Health and Safety - Green Flashcards
What is the definition of an accident?
Undesired circumstances which give rise to Ill health, injury, and damage
What is the definition of an incident?
Undesired circumstances and near misses that could cause accidents
What is the definition of Ill health?
Undesired circumstances which give rise to acute and chronic Ill health caused by physical, chemical or biological events
What is the definition of a hazard?
Anything which may cause harm such as chemicals, electricity, working with ladders
What is the definition of risk?
Risk is the chance, high or low, that somebody could be harmed by these and other hazards together with an indication of how serious the harm could be.
What is the difference between a hazard and a risk?
A hazard is something that may cause harm, a risk is the chance of it happening.
What measures do you take to ensure your own health and safety on an inspection?
I make sure I have the name and contact number of the person I am meeting, make sure my calendar is updated with the necessary information, ensure I take necessary ppe
What considerations do you need to make before inspecting a property in poor repair?
Consider whether the building is safe to enter, whether I have the correct ppe
What would you need to do if you managed a property where asbestos had been identified?
You must manage asbestos which has been identified either by removal or leaving it in place and managing it by way of regular asbestos surveys. An asbestos register must be kept up to date and maintained by the duty holder
What does Surveying Safely cover?
Personal and corporate responsibilities, assessing hazards and risks, occupational hygiene and health, visiting premises, fire safety, residential property surveying, procurement and management, audit template.
What act governs H&S?
Health and Safety at work act 1974
What does the health and Safety at work act 1984 cover?
Sets out the framework for managing workplace health and safety in the UK. It defines the general duties of employers and employees for maintaining health and safety.
It requires that workplaces provide
-adequate training
-adequate welfare provisions
-a safe working environment
For workplaces of 5 or more, employers must keep a written record of the H&S policy
Who enforces H&S legislation?
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the government appointed body that is responsible for enforcing workplace health and safety legislation. Enforcement is divided between the HSE and local authorities.
What do the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulalations 1999 require?
Require that an employer must suitably assess work based activities and implement any appropriate controls to manage potential risks.
Employers have a duty to:
-carry out risk assessments
-appoint a competent person to manage workplace h&s
What does the Personal Protective Equipment at work regulations 1992 require of employers?
Duty on employers to provide PPE to reduce potential risk of harm when it can’t be otherwise mitigated.
Explain your understanding of the term HSE
- HSE stands for Health and Safety Executive
- The HSE is the UK national authority for managing work related health, safety and illness issues
- They act in the public interest to reduce work related injuries and accidents
What is the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974?
Primary UK legislation governing H&S
Sets out duties of employers and employees. They must safe guard H&S of employees and public who may be affected by their work.
Enforced by HSE and penalties can include fines and imprisonment
What are the Management of Health and Safety at Work regulations 1999?
Requires employers to carry out risk assessments, make arrangements to implement necessary measures, appoint competent people and arrange for appropriate information and training
What does a yellow sign mean?
Warning, caution
What does a blue sign mean?
Mandatory, specific behaviour eg wear protective equipment
What does a green sign mean?
Emergency escape, first aid
What does chemical labelling look like?
GHS, seek advice from site manager
What will a prohibition sign look like?
Red circle with line through eg no smoking
What will a warning sign look like?
Triangle, yellow, instruction to be careful eg electricity or drop
Where are local authorities responsible for regulating health and safety?
Lower risk workplaces eg offices, shops, warehouses
What are the personal responsibilities of members with regard to health and safety?
Direct responsibility for carrying out H&S policies and procedures
Responsible for knowing and understanding H&S risks
What is the safe person concept?
Each individual assumes individual behavioural responsibility for their own, colleagues and others H&S at work
What is the purpose of H&S?
To minimise the risk of harm
What is a firm’s responsibility for health and safety?
To ensure H&S of people at work via safe work environment, safe systems of work, competent staff
What is competence?
Having sufficient knowledge, experience and ability to carry out duties in relation to tasks
What is a risk assessment?
An assessment of what in your work could cause harm so you can judge whether you have taken enough precautions to prevent harm.
How do you conduct a risk assessment?
- Identify the hazards
- Consider the possible harm
- Evaluate the risks and decide precautions
- Record the findings and implement
- Review the assessment and update if necessary
- Advise those affected
What is the hierarchy of risk control?
Risks should be reduced to the lowest practicable level by taking preventative measures, in order of priority
Elimination
Substitution
Engineering controls
Administrative controls
PPE
What is ‘elimination’?
Redesigning the activity so the hazard is eliminated, eg do you have to lone work or work at height?
What is ‘substitution?
Replace the materials used with less hazardous ones eg pre prepared components rather than cutting on site
What are engineering controls?
Using equipment or other measures eg installing machinery to control risks from dust/fumes, separating hazard from operators by enclosing dangerous machinery
What are administrative controls?
Identifying and implementing procedures to work safely eg increasing safety signage, device for lone working
When should you use ppe?
Only when all previous measures have been tried and found ineffective eg cannot eliminate the risk
What is a dynamic risk assessment?
Assessment of risks immediately prior or during activity as work and environment changes, continually reevaluating
What is a risk matrices?
Helps work out level of risk, categorise liklihood of harm and potential severity. Helps prioritise actions, good for more complex situations.
What does occupational hygiene do?
Occupational hygiene uses science and engineering to identify and control exposure to harmful agents in the workplace eg asbestos, fumes
What does occupational health do?
Occupational health considers the physical and mental effects of work on health.
What should a health and safety management system include occupational health monitoring on?
Work related stress, health and wellbeing, new and expectant mothers, repetitive strain.
When should hearing protection be offered?
At 80dba, hearing protection should be made available.
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring rock mineral that has heat and fire resistant properties. It has been used extensively worldwide in a range of building materials.
When is asbestos dangerous?
When it is being disturbed, eg drilling into walla, removing cladding
What is the RICS guidance on asbestos?
See surveying safely and RICS statement ‘Asbestos legal requirements and best practise for property professionals and clients’
What other hazardous substances are there, apart from asbestos?
Pesticides
Lead paint dust
Industrial solvents
Engine exhaust fumes
Dust and spores from mould
What is the difference between chronic and transmitted diseases?
Chronic is from exposure to hazardous material eg asthma, dermatitis. Transmitted is from exposure to an organism eg legionnaires, lyme
What is the procedure for visiting site premises?
Procedures will depend on the type and nature of premises and reason for visit
What things would you consider prior to visiting site premises?
- Travel to and from site eg parking
- Lone working arrangements
- Condition of property eg access
- Occupation eg do occupiers know of the visit
- Activity eg retail/office/ industrial and associated hazards
- Site rules eg emergency arrangements
- Roofs
- Scaffolding
- Dangerous substances
- Diseases
- Special access
- Special risks
- Access arrangements
- Other equipment
- Environmental matters
- Personal matters
Things to be aware of on site
- Structural stability
- Timbers, glass and sharp objects
- Roofs
- Unsafe atmosphere
- Danger from live and unsecured services
- Radio frequency
- Slip and trip hazards
- Falls from height
- Hidden traps and openings
- Impact of other people/animals
- Contamination
- Rural environments
- Adverse weather
- Vermin and birds
What are the three types of asbestos?
Chrysotile (cry so tile) - white, most common
Amosite (amo site) - brown
Crocidolite (crow sid o lite) - blue
When was asbestos made illegal in the UK?
Blue and brown were banned in 1985. White was banned in 1999.
What legislation governs asbestos?
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012
This is the key legislation which states a responsible person has a statutory duty to manage existing asbestos in commercial buildings. It is a criminal offence to fail to comply with the regulations.
What are the requirements of a duty holder?
Duty holder has to prepare a plan that sets out in detail how the risks from these materials will be managed. The duty holder is the owner of the premises if vacant or a tenant if holding a repairing lease.
What are the 5 steps regarding the management of Asbestos?
- Duty holder to assess whether the premises contains asbestos and if so where it is and what condition it is in. If in doubt, materials must be presumed to contain asbestos.
- Assess the risk and produce a plan to manage the asbestos
- Produce an asbestos register
- Make the register available to all relevant parties who might disturb it.
- Review the register twice a year.
What is an asbestos survey?
The purpose is to make a materials assessment
What are the two types of asbestos survey?
Management survey - to locate and assess and advise on management during normal occupation and use of the premises. No sampling of materials. Can be done by duty holder or surveyor.
Refurbishment/demolition survey - required where the premises or part of needs upgrading, refurbishment or demolition. Samples of materials suspected of containing asbestos are taken and analysed. Recommendations are made regarding management. Undertaken by a surveyor.
Who undertakes work to asbestos?
A licensed contractor
You are inspecting an industrial property and see a blue sign, what does this mean?
This represents a mandatory action such as eye protection must be worn
What does a red sign mean?
This prohibits action and also denotes emergency equipment such as a fire extinguisher
What does a green sign mean?
Safe conditions such as safe areas, emergency exits
What does a yellow sigm mean?
Warns against hazards such as slippery surfaces
Does the VOA operate a line working policy?
Yes. The addresses and names and numbers of site visits is to be recorded. Calk to the office once inspection is complet3.
What do you do prior to your inspection?
-Carry out a risk assessment
-Speak to the occupier and check ppe requirements
-Check if plans available
-Check condition of PPE
How do you ensure your personal safety?
Take a fully charged mobile phone
Take appropriate PPE
Call back to office
Calendar made available to view by colleagues
What do you do when you arrive on site?
Check in with the contact person
Explain my method of work
Put on PPE
Read instructions about exits, alarms and safe areas
What do you do whilst inspecting?
Work safely
Obey all instructions
Do not interrupt safe working of others
Wear ID and PPE at all times
Avoid dangerous situations
Do not enter prohibited areas
Do not use prohibited devices
What would you do if an accident occurred on site?
Stop working immediately
Ask site operator to record it
Leave the site as soon as it is safe
On return to office report to manager
Fill out incident report form
Complete inspection awareness document
What is the VOA’s policy on H&S?
What health and safety legislation are you aware of?
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
Management Regulations 1999
PPE Regulations 2018
Display Screen Regulations 1992 updated 2002
How do you ensure that you comply with this legislation?
HASAW 1974 -I take reasonable care of my own health and safety
Management Regulations 1999 - I undertake training and follow the company’s health and safety policies. I undertake risk assessments before attending inspections.
PPE Regulations 2018 - I use PPE in accordance with training and report any damage / defects / loss
DSE Regulations 1992 updated 2022 - I am aware of how to set up and use my workstation and take regular breaks from DSE work
What are the penalties under current health and safety legislation?
Sanctions include fines, imprisonment and disqualification.
Is it a criminal offence to breach the H&S at Work Act 1974?
Yes, punishable by a fine or imprisonment or both
What are your health and safety duties as an individual surveyor?
I am responsible for my own health and safety as well as the health and safety of anyone under my supervision.
I have a duty to co operate with my employers policies and procedures to minimise health and safety risks. Eg:
Report breaches
Carry out personal risk assessment
Undertake training
What guidance does RICS produce about Health and Safety?
RICS Professional Standard Surveying Safely: health and safety principles for property professionals 2nd edition November 2018
Tell me something you understand from reading Surveying Safely
I understand the hierarchy of risk control, which is elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and PPE
When was Surveying Safely last updated?
It was updated in November 2018, replacing the 1st edition from February 2019
What are the key changes?
RICS introduced the ‘Safe Person’ concept and there is greater emphasis on ensuring the competence of individuals
What is the safe person concept?
Each individual assumes individual behavioural responsibility for their own, their colleague’s and others’ health and safety while at work
What must regulated firms provide?
A safe working environment
Safe work equipment
Safe systems of work
Competent staff
What is Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?
PPE is equipment to protect against health and safety risks, for example helmets, steel capped shoes, ear defenders, face masks, overalls, torches and batteries, safety harnesses and hi vi’s clothing. This can protect against injuries to lungs, head and feet, eyes, skin and the body.
How does asbestos cause lung damage?
Asbestos fibres create scar tissue in the lungs, a condition called asbestosis. It can develop into lung cancer called mesothelioma.
Explain the key principles of the new RICS guidance relating to asbestos
New RICS Guidance Note Asbestos: Legal Requirements and Best Practise for Property Professionals and Clients 4th Editon
-All surveyors should have asbestos awareness training
-a duty to manage asbestos arises under regulation 4 of the control of asbestos regulations 2012
