Health & Safety Flashcards
What are the provisions of the RICS Guidance Note ‘Surveying Safely - Health and safety principles for property professionals’ 2nd Ed. 2018 (effective Feb-19)?
Sets out basic, good practice principals for the management of health and safety for RICS regulated firms / members.
Keys areas of advice:
Regulated firms must ensure they provide a safe working environment, work equipment & systems, competent staff, that individuals accept responsibility for their own actions, advice on health & well-being, how to address fire safety, and legal considerations and duties.
What are the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974?
Duty to every employer to ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees.
Policed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as a criminal offence (with fines / imprisonment).
Must report injuries and dangerous occurrences, undertake, record, and review risk assessments.
What is included in a risk assessment?
It’s a legal requirement for organisations employing more than 5 staff to carry out documents H&S risk assessments for all significant hazards, which outlines:
- Identity of hazards present
- Identify people at risk from hazards
- Evaluate the risk, considering the severity of any accidents.
- Record the finding on a suitable form.
- Review risk assessment regularly.
- Advise those affected of the outcome and methods of work / precautions to minimise / eliminate the risk.
What is a Methods Statement?
Document detailing the way a work task or process is to be completed and prior approved. It should outline the hazards involved and include a step by step guide on how to do the job safely. Must detail which control measures have been introduced to ensure the safety of anyone who is affected by the task or process.
What is a Health and Safety policy document?
Required for all employers if they employ more than 5 employees to prepare a written document containing:
1. A policy setting out the firms commitment to H&S.
2. Details of the firms H&S structure, with roles and responsibilities for organising H&S.
3. Risk assessment setting the risks in the workplace and the preventative measures in place.
4. Details of the planning, implementation of the H&S policy and control measures.
What is the ‘six pack’ of H&S Regulations 1993?
Clarifies how employers must comply with the H&S at Work Act 1974:
1. Management of H&S at work
2. Display screen equipment
3. Manual Handling Operations.
4. PPE at work
5. Provision and use of work equipment.
6. Workplace health, safety, and welfare.
What is the trigger date for reporting injuries at work?
Reporting Injuries, Diseases, and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013
Trigger date for reporting injuries is over 7 days incapacitation. Must be reported to HSE within 15 days from date of accident.
All employers must keep a record of all 3-day plus injuries.
What are the requirements of The Fire Safety Act 2021 and the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022?
This Act amends the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
- Applies to all premises in England and Wales
- Requirement for FRA which must be regularly updated.
- Requires a responsible person to assess, manage, and reduce the fire risks posed by the structure, external walls & common areas.
- Allows Fire Service to take enforcement against responsible persons who fail to comply.
- Additional requirements for high rise blocks.
- Regular inspections of lifts to be reported to fire and rescue services.
- Ensuring evacuation plans are regularly updated.
- Ensuring residents are provided with suitable fire safety instructions.
- Ensuring flat entrance doors comply with current standards where the external walls have unsafe cladding.
What are External Wall Systems (EWS)?
Following reviews to building safety subsequent to Grenfell, mall tall resi buildings have unsafe external wall systems.
EWS1 Form was introduced to enable qualified professionals to confirm that an external wall system on resi buildings has been assessed for safety, in line with Gov guidance. Criteria includes the height of the building, type of cladding / how much of it, and the presence of balconies & combustible material.
EWS1 Form is valid for five years - not every building requires one
What does the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 state? What about the 1984 update?
A duty of care on occupiers / landlords extends to all legal visitors, with the 1984 extending the duty of care to include trespassers.
Why would you have Public Liability Insurance?
A copy of the contractor’s all risks and public liability insurance is needed before work is commenced. It protects business owners, covers the cost of legal action and compensation claims made against your business.
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is an insulating material which can cause serious health problems and fatal diseases. There are three types:
1. Brown (amosite)
2. Blue (crocidolite)
3. White (chrysotile)
Legislation to manage existing asbestos in commercial buildings - The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012:
- Non-compliance is a criminal offence.
- Obligations to the duty holder (owner / tenant) and an employer.
What are the types of asbestos surveys?
- Management Survey:
- To locate, assess, and advise on its management during occupation and use of the premises.
- No sampling or analysis ids undertaken. - Refurbishment / Demolition Survey:
- Required where the premises (or part of) needs upgrading, refurbing, or demolishing
- Samples of materials taken and analysed.
- Recommendations are made regarding management.
What steps should be taken if a building was suspected of containing asbestos?
- The Duty Holder must assess whether the premises contains asbestos. If so, where it is and what condition it’s in. If in doubt, materials are presumed to contain asbestos.
- Assess the risk & produce an asbestos management plan - is encapsulating / removal needed?
- Produce an asbestos register.
- Make the register available to all relevant parties who might disturb it.
- Review the register regularly.
What is the Duty Holder required to do in relation to asbestos?
The Duty Holder must undertake a risk assessment - express obligation to manage the risk and a written plan prepared and implementation & reviews recorded.
All work must be done by a licenced contractor.
Asbestos register must be produced and regularly updated - must contain a ‘priority score’ to triage remediation.
Newly constructed buildings require an architects certificate confirming there is no asbestos present.
