Health & Safety Flashcards
What are the main points covered in RICS Surveying Safely 2018
Safe person concept - everything is responsible for their own and others health and safety while at work
Corporate responsibilities e.g. policies, training, insurance
Inspections and PPE
What is risk management?
Taking adequate time to consider and plan how a plan of action could deviate from what you expect
What is risk assessment?
Carefully examining what in your work could cause harm to people so that you can judge whether you have taken enough precautions to prevent that harm
Hazard
Something with potential to cause harm to someone
Risk
A situation involving exposure to danger
What are the main steps of a risk assessment
Identify hazards
Decide who might be harmed and how
Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions
Record findings and implement them
Review and updated periodically
What is the hierarchy of risk control?
Elimination
Substitution - change materials/process
Engineering controls - using equipment/machinery to control
Administrative controls - procedures e.g. only on daylight
PPE - last resort
What is a method statement
Details the way a task should be completed, outlining hazards and step by step guide of how to do it safely
What are some risk when out on site
Excess noise
Hazardous materials
Working close to vehicles
Driving for extended periods
Fast flowing/deep water
Dynamic risk assessment
Requires worker to continually re-evaluate the work, environment and the competence of themselves and others to continue with the work activity
What are non site specific risks?
Fire safety
Use of desktop work equipment
Work related stress
Being pregnant
What are key occupational health needs that must be met?
Toilet facilities
Clean water
Temperature control
Fresh air
Adequate lights
Fire safety
Lift maintenance
Mental health/stress support
What is the most common PPE
Gloves
Face mask
Helmet
Ear defenders
Eye protection
Safety footwear
High visibility clothing
Inspection protocol
Gather as much information as possible prior to identify hazards
Get multiple contact details for the client/person escorting
Have mobile and ensure you have signal
Stay in regular contact with manager - inform them of expected return
Consider emergency alarm
Add locations and timing to voicemail greeting
Send end of day email to confirm safe return
Information to get from the client
Nature of the occupants
Site rules/procedures
Any dangerous substances on site
Any unsafe spaces like structurally unstable or live services
What is asbestos?
A naturally occurring rock mineral that has heat and fire resisting properties
What are the types of asbestos?
Serpentine (white asbestos) more commonly used
Amphibole (blue or brown) much more hazardous
When was asbestos banned?
Amphibole in 1985 and serpentine in 1999
What is the danger of asbestos?
Asbestos fibres can cause a range of lung-related disorders when inhaled including cancer and asbestosis
It is most dangerous when distributed released fibres into the air
What should an asbestos management plan include?
Who is responsible for managing the asbestos
The asbestos register
Plan for work on asbestos materials
Schedule for monitoring the condition of the materials
Any required staff training
Where are common locations that asbestos can be found?
Ceiling tiles
Pipework
Boiler cupboard
Floor tiles
What is RICS guidance on asbestos
Asbestos: legal requirements and best practice for property professionals and clients 2021
GN
What do the Control of Asbestos 2012 Regulations say
Duty holders (who could be owner, occupier, building manager) must ensure there is an up to date asbestos register within the premises
Duty holder must ensure asbestos is safely management with a clear management plan which is kept up to date
ACMs should be inspected at least annually
No work should be undertaken on properties constructed pre 2000 without a survey
What does fire require
Fuel, oxygen, ignition
Key fire safety considerations in designing a building
Safe evacuation of occupants
Early detection
Automatic extinguishing
Means of raising alarm
What are 3 key fire risk management tools
Fire doors
Emergency exits
Detectors
Fire Safety Act 2021
Follows Hackett Review 2018 after Grenfell
Requires responsible person (employer, occupier, owner if vacant) to manage and reduce fire risks posed by structure and common areas of a building
Regular update of evacuation plans
Clarifying responsible person for multi occupied residential buildings
Building Safety Act 2022
Follows Hackitt Review 2018
Strengthening accountability for safety in high rise buildings during construction and occupation
National Regulator of Construction Products to ensure suitability
New Building Safety Regulator with whom building inspectors will have to register
Developers will be required to fund unsafe cladding removal (over a certain amount of profit)
3 gateways in the development of higher risk (18m / 7 storeys) - planning, pre-construction, pre-occupation. Golden Thread of information then available
What does an EWS1 form do
It confirms that a qualified person has assessed the building for safety. Considerations include height, how much cladding, type of cladding, balconies
Valid for 5 years
What is the RICS guidance of EWS1 forms?
Valuation of properties in multi-storey, multi-occupancy residential buildings with cladding 2021
Provides a decision tree as to when one should be requested
When is an EWS1 form required?
Building 4 storeys or below with ACM/MCM panels
5 of 6 storeys when there is ACM/MCM cladding or a significant amount of cladding (25%+) or stacked balconies with combustible materials
6+ storeys where there is cladding or stacked balconies with combustible materials
What are the main points of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
Duty of every employer to ensure so far as reasonably practicable the health, safety and welfare of their employees
Must have a H&S policy if more than 5 employees
Must report serious injuries if causes incapacitation for more than 7 days
Detailed H&S information should be kept in on site manual
Summary
Safe place of work
Safe equipment
Proper training
Risk assessment
Proper facilities
Appoint competent person to oversee health and safety
What does the Occupier’s Liability Act stipulate
1957 - liability of those with control over premises for injuries and damage to goods caused to lawful visitors as a result of the state of the property
1984 extended to trespassers where occupier has reasonable grounds to believe the danger exists and can be reasonably expected to offer some protection
Is an asbestos register a legal requirement?
Yes generally for building construction before 2000 there is a requirement to take reasonable steps to find out if materials contain asbestos and make and maintain up to date records as to the location and condition of the asbestos
What kind of occupier activities might you assess to be a hazard and what steps would you take to mitigate?
Laboratory, warehouse, mechanics. I would discuss with the client the best time of day to go e.g. lunch time or before opening. I would ensure I am escorted by a person who knows the site well and confirm this beforehand as well as wearing any appropriate PPE
What are the potential outcomes of an EWS1 form
A rating - likelihood of combustion is low (1,2,3 within)
B rating - combustible materials have been identified. B1 risk is low and B2 adequate safety standard not achieved and remedial measures required
What are the key points of the Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015
Criminal offence policed by HSE with unlimited fines
All projects with more than one contractor working on site must have a Principal Designer and Principal Contractor and H&S file
Onus on client not contractor to ensure these arrangement
Principal Designer has control over the health and safety aspects of the pre-construction phase
