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 & Safety at Work Act 1974

Question 2

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

Answer 2

The Surveying Safely Professional Standard 2nd edition

Question 3

The Surveying Safely Guidance Note sets out guidance for occupational health. Can you identify the areas to which this provision applies?

Answer 3

Occupational health covers:
- work-related stress
- health, well-being and mental health
- violence, bullying and harassment
- alcohol and drug misuse
- musculoskeletal disorders
- noise-induced hearing damage
- asbestos
- hazardous substances
- diseases
- biosecurity
- new and expectant mothers
- sun protection
- environmental factors
- health monitoring & health surveillance
-

Question 4

RICS Surveying Safely, what is included?

Answer 4

• Personal responsibilities for RICS members & corporate responsibilities for RICS-regulated firms
• Relevance to RICS professional groups
• Assessing hazards & risks
• RICS members’ places of work
• Occupational health & hygiene
• Visiting premises or sites
• Fire Safety
• Residential property surveying
• General procurement & management of contractors

Question 5

What is a notifiable project under CDM Regs 2015?

Answer 5

A project where the construction work on a construction site is scheduled to:
- last longer than 30 working days and have more than 20 workers working simultaneously at any point in the project
OR
- 500 person days or more

Question 6

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

Answer 6

• plan, manage, monitor & co-ordinate H&S in the pre-construction phase of a project including identifying, eliminating or controlling foreseeable risks
• ensuring designers carry out their duties
• prepare & provide relevant information to other dutyholders to help them fulfil their role

Question 7

What is meant by the acronym RIDDOR?

Answer 7

The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases & Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013

Question 8

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

Answer 8

Health & Safety at Work Act 1974

Question 9

What obligation does the primary legislation place upon you as an individual?

Answer 9

• Take reasonable care for the health & safety of myself and of other persons who may be affected by my acts or omissions at work
• Co-operate with employers or other persons so far as is necessary to enable them to perform their duties or requirements under the Act

Question 10

What is included in a site induction?

Answer 10

• an outline of the project
• details of the management of the project
• first aid arrangements
• accident & incident reporting arrangements
• arrangements for briefing workers on an ongoing basis such as toolbox talks
• arrangements for consulting the workforce on H&S matters
• individual workers responsibility for H&S
• current site risks and hazards
• PPE requirements
• site rules
• emergency evacuation procedures

Question 11

What PPE do you wear?

Answer 11

• safety helmet
• safety glasses
• high-vis vests
• hand protection
• safety footwear

Question 12

How does Lone Working operate?

Answer 12

When lone working a person must:
- ensure it is a safe option and make provisions for communicating in an emergency
- ensure employer has a record of the persons mobile phone number and whether there is good signal at the site
- ensure employer has a record of where the lone worker is and when they will be expected to return from site
- make arrangements for check in calls
- make arrangements for rescue and access
- ensure any medical conditions impacting personal safety are known

Question 13

What do you know about RAMS?

Answer 13

RAMS stands for Risk Assessment Method Statement.

• The risk assessment records hazards and risks in the workplace along with the likelihood of them occuring the the severity of impact should the occur
• the method statement sets out the way in which work will be undertaken safely

Question 14

What do you know about dangerous substances in construction?

Answer 14

I understand construction work can involve a number of hazardous substances such as:
- cement
- lead
- solvents
- asbestos
- micro-organisms
- carbon monoxide

I know the regulations which requires employers to manage risks surrounding such substances, such as:
- Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002
- Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012

Question 15

What is CSCS?

Answer 15

• Construction skills certification scheme
• provides proof that individuals working on construction sites have the appropriate training & qualifications for the job they do
• By ensuring the workforce are appropriately qualified, the card plays its part in improving standards & safety on UK construction sites

Question 16

Who are the parties under CDM?

Answer 16

• Clients and domestic clients
• Designers
• Principal Designers
• Principal Contractors
• Contractors
• Workers

Question 17

What are the duties of a client under CDM?

Answer 17

• making suitable arrangements for managing a project
• appointing other duty holders
• ensuring sufficient time & resources are allocated
• ensuring relevant info is prepared & provided to other duty holders
• ensuring PD’s and D’s carry out their duties
• ensure welfare facilities are provided

Question 18

What are you considered as under CDM?

Answer 18

Designers

Question 19

What current challenges is Covid and/or Brexit and/or the current conflict in Russia & Ukraine bringing to H&S?

Answer 19

1. Increased complexity in compliance - more complex H&S regulations and compliance requirements, demanding great attention and resources
2. Enhances training programmes
3. Resource allocation

Question 20

What are the duties of a domestic client CDM?

Answer 20

• the contractor undertakes this role
• or where more than one contractor, the PC takes on the role
• the DC can choose to have a written agreement with the PD to carry out the client duties

Question 21

What are the duties of designers under CDM?

Answer 21

• when preparing / modifying designs, they must eliminate, reduce or control foreseeable risks that may arise during construction & the maintenance & use of a building once its built
• they must provide info to other members of the project team to help them fulfil their duties

Question 22

What are the duties of principal designers under CDM?

Answer 22

• plan, manage, monitor & co-ordinate H&S in the pre-construction phase of a project, including identifying, eliminating or controlling foreseeable risks
• ensuring designers carry out their duties
• prepare & provide relevant info to other dutyholders including the PC to help them fulfil their role

Question 23

What are the duties of principal contractor’s under CDM?

Answer 23

• plan, manage, monitor & co-ordinate H&S in the pre-construction phase of a project
• liaising with the client & PD
• preparing the construction phase plan
• organising cooperation between contractors & coordinating their work, ensuing suitable site inductions are provided
• take reasonable steps to prevent unauthorised site access
• consult & engage workers in securing H&S
• provide welfare facilities

Question 24

What are the duties of contractors under CDM?

Answer 24

• plan, manage & monitor construction work under their control to avoid risk to H&S
• for projects with more than one contractor, coordinate activities with others, comply with directions from PC and PD
• for single-contractor projects, prepare a construction phase plan

Question 25

What are the duties of workers under CDM?

Answer 25

• be consulted re matters impacting their health, safety & welfare
• take care of their own H&S and other whom may be affected by their actions
• report anything they see which is likely to endanger either their own or others’ H&S
• cooperate with their employer, fellow workers, contractors & other dutyholders

Question 26

What are the Approved Codes of Practice?

Answer 26

Approved Codes of Practice are documents approved by the HSE with the consent of the security of state.

They contain guidance alongside legislation to help individuals and organisations comply with the law.

The code is advisory. However, if prosecuted for breach of H&S law, and the code has not been followed, it will need to be proven that the law has been complied with in some other way.