The Health & Safety competency is applicable to all APC candidates and forms part of the 11 mandatory competencies which are considered as the essential skills required of all chartered surveyors. Health & Safety is required at level 1 and level 2 meaning that candidates must demonstrate their knowledge and understanding as well as their own practical experience. From my experience of helping colleagues pass their APC over the last 9 years, the following Questions & Answers have helped around 90% of my colleagues pass their APC first time.
The following Questions & Answers are all focused on the Health & Safety competency
Question) Are you aware of any guidance the RICS produce concerning Health & Safety?
Answer) The RICS produce the professional standard, ‘Surveying Safely 2nd Edition’. This sets out good principles for the management of health and safety for RICS regulated firms and RICS members.
Question) Please explain your understanding of the term HSE?
Answer) HSE stands for the Health & Safety Executive, this is the UK national authority for managing work related health, safety and illness issues. They act in the public interest to reduce work related injuries and incidents. Their aim is to protect people’s health and safety by ensuring that risks are properly managed. They also support businesses to change and adapt in order to remain compliant with occupational health and safety legislation.
Question) What is the considerate constructor’s scheme?
Answer) The Considerate Constructor’s Scheme is a non-for-profit independent organisation founded in 1997 to improve the image of the construction industry. It encourages contractors and their supply chain to implement best practice procedures for site operations and engagement with surrounding communities. Initiatives include promoting cleanliness of building sites, minimisation of noise pollution and engagement with local communities.
Question) What would you do first if you find an injured person on site?
Answer) I would assess the situation first without putting myself in immediate danger. I would then call the emergency services if the injury is serious and raise the alarm to call for help.
Question) What would you find in the Construction Phase Plan?
Answer) The Construction Phase Plan would include:-
- A description of the project.
- Management of the site working procedures including:-
- Site inductions.
- Training.
- Welfare facilities.
- Design coordination.
- Site rules.
- Emergency procedures.
- Arrangements for controlling significant site risks such as:-
- Handling of deliveries.
- Working at height.
- Deep excavations.
- Preventing falls.
- Maintenance of plant and equipment.
- Removal of asbestos.
Question) What would you find in the H&S File?
Answer) The H&S File contains H&S information that would be useful for the planning of future works or maintenance and typically includes:-
- A brief description of the work carried out.
- Any residual hazards which remain and how they have been dealt with for example information concerning asbestos, contaminated land, water bearing strata and buried services.
- Key structural principles for example bracings, sources of substantial stored energy and hazardous materials such as lead paint, pesticides and special coatings.
- Health and safety information about equipment provided for cleaning or maintaining the structure.
Question) What is an F10 and what does it contain?
Answer) The F10 form is used to notify the HSE of the project. Key information contained within the F10 includes:-
- The Address of the Construction Site.
- The name of the local authority where the site is located.
- A brief description of the project and the construction work it entails.
- Contact details for the client, lead designer and principal contractor.
- An indication of the time allowed by the client for the principal contractor to plan and prepare for the construction works.
- A planned date for project commencement.
- A duration of the construction phase.
- The number of people at work on site at any one time.
Question) What does RIDDOR stand for?
Answer) RIDDOR stands for the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations. RIDDOR requires the ‘responsible person’ to notify any death, reportable injury, disease or dangerous occurrence to the HSE. This is carried out either on-line or by phone for death and serious injuries.
Question) What incidents are reportable under RIDDOR?
Answer) Reportable incidents include:-
- Death.
- Major injuries for example loss of consciousness or loss of a limb.
- Occupational diseases.
- Dangerous occurrences such as explosions, structure collapse and gas incidents.
Question) Who must report incitements under RIDDOR?
Answer) The responsible person which is either the employer or the person in charge of the site. Members of the public, injured people and staff should report incidents to the responsible person. They can contact the HSE if they are concerned it has not been reported but they cannot report it themselves.
Question) What does COSHH stand for?
Answer) COSHH stands for Control of Substances Hazardous to Health. The aim of the regulations is to avoid exposure to hazardous substances or if not possible, to control exposure by measures that are proportionate to the health risk.
Question) What H&S precautions do you take when visiting a construction site?
Answer) I ensure that I wear the necessary PPE including:-
- Hard Hat.
- High Viz Vest.
- Boots.
- Gloves.
- Eye Protection.
- Ear protection.
I also ensure that I have had a site induction, signed in and made myself known to the site team.
Question) Who do you inform that you are going on site?
Answer) I always sign in on site using the sign in book and check in with the site manager to gain an understanding of any key health and safety issues. I make sure my manager is kept aware of my movements.
Question) What does PPE stand for?
Answer) Personal Protective Equipment.
Question) You have passed the CSCS test, how did it benefit you?
Answer) It made me aware of health and safety issues and is a requirement for me to access construction sites.
Question) What does CSCS stand for?
Answer) Construction Skills Certification Scheme.
Question) On the project described in your critical analysis, what measures did you or your company take to ensure good standards of health and safety when either undertaking your work or delivering the project?
Answer) As part of my firms health & safety working procedures, the following items are put in place to ensure good standards of health and safety are achieved:-
- Preparation of work risk assessments.
- Wearing of personal protective equipment on site.
- Adhering to contractor’s site rules.
- Attending site inductions.
- Ensuring health and safety is discussed at meetings.
- Reporting of visible risks.
Question) What is a risk assessment?
Answer) A risk assessment is a careful examination of what hazards in your line of work could cause harm to people. This is to establish whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent potential harm. The law does not expect all risk to be eliminated but you are required to protect people as far as ‘reasonably practicable’.
Question) What are the 5 steps to risk assessment?
Answer)
- Step 1 – Identify the hazards.
- Step 2 – Decide who might be harmed and how.
- Step 3 – Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions.
- Step 4 – Record your findings and implement them.
- Step 5 – Review your assessment and update if necessary.
Question) What is the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974?
Answer) It is the primary piece legislation for H&S in the UK. It established both the Health and Safety Commission (research) and the Health and Safety Executive (enforcement). The Main Objectives of the act are:-
- Securing the health, safety and welfare of persons at work.
- Protecting persons other than persons at work against risks to health or safety arising out of or in connection with the activities of persons at work.
- Controlling the keeping and use of explosive or highly flammable or otherwise dangerous substances and generally preventing the unlawful acquisition, possession and use of such substances.
Key points requirements of the act include:-
- Employers are required to have a written H&S policy if they have more than 5 employees.
- Health & Safety training needs to be provided.
- Risk assessments need to be undertaken.
- A safe place of work must be provided.
- Employers need to assess risks associated with display screens and workstations
Question) What kinds of incidents are the causation of most deaths within the construction industry?
Answer) Falls from height.
Question) What is the biggest cause of long-term health issues in the construction industry?
Answer) Breathing in Hazardous Dust and Fumes.
Question) What does the Beaufort Scale measure?
Answer) The Beaufort Scale is used to measure windspeed which is important when working on site.
Question) When are visitors most likely to have an accident on a construction site?
Answer) When they make their first visit to a new site.
RICS APC Health & Safety Questions & Answers PDF
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