Health & Safety SoE Q's

Question 1

What are your responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act?

Answer 1

To maintain a duty of care and act with reasonable skill and care.

Ensure that you cooperate with your employer and do not obstruct anything in the interest of health and safety.

Question 2

How do you ensure your safety when travelling to and from site?

Answer 2

Inform others when I am travelling to and from site.
Carry out a risk assessment.
Implement a call back system.

Question 3

Can you elaborate on Surveying Safely and what this document contains?

Answer 3

It is an RICS document that looks at personal safety on construction sites.
* Personal Responsibilities
* Assessing Hazards and Risks
* Places of Work
* Occupational Health & Hygiene
* Visiting Site
* Fire Safety

Question 4

Who are the duty holders under the CDM Regulations?

Answer 4

• Principle Designer
• Principle Contractor
• Client
• Designer
• Contractor
• Workers

Question 5

What is the purpose of the CDM regulations?

Answer 5

To ensure clients, designers and contractors consider the safety of those undertaking the work.

Improves health and safety through design, planning and construction.

Question 6

What were the updates from CDM 2007?

Answer 6

CDM co-ordinator role was replaced with principle designer.

Principle designer and principle contractor appointed for all projects with more than one trade contractor on site.

Construction phase plan is required for all projects.

Client needs to notify HSE if project exceeds 30 construction days with 20 or more workers working simultaneously or if project exceeds 500 person days.

Question 7

What are the key documents required under CDM?

Answer 7

Pre Construction Information
Construction Phase Plan
H+S File

Question 8

What is a risk assessment and when should you complete one?

Answer 8

A risk assessment is a document that identifies a hazard, measures the risk and identifies a method of reducing the risk.

One should be carried out every time there are new machines, substances and procedures, which could lead to new hazards.

Question 9

Is there any requirement stated in your employer’s health, safety and wellbeing policy which is higher beyond the RICS Surveying Safely, i.e. something more stringent?

Answer 9

RICS Surveying Safely is a guidance note with recommendations.

My company’s health and safety policy is complicit with UK Legislation, the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Question 10

What are the types of asbestos?

Answer 10

Blue – Crocidolite – Most lethal

Brown – Amosite – Second most lethal

White – Chrysotile – Most common type found in industrial and commercial applications.

Question 11

What would you do if you encountered asbestos?

Answer 11

Stop work immediately if suspect material is discovered.

Ensure all personnel/operatives are removed from the area.

Seek advice given on HSE – Managing and working with asbestos.

If required – Seek advice on contamination if serious exposure report as RIDDOR incident.

Engage specialist asbestos company to manage the process.

Question 12

What’s the difference between a management and an R&D survey?

Answer 12

Management Survey - non-intrusive work with minor disturbance.
Refurbishment & Demolition Survey - fully intrusive and involve destructive inspection

Question 13

What is an Asbestos Management Plan?

Answer 13

Designed to register and detail how asbestos will be managed in a premises, what activities will be undertaken and how people will be kept safe from exposure.

Question 14

Who are the duty holders under CDM and what are the duties of each?

Answer 14

Client – Make suitable arrangements for managing a project.
Principal Designers – Plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety in the pre-construction phase of a project.
Principal Contractor – Plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety in the construction phase of a project.

Question 15

What is CSCS?

Answer 15

Construction Skills Certification Scheme – Provides proof that individuals working on construction sites have the appropriate training and qualifications for the job they do on site.

Question 16

What is the safe person concept?

Answer 16

Each individual assumes individual behavioural responsibility for their own, their colleagues’ and others’ health and safety while at work.

Question 17

What do you do if you discover asbestos on site?

Answer 17

• Dispose
• Encapsulate
• Manage

Question 18

What are the categories under a risk assessment?

Answer 18

Under the RLB risk assessment, the headings are as follows:
Personal – Looks at whether you are in good health and capable undertaking the work

Location – Looks at method of transport to the location, as well as the nature of the venue

Factors – Looks at whether we have appropriate PPE for the required location

Business – Looks at purpose of the trip i.e. to meet client, contractor, project meeting etc

Question 19

What is the difference between a risk and a hazard?

Answer 19

A hazard is a particular event that could cause harm.

A risk is the likelihood that the hazard will cause harm.

Question 20

Talk me through the risk assessment for Wythenshawe. What was included?

Answer 20

The risk assessment for Wythenshawe GMMH looked at whether I had appropriate PPE to visit a frontline healthcare setting.

It also looked at where there was a safe method of transport to the location.

It also looked at the nature of the venue and whether there was any risk with it being a live emergency department.

Question 21

What is included in a site induction?

Answer 21

• Site Specific Risks
• Site Specific Rules
• Smoking Requirements
• Evacuation Requirements
• Scaffolding Safety

Question 22

When does a firm require a health and safety policy?

Answer 22

• When the firm employs more than 5 people.

Question 23

Please explain what your responsibilities are under your company’s health and safety policy?

Answer 23

To ensure I act with due skill, care and attention.
I act with a duty of care towards myself and other employees.
I cooperate with my employer on any H&S matters.
I report any H&S incidents to my employer.

Question 24

Are you able to advise on the Building Safety Act 2022?

Answer 24

Applies to all buildings, but with specific focus on High Risk Buildings (HRB). These being those that are over 18m in height or 7 storeys.

The process will introduce three new duty holders, these being:
Building Safety Regulator (BSR) – HSE have been named as the BSR and will have three main functions including overseeing standards, improving competence and leading implementation.

Accountable Person (AP) – Landlord who is in charge of repairing the common parts, including the exterior and façade of the building, and will take all reasonable steps to prevent a major incident. Responsible for maintaining building safety information and the Golden Thread, as well as provide residents with relevant safety information.

Principal Accountable Person (PAP) – Where there is more than one AP, the one responsible for the structure and exterior will be the PAP. They are responsible for registering all existing buildings with the BSR before October 23, as well as any new buildings. Must also apply for a building assessment certificate from the BSR.

There were three Planning Gateways introduced:
* Planning Gateway 1 – At the point of planning, a fire statement is to be prepared and issued along with planning application.
* Planning Gateway 2 – Prior to commencement of construction; construction will not be allowed to commence until the BSR has given their approval.
* The developer levy will be introduced at Gateway 2 and be used to fund the activities and programmes of the BSR.
* Any changes in design/materials during the construction phase will need to be approved by the BSR before installation. They have between 14 days and 4 weeks to approve depending on the extent of the proposed changes.
* Planning Gateway 3 – Prior to occupation of the building, a building assessment certificate must be issued by the BSR before occupation.

Updates to Building Regs Part B Fire Safety – there must be secure Fire Information Boxes for Firefighters and there have been changes to electrical safety.

Changes to Building Regs and Approved Docs stating that materials used for external walls need to be non combustible.