Health and Safety

Question 1

What is Health and Safety?

Answer 1

Health and safety refers to the measures and practices put in place to protect the well-being of individuals in various settings, such as workplaces, public spaces, and homes.

Question 2

What is the primary goal of health and safety initiatives?

Answer 2

1. prevent accidents, injuries, and illnesses
2. promoting a safe and healthy environment for everyone involved

Question 3

What employers must do for you to look after your Health and Safety under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974?

Answer 3

1. Decide what could harm you in your job and the precautions to stop it. This is part of risk assessment.
2. In a way you can understand, explain how risks will be controlled and tell you who is responsible for this.
3. Consult and work with you and your health and safety representatives in protecting everyone from harm in the workplace.
4. Give you the health and safety training you need to do your job.
5. Provide you with any equipment and protective clothing you need, and ensure it is properly looked after.
6. Provide toilets, washing facilities and drinking water.
7. Provide adequate first-aid facilities.
8. Report major injuries and fatalities at work
9. Have insurance that covers you in case you get hurt at work or ill through work.
10. Work with any other employers or contractors sharing the workplace

Question 4

What employees must do under Health & safety at Work Act 1974?

Answer 4

1. Follow the training you have received when using any work items your employer has given you.
2. Take reasonable care of your own and other people’s health and safety.
3. Co-operate with your employer on health and safety.
4. Tell someone if you think the work or inadequate precautions are putting anyone’s health and safety at serious risk.

Question 5

What is a Risk Assessment and how do you carry one out?

Answer 5

Identifying potential hazards and evaluating the associated risks. This involves assessing the likelihood and severity of various situations that could lead to harm.

• Identify hazards
• Identify people at risk from hazards
• Evaluate risk -likelihood & severity. Existing controls reviewed.
• Record findings
• Review regularly

Question 6

What are the 5 HSE steps when undertaking a Risk Assessment?

Answer 6

• Identify hazards
• Identify people at risk from hazards
• Evaluate risk -likelihood & severity. Existing controls reviewed.
• Record findings
• Review regularly

Question 7

What is a Method Statement?

Answer 7

Shows how you are going to manage the risks in order to meet your legal responsibilities, under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974.

• Approved details the way a work task or process is completed
• Outline hazards involved and step by step guide to completing task safely
• Detail control measures in place

Question 8

Are Risk Assessments and Method Statements legal requirements?

Answer 8

Risk assessment is a legal requirement but a method statement in not.

Question 9

What legislation makes Risk Assessments a legal requirement?

Answer 9

The United Kingdom, the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 is a key piece of legislation. Under this act, employers are required to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of their employees, and this includes conducting risk assessments. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 further details the requirements for risk assessments.

Question 10

How did you carry out the Risk Assessment and Method Statement at Mitcham Gasworks?

Answer 10

1. Identify hazards

Location - relatively busy road
Site security - Needed access code once RAMS approved. Lock site when enter to avoid anyone gaining unauthorized access
Buildings - Electricity sub-stations, PRS, Gas Governor. Telecoms mast
Equipment - no work on site, but PPE required
Materials - contaminated land
Working environment - trip hazards
Deliveries - none

2. Identify people at risk from hazards

Project team

3. Evaluate risk -likelihood & severity. Existing controls reviewed.
   - Low, Medium or High

Low risk
Wear PPE
Suitable parking with zebra crossing access to get to the site

4. Record findings and identify control measures

For each identified risk, you need to state what is the control measure for the risk, who is responsible for the making sure that the measures are put in place and for monitoring them. Check that the measure in place is proportionate to the risk level.

5. Review regularly

Question 11

What do you consider when identifying site risks

Answer 11

1. Site Location
2. Site Security - access / hoarding / lighting
3. Buildings - temporary buildings, demolished structures
4. Equipment - plant, power tools, working with heat, scaffolding, correct fitting and use of PPE
5. Materials - storage of hazardous substances / working with hazardous substances
6. Working environment - working at height, working at depth, working in confined spaces, noise, dust, vibration, trip hazards
7. Deliveries - vehicle access, manual handling

Question 12

What are the different risk levels in a risk register

Answer 12

High Risk - not acceptable. Apply mitigation to eliminate or reduce further risk.

Medium risk - Apply mitigation to eliminate or reduce further risk. If it remains a medium risk, develop robust control measures to limit and manage the effects of hazards.

Low risk - Maybe acceptable if reasonably practical control methods are in place. If more can be done to reduce the risk / eliminate it then it should be.

Question 13

What is included in a method statement

Answer 13

Part 1
- Name of project
- Summary of work
- Address
- Date of works
- Company undertaking work (and persons attending site)
- H&S contacts

Part 2
- First aid procedures – nearest hospital is St George’s Hospital, Tooting
- Work permits (not required)
- Staff training (not required)
- All equipment needed (not required)
- Personal protective Equipment (hard hats, gloves, safety glasses, high-visibility jacket, steel toe cap boots)

Part 3
- Identifying & managing risks – hazards present, step by step instructions how the task should be carried out

Question 14

What is PPE (personal protective equipment)

Answer 14

designed to protect workers and visitors against health or safety risks at work in construction sites.

PPE should be worn at all times when on construction or renovation sites and should be inspected for damage prior to each use. PPE should also match the tasks and hazards involved in the project

Other items can include harnesses, masks, and face shields

Question 15

What personal protective equipment (PPE) should a surveyor consider wearing?

Answer 15

Protective glasses
Gloves
Hard hat / safety helmet
Protective footwear - Steel to cap boots
High-vis vest
(maybe ear defenders)

Question 16

What is the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974?

Answer 16

Key piece of legislation in the United Kingdom that provides the legal framework for ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of employees at work. It applies to all employers and employees.

The Act has been amended and supplemented by various regulations over the years to address specific issues and industries.

Establishes the general duties that employers have to protect the health and safety of their workers, as well as the duties that employees have to cooperate with their employers and take reasonable care of their own safety.

Key points of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 include:

Duty to every employer to ensure, so far as reasonably practical, the health, safety & welfare at work of all employees. - safe working environment, safe systems of work, adequate training and supervision.

And also individuals who are not employees but may be affected by the work activities, such as contractors, visitors, and the public.

Employers must report injuries and dangerous occurrences (1995 regulations)

Employers must complete and review risk assessments (1999 regulations) (Balfour Beatty & Network Rail fined £13.5m after Hatfield crash)

Employees required to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions. They must cooperate with their employers in matters of health and safety and use safety equipment provided.

Allows for the appointment of health and safety representatives and the establishment of safety committees in workplaces with trade union representation.

Detailed Health and Safety information to be held on-site in a H&S file

Enforced by The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) (regulatory body responsible for enforcing health and safety legislation in Great Britain) - criminal offences - fines / prison

Question 17

Who is responsible for enforcing health and safety legislation in Great Britain

Answer 17

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the regulatory body responsible for enforcing health and safety legislation in Great Britain.

The Act provides for the enforcement of regulations, inspections, and the prosecution of offenses (fines / prison)

Question 18

What are an employers responsibilities under the Health and Safety Act 1974?

Answer 18

To ensure, so far as reasonably practical, the health, safety & welfare at work of all employees. - safe working environment, safe systems of work, adequate training and supervision.

To look after the Health and Safety of individuals who are not employees but may be affected by the work activities, such as contractors, visitors, and the public.

Must report injuries and dangerous occurrences (1995 regulations)

Must complete and review risk assessments (1999 regulations) (Balfour Beatty & Network Rail fined £13.5m after Hatfield crash)

Allows for the appointment of health and safety representatives and the establishment of safety committees in workplaces with trade union representation.

Question 19

What is the current edition of the Surveying safely RICS guidance note / professional standard?

Answer 19

The surveying safely RICS guidance note ( 2nd edition, November 2018)
Effective from February 2019. This has since been updated to a Professional Standard

Question 20

What guidance did the RICS release on good practice principals for the management of health and safety in RICS regulated firms and for RICS members?

Answer 20

RICS Surveying safely Guidance Note 2018 (now a professional standard)

Question 21

What is the purpose of the RICS Surveying Safely Guidance Note (2018)?

Answer 21

Sets out basic, good practice principles for the management of health and safety for RICS-regulated firms and RICS members. It sets out principles for those engaged in the built environment as property professionals and includes health and safety responsibilities.

It places responsibilities on:

1. RICS-regulated firms (a safe working environment, safe work equipment, safe systems of work and competent staff)
2. Individual RICS members (Competence, training, knowledge, equipment, safe systems of work, instruction)
3. Incorporates the Safe Person Concept - responsibility for their own, their colleagues’ and others’ health and safety while at work.

It covers property-related businesses and identifies the moral, ethical and practical issues that confront RICS-regulated firms and RICS members everywhere, in all the work that they undertake.

Question 22

What does Surveying safely: health and safety principles for property professionals cover?

Answer 22

1 Personal responsibilities for RICS members and corporate
responsibilities for RICS-regulated firms
2 Relevance to RICS professional groups
3 Assessing hazards and risks
4 RICS members’ places of work
5 Occupational hygiene and health
6 Visiting premises or sites
7 Fire safety
8 Residential property surveying
9 General procurement and management of contractors

Question 23

What corporate responsibilities do RICS-regulated firms have under the RICS Surveying Safely Guidance Note (2018)?

Answer 23

Regardless of size, all RICS-regulated firms have a responsibility to put in place the framework rules within which their employees are to operate.

RICS-regulated firms should inform employees of the rules, policies and procedures and support them in carrying them out.

RICS-regulated firms are obliged to ensure the health, safety and welfare of people at work by providing, monitoring and maintaining:

• a safe working environment
• safe work equipment
• safe systems of work and
• competent staff.

Question 24

What influences an individuals ability to deal with incidents?

Answer 24

Individuals’ ability to deal with incident comes from competence (skills, knowledge, training and experience) and availability of clear information.

Knowledge comes from:
* appropriate training
* keeping up to date with relevant information
* personal experience

Question 25

What is the safe person concept?

Answer 25

RICS considers the concept of a ‘safe person’ to mean that each individual assumes individual behavioural responsibility for their own, their colleagues’ and others’ health and safety while at work.

Question 26

What does CSCS stand for?

Answer 26

Construction Skills Certification Scheme

Question 27

What are possible hazards from Lone Working?

Answer 27

• Risk of encountering violence or aggression
• Personal injury or illness and lack of support or assistance

Question 28

Why do companies have Lone Working Policies?

Answer 28

Establishes practices for lone working and the proactive approach to risk removal and reduction for Personal Safety Work. Requires employees to:

• Risk assessment completed
• Keep online diaries up to date
• Check existing systems for relevant risk information -consider risks associated with the site
• Utilise the buddy system or provided lone worker device for all lone working situations.
• Report accidents or incidents of aggression or deficiencies in lone worker systems or devices.

Question 29

Under the RICS Surveying Safely Guidance Note (2018) what obligations do RICS-regulated firms have?

Answer 29

RICS-regulated firms are obliged to ensure the health, safety and welfare of people at work by providing, monitoring and maintaining:

• a safe working environment
• safe work equipment
• safe systems of work and
• competent staff

Question 30

What is Clarion’s Zero Incident Pledge

Answer 30

A programme demonstrating Clarion’s commitment to upholding the utmost diligence in relation to health, safety and wellbeing.

For employees:
there is a behavioral safety programme teaching employees to have a collective mindset to avoid accident or injury.
Employees are then expected to consider the ZIP learnings as follows:

ZIP code is “Always Safe, Never Sorry” and work within a ZIP environment where there is a collective mindset that seeks to avoid accident or injury of any severity or frequency, affecting anyone in that company.

Doing something safely becomes the same as doing it right and is ranked with equal importance

ZIP requires a commitment from staff and all staff should be responsible for the wellbeing of everyone else

Contractors and sub-contractors need to provide details of any similar behavioural programmes relating to Health, Safety and Wellbeing in their organisations.

If an organisation does not have such a programme, they will be expected to adopt Latimer’s Zero Incident Pledge programme and its corresponding requirements (e.g. training attendance).

Question 31

What regulation requires the reporting of work place injuries, near misses and cases of work-related disease

Answer 31

Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) published in 1995 last updated in 2013

Question 32

Who is responsible for making reports under RIDDOR?

Answer 32

Only ‘responsible persons’ including employers, the self-employed and people in control of work premises should submit reports

Question 33

What types of injuries are responsible under RIDDOR?

Answer 33

Specified injuries to workers: List of “specified injuries” to workers (regulation 4) – includes fractures (other than to fingers, thumbs and toes), any loss of consciousness caused by head injury or asphyxia, any injury likely to lead to permanent loss of sight or reduction in sight

Accidents must be reported where they result in an employee or self-employed person being away from work, or unable to perform their normal work duties, for more than seven consecutive days as the result of their injury. This seven day period does not include the day of the accident, but does include weekends and rest days. The report must be made within 15 days of the accident.

Question 34

When do accidents need to be reported under RIDDOR?

Answer 34

Over 3 days incapacitation of a worker - Accidents must be recorded, but not reported where they result in a worker being incapacitated for more than three consecutive days.

Over 7 days incapacitation of a worker - employee / self-employed person is away from work, for more than seven consecutive days as the result of their injury. Does not include the day of the accident, but does include weekends and rest days. The report must be made within 15 days of the accident.

Non fatal accidents to non-workers (eg members of the public)

Accidents to members of the public or others who are not at work must be reported if they result in an injury and the person is taken directly from the scene of the accident to hospital for treatment to that injury.
There is no need to report incidents where people are taken to hospital purely as a precaution when no injury is apparent.

Occupational Diseases

Employers and self-employed people must report diagnoses of certain occupational diseases, where these are likely to have been caused or made worse by their work e.g. severe cramp of the hand or forearm or occupational asthma
Dangerous occurrences

Dangerous occurrences are certain, specified near-miss events. Not all such events require reporting. There are 27 categories of dangerous occurrences that are relevant to most workplaces, for example:

the collapse, overturning or failure of load-bearing parts of lifts and lifting equipment;

plant or equipment coming into contact with overhead power lines;

the accidental release of any substance which could cause injury to any person.

Additional categories of dangerous occurrences apply to mines, quarries, offshore workplaces and relevant transport systems (railways etc).

Question 35

What does CDM stand for?

Answer 35

Construction Design and Management (CDM) Regulations 2015

Question 36

What do CDM rules apply to?

Answer 36

All types of construction projects. No matter how big or small, how short or long.

Question 37

What is the purpose of CDM?

Answer 37

The purpose of the CDM regulations is to make construction work safer - and focuses the project team on the health and safety aspect of the project.

It does this by placing duties on virtually everyone involved with construction work.
- Clients
- contractors (principle contractor and other contractors) and
- designers (principle designer and other designers)
all have to get involved with health and safety, to help improve the planning and management of projects, and identify hazards.

Question 38

Who are the duty holders under CDM?

Answer 38

1. Client
2. Principle Designer (PD)
3. and Principal Contractor (PC)
4. Designers
5. Contractors

Question 39

Who are the two main duty holders under CDM?

Answer 39

The two main duty holders will take charge of CDM at different stages of your project.

The principal designer is in overall control of designers and the pre-construction phase.

The principal contractor is in overall control of the contractors and the construction phase.

Question 40

When were the CDM regulations first introduced?

Answer 40

The CDM regulations were first introduced in 1994. But they have been through a few changes since then, once in 2007, and again in 2015.

While some of the requirements have been adjusted and developed, the overall aim stays the same. To improve health and safety in construction.

Question 41

What is a Clients responsibilities and duties under CDM Regulations?

Answer 41

Responsibilities and duties include:

Phase 1 - Pre-construction
1. Appointing Project Roles - if more that one contractor will need to appoint PD and PC roles. If not, the Client takes on these roles
2. Prepare a Client Brief - before project begins
3. Allow sufficient time and resources - to complete the project safety
4. Provide Pre-construction information (PCI)
5. Notify HSE of the project (F10) - 30 working days with 20+ workers at any one time or 500+ person worker days
6. Check PD is carrying out duties - meetings / reports / site reviews etc

Phase 2 -Construction Phase Plan (CPP)
1. Client should check that the PC is carrying out their duties -reasonable steps -meetings/reports/reviews/site visits
2. H&S file -Fire Safety -Client retains this following project completion

Phase 3 – Completion, post completion
1. Check H&S info has been completed -including Reg 38 Fire Safety info
2. Risk assessments for building carried out
3. PD to present completed H&S file
4. Selling the site -pass on the H&S file

Question 42

Who is the Client under CDM Regulations?

Answer 42

The client is the individual or organisation for whom the construction project is being carried out. Can be domestic or commerical.

Question 43

What is a Principle Designers role and responsibilities and duties under CDM Regulations?

Answer 43

The Principal Designer will take the lead during the pre-construction phase of the project, so they should have vast technical construction knowledge and experience.

Responsibilities and duties include:
1. Helping the Client set up the Project
2. Advise Clients about Time and Resources Needed
3. Help the Client Bring Together Pre-Construction Information
4. Eliminate Foreseeable Risks
5. Liaise with the Principal Contractor and Other Designers
6. Take Charge of the Health and Safety File

Question 44

What is a Principle Contractor role and responsibilities and duties under CDM Regulations?

Answer 44

The Principal Contractor takes the lead during the construction phase. Clients should appoint this role to a contractor with the necessary skills, experience, and training to manage the construction while ensuring health and safety standards are met. The Principal Contractor will have all of the same responsibilities as contractors, plus a few more:

1. Consider All Health and Safety Risks
2. Liaise with the Client and Principal Designer
3. Prepare a Construction Phase Plan
4. Provide Welfare Facilities
5. Manage Contractors and Workers

Question 45

What are Designers role and responsibilities and duties under CDM Regulations?

Answer 45

Designers are any individuals or organisations that provide or alter designs for a project. They might be architects, engineers, interior designers, or surveyors.

Responsibilities and duties include:
1. Take Pre-construction Information into Account
2. Make Sure the Client Knows Their Responsibilities
3. Consider Risks When Creating Designs
4. Provide Design Information

Question 46

What are Contractor role and responsibilities and duties under CDM Regulations?

Answer 46

Responsibilities and duties include:

1. Ensure Clients Know Their Responsibilities — Even though other duty holders are also required to check that clients know their responsibilities, contactors also need to make sure of this.
2. Manage Workers — Contractors need to make sure that any workers have the necessary training, skills, knowledge and experience. They will plan, manage and monitor work carried out, and ensure workers understand health and safety hazards and risk management expectations.
3. Prevent Unauthorised Access — Before any construction work begins, contractors need to ensure the site is secure and that restrictions have been put in place to prevent unauthorised access. This is important as unauthorised personnel on-site can be a huge health and safety risk.

Question 47

What is RIDDOR and what is important about it?

Answer 47

Reporting Injuries diseases and dangerous occurrences regulations (1995)

Have to report incidents if a worker is out of work for 7 days

Report to HSE within 15 days

Keep on record 3 years

Question 48

What is the difference between a hazard and a risk?

Answer 48

A hazard is something that can cause harm, e.g. electricity, chemicals, working up a ladder, noise, a keyboard, a bully at work, stress, etc.

A risk is the chance, high or low, that any hazard will actually cause somebody harm

Question 49

What do you do before visiting site?

Answer 49

Whilst attending any site I ensure I follow all Health & Safety requirements including wearing correct PPE and signing in and out.

Let others know of my whereabouts, follow any site introductions, adhere to signs / any laid out foot paths

Question 50

What steps have you taken to implement health and safety at work?

Question 51

Who policies the Health and safety Act?

Answer 51

Health and safety executive

Question 52

What is an F10 form

Answer 52

F10 is the code given to the form you need to use to notify the HSE about a construction project (under CDM).

F10 required before construction starts -for sites longer than 30 days with 20+ workers at any one time of if the project lasts more than 500 person days

Question 53

Where are Health and Safety goals set out under CDM Regulations

Answer 53

In the the Client Brief

Question 54

What does the Management of Health and Safety at Work act 1999 do?

Answer 54

Placed a duty on employers to assess and manage risks to their employees and others, arising from work activities.

Question 55

How do employers manage the health and safety of their employers, as per the Management of health and Safety at Work Act 1999?

Answer 55

Through the Risk Assessments and Method Statements.

Question 56

What is asbestos?

Answer 56

A fibrous form of natural material, that doesn’t rot, is insoluble and non-flammable.

Question 57

What regulations are in place to deal with Asbestos?

Answer 57

Control of Asbestos Regulations (2012) - aimed at controlling the exposure to asbestos as well as managing asbestos that is present in buildings which were built several years ago.

Question 58

Do RICS have any documents covering asbestos?

Answer 58

RICS Asbestos UK Guidance Note (2021) - now a Professional Standard

Sets out the different types of asbestos, the two types of surveys

Question 59

When have you complied with CDM regulations in your role?