Health & safety Flashcards
What guidance did the RICS release on good practice principals for the management of health and safety in RICS regulated firms and for RICS members?
RICS Surveying safely, 2018
What is the structure of RICS Surveying safely, 2018?
- Personal responsibilities 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
According to RICS Surveying safely, 2018, what must all RICS regulated firms ensure they provide?
- Safe working environment
- Safe work equipment
- Safe systems of work
- Competent staff
What is the concept of a ‘safe person’, as outlined in RICS Surveying safely, 2018?
- Each individual assumes individual behavioural responsibility for their own, their colleagues’ and others’ health and safety while at work.
- Seeks to ensure that individuals accept responsibility for their own actions and they have the tools they need to do their job safely
What new guidance was contained in the 2nd edition of RICS Surveying safely?
- Inclusion of advice of mental health and wellbeing
* Introduced the concept of a ‘safe person’
What should you consider when undertaking an inspection of a building site?
- Consider precautions and potential hazards/risk assessments
- Sign in an out of building construction site and receive a site induction
- Check dated tag if going on scaffolding
- Wear non-slip sole shoes/boots when going up a ladder
What personal protective equipment (PPE) should a surveyor consider wearing?
High visibility jack, protective footwear, hard hat, protective goggles, gloves and ear defenders
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What is included in Health & Safety at Work, 1974 (as amended)?
- “Duty to very employer to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees”
- Must report injuries and dangerous occurrences
- Must undertake, record and regularly review a risk assessment
- Detailed Health & Safety information is to be held on site, usually in the Operations & Maintenance Manual
Who polices the Health & Safety at Work Act, 1974?
Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
How large does an organisation have to be to carry out a documented health and safety risk assessment?
Firms employing more than 5 staff
What is a hazard in a risk assessment?
Anything that has the potential to cause harm (e.g. a wet floor)
What is a likelihood/probability in a risk assessment?
The risk that someone is harmed (e.g. the risk of fall over on the wet floor)
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What is a method statement?
- Document that details the way a work task or process is to be completed
- Outlines the hazards involved and a step by step guide on how to do the job safely
- Details the control measures introduced to ensure the safety of anyone who is affected by the task or process
What documents need to be provided before a contractor can begin their work?
All risks and public liability insurance
What FOUR points must be contained within a companies Health & Safety policy?
- A policy setting out the organisations commitment to Health and Safety
- Details of the organisation’s Health and Safety structure, with roles and responsibilities for organising Health and Safety
- A risk assessment setting the risk within the workplace and the preventative measures in place
- Details of the planning, implementation of the Health and Safety Policy and control measures
The ‘Six Pack’ of Health and Safety Regulations clarify how employers must comply with their duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. What are the SIX regulations?
- Management of Health and Safety at Work
- Display Screen Equipment
- Manual Handling Operations
- Personal Protective Equipment at Work
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment
- Workplace Heath, Safety and Welfare
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What are examples of reasonable fire precautions that can be put in place?
- Fire detection and warning system
- Fire fighting equipment
- Safe exit routes
- Personal emergency evacuation plan
- Emergency lighting
- Signage
- Suitable fire doors
What section of the Building Regulations deals with fire safety?
Part B
What was the Hackitt Review?
- Led by Dame Judith Hackitt, reported in May 2018
- Independent Review of Building Regulation and Fire Safety, called “Building a Safer Future”
- Made over 50 recommendations for changes to ensure a more robust regulatory system
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What was banned in September 2018 to improve fire safety?
The use of combustible cladding on residential buildings over 18 metres tall
What are the International Fire Safety Standards (IFSS)?
Provides globally consistent, high-level principles for fire safety in the design, construction and management of building
What action did the RICS take following the Grenfell Tower fire?
• Produce an impartial Fire Safety Guide to highlight the responsibilities of landlords and tenants in keeping their properties safe
How long does someone have to be incapacitated for to be required to report it under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, 1995 (RIDDOR)?
7 days incapacitation
How quickly do injuries need to be reported to the HSE under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, 1995 (RIDDOR)?
15 days from the date of the accident
How serious does an injury need to be in order for an employer to have to keep a record of it under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, 1995 (RIDDOR)?
3-day plus injuries must be recorded in an accident book
How long must the accident book be kept after an occupational accident or injury?
Minimum of 3 years
What does the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 relate to?
Gross breach of a duty care by a corporate body which leads to a person’s death
What are the penalties under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007?
Range from an unlimited fine, imprisonment and disqualification as a company director
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What is asbestos?
An insulating material which can cause serious health problems and fatal diseases
Why is asbestos dangerous?
When it is disturbed or damaged it can release small toxic fibres which can lodge on the lungs and cause illness
What are the 3 types of asbestos?
- Brown (amosite)
- Blue (crocidolite)
- White (chrysotile)
When was asbestos banned in the UK?
Asbestos has been an illegal material in the UK since 1999. Other forms were banned in 1985
What is the key legislation on asbestos?
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012
Who is the defined duty holder under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012?
Owner of the premises if vacant or the tenant if they hold a repairing lease
What are the two types of asbestos survey? When would they be used?
- Management survey – to locate and assess it and advice on its management during normal occupation and use of premises. No sampling of materials or analysis is undertaken
- Refurbishment/demolition survey – required where the premises, or part of it, need upgrading, refurbishment or demolition. Samples of materials suspected of containing asbestos are taken and analysed
What must a newly constructed building have to confirm that there isn’t any asbestos in the building?
Architect’s certificate
What is the penalty for surveyors dealing with asbestos incorrectly under the Health & Safety (Offences) Act 2008?
Maximum fine of £20,000 and possibility of 12 month prison sentence for many offences
More serious offences can be tried at the higher courts where there is no limit on the fines to be imposed
Who must be employed to undertake work on asbestos?
A licensed contractor
What is the only defence for mismanagement of asbestos?
You took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence
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What section of the building regulations deals with access for disabled persons?
Part M
When faced with an obstacle to access for disabled persons, what choices does the Equality Act 2010 give the service provider?
- Remove the feature
- Alter it
- Provide reasonable means of avoiding the obstacle
- Provide a reasonable alternative access to the service
According to the Equality Act 2010, what will the test for reasonableness include?
- Effectiveness of the adjustment for the disabled person
- The practicality of the adjustment
- Its financial cost and likely disruption
- Financial and other resources available to the service provider
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What do the Construction (Design and Management) (CDM) Regulations, 2015 aim to improve?
• Aim to improve the overall management and co-ordnination of Health & Safety at all stages of a construction project
Who are the THREE main duty holders under the Construction (Design and Management) (CDM) Regulations, 2015?
- Client
- Principal Designer
- Principal Contractor
Who is the principle onus on to ensure that there are CDM arrangements?
Client
When must the HSE be notified with an F10 form about a construction project?
• If a project lasts longer than 30 construction days with 20 or more worker working simultaneously on site
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• More than 500 ‘person’ days of construction work / demolition work
Wha must be maintained during the construction of a building and passed onto the owner/occupier? What doers this contain?
- Construction Design and Management (CDM) file
* Contains all aspects of H&S information regarding the property and the operation/running of the building
Who polices the Construction (Design and Management) (CDM) Regulations, 2015?
HSE
What can the HSE do if the Construction (Design and Management) (CDM) Regulations, 2015 are breached?
- Prosecute and issue fines
* Issue Improvement and Prohibition Notices
What are the statutory obligations of a commercial property owner ?
- Asbestos management
- Contamination
- Disability discrimination and equality
- Energy performance certificates
- Fire safety
- Healthy and safety
- Legionnaires disease
- Occupiers liability
- PAT testing (for portable electrical equipment)
- Waste management
How often should you replace a hard hat?
Every 5 years
Who’s has responsibilities for Health and Safety?
You, your employer, building owners, occupiers and managing agents
How would you recognise asbestos in a building? Where is it likely to be located in a building?
- Can be found anywhere within a building
- Unlikely to be present in building constructed prior to 1999
- Diagram contained in RICS Surveying Safely, 2018 showing the likely places that asbestos can be located in properties
- Often used as lagging around pipework for fire retardant purposes, partition walls, roof sheets, flooring
- White dust implies the presence of asbestos
What would you do if you were inspecting a property and you discovered asbestos?
- Document and photograph the location of the asbestos
* Inform the client and ensure that the asbestos register is updated
What has been announced to amend the Fire Safety Order 2005?
- Fire Safety Bill
- Clarifies the responsibility in multi-occupied, residential buildings for the structure and external walls of the building, including cladding, balconies and windows, and entrance doors to individual flats that open into common parts
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