Health & Safety Flashcards
What is the RICS Guidance on Health & Safety?
RICS Guidance Note ‘Surveying Safely’ 2nd Edition 2018. Came into effect 1st February 2019
What is the key principles of RICS Surveying Safely?
Basic, good practice principals for the management of health and safety for RICS regulated firms and members. At both corporal level and on an individual basis.
What is the structure of the RICS Surveying Safely 2018?
- Personal Responsibility for RICS members and firms
- Assessing hazards and risks
- Workplace health and safety
- Occupational hygiene and health
- Visiting premises and sites
- Fire safety
- Residential property surveying
- Procurement and management of contractors
What must RICS regulated firms provide under the RICS Surveying Safely 2018?
Safe working environment
Safe working equipment
Safe systems of work
Competent staff
What is the safe person concept?
Each individual assumes individual behaviours responsibility for their own, colleagues and others health and safety while at work
Under RICS Surveying Safely 2018 what should you do and where when visiting a site?
Tell someone where you are going and when you leave the building / site
PPE = helmet, high vis jacket, steel capped boots, protective goggles, gloves and ear defenders
Sign in and out of the site
Receive a site induction
Consider if the site is safe to inspect alone
Check dated tag of scaffolding
Always stick to designated areas
Non slip shoes if going on a ladder
What is the key point of Health & Safety, 1974?
Duty to every employer to ensure so far as reasonable practicable, the health and safety and welfare at work of all employees
What are the penalties and policies the Health & Safety at Work, 1974?
Criminal Offence
Fines and imprisonment
Health & Safety Executive (HSE)
Under the Health & Safety at Work, 1974 what must you do?
Report injuries and dangerous occurrence (1995 regulations)
Must undertake, record and regularly review a risk assessment
Where can you find H&S information when on site?
Speak to site manager
Will be held on site usually in the O&M manual
What are the hazards of lone working?
Hazards: illness, injury, abuse, assault, environmental danger
Risk: unable to call for help, identify location, not being missed for a period of time
How to be safe when loan working / what is our loan working policy?
Carry a fully charged phone
Be properly prepared
Do not undertake significant manual handling tasks
Avoid violent confrontation
Have buddy at work - check in prior and on completion of inspection
Ensure someone knows your location and whom you are meeting
What is a hazard?
Refers to anything that has the potential to cause harm eg. a wet floor
What is a risk?
The likelihood that someone will be harmed eg. risk of slipping on the wet floor
What is a risk assessment?
A legal requirement, for organisation employing more than 5 staff to carry our documented health and safety risk assessments of all their significant hazards.
They should be regularly updated eg. 6 monthly
What is the Health & Safety Executive 5 step guidance on risk assessments?
- Identify the hazards present
- Identify the people at risk from the hazards eg. employees
- Evaluate the risk, considering the likelihood and severity of any accidents. Existing controls in place should be identified and evaluated
- Record the findings on a suitable form
- Review the risk assessment regularly
What is a risk matrix?
Used during a risk assessment to define the level of risk by considering the category of probability or likelihood against the category of consequence severity.
Usually likelihood vs Impact. 4 x 4 with 16 being the worst.
What is a method statement?
An approved document that details the way a work task is to be completed.
Outlines the hazards involved and a step-by-step guide on how to do the job safely.
Outlines controls measures
What insurance is required before work (eg. construction) can commence?
A copy of the contractors all risks and public liability insurance
When is a Health & Safety Policy Required?
For a firm employing more than 5 people
What must be included in a firms Health & Safety Policy?
- A firms commitment to H&S
- Details of H&S structure, risk and responsibilities for organising H&S
- A risk assessment for the workplace
- Details of the planning implementation of the H&S policy and control measures
What is the purpose of the ‘Six Pack’ of H&S Regulations?
A group of regulations introduced on the 1st January 1993 covering key aspects of H&S compliance.
Clarify how employers must comply with their duties under the H&S at Work Act 1974
What are the Six Pack of H&S Regulations?
- Management of H&S at work
- Display Screen Equipment
- Manual Handling Operations
- Personal Protective Equipment at Work
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment
- Workplace Health, Safety and Welfare
What legislation covers the reporting of injuries?
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, 1995 (RIDDOR)
What are the rules under RIDDOR?
An injury involving 7 days incapacitation must be reported to HSE
The injury must then be reported to the HSE within 15 days
All employers must keep a record of all injuries that last longer than 3 days
Information must be kept in an accident book for a minimum of 3 years
What does the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act, 2007 relate to?
The gross breaches of a duty of care by a corporate body leading to a persons death
What are the penalties for breaching the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007?
Unlimited fine
Imprisonment
Disqualification as a company director
What legislation cover fire safety?
Fire Safety Order 2005
What is the Fire Safety Order 2005?
Applies to non-domestic properties in England and Wales
Must have appropriate fire precautions in place
Regular staff training
Assessment must be regularly reviewed
What are examples of fire risk measurements?
Fire detection and warning alarm Fire fighting equipment Safe exit routes A personal emergency evacuation plan Emergency lighting Signage Suitable fire exit doors
What does the Fire Safety Act 2021 relate to?
Multi-occupied residential buildings
Allows fire service to enforce actions against responsible person who fails to comply
What is required of a building under the Fire Safety Act 2021?
Regular inspections to check fire safety
Evacuation plans are regularly updated and personal plans are in place for those who are compromised
Residents must have suitable fire safety instructions
Flat entrances must comply with standards and external walls and must not have unsafe cladding
What buildings does an External Wall Systems (EWS) 1 form apply to
Multi-let residential buildings excl hotels
What does an EWS 1 form enable?
Enables a qualified professional surveyor to assess and confirm that the external wall system on a resi building has been assessed for safety and complies with government guidelines
Why were EWS 1 forms introduced?
Due to Grenfell and unsafe cladding - tall residential buildings with unsafe external wall systems dropped in value resulting in lenders withdrawing mortgage finance
What is the criteria for a EWS 1 form?
Height of building
Type and amount of cladding
Presence of balconies and combustible materials
How long can a EWS 1 form be used for?
Valid for 5 years
What is the criticism for EWS 1 forms?
1000s of leaseholders have been unable to secure a survey due to the lack of qualified professionals
What is the Building Safety Bill 2021?
Draft legislation - enhancing regulations for building safety
Combustible cladding material on residential buildings over 18m has been banned
What is the Occupiers Liability Act, 1957?
Regulates the liability of occupiers for injuries caused to lawful visitors as well as for damages to any goods
A common duty of care is imposed to lawful visitors
Landlords are also liable for lawful visitors
Covers trespassers
What is the Smoke-Free (Premises & Enforcement) Regulations, 2007?
Bans smoking in all enclosed public spaces
What is Asbestos?
An insulating material which can cause serious health problems and fatal diseases.
No risk when left undisturbed, but if disturbed can release very small toxic fibres which can damage the lungs
What are the 3 types of asbestos?
Brown (amosite) banned 1995
Blue (crocidolite) banned 1995
White (chrysotile) banned 1999
What is the key legislation for asbestos?
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012
What is the RICS guidance on asbestos?
RICS Guidance Note ‘Asbestos: Legal Requirements and Best Practice for Property Professional’
What surveys can you carry out on asbestos?
Management Survey = to locate and assess asbestos, no sampling required
Refurbishment / Demolition Survey = Samples are analysed and recommendations made
What do you do if you find Asbestos in your building?
If undisturbed = note location, take photo, report to site manager, report to client in writing
If disturbed = Get out of the building as quickly as possible, report to site manager, report to client
Would you remove Asbestos?
No, record it in a asbestos register.
Licensed contractor needed to remove it
What is an Asbestos Register?
A document that contains the results of an asbestos survey: the location, amount and condition of asbestos containing materials within a building. If in doubt, materials must be presumed to contain asbestos
Who creates an Asbestos Register?
A licensed contractor, must be reviewed and regularly updated.
Should an asbestos register be readily available?
Yes to all parties who may disturb the asbestos
What is the 5 step process to assessing asbestos in a building?
- Duty holder must assess whether building contains asbestos and the condition of it
- Assess the risk and produce an asbestos management plan
- Produce an asbestos register
- Make the register available to relevant parties who may disturb it
- Review the register regularly (HSE recommends 6 months)
What are the penalties for not complying with the asbestos requirements?
Fines up to £20,000
12 months imprisonment
More serious offences are tried in higher courts
Where might you find asbestos in a building?
pipes, insulation, boiler rooms, plant rooms, water tanks, heating tiles, ceiling tiles, roof (wavy roof ridges)
What is the purpose of Construction (Design and Management) (CDM) Regulations 2015?
Aims to improve H&S at all stages of a construction project
All projects with more than one contractors on site must have a principal designer and contractor and H&S file
Onus is on the client and not contractor to ensure CDM arrangements
What is a F10 form?
If a project last for longer than 30 construction days, with 20 or more workers simultaneously on site or more than 500 person days of construction of demolition work
HSE must be notified on the construction via a F10 form
What are the statutory obligations of a commercial property owner?
Asbestos management Contamination Disability discrimination and equality Fire Safety H&S Occupiers Liability PAT testing Waste Management
Why might you take a torch when viewing a vacant property/
In case lighting has been switched off
What would you do if you felt a property was in a poor state of repair?
I would not enter if I did not think it was safe
Inform the client
Why is it important to inform the site manager on arrival/when leaving a property?
Make them aware of your presence on site
Record of you being there
In case of an emergency eg. fire
When you inspected the office under construction in Slough, what was mentioned in the health and safety briefing?
Having to wear the appropriate PPE
Importance of staying within the designated walkways
Location of emergency exits for building - and where they are specifically given that it is currently a construction site
Stay with the site manager at all times
Potential hazards -eg. construction workers and lorries unloading
What would you do if you were made to feel unsafe by a person on site?
I would leave the site, call a colleague and use the company safe word to alert them
What additional measures has your firm put in place due to Covid-19?
To adhere to government guidance at all times
To complete a Covid proforma (risk assessment) ahead of any inspection
To wear the appropriate PPE
To use the appropriate transport to get to site
What do you do when carrying out a Risk Assessment?
Use a template. Identify potential hazards and likelihood of them occurring. Use a risk matrix. Put measures in place to reduce risks. Save risk assessment on file and send back to risk department
