Test

Know the principles of risk assessment for maintaining and improving health and safety at work.
State the purpose of risk assessments and method statements.

Risk assessment: An assessment of actual and potential hazards. Highlights who might be affected and the potential severity.

Method statement: Produced following the findings of a risk assessment. It gives a list of tasks to be undertaken in a logical sequence

State the legal requirements of risk assessments and method statements.

Legal requirements: Risk assessments are a requirement under the management of Health & Safety regulations. A method statement provides a safe system of work. Employers have a legal requirement to implement both whilst employees have a responsibility to follow both.

State common causes of work-related: fatalities injuries.

Fatalities: eg, being struck by moving objects, falls from height, electrocution etc

Injuries: eg slips, trips, falls, being struck by a moving object, manual handling injuries.

State the implications of not preventing accidents and ill health at work.

  • Implications: for the individual, for the organisation and for the general public. Implications might include for example, legal costs or reputational damage.

State the meaning of the following in relation to health and safety at work: accident near miss hazard risk competence.
  • Accident: An unplanned event that leads to damage, harm or loss.
  • Near miss: An unplanned event that could potentially lead to damage, harm or loss
  • Hazard: Something with the potential to cause harm
  • Risk: The likelihood of harm occurring
  • Competence: The ability, skills or knowledge to carry out a task.
List typical hazards and potential risks associated with the following: resources equipment obstructions storage services wastes work activities.
  • Resources: Materials including solvents, paints, cement dust can cause hazard from inhalation. Flammable materials can cause fire or explosion. Heavy materials including bricks, wood, blocks and girders can cause impact injuries.
  • Equipment: Tools and machinery may cause impact injuries, entanglement or electrical shock.
  • Obstructions: Trips or falls due to poorly positioned materials. Blocked access to emergency vehicles.
  • Storage: Impact injuries due to badly stacked materials. Fire or explosion due to incorrectly stored flammable materials.
  • Services: Risk of contact with electrical services – directly or with tools or equipment. Risk of explosion due to gas services.
  • Wastes: Slips, trips or falls due to discarded waste. Risk of impact injury from overloaded skips. Cuts and abrasions from incorrectly disposed sharp objects.
  • Work activities: Poor manual handling techniques, failure to observe basic Health & Safety protocols, failure to wear correct PPE.
State the importance of reporting accidents and near misses.

  • Importance: It is a legal requirement. Reporting and recording also allows for the identification of factors that caused the accident or near miss therefore facilitating the implementation of future control measures.

State typical accident reporting procedures.

  • Procedures: All accidents and injuries must be recorded. If the incident is RIDDOR reportable, the appropriate document must be completed and sent to HSE.

State who is responsible for making accident reports.

  • Responsible: Anyone can report accidents but they should ideally be completed by the casualty, the first aider (if attended) or a supervisor.

State the purpose of dynamic risk assessments.

Purpose: A dynamic risk assessment is the continuous, real-time process of identifying hazards and assessing risks as they evolve during a work activity. To identify hazards, evaluate risks and implement control measures in real time as situations evolve, allowing for immediate safety decisions when conditions change rapidly or unexpectedly. It enables workers to proactively manage new risks on-site, such as changing weather, equipment failure, or environmental dangers, ensuring safety when static, pre planned assessments are no longer sufficient.

Know the importance of safe manual handling in the workplace.
State the reasons for ensuring safe manual handling in the workplace.

  • Reasons: To reduce the risk of injury to self. To reduce the risk of injury to others. To avoid damage to goods or equipment.

State the potential injuries and ill health that may occur from incorrect manual handling.

  • Injuries and ill health: Musculoskeletal injuries, crush injuries, cuts and abrasions

State the employee’s responsibilities under current legislation and official guidance for: moving and storing materials manual handling mechanical lifting.
  • Moving and storing materials: Lifting or moving aids should be used wherever possible. Materials should be stored safely and appropriately. Flammable materials must be stored away from sources of ignition.
  • Manual handling: Follow safe systems of work, report any potential concerns, obtain help from other personnel if possible.
  • Mechanical lifting: Users must be suitably trained to operate equipment. Equipment must be checked for suitability before use. User must report any defects in equipment.
State the procedures for safe lifting in accordance with official guidance.

  • Procedures: Only use manual lifting if there is no other alternative. Plan the route, assess load before handling, use safe lifting technique.

State the importance of using site safety equipment when handling materials and equipment.

  • Importance: The use of equipment reduces the risk of injury to self and others and reduces the risk of damage to goods and equipment.

List aids available to assist manual handling in the workplace.

  • Aids: Suitable aids could include, sack barrows, pallet trucks, flatbed trollies, wheelbarrows, brick carriers, gin wheels.

State how to apply safe work practices, follow procedures and report problems when carrying out safe manual handling in the workplace.

Apply: Follow the method statement, use a safe lifting technique, follow manufacturers’ instructions when using aids, report any concerns.