Health & Safety Flashcards
What is the RICS Safe Person concept?
Both personal and corporate mutual assumption of responsibility regarding Health and Safety.
Everyone takes individual responsibility for one another’s health and safety at work whilst organisations are expected to take broader responsibilities regarding their own staff.
Can you name the RICS guidance relating to health and safety?
Professional Standard - Surveying Safely - 2nd Edition, 2018
This sets out good principles for the management of health and safety for RICS regulated firms and RICS members.
Please explain your understanding of the term HSE?
HSE stands for the Health & Safety Executive, this is the UK national authority for managing work related health & safety.
Their aim is to protect people’s health and safety by ensuring that risks are properly managed.
What is the considerate constructor’s scheme?
The Considerate Constructor’s Scheme is a non-for-profit independent organisation founded in 1997 to improve the image of the construction industry.
It encourages contractors and their supply chain to implement best practice procedures for site operations and engagement with surrounding communities.
Initiatives include promoting cleanliness of building sites, minimisation of noise pollution and engagement with local communities.
What would you do first if you find an injured person on site?
I would assess the situation first without putting myself in immediate danger.
I would then call the emergency services if the injury is serious and raise the alarm to call for help.
What would you find in the Construction Phase Plan?
The Construction Phase Plan would include:-
A description of the project.
Management of the site working procedures including:-
- Site inductions.
- Training.
- Welfare facilities.
- Design coordination.
- Site rules.
- Emergency procedures.
Arrangements for controlling significant site risks such as:-
- Handling of deliveries.
- Working at height.
- Deep excavations.
- Preventing falls.
- Maintenance of plant and equipment.
- Removal of asbestos.
What would you expect to find in the H&S File?
H&S information that would be useful for the planning of future works or maintenance and typically includes:-
- A brief description of the work carried out.
- Any residual hazards which remain and how they have been dealt with for example information concerning asbestos, contaminated land, water bearing strata and buried services.
- Key structural principles for example bracings, sources of substantial stored energy and hazardous materials such as lead paint, pesticides and special coatings.
- Health and safety information about equipment provided for cleaning or maintaining the structure
What is an F10 and what does it contain?
The F10 form is used to notify the HSE of the project.
Key information contained within the F10 includes:-
- The Address of the Construction Site.
- The name of the local authority where the site is located.
- A brief description of the project and the construction work it entails.
- Contact details for the client, lead designer and principal contractor.
- An indication of the time allowed by the client for the principal contractor to plan and prepare for the construction works.
- A planned date for project commencement.
- A duration of the construction phase.
- The number of people at work on site at any one time.
What does RIDDOR stand for?
RIDDOR stands for the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations.
RIDDOR requires the ‘responsible person’ to notify any death, reportable injury, disease or dangerous occurrence to the HSE.
This is carried out either on-line or by phone for death and serious injuries.
What incidents are reportable under RIDDOR?
Reportable incidents include:-
- Death.
- Major injuries for example loss of consciousness or loss of a limb.
- Occupational diseases.
- Dangerous occurrences such as explosions, structure collapse and gas incidents.
Who must report incidents under RIDDOR?
The responsible person - which is either the employer or the person in charge of the site.
Members of the public, injured people and staff should report incidents to the responsible person. They can contact the HSE if they are concerned it has not been reported but they cannot report it themselves.
What does COSHH stand for?
COSHH stands for Control of Substances Hazardous to Health.
The aim of the regulations is to avoid exposure to hazardous substances or if not possible, to control exposure by measures that are proportionate to the health risk.
What H&S precautions do you take when visiting a construction site?
I ensure that I wear the necessary 6-point PPE including:-
- Hard Hat
- High Viz
- Boots
- Gloves
- Eye Protection
- Ear protection
I also ensure that I have had a site induction, signed in and made myself known to the site team.
Who do you inform that you are going on site?
I always sign in on site using the sign in book and check in with the site manager to gain an understanding of any key health and safety issues.
I make sure my manager is kept aware of my movements.
What does PPE stand for?
Personal Protective Equipment.
You have passed the CSCS test, how did it benefit you?
It made me aware of health and safety issues and is a requirement for me to access construction sites.
What does CSCS stand for?
Construction Skills Certification Scheme.
On the project described in your case study, what measures did you or your company take to ensure good standards of health and safety when either undertaking your work or delivering the project?
I took the following actions to ensure good standards of health and safety are achieved:-
- Preparation of work risk assessments.
- Wearing of personal protective equipment on site.
- Adhering to contractor’s site rules.
- Attending site inductions.
- Ensuring health and safety is discussed at meetings.
- Reporting of visible risks.
What is a risk assessment?
A risk assessment is a careful examination of what hazards in your line of work could cause harm to people.
This is to establish whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent potential harm. The law does not expect all risk to be eliminated but you are required to protect people as far as ‘reasonably practicable’
What are the 5 steps to risk assessment?
Step 1 – Identify the hazards.
Step 2 – Decide who might be harmed and how.
Step 3 – Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions.
Step 4 – Record your findings and implement them.
Step 5 – Review your assessment and update if necessary.
What is the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974?
It is the primary piece legislation for H&S in the UK, establishing the HSC (Health & Safety Commission) and HSE (Health & Safety Executive) to research and enforce health and safety respectively.
Key points requirements of the act include:-
- Employers are required to have a written H&S policy if they have more than 5 employees.
- Health & Safety training needs to be provided.
- Risk assessments need to be undertaken.
- A safe place of work must be provided.
- Employers need to assess risks associated with display screens and workstations
What kinds of incidents are the causation of most deaths within the construction industry?
Falls from height.
What is the biggest cause of long-term health issues in the construction industry?
Breathing in Hazardous Dust and Fumes.
What does the Beaufort Scale measure?
The Beaufort Scale is used to measure windspeed which is important when working on site.
When are visitors most likely to have an accident on a construction site?
When they make their first visit to a new site.
What’s the worst thing you’ve seen on site and what did you do about it?
Labourer cutting towards their inner-thigh with a utility knife.
I spoke to the individual calmly and politely, asking them to stop as what they were doing was very dangerous. They complied, and I immediately informed the site manager of what had occurred and my concerns.
When does a project become F10 notifiable?
Expected to last longer than 30 working days AND have more than 20 workers on site simultaneously,
OR
If it involves more than 500 person-days of work
What is COSHH and RIDDOR?
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
Reporting of Incidents, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations
What are the 3 main types of asbestos?
White, Brown and Blue.
White is most common, and used commercially.
Brown used in Asbestos Insulation Boards (AIB) and ceiling tiles.
Blue used in steam engines, pipe insulation and spray-on coatings.
