Health & Safety Flashcards
What is The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR)?
The Regulations (issued in 2013) require a responsible person (employers, the self-employed and individuals in control of work premises) to keep records and notify the HSE and/or ORR of workplace incidents. RIDDORs are recordable is someone is off for 3 days or more. RIDDORs are immediately reportable for a variety incidents listed below.
• Deaths – Notification is required of all deaths (workers and non-workers) on construction sites if they arise from a work-related accident or incident (including violence). It is not necessary for suicides to be reported.
• Specific Injuries:
¬ Fractures (not including to fingers, thumbs and toes).
¬ Amputations.
¬ Injury likely to lead to permanent loss of sight or reduction in sight.
¬ Crush injury to the head or body causing damage to the brain or internal organs.
¬ Serious burns which cover more than 10% of the body or cause significant damage to the eyes, respiratory system or other vital organs.
¬ Scalping that requires hospital treatment.
¬ Loss of consciousness caused by head injury or asphyxia.
¬ Any other injury arising from work in an enclosed space which results in hypothermia or heat-induced illness or requires resuscitation or admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours.
• Occupational Diseases:
¬ Carpal tunnel syndrome.
¬ Severe cramp of the hand or forearm.
¬ Occupational dermatitis.
¬ Hand-arm vibration syndrome.
¬ Occupational asthma.
¬ Tendonitis or tenosynovitis of the hand or forearm.
¬ Occupational cancer.
¬ Any disease attributed to an occupational exposure to a biological agent.
• Dangerous Occurrences: plant or equipment coming into contact with overhead power lines or explosions or fires causing work to be stopped for more than 24 hours.
If someone is off work for 7 days (not including the day of the incident) due to injury but not for a reason listed above, the responsible person must notify the HSE and/or ORR at that point.
What is classed as working at height?
‘Working at height’ means working in a place where a person could be injured by falling, even if it is at or below ground level. Note: most fatal falls are from heights of 4m or less
What are the current latest number of fatalities in the construction industry?
The number of deaths in the construction industry was higher than any other sector in the last financial year, new figures reveal.
Statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have revealed that 40 people in the industry died in 2019/20, up from a record low of 30 in 2018/19.
The increase came as overall work-related fatal accidents in Britain dropped to their lowest figure on record, at 111. The figures do not include any statistics relating to coronavirus or any other disease, which are compiled separately.
Construction was the industry with the most deaths in the period, with fatalities twice the number of agriculture, forestry and fishing, which stood at 20, down from 32 the previous year.
Data released by the HSE detailing the fatalities shows that falls from height accounted for 14 of the deaths, while being “trapped by something collapsing” caused 11.
In 2017/18 there were 144 fatalities. In 2018/19 there were 147 fatalities. There has been little/no reduction in the last 10 years, following 30 years of general reduction from approximately 500 a year. The five most common causes of fatal injuries (which are consistent with previous years) were due to:
• workers falling from height (40)
• being struck by a moving vehicle (30)
• being struck by a moving object (16)
• trapped by something collapsing/overturning (11)
• contract with moving machinery (14)
What are the Manual Handling Operations Regulations?
The Regulations (last amended in 2002) apply to a wide range of manual handling activities, including lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling or carrying. The process is:
• avoid the need for hazardous manual handling, so far as is reasonably practicable (e.g. use plant and equipment);
• assess the risk of injury from any hazardous manual handling that can’t be avoided; and
• reduce the risk of injury from hazardous manual handling, so far as is reasonably practicable (e.g. provide training, limit maximum loads).
There is no maximum weight limit. This must be assessed for each situation based on a persons strength, fitness, underlying medical conditions, the weight to be lifted, the distance to be carried and the nature of the load.
What are the responsibilities of Employees under the HASAW Act?
Employees have clear responsibilities, as follows:
- “To take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and of other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work.”
- “To cooperate with their employer so far as it is necessary to enable the duty or requirement of the employer to be performed, or complied with.”
What does it mean for risks to be as low as reasonable practicable (ALARP), or lowered so far as is reasonably practicable (SFAIRP)? How do you ensure risks are managed this way?
For a risk to be as low as reasonable practicable (ALARP), it must be possible to demonstrate that the cost involved in reducing the risk further would be grossly disproportionate to the benefit gained. The ALARP principle arises from the fact that infinite time, effort and money could be spent on the attempt of reducing a risk to zero. It should not be understood as simply a quantitative measure of benefit against detriment though and many ALARP considerations will not calculate the monetary risk and benefit. It is more a best common practice of judgement of the balance of risk and societal benefit.
When a calculation is completed though (generally via the Cost Benefit Analysis method), the September 2018 figure for the value of a prevented fatality is £1,897,129, although London Underground multiplies this number by 3 for calculations (i.e. it would spend ~£5.7m to reduce the chance of a fatality for 10 people from 0.4 to 0.3). Is should be noted that the figure is used for assessing aggregate risk to many people (e.g. a station fire). It would not be acceptable to send someone into a situation where they were certain to die if it would cost £6m to protect them.
So Far As Is Reasonably Practicable (SFAIRP) is essentially the same thing, but is the term used in the Health & Safety at Work Act.
Risks can generally be managed such that they are ALARP or lowered SFAIRP by follow Regulations as well as approved codes of practice if they exist, and guidance if they do not. The last resort is using first principles and a Cost Benefit Analysis to quantitatively ensure the risk are ALARP/lowered SFAIRP.
What are the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations?
The regulations require employers to identify which of their employees may be at risk from hand arm vibration (HAV) or whole body vibration (WBV) disorders. HAV disorders can be caused by the use of hand-held power tools and can cause painful and disabling disorders of the blood vessels, nerves and joints such as vibration-induced white finger. Whole body vibration is generally transmitted via the seat when sitting down in a vehicle/machine, or through the feet. Drivers of certain tractors, forklift trucks, quarrying or earth moving machinery could be exposed to WBV which could lead to back pain.
HAVs and WHVs must always be assessed, mitigated and monitored where there is risk. There are also set limits for: limit () and exposure (); limits are:
• Average daily exposure action value (EAV), where the employer must introduce a programme of controls to eliminate risk, or reduce exposure to as low a level as is reasonably practicable:
- Hand arm vibration 2.5 m/s² average.
- Whole body vibration 0.5 m/s² average.
• Average daily exposure limit value (ELV), where the employer must take immediate action to reduce their exposure below the limit value:
- Hand arm vibration 5 m/s² average.
- Whole body vibration 1.15 m/s² average.
What are the key state agencies that enforce the law?
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Office of Road and Rail (ORR), London Fire Brigade (LFB), Environmental Agency (EA), local authorities and the police.
What are is the hierarchy of control in relation to working at height?
- Avoid working at height if possible.
- Use an existing safe place of work.
- Provide work equipment to prevent falls.
- Mitigate distance and consequences of a fall.
- Instruction and training and/or other means.
For the above, collective protective measures (such as scaffolding) must be prioritised over personal protection (such as using a fall arrest harness).
What are the Construction Product Regulations.
They mandate CE marking (where applicable), which signify that a product complies with relevant safety, health and/or environmental regulations across the European Economic Area (EEA). Demonstrating compliance with the regulation requires an ‘attestation of conformity’ (AoC). There are 5 levels of AoC which depend on the nature of the product. It also means there is standardised information on the following (helpful for designers):
• Safety.
• Testing criteria
• Fire resistance.
• Mechanical resistance and stability.
• User instructions, including hygiene and environmental instructions.
• Protection against noise.
• Energy, economy and heat retention.
• Sustainable use of natural resources.
• Handling instructions.
• Storage recommendations.
• Maintenance.
• Warranties.
• Dealerships.
In the event of the UK leaving the EU with no deal, the UK will replace the system of CE Marking with UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) Marking for placing products on the UK market. The process is identical and all that changes is the ‘mark’ itself. CE Marking will still be required for UK manufacturers who wish to place products in the EU market including Ireland, as whilst the UK will recognise the CE mark as equivalent, the EU will not intially recognise the UKCA mark (this may change when a post-Brexit deal is concluded).
Discuss behavioural safety.
Behavioural safety involves the application of behavioural science to construction safety. This means looking into why and how people act, and seeking to resolve safety issues and risks through those avenues. A key aim is to create a culture of safety, but this is often difficult on construction projects due to the frequent turn over of staff.
Over the last few decades, the people dying on construction sites have increasingly been older workers, whereas previously they tended to be younger ones with little experience. One theory is that the training and education is effective for younger people, but there may be a behavioural issues with more veteran workers. Whilst they have received much more training over their careers, they have ‘got away’ with doing things unsafely for so long that they struggle to break the habit or appreciate the risks. They were also working when H&S was much less stringent (especially pre 1990) and learnt their trade in those conditions. This is why, against an average of 0.45 fatalities per 100,000 workers overall, there were:
• 0.21 fatalities per 100,000 workers aged 16 to 19;
• 0.29 fatalities per 100,000 workers aged 20 to 24;
• 0.53 fatalities per 100,000 workers aged 55 to 59;
• 0.92 fatalities per 100,000 workers aged 60 to 64; and
• 1.99 fatalities per 100,000 workers aged 65+.
Source (has all age ranges): https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/pdf/fatalinjuries.pdf
What are the responsibilities of an Employer under the HASAW Act?
“It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.” Specific requirements are:
• The provision and maintenance of safe plant and safe systems of work.
• The provision of information, instruction, training and supervision.
• The maintenance of a safe place of work and provision and maintenance of a safe means of access to, and egress from it.
• Adequate facilities and arrangements in respect of employee’s welfare at work.
• Consult employees.
• Have a safety policy
• Not charge for equipment
What is the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act?
The Act (introduce in 2007) means companies and organisations can be found guilty of corporate manslaughter as a result of serious management failures resulting in a gross breach of a duty of care. Whilst prosecutions are of the organisation as a whole, directors etc. can be liable. The associated HSE guidance states the following as essential principles:
1. Strong and active leadership from the top:
• visible, active commitment from the board;
• establishing effective ‘downward’ communication systems and management structures;
• integration of good health and safety management with business decisions.
2. Worker involvement:
• engaging the workforce in the promotion and achievement of safe and healthy conditions;
• effective ‘upward’ communication;
• providing high-quality training.
3. Continuous assessment and review:
• identifying and managing health and safety risks;
• accessing (and following) competent advice;
• monitoring, reporting and reviewing performance.
What does RIDDOR stand for? When is a RIDDOR reportable? When is a RIDDOR recordable?
The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR).
• RIDDORs are immediately reportable for a variety of specified injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences, as well as work related deaths that aren’t the result of suicide. RIDDORs are also reportable if someone is off work for 7 days or more (not including the day of the accident) for a non-specified injury. A report must be received within 10 days of the incident or within 15 days for accidents resulting in the over seven-day incapacitation of a worker.
• RIDDORs are recordable is someone is off for 3 days or more.
What are the Health and Safety Information for Employees Regulations?
The Regulations (introduced in 1989) require employers to display a poster telling employees what they need to know about health and safety.
What regulations control high risk materials?
• The Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002
• The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006
Both specify maximum exposure limits before competent specialist contractors are required.
What are the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999?
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers and the self-employed to carry out a risk assessment. Employers with five or more employees need to record the significant findings. They must then make arrangements for implementing the H&S measures identified as necessary by the RA such as:
• appoint competent people to help implementation;
• set up emergency procedures;
• provide clear information and training to employees;
• co-operate, and work together, with other employers sharing the same workplace;
• display Health and Safety law posters.
It also formally established the principles of prevention. These are often simplified to ERICPD: eliminate, reduce, isolate, control, protection and discipline.
What are the 4 types of duties in health and safety law?
1) Absolute Duty, indicated by the words “shall ensure”. Examples include the safeguarding of machinery “every employer shall ensure that measures are taken which are effective to prevent access to any dangerous part of machinery…..”
2) Practicable Duty, defined as “possible to be accomplished with known means or resources”. It is not possible for employers to allege that something is impracticable because it might slow up production or is otherwise inconvenient or difficult.
3) So Far As Is Reasonably Practicable (SFAIRP), indicated by the words “suitable and sufficient”. SFAIRP is essentially identical to risk that is As Low As Reasonable Practicable (ALARP). The sacrifice (in terms of time, money or trouble) must be shown as being greatly disproportionate to risk reduction achieved. If challenged by the enforcing authority, the employer has to prove that the measures and precautions taken were reasonably practicable in the circumstances.
4) Reasonable Care, indicated by the words “reasonable care”. This requires the degree of caution and concern an ordinarily prudent and rational person/organisation would use in similar circumstances. Not taking reasonable care would imply negligence.
What do companies have health and safety policies?
Every company has a legal obligation to have a written health and safety policy under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
TfL’s is one page commitment to health, safety and the environment, which is signed by the Commissioner and Managing Directors. It states the vision of “everyone home safe and healthy every day”. It also includes:
• a commitment to put in place processes and rules for normal and emergency situations.
• a commitment to have yearly improvement plans.
• a commitment to as low as reasonable practicable (ALARP) risk.
• a commitment to train and develop staff.
What are the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER)?
The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (latest revision is 1998) requires that:
• equipment is fit for purpose, marked with the safe working load (SWL), tested and identified properly, and is confirmed as strong and stable enough. Minimum testing frequency varies based on if people (6 months) or materials (12 months) are being lifted.
• lifting operations must be planned, supervised and carried out in a safe manner by people who are competent.
• where equipment is used for lifting people it must be marked accordingly.
In BS 7121 (Code of Practice for Safe Use of Cranes), the competent person is referred to as the ‘Appointed Person’.
What powers does the HSE have during a visit to a construction site?
The HSE or ORR can send an inspector to any site. They ensure workers are safe and can stop work if something dangerous is occurring. After the visit they can do any or all of the following:
• give you an improvement notice (21 days to improve),
• give you a prohibition notice (stop doing something until it has been made safe),
• prosecute you.
What are the responsibilities of Designers, Suppliers and Manufacturers under the HASAW Act?
Designers, Suppliers and Manufacturers must ensure that:
• articles and substances are designed and constructed so that they are safe and without risk to health when they are being prepared for use, used, cleaned and maintained.
• articles and substances are tested where it is necessary to ensure that the article will be safe.
• users are provided with adequate information about the use for which the articles or substances has been designed and any conditions that may be necessary when it is used.
• where the information is revised, it is supplied to the user.
What is the Six Pack Set of Regulations?
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, they are:
• Manual Handling Operations Regulations.
• Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations.
• Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations.
• Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations.
• The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations.
• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations.
What is AFR? What is LTIFR? What is TfL’s AFR and LTIFR?
Accident Frequency Rate and Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate. Lost time injuries include all on-the-job injuries that require a person to stay away from work more than 24 hours, or which result in death or permanent disability.
• AFR = (RIDDOR accidents per year/employment) x 100,000. TfL’s was is 0.15 (Construction industry generally is 0.22)
• LTIFR = (lost time injuries/total employee hours worked) x 100,000 (sometimes companies multiply a million). TfL’s is 0.28
