Health & Safety Flashcards
What guidance did the RICS release on good practice principals for the management of health and safety in RICS regulated firms and for RICS members?
RICS Surveying safely, 2018
What is the structure of 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
According to RICS Surveying safely, 2018, what must all RICS regulated firms ensure they provide?
- Safe working environment
- Safe work equipment
- Safe systems of work
- Competent staff
What is the concept of a ‘safe person’, as outlined in RICS Surveying safely, 2018?
- Each individual assumes individual behavioural responsibility for their own, their colleagues’ and others’ health and safety while at work.
- Seeks to ensure that individuals accept responsibility for their own actions and they have the tools they need to do their job safely
What should you consider when undertaking an inspection of a building site?
- Consider potential hazards/risk assessments
- Sign in an out of building construction site and receive a site induction
- Check dated tag if going on scaffolding
- Wear non-slip sole shoes/boots when going up a ladder
What personal protective equipment (PPE) should a surveyor consider wearing?
High visibility jack, protective footwear, hard hat, protective goggles, gloves and ear defenders
What does you companies Lone Working Procedure say about inspecting sites alone?
- Tell someone where you are going when you leave the office
- Have a “buddy” as someone you will check in with at the end of the day if you aren’t returning to the office
- Carry a charged mobile phone
- Have your “escape lines” ready
- Attempt to verify the authenticity of viewers and meet them outside the property/site before entering
What is included in Health & Safety at Work, 1974?
- “Duty to employers to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees”
- Must report injuries and dangerous occurrences
- Must undertake, record and regularly review a risk assessment
- Detailed Health & Safety information is to be held on site, usually in the Operations & Maintenance Manual
Who polices the Health & Safety at Work Act, 1974?
Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
How large does an organisation have to be to carry out a documented health and safety risk assessment?
Firms employing more than 5 staff
What is a hazard in a risk assessment?
Anything that has the potential to cause harm (e.g. a wet floor)
What is a likelihood/probability in a risk assessment?
The risk that someone is harmed (e.g. the risk of fall over on the wet floor)
What are then FIVE steps of a risk assessment?
- Identify hazards present
- Identify people at risk from the hazards e.g. employees, contractors, visitors
- Evaluate the risk, considering the likelihood and severity of any accidents. Existing controls in place should be identified and evaluated
- Record the findings on a suitable form
- Review the risk assessment regularly
What is a method statement?
- Details the way a task or process is to be completed
- Outlines the hazards involved and a step by step guide on how to do the job safely
- Details the control measure to ensure the safety
What FOUR points must be contained within a companies Health & Safety policy?
- A policy setting out the organisations commitment to Health and Safety
- Details of the organisation’s Health and Safety structure, with roles and responsibilities for organising Health and Safety
- A risk assessment setting the risk within the workplace and the preventative measures in place
- Details of the planning, implementation of the Health and Safety Policy and control measures
The ‘Six Pack’ of Health and Safety Regulations clarify how employers must comply with their duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. What are the SIX regulations?
My Dad Makes Pizza Pies Well
- Management of Health and Safety at Work
- Display Screen Equipment
- Manual Handling Operations
- Personal Protective Equipment at Work
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment
- Workplace Heath, Safety and Welfare
What types of property does the Fire Safety Order 2005 apply to?
Non-domestic property in England & Wales
Under Fire Safety Order 2005, who is the “responsible person”?
The employer or occupier who controls the property, or owner if vacant
What are examples of reasonable fire precautions that can be put in place?
- Fire detection and warning system
- Fire fighting equipment
- Safe exit routes
- Personal emergency evacuation plan
- Emergency lighting
- Signage
- Suitable fire doors
What section of the Building Regulations deals with fire safety?
Part B
What was the Hackitt Review?
- Led by Dame Judith Hackitt, reported in May 2018
- Independent Review of Building Regulation and Fire Safety, called “Building a Safer Future”
- Made over 50 recommendations for changes to ensure a more robust regulatory system
Provide some of the examples of recommendations made under the Hackitt Review?
- New regulatory framework - focus on high res resi
- Clear responsibilities for those involved in design, construction and management of buildings
- Resident engagement
- Improve competence of those working on high rise through training and accreditation
What was banned in September 2018 to improve fire safety?
The use of combustible cladding on residential buildings over 18 metres tall
How long does someone have to be incapacitated for to be required to report it under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, 1995 (RIDDOR)?
7 days incapacitation
How quickly do injuries need to be reported to the HSE under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, 1995 (RIDDOR)?
15 days from the date of the accident
How serious does an injury need to be in order for an employer to have to keep a record of it under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, 1995 (RIDDOR)?
3-day plus injuries must be recorded in an accident book
How long must the accident book be kept after an occupational accident or injury?
Minimum of 3 years
What is asbestos?
An insulating material which can cause serious health problems and fatal diseases
Why is asbestos dangerous?
When it is disturbed or damaged it can release small toxic fibres which can lodge on the lungs and cause illness
What are the 3 types of asbestos?
- Brown (amosite)
- Blue (crocidolite)
- White (chrysotile)
When was asbestos banned in the UK?
Asbestos has been an illegal material in the UK since 1999. Other forms were banned in 1985
What is the key legislation on asbestos?
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012
Who is the defined duty holder under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012?
Owner of the premises if vacant or the tenant if they hold a repairing lease
What are the two types of asbestos survey? When would they be used?
- Management survey – to locate and assess it and advice on its management during normal occupation and use of premises. No sampling of materials or analysis is undertaken
- Refurbishment/demolition survey – required where the premises, or part of it, need upgrading, refurbishment or demolition. Samples of materials suspected of containing asbestos are taken and analysed
What are the FIVE steps that the duty holder must undertake with regards to asbestos?
- Duty holder must assess whether the premises contain asbestos, where it is and what condition it is in. If in doubt, materials must be assumed to contain asbestos
- Produce a risk assessment and a plan to manage the asbestos – do any areas need encapsulating or removed
- Produce an asbestos register
- Make the register available to all parties who might disturb it
- **Review **the register regularly (HSE recommend every 6 months)
What must a newly constructed building have to confirm that there isn’t any asbestos in the building?
Architect’s certificate
What is the penalty for surveyors dealing with asbestos incorrectly under the Health & Safety (Offences) Act 2008?
Maximum fine of £20,000 and possibility of 12 month prison sentence for many offences
More serious offences can be tried at the higher courts where there is no limit on the fines to be imposed
Who must be employed to undertake work on asbestos?
A licensed contractor
What is the only defence for mismanagement of asbestos?
You took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence
What do the Construction (Design and Management) (CDM) Regulations, 2015 aim to improve?
• Aim to improve the overall management and co-ordnination of Health & Safety at all stages of a construction project
Who are the THREE main duty holders under the Construction (Design and Management) (CDM) Regulations, 2015?
- Client
- Principal Designer
- Principal Contractor
What are the statutory obligations of a commercial property owner ?
- Asbestos management
- Contamination
- Disability discrimination and equality
- Energy performance certificates
- Fire safety
- Healthy and safety
- Legionnaires disease
- Occupiers liability
- PAT testing (for portable electrical equipment)
- Waste management
How often should you replace a hard hat?
Every 5 years
Who’s has responsibilities for Health and Safety?
You, your employer, building owners, occupiers and managing agents
How would you recognise asbestos in a building? Where is it likely to be located in a building?
- Can be found anywhere within a building
- Unlikely to be present in building constructed prior to 1999
- Diagram contained in RICS Surveying Safely, 2018 showing the likely places that asbestos can be located in properties
- Often used as lagging around pipework for fire retardant purposes, partition walls, roof sheets, flooring
- White dust implies the presence of asbestos
What would you do if you were inspecting a property and you discovered asbestos?
- Document and photograph the location of the asbestos
- Inform the client and ensure that the asbestos register is updated
Whats the RICS Guidance on Asbestos?
Asbestos Professional Standard 2021 - talks about what it is, regulations and best practice
What is an EWS? and an EWS1 form?
External Wall System
Enables a qualified professional to confirm that an external wall system on residential buildings has been assessed for safety
What does an EWS1 form consider?
- Height of building
- Type of cladding
- Presence of balconies
What is the Fire Safety Act 2021?
Following the Hackitt Review, reforms the Fire Safety Order 2005.
- 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.
- RICS Guidance Note: Valuation of Properties in multi-storey, multi- occupancy residential buildings with cladding 2022.
Name the 5 levels of hierarchy risk control (to reduce risk)
To reduce risk, the measures are below:
1. PPE: if you cannot remove risk, then wear PPE.
2. Elimination: redesign activity to remove the hazard
3. Engineering Controls: use equipment such as ventilation to remove fumes.
4. Administrative Controls: identify and implement procedures such as lone working policy
5. Substitution: e.g. replace materials with less harmful ones
Name some hazardous substances
Asbestos,
dusts and spores from mould.
lead paint dusts,
cleaning products such as bleach,
pesticides,
What type of building can have a EWS1 form?
Residential properties of any height including block of flats:
- student accommodation,
- assisted living and care homes,
- houses in multiple occupation (HMO) and
- mixed blocks where there is residential component.
- NOT hotels
What is the Building Safety Act 2022?
Enhance regulations for building safety.
Implements the Hackitt Review for high-rise buildings.
The use of combustible building materials over what height has been banned?
Buildings 18m or higher, OR , Seven or more storeys.
Contain 2 residential units or more.
Care homes and hospitals included in the definition.
What does RAAC stand for?
Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC)
What is RAAC?
A lightweight form of pre-cast steel reinforced concrete
Commonly utilised for the construction of walls, and floor construction, primarily in public sector buildings, such as schools and offices.
Deleterious material
Name some deleterious materials
Reinforced Autoclaved Aaerated Concrete (RAAC)
High alumina cement
calcium chloride
