Health & Safety Flashcards
Where would you find RICS requirements for H&S?
RICS Professional Standard Surveying Safely (2nd edn), 2018 (effective Feb 2019)
What does Surveying Safely provide?
Guidance on best practice on H&S for RICS members + regulated firms
Do you have to follow the guidelines in RICS Surveying Safely?
It will help keep you safe + should provide a partial defence in an allegation of professional negligence
Surveying Safely is a professional standard. What does this mean?
Means there are set requirements for RICS members + firms
How many sections of the surveying safely guidance note are there?
9
What must Regulated Firms provide under Surveying Safely to ensure H&S at work? (4 requirements)
Safe working environment
Safe working equipment
Safe systems of work
Competent staff
Under Surveying Safely, what is the hierarchy of risk control?
Eliminate - physically remove the hazard
Substitute - replace the hazard
Engineering controls - isolate people from the hazard
Administrative controls - change way people work
PPE - protect workers with PPE (only acceptable if other measures cannot be used)
Tell me something you understand from reading Surveying Safely
Safe person concept
Requirement to undertake RAs before inspections
Imposes duty on employers to ensure the health, safety + wellbeing of all employees is not at risk, so far as is reasonably practicable
If you cannot avoid lone working, under Surveying Safely, what would you consider?
Take mobile phone + personal alarm
Plan escape route
Make calendar available to team + line manage
Know who you are meeting
Notify someone where you are etc.
What is a method statement?
Document that details the way a work task or process if to be completed
Should outline hazards involved + include a step by step guide on how to do the job safely
Who would have a method statement?
Contractors + subcontractors
Tell me about risk assessments and Surveying Safely
Legal requirement for organisations employing more than 5 staff to carry out documented health + safety assessment of all hazards
What were some of the changes made in the 2nd edition of Surveying Safely?
Update to CDM Regulations
Update to H&S sentencing guidelines
Increased awareness of ‘health’ aspect, e.g. asbestos
Safe person concept
Stronger emphasis on mental health
What is a ‘safe person’ under Surveying Safely?
Person who takes responsibility for their own actions + those around them
What is occupational health?
Physical + mental well-being of staff
Why is occupational health important?
Increases productivity + efficiency
Increases employee motivation
What does CITB stand for?
Construction Industry Training Board
What is the difference between a hazard + risk?
Hazard - something with the potential to cause harm
Risk - likelihood of harm being realised
How would you find out about your firm’s H&S requirements?
Check H&S policy
Speak to HR
Check on company intranet
What is the key H&S legislation?
Health & Safety Work etc Act 1974
What is the Health & Safety Work etc Act 1974?
Primary piece of legislation covering occupational heath + safety in UK
Enforced by the HSE
What is the aim of the Health & Safety Work etc Act 1974?
To secure the health, safety + wellbeing of all people at work
To protect people against risks from work activities
How do you ensure you comply with the Health & Safety Work etc Act 1974?
Always complete a risk assessment prior to visiting a site/property
Follow form’s lone working procedures
What is the general duty on employers under the H&S at Work Act 1974?
To ensure health, safety + wellbeing of employees + other affected persons is not at risk, so far as is reasonably practicable
What does the duty on employers include under the H&S at Work Act 1974?
Maintaining + providing equipment
Safe systems of work
Providing safe premises
Providing training
Tell me about the H&S at Work Act 1974 and health + safety policies?
Employers with over 5 employees must have a written health + safety policy
Is it a criminal offence to breach the H&S at Work Act 1974?
Yes
What are the penalties under the H&S Act 1974?
Unlimited fine
Up to 2 years’ imprisonment (or more for corporate or gross negligence, i.e. manslaughter charges)
Directors disqualified for up to 15 years
What should an employer’s H&S policy include to comply with their duties under the H&S at Work Act 1974?
Line management structure
Clear accountability, policies + procedures
Staff training
Adequate resources
Appropriate insurance
Explain how you ensure your personal safety on site?
Keep my work calendar updated, letting others know where I will be + at what times
Always let my team know where I am including details of my departure + arrival
Reverse park in case I need to get away quickly
Wear appropriate PPE
Explain how you ensure the security of your personal possessions on site?
Carry them with me in a rucksack
Make sure insurance is in place
Reverse park in case I need to get away quickly
What is PPE?
Personal Protective Equipment
Equipment that protects people from health + safety risks at work
What does PPE include?
Hard hat
Steel capped shoes
Ear defenders
Face masks
Tell me about when you have used PPE on an inspection
When I inspect residential properties, I always wear my high vis jacket + steel capped toe boots
If I am inspecting a residential property undergoing works, I wear my hard hat
I ensure my PPE is kept in my car at all times
Why do you wear PPE?
To provide protection + safety from potential hazards, e.g. falling objects + sharp materials
Ensures compliance with workplace safety regulations + standards
Minimises risk of accidents + injuries
Is there any legislation around PPE?
Personal Protective Equipment at Work (Amendment) Regulations 2022
Talk to me about the Personal Protective Equipment at Work (Amendment) Regulations 2022
Came into force in April 2022 + amends 1992 Regulations
Types of duties + responsibilities on employers + employees remain unchanged but are extended to limb workers (have a more casual employment relationship + work under a contract for service)
If PPE is required, employers must ensure workers have sufficient information, instruction + training on use of PPE
What was the update in 2022 to the PPE at Work (Amendments) Regulations 2022?
Extended duties of employers to provide PPE to limb workers (workers who have a more casual employment relationships + work under a contract for service, rather than a contract for employment)
Employers must now ensure that employees + limb workers are provided with suitable PPE + they receive proper information, instruction + training on its use
What are your individual responsibilities under the H&S at Work Act 1974?
Take responsibility for own H&S + anyone under supervision
Cooperate with employer to minimise risk to self, colleagues + others potentially affected by actions
Report actual or perceived breaches in good time
Carry out risk assessment
Wear PPE
Undertake staff training
What happened in the case of Suzy Lamplugh (1986)?
Estate agent who went missing after going to meet an unknown client
Why is the case of Suzy Lamplugh important for surveyors?
It highlights the importance of lone working procedures
What is a risk assessment?
Systematic process used to identify potential hazards, evaluate risks associated with hazards + determine ways to eliminate or control risks
Typically conducted before starting a new project to ensure safety + compliance with regulations
How often should a risk assessment be updated?
At least annually
What do you include in a risk assessment?
Identify hazards present
Identify people at risk of hazards
Evaluate risk + consider likelihood of accidents
Risk control measures
Where can you find a risk assessment template?
HSE website
What is a dynamic risk assessment?
Ongoing process that involves continuously identifying, evaluating + responding to risks in real time
Useful in environments where conditions change rapidly, allowing for immediate adjustments to ensure safety
Give me an example of a dynamic risk assessment
While inspecting residential property, noticed that there were aggressive dogs in the garden that were not on leads
Identified dogs that were loose as a potential safety hazard + considered risk for injury
Decided not to enter property until dogs were secured on leads
Informed tenant about need to secure dogs before proceeding with inspection
What do you consider when undertaking a risk assessment?
- Identify risks
- Determine who may be harmed
- Evaluate risk + decide on precautions
- Record findings
- Review risk assessment + update regularly
How would you check PPE?
Check for holes, wear + tear
Check hard hat expiry date
Check high vis (faded?)
What should company policy and procedures include?
Providing a safe place of work relating to ventilation, heating, lighting and welfare facilities etc.
Providing PPE
Safe electrical systems
Hazardous substances
Asbestos
Fire risk assessment
Working hours
Health & safety induction
Driving
Stress
Lone working
