Health & Safety Flashcards
What’s appropriate PPE
Appropriate PPE is dependent on the risk assessment findings and task to be undertaken.
All risk assessments should be undertaken by a competent person (e.g., appropriate qualifications, training and experience)
What RICS Professional Standard is relevant for Heath and Safety? What year was it effective from?
Surveying Safely - Health and safety principles for property professionals, Second edition, 2018 (effective Feb 2019)
What does Surveying Safely set out? Is it a Professional Standard or Guidance Note?
It sets out good practice principles for health and safety for RICS regulated firms and members. Professional Standard.
What health and safety precautions do you take when going on site?
I ensure that I have PPE and I have had a site induction.
Who do you inform that you are going on an inspection?
I ensure my own company is kept up to date via my Outlook calendar and using the buddy system.
I also sign in the attendance register and report to the site office to make them aware of my presence if required.
What does PPE stand for?
Personal protective Equipment
What PPE would you wear when visiting a site?
Hard hat
Hi vis
Steel toe cap boots
Goggles
Gloves
(Ear defenders if required)
(Face mask if required)
What is a risk assessment?
Legal requirement for organisations employing more than 5 staff.
Careful examination of what, in your work, could cause harm to people, so that you can weigh up whether you have taken sufficient precautions or should do more to prevent harm.
The law does not expect you to eliminate all risk, but you are required to protect people as far as reasonably practicable.
What are the 5 steps to risk assessment?
- Identify the hazards
- Decide who might be harmed and how
- Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions
- Record your findings and implement them
- Review your assessment and review if necessary
What is the role of the HSE?
HSE = health and safety executive
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. It prevents work-related death, injury and ill health.
Provides best practice and health and safety guidance.
Can give out fines or imprisonment.
What is your company’s health and safety policy?
Carry out risk assessments prior to inspections.
Record all appointments in outlook calendar.
Buddy system.
Wear appropriate PPE.
What is the Health and Safety at Work Act? (also tell me the year?)
1974
Primary legislating governing health and safety in the UK.
It places a statutory duty on all employers, as far as reasonably practicable, to ensure health, safety, and welfare at work. This includes staff training, welfare provision, safe working environments and the provision of information.
What is PPE at Work Regulations 2022?
Extends the employers’ duty to ensure provision of appropriate PPE for employees and contractors, to include even those in casual employment.
What is a method statement?
Document that details 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. It must also detail which control measures have been introduced to ensure the safety of anyone who is affected by the task or process.
When is a written health and safety document required?
Employed more than 5 employees
What is included in a written health and safety document (4 points)?
- A policy setting out the organisation’s commitment to H&S
- Details of the organisation’s H&S structure, with roles and responsibilities for organising H&S
- 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?
Group of 6 regulations introduced in 1993, covering various key aspects of H&S compliance. These regulations clarify how employers must comply with their duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. They are:
1. Management of H&S at Work
2. Display Screen Equipment (DSE)
3. Manual Handling Operations
4. PPE at work
5. Provision and use of work equipment
6. Workplace health, safety and welfare
When should injuries be reported? Who should it be reported to and how long from the accident?
The trigger date for reporting injuries is over 7 days incapacitation.
Injury must be reported to HSE within 15 days from the accident.
Note - all employers must also keep a record of all 3-day plus injuries which must be kept in an accident book which must be kept for a minimum of 3 years after an occupational accident or injury.
What is the Fire Risk Management Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order? (also tell me the date) Who does it apply to?
2005.
Based on a risk assessment with emphasis on fire prevention. Applies to non-domestic property.
What are some reasonable fire precaution measures?
Fire detection and warning alarm system
Fire fighting equipment
Safe exit routes
Personal emergency evacuation plan
Emergency lighting and signage
Suitable fire exit doors
What does the Fire Safety Act 2021 do?
Requires a reasonable person to assess, manage and reduce the fire risks posed by the structure, external walls and any common areas of the building.
What is an External Wall System (EWS)
An EWS is made up of the outside wall of a building, to include cladding, insulation and fire breaks
Why was an EWS1 form introduced, what does it include, and how long is it valid for?
Introduced by the UK government and mortgagors to enable the valuation of tall residential buildings following the Grenfell Tower fire finding many tall residential buildings’ EWS to be unsafe.
It was designed to be used for residential properties of any height (e.g., blocks of flats, HMOs, mixed use blocks with a resi component) and it enables a ‘qualified professional’ to confirm that an EWS on residential buildings has been assessed for safety, in line with government guidance. The criteria consider the height, type of cladding, presence of balconies and combustible material.
Valid for an entire building for 5 years.
What happens if an employer breaches the Health and Safety at Work Act 1954?
It is a criminal offence that can lead to an unlimited fine and/or up to two years’ imprisonment.
Who does the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 apply to and what does it cover?
Applies to most workplaces (apart from construction sites or involving construction work) and cover various health and safety issues , such as ventilation, workstations, falling objects and windows.
Why is health and safety important?
Important for my own protection and others and due to legislation and company policy.
What is the structure of the 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
What are hazards?
A hazard is a source or a situation with the potential for harm in terms of human injury or ill-health, damage to property, damage to the environment
What do you do if you find hazardous materials on site?
Make the client aware and I would recommend a specialist report and make appropriate assumptions.
If provided, check contents of an Asbestos report / register.
What are the three types of Asbestos?
Brown (amosite) – banned 1985
Blue (crocidolite) – banned 1985
White (Chrysotile) – banned 1999
What does HSE website say about Asbestos?
It advised that Asbestos can be found in any building built before the year 2000 (houses, factories, offices, schools, hospitals etc) and causes around 5,000 deaths per year.
Where is Asbestos usually found?
As picturised in the RICS Surveying Safely 2018, Asbestos can be found in many places. Examples include:
roof sheeting and tiles
pipe lagging
insulation
textured coatings and paints
cement
guttering and drainpipes
How would you prepare for visiting a site?
As mentioned in Surveying Safely 2018:
Carry out due diligence beforehand and undertake personal risk assessment of site.
Think about travelling to site, lone working, condition of property, occupation, what activity is carried out, and site rules.
Bring PPE if required.
What is a safe person?
Someone who takes responsibility for their own, their colleague’s and other’s health and safety while at work.
What is an asbestos register?
Document that outlines all the asbestos containing materials (ACMs) within a building.
When is an EWS1 form required?
6 storeys +
- if cladding is on the building
- if balconies stack vertically and are made from combustible material
5 - 6 storeys
- significant amount of cladding (1/4 of building)
- there are ACM panels
- if balconies stack vertically and made from combustible material
4 or less
- ACM panels on the building
Are you aware of any RICS guidance for valuers on cladding? If so what is it called and what does it do?
RICS Guidance Note: Valuation of Properties in multi-storey, multi-occupancy residential buildings with cladding (2021)
Provides criteria to help a valuer decide whether particular buildings need an EWS1 form. However, valuers must always follow clients/lenders instructions
What is the difference between a risk and a hazard?
A hazard is a potential source of harm; risk is the likelihood of that harm occurring.
What is the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM)?
They aim to improve health and safety standards, management and coordination in the construction industry. They apply to all construction work on domestic and non-domestic properties.
Under CDM work is notifiable to the HSE if it lasts for over 30 days and has over 20 workers simultaneously working at any given point; or exceeds over 500 person days of construction work.
