Health & Safety Flashcards
When did RICS Guidance Note ‘Surveying Safely’ become effective?
February 2019
The RICS Guidance Note of Surveying Safely sets out:
Basic, good practice principals for the management of health and safety for RICS-regulated firms and RIGS members.
Principles for those engaged in the built environment as property professionals and includes health and safety responsibilities:
* At a corporate level (whether the RIGS-regulated firm is large or small), and
* at the level of the individual RlCS member.
The RICS Guidance Note ‘Surveying Safely’ is structured into 8 sections:
- 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
RICS Regulated Firms must ensure they provide:
- A safe working environment
- Safe work equipment
- Safe systems of work
- Competent staff
What does RICS consider a ‘safe person’?
RICS considers the concept of safe person to mean that each individual assumes individual behavioural responsibility for their own, their colleagues’ and others’ health and safety white at work.
Individuals must accept “————– — —– — ——-“ and “ —- —- — —– —- —- – – —– — ——”.
Individuals must accept responsibility for their own actions and they have the tools they need to do their job safely.
What is the hierarchy of risk control?
- Elimination - Redesign or substitute
- Substitution - Replace work materials with those less hazardous.
- Engineering controls - Use other equpiment to make your work less hazardous.
- Administrative controls - Identifying and implementing procedures required to work safely.
- Personal protective clothes and equipment - Where you cannot eliminate or reduce a risk, use PPE or other measures to minimise.
If an RICS member is required to visit premises or
construction sites (including refurbishment and demolition), they could be:
- exposed to excess noise or vibration
- exposed to toxic/hazardous materials
- required to drive for extended periods
- lone working
- working close to vehicles
- working close to fast-flowing/deep water
- working in any number of other environments where the likelihood of risk and consequences of harm could increase substantially.
What are the six simple guidance points for a assessing a risk?
- identify the hazards
- decide who might be harmed and how
- evaluate the risks and decide on precautions
- record the findings and implement them
- review the assessment and update if necessary
- advise all those affected of the outcome of the
assessment and methods of work, or other control
measures necessary, to minimise or eliminate risk.
What is good practice for visiting premises or sites?
- Tell someone where you are going and when you leave the building/site
- Wear appropriate protective clothing when appropriate such as a high visibility jacket, protective footwear, hard hat, protective goggles, gloves and ear defenders
- Sign in and out of a building or construction site and receive a site induction. Do not just enter the site or building, and wear suitable PPE
- Consider whether safe to inspect alone and observe special lone working arrangements
- Check dated tag if going on scaffolding
- Wear non-slip sole shoes/boots when going up a ladder
- Emphasis is placed on Members having correct operational practices in place
What key legislations was implemented in 1974?
The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974
H&S at Work Act states that:
“Duty to every employer to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees”
H&S at Work Act is policed by…
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
A breach of the H&S Act can result in…
Either a fine or imprisonment.
The H&S Act was updated in 1995 with what?
Must report injuries and dangerous occurrences.
The H&S Act was updated in 1999 with what?
Must undertake, record and regularly review a risk assessment.
What is a hazard?
A hazard refers to anything that has the potential to cause harm (such as a wet floor)
What is a risk?
The probability/likelihood that someone will be harmed is called a risk.
Where would details H&S information be held onsite?
In the Operations & Maintenance Manual
It is a legal requirement if you have more than —– staff to carry out a documented health and safety risk assessment.
5
What is a method statement?
- This is a document that details the way a work task or process is to be completed and prior approved
- It should outline hazards involved and include a step-by-step guide on how to do the job safely
- It must also detail which control measures have been introduced to ensure the safety of anyone who is affected by the task or process
What kind of insurance is required before any work commences?
All risks and public liability insurance.
A written health and safety policy document includes what four points?
- A policy setting out the organisation’s commitment to health and safety(H&S)
- Details of the organisation’s H&S structure, with roles and responsibilities for organising H&S
- A risk assessment setting the risks within the workplace and the preventative measures in place
- Details of the planning, implementation of the H&S policy and control measures
What is the ‘six-pack’ of H&S Regulations?
- This is a group of six regulations introduced on 1 January 1993, popularly known as ‘the six pack’, covering varioys key aspects of H&S compliance
- These regulations implement various European Directives on health and safety and clarify how employers must comply with their duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
The regulations are:
1. Management of Health and Safety at Work
2. Display Screen Equipment
3. Manual Handling Operations
4. Personal Protective Equipment at Work
5. Provision and Use of Work Equipment
6. Workplace Health, Safety and Welfare
