Health & Safety Flashcards
What is the main RICS Professional Standard regarding H&S?
RICS Professional Standard: Surveying Safely (2018, e 2019, re 2024)
What does Surveying Safely set out?
Basic, good practice principals for the management of health and safety for RICS members
What is the Surveying Safely’s structure?
1) P - Personal Responsibilities
2) A - Assessing hazards and risks (including risk assessments)
3) W - Workplace health and safety
4) O - Occupational hygiene and health
5) V - Visiting premises and sites
6) F - Fire safety
7) R Residential property surveying
8) P - Procurement and management of contractors
What is a ‘safe person’?
An individual who assumes behavioural responsibility for their own and colleagues H&S while at work
What is a RICS Firm requirements for H&S?
Must provide;
- Safe working environment
- Safe work equipment
- Safe systems
- Competent staff
What is the risk assessment process?
I - Identify Hazards and people at risk
E - Evaluate risk and consider controls
R - Record assessment
R - Regularly review assessment
A - Advise all affected of outcome and methods to minimise risk
When is a risk assessment legally required?
When employing more than 5 staff
- When is a written Health and Safety policy required?
When employing more than 5 staff
- What 4 points are mandatory by RICS for Health and Safety policy include?
1) Policy of organisations commitment to Health & Safety
2) Details Health & Safety structure and roles and responsibilities
3) Risk assessment and controls
4) Details and planning of H&S policy implementation
- What does the PPE at Work Regulations 2022 state?
Employers duty to ensure provision of PPE for employees, contractors + casual employment (e.g. cleaning, security)
- What is the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974?
States there’s a duty to every employer to provide safe working environment, equipment and systems
- What should employers do under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974?
Provide clear info on H&S policies, structure, contacts, training to staff (ensure competency), regularly undertake risk assessments and report injuries (RIDDOR)
- Who policies H&S at Work Act?
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) – criminal law
- What is a hazard?
Something with potential to cause harm
- What is a risk?
Likelihood of harm being realised
- What is the ‘Six Pack’ of H&S Regulations?
1) Management of H&S at work
2) Display screen equipment
3) Manual handling operations
4) PPE
5) Provision and use of work equipment
6) Workplace health and safety at work
- What is RIDDOR?
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013
- When is RIDDOR triggered?
7 days of incapacitation
- When must the injury be reported to HSE?
Within 15 days of accident
- What must employers keep a record of?
All 3-day+ injuries in an accident book for minimum of 3 years after injury
- What is the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007?
Act relates to gross breaches of a duty of care by corporate body leading to death
- What is the penalty for a breach of duty of care by corporate body leading to death?
Unlimited fine, imprisonment, disqualification of company director
- Why was the Fire Safety Act 2021 reformed?
Due to the Hackett Review
- What does the Fire Safety Act’s require?
- Regular inspections of lifts to be reported to fire service.
- Evacuation plans regularly updated and for disabled people.
- Ensuring residents are provided with an evacuation plan.
- Responsible person appointed who ensures risk is reduced.
- Ensure flat doors comply where external walls unsafe cladding
- What are External Wall Systems?
Enable valuation of tall residential buildings after Grenfall fire
- Which types of properties was EWS designed to be used for?
Flats, PBSA, Care Homes, HMOs, Mixed use residential, NOT HOTELS
- What confirms that a residential building has been assessed for safety?
EWS1 certificate
- What does EWS1 consider?
Height, cladding, presence of balconies/ combustible materials
- How long is the EWS1 valid for?
5 years
- When is an EWS1 form required?
- Building over 18m or 6 storeys
- Building made with Aluminium Composite Material (ACM), Metal Composite Material (MCM) or High Pressure Laminate (HPL)
- What did Michael Gove announce in July 2023 on new residential blocks?
Buildings over 18m or 6 storeys need 2 stair cores (previously over 30m)
- What is the Building Safety Act 2022?
Outlines accountability and duties for those responsible for high rise residential flats, includes residents’ ability to contribute to maintaining safety and includes international fire safety standards
- What is the Occupiers Liability Act 1957?
- Common duty of care imposed on all lawful visitors
- Both occupiers and LL can be liable
- Trespassers also covered under Occupiers Liability Act 1984
- What is the Smoke-free Regulation 2007?
- Illegal to smoke in all enclosed public places
- No smoking signs must be displayed
- Penalties from £50 to £2.5k
- What is the Defective Premises Act 1972?
- Obligation on landlord to ensure premises comply with requirements
- Period of liability 15 years after the completion of works
- What is the hierarchy of risk control?
1) Elimination
2) Substitution
3) Engineering controls
4) Administrative controls
5) PPE
- What is asbestos?
Insulating material that can cause serious health problems
- Is it an issue if asbestos left undisturbed?
No
- What are the 3 types of asbestos?
Brown, Blue and White
- What is the key legislation for asbestos?
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012
- What does The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 state?
- Non-compliance = criminal offence
- The Duty holder must undertake a risk assessment and have a management plan in place
- The duty holder is the owner or tenant with repairing lease
What are the two types of asbestos survey?
Management survey – locate and advise on management
Demolition survey – samples taken and analysed
- What steps are required if you have asbestos?
1) Assess if property has asbestos and where
2) Assess risk and produce management plan
3) Produce asbestos register
4) Make register available to all relevant
5) Review register regularly
- What is the RICS Professional Standard for asbestos?
RICS Professional Standard: Asbestos 2021 - sets out industry guidance for property professionals to comply with the law
- What punishments could you receive for not managing asbestos?
£20k or 12 months imprisonment
- What are Construction (Design and Management) (CDM) regulations?
Improves the management and coordinations of H&S for construction
Who policies CDM?
Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
- Who are the main duty holders for construction?
The Client, Principal Designer and Principal Contractor
- Who is the onus on to ensure CDM arrangements?
The client, not the contractor
When should the HSE be notified regarding CDMs?
If project lasts longer than 30 days with 20 or more workers / more than 500 ‘person’ days
What are the Statutory obligations of a commercial property owner?
- Asbestos Management
- Contamination
- Disability discrimination and Equality
- EPC
- Fire safety
- Health and safety risk assessment
- Waste management
What is RAAC?
Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete – a light form of pre-cast reinforced concrete and is a deleterious material
When was RAAC typically used?
Post war Britain in 1950s to 1980s for roof decks, walls and floors in public sector buildings
What is the primary red flag of RAAC deteriorating?
Deflection – sagging of structural element
Could cause pooling of water on flat roofs => water ingress
What is the main issue of RAAC?
Buildings with RAAC roof planks could suddenly collapse
How should you monitor RAAC roof planks?
Regular inspection, with records kept and any changes readily assessed
What is a dynamic risk assessment?
Used if anything is different when actually on site
What should you do if you identify asbestos?
1) Identify and extent of asbestos
2) Inform client and restrict access
3) Log on asbestos register
4) recommend specialist (management or demolition survey)
When was asbestos banned?
1999
