Health & Safety Flashcards
What does RICS Surveying Safety set out?
Key areas include 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, and procurement and management of contractors.
Safe person concept: individual assumes behaviour responsibility for self, colleagues, and others while at work.
What is the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974?
It mandates that employers ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare of all employees at work, policed by the Health and Safety Executive.
Must report injuries and near misses, undertake, record, and regularly review risk assessments.
What is a risk assessment?
A legal requirement for employers of five or more, involving a five-step approach: identify hazards, identify people at risk, evaluate risk, record findings, and review regularly.
Why do firms need public liability insurance?
It protects firms financially against compensation claims for injury or damage caused by their business.
What are the main 6 H&S regulations?
The ‘Six Pack’ of Health and Safety Regulations includes: Management of Health and Safety at Work, Display Screen Equipment, Manual Handling Operations, Personal Protective Equipment at Work, Provision and Use of Work Equipment, and Workplace Health, Safety and Welfare.
What was the advice for surveyors following the Grenfell Tower fire?
Surveyors were advised to ensure robust fire assessments for properties and follow guidance issued by RICS on fire safety in high-rise buildings.
The Fire Safety Act 2021 requires responsible persons to assess and manage fire risks in multi-occupied domestic buildings.
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a light, strong, non-flammable material used in building materials. It can produce toxic fibres that cause diseases when disturbed.
Three common types: Brown (amosite), Blue (most dangerous) (crocidolite), White (chrysotile).
What legislation exists regarding asbestos?
The Asbestos (Prohibitions) Regulations 1985 and 1999 banned the import and use of certain types of asbestos. The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 requires management of asbestos in non-domestic premises.
What is the purpose of the Disability Discrimination and Equality Act?
To protect individuals from unfair treatment and promote a fair and more equal society.
What are the 9 protected characteristics of the Equality Act?
Age, Disability, Gender reassignment, Marriage and civil partnership, Pregnancy and maternity, Race, Religion or belief, Sex, Sexual orientation.
How do you report injuries in VOA?
Notify the site occupier and your line manager as soon as possible. Complete one of the following reports: Accident, near miss or work-related ill health form; Violence or threat to staff report form; Health and Safety near miss report form.
10 ways to ensure personal safety on site:
Take a charged mobile phone and personal alarm
Plan an escape route
Implement a call back system with office
Make your daily schedule available to colleagues
Be careful in roof voids and when using ladders
Park your car close by and keep you keys on you
Make sure you know who you are meeting
Follow your gut instinct
Understand the site rules for construction sites
Be aware of aggressive occupants and dogs
10 ways to ensure the safety of your personal property:
Keep it with you at all times
Don’t leave possessions on view in your car
Don’t leave possessions lying around on site
Register electronic devices with immobilise
Back up your photos and phone numbers
Keep confidential information safe
Use a cross-shredder for personal dated no longer needed
Remove shoes when entering a property???
Take care of others personal items when in confined spaces
Leave accommodation as you found it
What is the Occupiers liability Act?
Whoever controls the property owes a duty of care to those who enter the property
How can you mitigate fire in a building?
Fire Doors
Hidden voids where fires can go unnoticed. Identify and compartmentalise
Automatic Fire Suppression Systems
Testing of lighting and electrical products/systems
Establish procedures
What did you like about surveying safely?
Provides case studies of where things of gone wrong and what should have been implemented instead to avoid harm.
What are the key parts of RICS guidance note: Asbestos Legal Requirements and Best Practice for Property Professionals and Clients 4th edition 2021?
aims to ensure that surveyors and their clients comply with UK legislation relating to asbestos
aims to ensure that no one is put at risk of exposure to asbestos.
All surveyors should have asbestos awareness training
A duty to manage asbestos in all non-domestic premises, including public buildings and the common parts of multi-occupied domestic premises
The duty to manage can be fulfilled by ensuring that an asbestos register is available, assessing the risk of any asbestos present and making this information available to anyone liable to disturb the asbestos present
Asbestos duty holder - obligation to manage asbestos and ensure the safety of their staff.
