SoE - Health and safety Flashcards
What are the CDM Regulations (2015)?
They are the main set of regulations for managing the health, safety and welfare of construction projects.
Who are the dutyholders under CDM?
The client (commercial & domestic), contractor, principal contractor, designer, principal design and workers.
What are their responsibilities under CDM:
Domestic client: duties are usually transferred to the contractor or Principal Contractor (where more than one contractor). A Principal Designer can be appointed via a written agreement.
Commercial client: must make arrangements for managing the project safely:
*Appoint other dutyholders as appropriate
*Ensure there is enough time and resources are allocated to the project
*Relevant information is prepared and provided to other dutyholders
*The principal designer and principal contractor fulfil their duties
*Welfare facilities are provided
Designers: prepare or modify designs to a building or system relating to construction work:
*Eliminate, reduce or control foreseeable risks during - construction, maintenances & use
*Provide information to other members of the project team to help them fulfil their duties
Principal Designers: designers appointed by the client in projects involving more than one contractor (with sufficient knowledge, experience and ability to carry out the role):
*Plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety in pre-construction phase:
-identifying, eliminating or controlling risks.
-ensuring designers carry out their duties
*Prepare and provide relevant information to other dutyholders
*Liaise with Principal Contractor to help plan, manage, monitor and coordinate the construction phase.
Principal Contractors: Appointed contractor to do the work (where more than one contractor is doing the work):
*Plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety in the construction phase:
-liaising with the client and Principal Designer
-preparing the Construction Phase Plan
-organising cooperation of contractors and coordinating their work.
They need to make sure:
*Suitable site inductions take place
*Reasonable steps are taken to prevent unauthorised access
*Workers are consulted and engaged in securing their health and safety
*Welfare facilities are provided
Contractors: where one contractor work only, or sub-contractors to PC:
*Plan, manage and monitor work under their control, carried out without risks to health and safety
*Where more than one contractor (or sub-contractor), coordinate their activities with others in the project team
Comply with the directions given to them by the Principal Contractor and Principal Designer.
*For single contractor works: prepare a Construction Phase Plan
Workers:
*Must be consulted about matters that affect their health, safety and welfare
*Must take care of their own health and safety and of others who might be affected by their actions
*Must report anything they see which is likely to endanger either their own or others health and safety
*Cooperate with their employer, fellow workers, contractors and other dutyholders
What are the key points of the RICS Surveying Safely Guide?
- ‘Safe Person’ concept introduced within the 2nd edition.
- Assessing hazards and risks (risk management, assessing risk, risk assessments)
- Places of works (risks relating to building age, location, use etc.)
- Occupation hygiene (hazardous substances e.g. asbestos, working environment e.g. Lighting)
- Visiting premises of sites (lone working, condition of the property being visited)
What is CAR 2012?
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012
Applies to employers and employees working in asbestos related situations. Places a duty on employers to provide adequate PPE, protect employees from exposure and provide procedures in the event of exposure. It places a duty on employees to follow the rules and procedures and report incidents to the relevant authorities.
What are the main dutyholders identified and their responsibilities?
The dutyholder is the owner of the non-domestic premises or the person or organisation that has clear responsibility for the maintenance or repair of non-domestic premises, for example through an explicit agreement such as a tenancy agreement or contract.
The extent of the duty will depend on the nature of that agreement. In a building occupied by one leaseholder, the agreement might be for either the owner or leaseholder to take on the full duty for the whole building; or it might be to share the duty. In a multi-occupied building, the agreement might be that the owner takes on the full duty for the whole building. Or it might be that the duty is shared - for example, the owner takes responsibility for the common parts while the leaseholders take responsibility for the parts they occupy. Sometimes, there might be an agreement to pass the responsibilities to a managing agent.
In some cases, there may be no tenancy agreement or contract. Or, if there is, it may not specify who has responsibility for the maintenance or repair of non-domestic premises. In these cases, or where the premises are unoccupied, the duty is placed on whoever has control of the premises, or part of the premises. Often this will be the owner.
The dutyholder under Regulation 4 of the CAR 2012, is to manage asbestos:
*Take reasonable steps to find out if there are materials containing asbestos in non-domestic premises, and if so, its amount, where it is and what condition it is in
*Presume materials contain asbestos unless there is strong evidence that they do not
*Make, and keep up to date, a record of the location and condition of the asbestos- containing materials - or materials which are presumed to contain asbestos
*Assess the risk of anyone being exposed to fibres from the materials identified
*Prepare a plan that sets out in detail how the risks from these materials will be managed
*Take the necessary steps to put the plan into action
*Periodically review and monitor the plan and the arrangements to act on it so that the plan remains relevant and up to date
*provide information on the location and condition of the materials to anyone who is liable to work on or disturb them
You’ve mentioned HSE Guide 264; what is this guide and what are the key take aways?
The guide is called Asbestos: The survey guide and is used for those surveying and in charge of the maintenance and repair of non-domestic buildings (such as the owner or occupier/tenant).
The guidance is to assist those required to manage the risks of asbestos according to CDM regs and explains the ways in which they can be compliant with CAR 2012.
What does Regulation 7 of CAR 2012 require?
There is a specific requirement in CAR 2012 (regulation 7) for all ACMs to be removed as far as reasonably practicable before major refurbishment or final demolition. Removing ACMs is also appropriate in other smaller refurbishment situations which involve structural or layout changes to buildings (eg removal of partitions, walls, units etc).
What is a re-occupation test?
Series of tests carried out after Licensed Asbestos Removals. Before the area is handed back to the Client. It is a legal requirement of Regulation 17 of CAR 2012.
What is the role of the HSE?
We achieve this using a variety of methods to influence change and help people manage risks at work. These include:
*Providing advice, information and guidance
*Raising awareness in workplaces by influencing and engaging
*Operating permissioning and licensing activities in major hazard industries
*Carrying out targeted inspections and investigations
*Taking enforcement action to prevent harm and hold those who break the law to account
What are the types of works for asbestos?
Licensed work - higher risk - Removing loose fill insulation
Non licensed work - Lower risk work - Encapsulation of good condition ACM’s
Notifiable non licensed work - Notify to LA - Removal of asbestos cement roof
What are licensable works?
Where exposure to asbestos is not low and where the control limit exceeds 0.1 fibres/cm3/hour. When work will take more than one hour in a two-hour period over 7 days.
What is the difference between a management survey and a R & D survey?
The purpose of the management survey is to manage asbestos-containing materials (ACM) during the normal occupation and use of premises. The duty-holder can make a management survey where the premises are simple and straightforward.
The refurbishment / demolition survey is required where the premises, or part of it, needs upgrading, refurbishment or demolition. The survey does not need a record of the condition of asbestos-containing materials (ACM). Normally, a surveyor is needed for refurbishment / demolition surveys.
What are unlicensed works?
Must be sporadic and low intensity and not exceed 0.6 fibres/cm3 per 10 minutes. Short non continuous maintenance with non-friable material. Removal where ACMs are in reasonable condition, where ACM is in good condition and being sealed
How do you identify Asbestos?
By knowing the age of a property, you can determine the likelihood of asbestos being used. I am not an asbestos surveyor to definitively comment on its location and would advise for a management/r&d survey to be carried out.
What are the three main types of Asbestos?
- White, Chrysotile.
- Brown, Amosite.
- Blue, Crocidolite.
What was asbestos used as?
- Insulation
- Ceiling Tiles
- Roof Sheets
- Lagging on boilers and pipework
- Floor Tiles
