Health & Safety

Question 1

What must RICS regulated firms provide?

Answer 1

• A safe working environment
• Safe work equipment
• Safe systems at work
• Competent staff

Question 2

What is the Health and Safety Act 1974

Answer 2

Key legislation relating to health and safety, underpinned by various specific regulations.

Question 3

What are the penalities for breaching the H&S Act 74?

Answer 3

• It is a criminal offence
• Unlimited fine
• Imprisonment for up to 2 years

Corporate and gross negliegence (man slaughter) charges
* severe custodial sentances
* directors disqualified for up to 15 years

Question 4

What are the corporate requirements under the H&S Act 74?

Answer 4

• Appropriate line managment structure to monitor and manage H&S
• Clear accountability, policies and procedures
• Risk assessment
• Stafg training
• Adequate resources
• Adequate insurance
• In event of accident/incident - firm must determin root cause and take action to avoid a recurrance
• Firms must take account of time pressures, distractions/interruptions, fatique, inexperince/lack of knowledge, complacency.

Question 5

What is a risk assessment?

Answer 5

Carefully examining what in your work could cause harm to people, so that you can judge whether or not you have taken enough precautions to prevent harm.

Question 6

What is a hazard?

Answer 6

Something with potential to cause harm.

Question 7

What is a risk?

Answer 7

Likelihood of harm being realised.

Question 8

What is the basic procedure to undertaken a risk assessment?

Answer 8

1. Identify hazards
2. Decide who may be harmed and why
3. Evaluate risks and decide on precautions
4. Record findings and equipment
5. Review and update
6. Advise all those affected of the outcome of the assessment

Question 9

What is the hierarchy of risk control?

Answer 9

1. Eliminate
2. Substitute
3. Engineering controls
4. Administrative controls
5. PPE

Question 10

What are your personal responsibilities within H&S?

Answer 10

Responsibility for own health & safety, together with anyone under your supervision (colleagues, clients or general public).

Also have duty to co-operate with employers policies and procedures to minimise H&S risks to yourself, colleagues and others potentially affected by your actions.

Question 11

How should you comply with your personal H&S responsibilities?

Answer 11

• Report actual or perceieved H&S breaches in good time
• Carry out a personal risk assessment and report any perceived, potentia or actual risks to your employer
• Wear PPE
• Undertake staff training

Question 12

What is work related stress?

Answer 12

Relates to adverse reactions that individuals may suffer due to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on them at work.

Question 13

Examples of work related stress?

Answer 13

** Demands** - workload, work patterns, work environment;
** Control** - how much say a person has in the way they do their work;
** Support** - encouragement, sponsorship and resources provided;
** Relationships** - includes promoting positive working to avoid conflict and dealing with unacceptable behaviour;
Role - whether people understand their role and whether the firm ensures that they do not have conflicting roles; and
Change - how organisational change (large or small) is managed and communicated.

Question 14

Which building regs relate to fire safety precautions?

Answer 14

Approved document B
Part 1 - Dwellings
Part 2 - non dwellings

Means of warning and escape - each protected stairwell must have space for wheelchair user on each landing to safely wait for assistance