NVQ Diploma in Bricklaying (Construction) Health, Safety and Welfare in Construction Syllabus

Health, Safety and Welfare in Construction syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Health, Safety and Welfare in Construction in NVQ Diploma in Bricklaying (Construction), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Legislation and Regulatory Framework

   4 topics

   • Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
     • Duties of employers and employees
     • Enforcement by the HSE and improvement/prohibition notices
   • Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM)
     • Roles: client, principal designer, principal contractor
     • Construction phase plan and site induction
   • Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)
     • Silica dust, cement and lime hazards
     • COSHH assessments and safety data sheets
   • Reporting under RIDDOR
     • Reportable injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences
2. 2

   Risk Assessment and Safe Systems of Work

   4 topics

   • Identifying hazards and the five-step risk assessment
     • Hierarchy of control measures
   • Method statements (RAMS)
   • Permits to work and exclusion zones
   • Toolbox talks and dynamic risk assessment
3. 3

   Personal Protective Equipment and Site Welfare

   4 topics

   • Selection and use of PPE
     • Head, eye, hearing and respiratory protection (RPE)
     • Hi-vis, gloves and safety footwear
   • Welfare facilities under Schedule 2 of CDM
   • Manual handling and kinetic lifting technique
   • Hand-arm vibration (HAVS) and noise exposure limits
4. 4

   Site Hazards and Emergency Procedures

   5 topics

   • Working at height and fall prevention
     • Scaffold safety and the scaffold tag system
     • Ladders, hop-ups and mobile towers
   • Electrical safety and 110V site equipment
   • Fire prevention, classes of fire and extinguisher types
   • First aid, accident response and emergency evacuation
   • Excavations, confined spaces and underground services

Health, Safety and Welfare in Construction flashcards for NVQ Diploma in Bricklaying (Construction)

25 of 63 cards from the Health, Safety and Welfare in Construction deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is the primary purpose of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA)?

   It is the main piece of UK legislation (the 'umbrella' Act) that places a general duty on employers, employees and others to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of people at work and those affected by work activities.

2. Under HASAWA 1974, what does Section 2 require of employers?

   Section 2 requires employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of all their employees — including safe plant and systems of work, safe handling/storage of substances, information, instruction, training and supervision, and a safe workplace and environment.

3. What three main duties does Section 7 of HASAWA 1974 place on employees?

   To take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others affected by their acts or omissions; to co-operate with the employer on health and safety matters; and not to interfere with or misuse anything provided for health, safety or welfare.

4. What does the phrase 'so far as is reasonably practicable' mean in health and safety law?

   It means weighing the level of risk against the time, cost and effort (trouble) needed to control it. If the risk is small compared to the sacrifice required, you need not take the measure; if the risk is high, more must be done to control it.

5. Which body enforces health and safety law on most UK construction sites, and what powers do its inspectors have?

   The Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Inspectors can enter premises, inspect, take samples/photos, issue Improvement and Prohibition Notices, and prosecute for breaches.

6. What is the difference between an Improvement Notice and a Prohibition Notice?

   An Improvement Notice requires a breach to be put right within a set time period. A Prohibition Notice stops a dangerous activity immediately (or after a stated time) where there is a risk of serious personal injury.

7. What do the CDM Regulations 2015 stand for, and what is their aim?

   Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. They aim to improve health and safety by ensuring it is considered and managed throughout all stages of a construction project — from concept and design through to construction, maintenance and demolition.

8. Name the five duty holders defined under CDM 2015.

   Client, Principal Designer, Principal Contractor, Designer and Contractor (with Workers also having duties).

9. Under CDM 2015, when must a project be notified to the HSE (form F10)?

   When construction work is scheduled to last longer than 30 working days with more than 20 workers on site at any one time, OR exceeds 500 person-days of work.

10. What document must the Principal Contractor prepare before the construction phase begins under CDM 2015?

    The Construction Phase Plan (CPP), which sets out the health and safety arrangements, site rules and control measures for managing the construction work.

11. What is the Health and Safety File under CDM 2015 and who compiles it?

    A record of information for the client about the structure that will be needed for future construction, maintenance, cleaning, refurbishment or demolition work. The Principal Designer prepares and updates it, handing it to the client at the end.

12. What does COSHH stand for and what does it cover?

    Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. It covers controlling exposure to hazardous substances such as dusts (e.g. silica), fumes, gases, vapours, mists, chemicals and biological agents to prevent ill health.

13. List the typical steps an employer must follow to comply with COSHH.

    Assess the risks; decide what precautions are needed; prevent or adequately control exposure; ensure control measures are used and maintained; monitor exposure; carry out health surveillance where needed; and provide information, instruction and training.

14. What is a Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL) under COSHH?

    The maximum concentration of an airborne hazardous substance, averaged over a reference period, to which workers may be exposed by inhalation. It is expressed as a time-weighted average (TWA) over 8 hours (long-term) or 15 minutes (short-term).

15. On a construction site, why is respirable crystalline silica (RCS) a key COSHH concern for bricklayers?

    Cutting, drilling or grinding brick, block, concrete and stone releases fine respirable silica dust, which can cause silicosis, lung cancer and COPD. Its WEL is low ($0.1\ \text{mg/m}^3$ 8-hour TWA), so dust must be controlled by water suppression or on-tool extraction and RPE.

16. What does RIDDOR stand for?

    Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013.

17. Under RIDDOR 2013, which injuries to workers must be reported?

    Deaths; specified injuries (e.g. fractures other than fingers/thumbs/toes, amputations, loss of sight, crush injuries, serious burns, scalpings, loss of consciousness from head injury/asphyxia); and any injury causing a worker to be incapacitated for more than 7 consecutive days (over-seven-day injury).

18. What is the reporting time limit for an over-seven-day injury under RIDDOR?

    It must be reported within 15 days of the accident. (The 7 days of incapacitation do not include the day of the accident but do include weekends/rest days.)

19. Give two examples of a 'dangerous occurrence' that is reportable under RIDDOR even if no one is injured.

    Examples include the collapse or overturning of lifting equipment (e.g. a crane), the collapse of scaffolding over 5 m high, an unintended collapse of a structure or excavation, an electrical short circuit causing fire/explosion, and accidental release of a substance that could cause harm.

20. What is the difference between a hazard and a risk?

    A hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm (e.g. a trailing cable). A risk is the likelihood that the hazard will cause harm, combined with the severity of that harm (e.g. someone tripping over the cable and breaking a leg).

21. List the five steps of a risk assessment as set out by the HSE.

    1) Identify the hazards; 2) Decide who might be harmed and how; 3) Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions; 4) Record your findings and implement them; 5) Review the assessment and update if necessary.

22. In a risk assessment, how is a numerical risk rating commonly calculated?

    Risk rating is calculated as likelihood multiplied by severity: $R = L \times S$, where each factor is scored (e.g. 1 to 5). A higher product indicates a higher-priority risk requiring greater control.

23. What is the hierarchy of control measures (in order of preference)?

    Eliminate the hazard; Substitute with something less hazardous; Engineering controls (e.g. guards, extraction); Administrative controls (e.g. safe systems, training, signage); and PPE as the last resort.

24. What does RAMS stand for, and what is the relationship between the two documents?

    Risk Assessment and Method Statement. The risk assessment identifies and evaluates hazards; the method statement explains the step-by-step safe system of work used to carry out the task while controlling those risks.

25. What key information should a method statement contain?

    A description of the task and sequence of operations, the hazards and control measures, plant/equipment and materials to be used, PPE required, personnel and their competencies/responsibilities, emergency arrangements, and any permits required.

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