anyone carrying out subsequent work on the building will need to know to plan and carry out that work safely. The health and safety file must be appropriate to the characteristics of the project and include a level of detail proportionate to the risks. It should only include relevant information that will be of help when planning future construction work and must be in a convenient form, clear, concise and easily understandable. It does not need to include information about the construction process (which may be included in the construction phase plan), unless it may affect future works. It does not need to include contractual information, pre-construction information or information about the normal operation of the completed structure (which may be included in the building owners manual or the building log book).

Question 35

Who is responsible for preparing the Health and Safety file?

Answer 35

The principal designer prepares the health and safety file during the pre-construction phase. They must then ensure it is appropriately reviewed, updated and revised to take account of the construction works and any changes that have occurred. Where designers are not able to eliminate risks from the design, they must ensure appropriate information is included in the health and safety file. The principal contractor must also provide the principal designer with information for inclusion in the health and safety file

Question 36

What should the Health and safety file contain?

Answer 36

A brief description of the work carried out; Any hazards that have not been eliminated through the design and construction processes, and how they have been addressed (e.g. surveys or other information concerning asbestos or contaminated land); Key structural principles (e.g. bracing, sources of substantial stored energy – including pre- or post-tensioned members) and safe working loads for floors and roofs; Hazardous materials used (e.g, lead paints and special coatings); Information regarding the removal or dismantling of installed plant and equipment (e.g. any special arrangements for lifting such equipment); Health and safety information about equipment provided for cleaning or maintaining the structure; The nature, location and markings of significant services, including underground cables; gas supply equipment; fire-fighting services, etc; Information and as-built drawings of the building, its plant and equipment (e.g. the means of safe access to and from service voids and fire doors).

Question 37

What are some examples of non-licensed work?

Answer 37

• Cleaning up small quantities of loose/ fine debris containing ACM dust (where the work is sporadic and of low intensity, the control limit will not be exceeded and it is short duration work)
• Drilling of textured decorative coatings for installation of fixtures/fittings
• Encapsulation and sealing-in work on asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) that are in good condition

Maintenance work involving:

• asbestos cement products (eg on roof sheeting, tiles and rainwater goods)
• asbestos in ropes, yarns and woven cloth
• asbestos gaskets or asbestos rope cords (including removal as part of repair and upkeep of equipment) if this can be done without substantial breakage
• asbestos-containing thermoplastic and vinyl floor tiles, bitumen roof felt, shingles, damp-proofing coatings, and mastics
• asbestos-containing felt and paper plastic paint coatings, PVC floors, panels and sealing compounds
• asbestos-containing conveyor belts/drive belts, bonded rubber, electric cables
• resin-based ACMs such as friction products (eg brake linings)
• Painting/repainting AIB that is in good condition

Removal of:

• asbestos cement products, (eg roof sheeting and rainwater goods) provided the material is carefully handled/removed without breaking up; this includes work with asbestos cement which is weathered but not otherwise substantially damaged
• small areas of textured decorative coatings using suitable dust-reducing methods, to support other activities such as installation/replacement of smoke alarms and light fittings
• textured decorative coatings provided that this can be done without deterioration of the material, (eg if the backing board is carefully cut around to achieve virtually intact removal)
• loosely fixed (eg screwed) asbestos insulating board (AIB) panels in order to gain access to areas for other maintenance activities (eg under a bath to carry out pipework maintenance, or for access to a ceiling void for repair of lighting). This also includes re-attaching the panels after the work is done
• an AIB door with asbestos fire proofing

Short duration work:

• to repair minor damage to AIB
• involving drilling holes in AIB (eg when installing shelving)

Other work:

• on other materials containing asbestos (such as paints, bitumen, resins, rubber, etc) where the fibres are bound in a matrix which prevents most of them being released (this includes, typically, aged/weathered AC)
• associated with collecting and analysing samples to identify the presence of asbestos

Question 38

What are some examples of notifiable non-licensed work?

Answer 38

Removal of:

• asbestos cement products (eg roof sheeting) where the material will be substantially damaged or broken up (eg as a result of fire or flood damage)
• asbestos cement products (eg roof sheeting) where the material will be substantially broken up, creating significant quantities of dust and debris (eg ‘dropping’ an asbestos cement roof)
• asbestos paper and cardboard products if not firmly bonded in a matrix

Short duration work:

• to remove asbestos insulating board as part of a refurbishment project
• involving asbestos insulation eg repairing minor damage to a small section of pipe insulation where the exterior coating has been broken or damaged

Other work on:

• large-scale removal of textured decorative coatings using steaming or gelling methods (eg beyond that required for maintenance activities such as installation/replacement of smoke alarms and fittings)

Question 39

What is notifiable non-licensed work NNLW?

Answer 39

For some types of non-licensed work, employers must meet additional requirements. This is known as notifiable non-licensed work or NNLW, and requires employers to:

• notify work with asbestos to the relevant enforcing authority
• designate (identify) areas
• where the work is being done ensure medical examinations are carried out
• maintain registers of work (health records)

Question 40

How would you determine whether non-licensed works are notifiable?

Answer 40

Depends on the type of work you are planning to do:

• Maintenance eg drilling holes to attach fittings or pass cables through, painting, cleaning etc. Maintenance includes some removal where it is incidental to the main task, eg removing an asbestos ceiling tile to allow inspection.
• Removal eg as part of a refurbishment or redesign project.
• Encapsulation eg work to enclose or seal asbestos materials in good condition.
• Air monitoring and control, and the collection and analysis of samples.

Depends on the asbestos type:

• Is it friable? Friable means easily crumbled or reduced to powder. Work which disturbs more friable materials, eg asbestos pipe insulation, will tend to be NNLW and work which disturbs the least friable materials, eg asbestos cement, can normally be treated as non-licensed work.
• How firmly is the asbestos bonded in a matrix? (For removal work only). Bonded in a matrix means the asbestos is coated, covered or contained within another material, such as cement, paint or plastic. ACMs of this type in good condition can usually be treated as non-licensed work. However where they are significantly damaged, and so more likely to release fibres, they will need to be treated as NNLW.

The material’s condition

• Has the material been damaged or is it in poor condition? Removal of ACMs in poor condition eg due to flood or fire damage, will normally need to be treated as NNLW.
• Will the materials’ matrix be destroyed when worked on? eg deteriorating textured decorative coatings eg ‘Artex’ with gel or steam to remove it, will normally need to treated as NNLW.

Question 41

Who are the different enforcing authorities and what property types do they relate to?

Answer 41

Question 42

What is licensed work?

Answer 42

Most higher-risk work with asbestos must only be done by a licensed contractor. Licensable work with asbestos is work:

• where worker exposure to asbestos is not sporadic and of low intensity; or
• where the risk assessment cannot clearly demonstrate that the control limit will not be exceeded ie 0.1 asbestos fibres per cubic centimetre of air (0.1 f/cm3) (averaged over a four hour period); or
• on asbestos coating; or
• on asbestos insulation or asbestos insulating board where the risk assessment demonstrates that the work is not short duration work, eg when work with these materials will take no more than two hours in any seven day period, and no one person works for more than one hour in that two hour period.

Question 43

Give some examples of licensable work

Answer 43

• removing sprayed coatings (limpet asbestos)
• removal or other work which may disturb pipe lagging
• any work involving loose fill insulation
• work on asbestos millboard
• cleaning up significant quantities of loose/fine debris containing ACM dust (where the work is not sporadic and of low intensity, the control limit will be exceeded or it is not short duration work)
• work on AIB, where the risk assessment indicates that it will not be of short duration