Health and safety Flashcards
(15 cards)
What is CDM?
Construction (Design and Management) Regulations
Came into effect in the UK in 1994 and were updated in 2015
What is the purpose of CDM?
Is the main set of regulations for managing the health, safety, and welfare of construction projects. They outline the responsibilities of various duty holders involved in a construction project to ensure that health and safety considerations are integrated into the design and management of the work.
What is the responsibility of the main contractor under CDM regulations?
- Under CDM regulations, the main contractor, or principal contractor, is primarily responsible for planning, managing, monitoring, and coordinating the entire construction phase. This includes ensuring the safety of all those affected by the work, coordinating between contractors, and enforcing compliance with the construction phase plan.Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the principal contractor’s responsibilities:
○ Planning and Management:
They must plan and manage the construction phase to ensure it’s carried out safely, considering all potential risks. This includes preparing a construction phase plan outlining health and safety arrangements and site rules.
○ Coordination:
They are responsible for coordinating the work of all contractors involved in the project and ensuring they cooperate effectively.
○ Monitoring and Enforcement:
They must monitor the work to ensure it complies with the construction phase plan and that health and safety standards are maintained.
○ Compliance:
They must ensure all contractors under their control comply with legal requirements for health and safety, the construction phase plan, and any direction from the principal designer.
○ Induction and Welfare:
They are responsible for providing suitable site inductions and ensuring adequate welfare facilities for workers.
○ Access Control:
They must take reasonable steps to prevent unauthorized access to the site.
○ Communication and Collaboration:
They must liaise with the client and principal designer, sharing relevant information and consulting with workers.
○ Information for the Health and Safety File:
They must provide the principal designer with information relevant to the health and safety file.
○ Applying the Principles of Prevention:
They must ensure that the principles of prevention are applied throughout the construction phase.
What is the responsibility of the subcontractor under CDM regulations?
Under CDM regulations, subcontractors have a duty to plan, manage, and monitor the construction work they are responsible for, ensuring it is carried out without risks to health and safety. This includes coordinating health and safety matters, providing necessary information and instructions to their workers, and ensuring they have the necessary skills and training.
What is the health and safety act?
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HASAWA) is the primary legislation in the UK that sets out the general duties for employers, employees, and self-employed individuals to ensure a safe workplace. It establishes a framework for promoting and enforcing workplace health and safety, requiring employers to protect the health, safety, and welfare of their employees and others who may be affected by their work.
Can you summarise the key duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974?
Yes. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is the primary piece of legislation covering occupational health and safety in the UK. Under the Act:
Employers must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare of employees. This includes providing safe systems of work, maintaining safe plant and equipment, and giving relevant information and training.
Employees are required to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others, and to cooperate with their employer in implementing safety measures.
The Act also extends responsibilities to others affected by work activities, such as contractors, visitors, and the general public
What are your responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 as a Quantity Surveyor?
As a QS, while I may not be directly responsible for implementing safety measures on-site, I still have legal and professional duties under the Act. These include:
-Ensuring that health and safety is accounted for in cost planning, such as pricing for temporary works, PPE, or safety training.
-Reviewing contractor method statements and ensuring compliance with safety-related tender documentation.
-Encouraging value-engineered solutions that do not compromise safety.
-Supporting compliance with the CDM Regulations 2015, which sit under the HSWA, by liaising with the Principal Designer and other duty holders to ensure health and safety is considered during design and procurement stages
How do you ensure that health and safety is considered during the tendering process?
I ensure health and safety is embedded into tendering by:
-Including relevant clauses in the preliminaries of the tender documents that outline H&S requirements, such as site-specific risk assessments or accident reporting protocols.
-Reviewing contractor health and safety policies, accreditations (e.g. CHAS or SMAS), and performance history as part of the tender evaluation.
-Checking that contractors allocate sufficient resources for safety, such as site safety officers or training.
-Ensuring method statements and risk assessments are submitted before work commences and reviewed for compliance
How does the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 relate to the CDM Regulations 2015?
The CDM Regulations 2015 are made under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and provide a more detailed framework for managing health and safety throughout construction projects. The HSWA provides the overarching duty of care, while the CDM Regulations define specific responsibilities for duty holders—such as clients, designers, and contractors.
Have you ever had to deal with a health and safety issue on-site? What was your role?
What is the Health and Safety File, and who produces it?
The Health and Safety File is a document required under CDM 2015 that provides information for future use, maintenance, or alterations of the building. It includes:
As-built drawings
Product specifications
Details of any hazardous materials
Safety procedures for demolition or maintenance
It is produced by the Principal Designer and handed over to the Client at project completion
When must a project be notified to the HSE, and who is responsible?
A project must be notified to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) if it:
-Lasts longer than 30 working days and has more than 20 workers simultaneously at any point,
or
-Exceeds 500 person-days of construction work
The Client is responsible for notifying the HSE using an F10 form.
What are your responsibilities as a Quantity Surveyor under CDM 2015?
While I’m not a statutory duty holder under CDM, I have an important supporting role. I help by:
-Ensuring that health and safety provisions are included in the preliminaries and cost plans
-Supporting the Client in meeting their duties by advising on resource allocation for H&S
-Reviewing contractor RAMS and competency as part of tender evaluations
E-nsuring allowances are made for the Health and Safety File and Construction Phase Plan
-Encouraging collaboration between the design team and contractors to reduce residual risk
What are the main duties of a Client under CDM 2015?
The Client has significant responsibilities and must:
-Appoint a Principal Designer and Principal Contractor in writing for projects involving more than one contractor
-Ensure that those appointed are competent
-Provide pre-construction information
-Ensure that adequate time and resources are allocated
-Ensure a Construction Phase Plan is prepared before work begins
-Ensure a Health and Safety File is produced at the end of the projec
What are the key objectives of the CDM Regulations 2015?
The key objective of the CDM Regulations is to improve health and safety in the construction industry by integrating it into the project lifecycle from the very beginning. It does this by:
-Ensuring that health and safety is considered during planning, design, and construction
-Clearly defining legal duties for Clients, Principal Designers, Principal Contractors, and others
-Encouraging cooperation and coordination among duty holders
-Ensuring competent teams and clear communication of risks
