Health & Safety - Level 1

Question 1

Can you name the piece of primary legislation relating to Health & Safety in the construction industry?

Answer 1

• Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
• Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (2015)
• Control, of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) (2002)

Question 2

Can you tell me the name of RICS publication that relates to the health and safety of its members?

Answer 2

Surveying Safely 2018

Question 3

RICS Surveying Safely, what is included?

Answer 3

This professional standard sets out basic, good practice principles for the management of health and safety for RICS-regulated firms and RICS members. RICS members also need to consider the legal jurisdiction in the country where they work.

Question 4

This document sets out guidance for occupational health. Can you identify the areas to which this provision applies?

Answer 4

Occupational health considers the physical and mental effects of work on health (including health issues that develop over time, referred to as ‘chronic’) and assists an RICS-regulated firm in ensuring its employees are fit for their work through health assessment, promotion, maintenance and surveillance.

Question 5

What is notifiable project under CDM Regulations 2015?

Answer 5

A construction project is notifiable if the construction work is expected to: last longer than 30 working days and have more than 20 workers working at the same time at any point on the project or: exceed 500 person days.

Question 6

What is the role of the Principal Designer under CDM Regulations 2015?

Answer 6

Principal designers must: plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety in the pre-construction phase. In doing so they must take account of relevant information (such as an existing health and safety file) that might affect design work carried out both before and after the construction phase has started.

Question 7

What is meant by the acronym RIDDOR?

Answer 7

Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations.

Question 8

What other primary legislation is used to regulate safety in construction?

Answer 8

The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974

Question 9

What obligations does this legislation place upon you as an individual?

Answer 9

It shall be the duty of every employee while at work—
(a)to take reasonable care for the health and safety of himself and of other persons who may be affected by his acts or omissions at work; and
(b)as regards any duty or requirement imposed on his employer or any other person by or under any of the relevant statutory provisions, to co-operate with him so far as is necessary to enable that duty or requirement to be performed or complied with

Question 10

What is included in the site induction?

Answer 10

The purpose of the induction is to make people aware of the Health and Safety requirements of the project by explaining:
* ISG project team members and their roles
* The facilities provided on site
* Site layout & security
* Site specifics (fire exits, assembly points etc.)
* Traffic management
* Training & competency required
* PPE required
* Housekeeping & site awareness
* Working at height
* Method Statements & Risk Assessments
* Permit Systems, ISG Procedures
* Environmental
* and COVID-19.

Question 11

What PPE did you wear?

Answer 11

Safety Boots
Protective gloves
Hi-Vis Jacket
Safety Glasses
Hard Hat

Question 12

How does Lone Working operate?

Answer 12

Lone workers are those who work by themselves without close or direct supervision. Anybody who works alone, including contractors, self-employed people and employee, is classed as a lone worker.

Question 13

What are Risk Assessment Method Statements?

Answer 13

It is an important health and safety document that is completed to identify the steps to be undertaken to carry out a specific activity or task in a safe manner.

Question 14

Name some Dangerous substances.

Answer 14

• chemicals
• products containing chemicals
• fumes
• dusts
• vapours
• mists
• nanotechnology
• gases and asphyxiating gases and
• biological agents (germs). If the packaging has any of the hazard symbols then it is classed as a hazardous substance.
• germs that cause diseases such as leptospirosis or legionnaires disease and germs used in laboratories.

Question 15

What is CSCS (UK)?

Answer 15

The official Construction Skills Certification Scheme website. CSCS cards provide proof that individuals working on construction sites have the appropriate training and qualifications for the job they do.

Question 16

Who are the parties under CDM?

Answer 16

The three main CDM roles are CDM client, designer and contractor. For projects involving more than one contractor, the additional roles of principal designer (PD) and principal contractor (PC) are required to plan, manage, monitor and coordinate the work.

Question 17

What are the duties of the CDM client?

Answer 17

 Making suitable arrangements to ensure that construction work is carried out safely;
 Ensuring there is proper cooperation and coordination between those involved in the planning, design and management of construction work;
 Ensuring that pre-construction information is provided to the right people at the right time to help with designing the structure/s and construction planning;
 Ensuring a suitable document (referred to in the regulations as a construction phase plan) has been drawn up before construction work begins onsite;
 Ensuring that arrangements for the provision of suitable welfare are put in place for construction workers, by the Principal Contractor/Contractor;
 Ensuring that the project is notified to HSE if construction work lasts longer than 30 working days and has more than 20 workers working simultaneously on it or exceeds 500 person days;
 Coordinating with other independent construction projects onsite.

Question 18

What are the duties of the CDM Designer?

Answer 18

 Have the necessary skills, knowledge, and experience relevant to the work they are doing;
 Ensure that the person/company they are doing the work for are aware of their CDM 2015 duties;
 Take account of pre-construction information provided during design work. Provide information to assist others;
 eliminate foreseeable health and safety risks to anyone affected by the project (if possible);
 take steps to reduce or control any risks that cannot be eliminated. Health and safety risks need to be considered alongside other factors that influence the design such as cost, fitness for purpose, aesthetics and environmental impact. For example, how a theatre set can be designed to limit the amount of work at height required during construction;
 Cooperate and coordinate with others.

Question 19

What are the duties of the CDM Contractor?

Answer 19

 Have the skills, knowledge and experience relevant to the work they are doing, and if they are an organisation, the organisational capability to carry out the work safely and without risk to health;
 Ensure that the organisation/person they are doing the work for is aware of their CDM duties;
 Cooperate and coordinate with others. Where more than one contractor is involved, comply with the directions of the organisation/person planning, managing and monitoring the project;
 Plan, manage and monitor the way they carry out their own construction work;
 Take account of the general principles of prevention when planning the build and breakdown of a structure;
 Check that all workers they employ or appoint have the skills, knowledge, training and experience to carry out the work, or are in the process of obtaining them;
 Provide appropriate supervision, instructions and information to their workers;
 Not start work until steps have been taken to prevent unauthorised access to areas where construction is taking place;
 Take reasonably practicable steps to ensure that suitable welfare is in place for their workers
 Ensure general requirements for construction sites are fulfilled eg stability of structures, good order, safe traffic routes, fire prevention, emergency procedures etc.

Question 20

What are you considered as?

Answer 20

CDM Contractor