Health & Safety (L2M) Flashcards
What extra H&S have you undertaken due to pandemic?
- Firm’s guidance on viewings during COVID-19
- Government’s guidance on viewings during pandemic
- Kept windows open
- Wore face mask
- Hand sanitiser
- Distance
- Gloves
- Restricting number of people at one time
- Contact persons I would be in contact with on inspection/viewing prior to it to ensure no one has been diagnosed with Covid-19 within the past 10 days - not to attend viewing if they have.
Are you aware of any new RICS guidance on asbestos?
- RICS 4th Edition Guidance Note Asbestos (took effect Aug 2021) (aims to ensure surveyors and their clients comply with UK legislation relating to asbestos and ensure no one is put at exposure risk)
What are visible signs of deleterious materials?
- HAC: look for brown stains
- Presence of concrete frames (particularly from 1970s/80s
- Crumbling concrete
How would you identify asbestos on a roof?
- Roofing tiles containing asbestos will often have a white, grey, or blue-white colour
- Corrugated roofs
- Recommend asbestos survey
What are the different types of asbestos surveys?
- Management survey - locate and advise on management
- Demolition survey: samples to be taken and analysed
What are the different types of asbestos?
- Brown (1985)
- Blue (1985)
- White (1999)
What do the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 state?
- The person in charge of the building repair must locate and manage the asbestos
- Architects must confirm no asbestos is present in new buildings
- Asbestos register must be readily available
- Non compliance is a criminal offence
What is the 6 pack of Health & Safety Regulations?
6 most commonly quoted health and safety regulations:
- Management of Health & Safety at work
- Display screen equipment
- Manual handling operations
- PPE
- Provision and use of work equipment
- Workplace H&S at work
What are the risks associated with lone working?
- accidents or emergencies arising out of the work, including inadequate provision of first aid.
- sudden illnesses.
- inadequate provision of rest, hygiene and welfare facilities.
- physical violence from members of the public and/or intruders.
What should you do in preparation for lone working?
- Inform colleagues where going and when expect to return
- Update shared calendar with timings and location
- Risk assessment (take with you)
- Firms’ lone working policy
- Lone working device
- Mobile phone (fully charged)
- Emergency code phrase
- Wear flat shoes/shoes you can run in
What is the Building Safety Bill?
- Part of the reform to give residents and homeowners more rights, powers and protection.
- Set out a clear pathway on how residential buildings should be constructed, maintained and made safe.
What hazards might you identify on an inspection?
- Abestos
- Invasive species
- Subsidence/unsafe building
- Radon gas
- Lead piping/paint
What is a deleterious material?
- Materials that can degrade with age
- Cause structural issues
What are some examples of deleterious materials?
- High Alumina Cement (HAC) - steel rods corrode as concrete is more porous
- Woodwool shuttering
- Mundic
- Calcium Chloride
What is a hazard?
Something potential to cause harm
What is risk?
The likelihood of harm being realised
What are RICS firms obligated to provide in terms of H&S?
- a safe working environment
- safe work equipment
- safe systems of work
- competent staff
What risks to assess when inspecting?
- structural stability
- sharp objects
- roofs
- slip and trip hazards
- working at height
- ACMs
- contamination
What are the obligations of a commercial property occupier?
- asbestos management
- contamination
- EPC
- Disability discrimination and equality
- fire safety
- H&S
- occupiers liability
- waste management
What is an EWS1 form?
Designed to be used for residential properties of any height i.e. blocks of flats, student accommodation.
Allows a “qualified professional” to confirm that an external wall system on residential buildings has been assessed for safety, in line with government guidance.
Considers:
- the height of building
- type of cladding & how much
- presence of balconies & combustible material
Key points of the Fire Safety Act 2021?
The Fire Safety Act 2021
- requires all responsible persons to assess, manage and reduce the risks of fire posed by the structure, external walls and common areas of a building.
- fire service can take enforcement action against responsible people who fail to comply
What are reasonable fire precaution measures?
- fire detection & warning alarm system
- fire fighting equipment
- safe exit routes
- evacuation plan
- suitable fire doors
- emergency lighting & signage
What fines are associated with asbestos?
Health and Safety (Offences) Act 2008
- £20,000 and possibility of 12 month imprisonment
- more serious offences can be tried in higher courts where there is no limit on fines
Who can remove asbestos?
- Licensed contractors
- held on a register with HSE - Non-licensed contractors
- can only remove certain asbestos i.e. cement panels
- work must be carried out in accordance with HSE and they must be trained
- written records must be kept for notifiable non-licensed work
Where should asbestos be removed to?
All ACMs and asbestos contaminated waste must be disposed of to an Environment Agency licensed asbestos landfill site, carried by vehicles marked with hazardous waste signage.