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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

What is a permit to work and when is it used?

A formal written document authorising specific high-risk work (e.g. hot works, confined space entry, work on live electrics, excavations). It records the controls, who may do the work, the time limits, and requires sign-off before work starts and on completion.

What is an exclusion zone on a construction site?

A physically demarcated area (using barriers, signs or tape) from which people are kept out to protect them from a specific hazard, such as overhead lifting operations, demolition, or the swing radius of an excavator.

What is the purpose of a toolbox talk?

A short, focused safety briefing delivered on site to workers about a specific topic or hazard relevant to the current work, reinforcing safe practices, raising awareness and allowing workers to ask questions before starting a task.

What is a dynamic risk assessment?

A continuous, on-the-spot assessment of changing conditions and new or unforeseen hazards carried out by a worker as a task progresses, allowing immediate adjustment of controls when the situation differs from the original written risk assessment.

What does PPE stand for and where does it sit in the hierarchy of control?

Personal Protective Equipment. It is the last resort in the hierarchy of control, used to protect the wearer only after other measures (elimination, substitution, engineering and administrative controls) have been applied.

List the main types of PPE a bricklayer would typically use and the body part each protects.

Safety helmet (head), safety boots with steel toe and midsole (feet), high-visibility clothing (visibility), gloves (hands), safety glasses/goggles (eyes), ear defenders/plugs (hearing), and a dust mask/RPE (lungs).

Under PPE regulations, who must provide PPE and at what cost to the employee?

The employer must provide suitable PPE free of charge where risks cannot be controlled by other means, ensure it fits, is maintained, and that workers are trained to use it. Employees must use it as instructed and report defects.

What does the CE or UKCA mark on PPE indicate?

That the PPE meets the relevant safety standards and conformity assessment requirements (UKCA for Great Britain, CE for retained EU standards), confirming it is fit for its protective purpose.

What does Schedule 2 of CDM 2015 set out?

The minimum welfare facilities that must be provided on construction sites for workers.

List the welfare facilities required under Schedule 2 of CDM 2015.

Sanitary conveniences (toilets); washing facilities with hot and cold/warm running water, soap and towels; an adequate supply of wholesome drinking water; changing rooms and lockers (where workers wear special clothing); and rest facilities including a means to heat food and boil water.

Under CDM welfare requirements, must hot water be provided for washing on site?

Yes — washing facilities must include a supply of clean hot and cold, or warm, water (running where possible), together with soap and a means of drying, located near toilets and where dirty work is done.

What is manual handling, and which regulations govern it?

Manual handling is the transporting or supporting of a load by hand or bodily force, including lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving. It is governed by the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (MHOR).

What is the order of priority for controlling manual handling risks under MHOR 1992?

Avoid hazardous manual handling so far as is reasonably practicable; Assess any handling that cannot be avoided; and Reduce the risk of injury so far as is reasonably practicable (the 'Avoid–Assess–Reduce' approach).

What does TILE / TILEO stand for when assessing a manual handling task?

Task, Individual, Load, Environment (and Other factors such as PPE/clothing) — the factors considered when assessing the risk of a manual handling operation.

Describe the correct kinetic lifting technique.

Plan the lift; position feet shoulder-width apart with one foot slightly forward; bend the knees (not the back) keeping the back straight; get a firm grip; keep the load close to the body; lift smoothly using the leg muscles; avoid twisting — turn the feet instead; and keep the head up.

What is the HSE guideline maximum weight for lifting a load held close to the body at waist height for a man and for a woman?

Approximately $25\ \text{kg}$ for a man and $16\ \text{kg}$ for a woman when the load is held close to the body at waist height; the guideline figure reduces as the load moves away from the body or above/below waist height.

What does HAVS stand for and what causes it?

Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome — damage to the blood vessels, nerves and joints of the hands and arms caused by prolonged use of vibrating tools (e.g. breakers, grinders, cut-off saws). Symptoms include vibration white finger, tingling and loss of grip.

Under the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005, what are the hand-arm vibration Exposure Action Value (EAV) and Exposure Limit Value (ELV)?

The EAV is $2.5\ \text{m/s}^2$ $A(8)$ (daily action value at which controls are required) and the ELV is $5\ \text{m/s}^2$ $A(8)$ (the daily limit that must not be exceeded).

Under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, what are the lower and upper Exposure Action Values for daily noise?

Lower EAV is $80\ \text{dB(A)}$ (hearing protection made available) and Upper EAV is $85\ \text{dB(A)}$ (hearing protection must be worn and zones marked). The Exposure Limit Value is $87\ \text{dB(A)}$, taking account of protection.

At what daily noise exposure must an employer provide hearing protection, and at what level must it be worn?

At the lower EAV of $80\ \text{dB(A)}$ hearing protection must be made available on request; at the upper EAV of $85\ \text{dB(A)}$ its use becomes mandatory and hearing protection zones must be designated.

Which regulations govern working at height, and how is 'work at height' defined?

The Work at Height Regulations 2005. Work at height is work in any place where, if precautions were not taken, a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury — including at or below ground level (e.g. near an excavation).

What is the hierarchy for managing work at height under the 2005 Regulations?

Avoid work at height where possible; Prevent falls using a safe place of work or collective protection (e.g. guard rails, scaffolds, MEWPs); and Minimise the distance and consequences of a fall using collective measures (e.g. nets, airbags) before personal protection (e.g. harnesses).

What are the minimum requirements for a guard rail/edge protection on a working platform?

A main guard rail at least $950\ \text{mm}$ above the edge, an intermediate guard rail so that the unprotected gap is no more than $470\ \text{mm}$, and toe boards to prevent materials falling.

Why is 110V equipment preferred over 230V on UK construction sites?

110V site equipment is supplied via a centre-tapped transformer so the maximum voltage to earth is only $55\ \text{V}$, greatly reducing the severity of electric shock if a fault occurs, making it much safer than mains 230V.

What colour are 110V and 230V site plugs/connectors, by convention?

110V connectors are yellow and 230V connectors are blue (400V three-phase is red), following the standard colour coding for site electrical equipment.

What is the function of a residual current device (RCD) on site electrics?

An RCD detects an imbalance between live and neutral currents (such as current leaking to earth through a person) and rapidly disconnects the supply, protecting against fatal electric shock. It typically trips at a residual current of $30\ \text{mA}$.

What three elements make up the 'fire triangle'?

Heat (ignition source), Fuel and Oxygen. Removing any one of the three extinguishes the fire.

List the UK classes of fire (A to F) and the type of fuel each involves.

Class A: solids (wood, paper); Class B: flammable liquids; Class C: flammable gases; Class D: metals; Class E (informal): electrical equipment; Class F: cooking oils and fats.

Match the common fire extinguisher types to their colour bands and main use.

Water (red label) — Class A; Foam (cream) — Class A and B; CO2 (black) — electrical and Class B; Dry powder (blue) — multi-purpose A, B, C and electrical; Wet chemical (yellow) — Class F (cooking oils).

Which extinguisher must NOT be used on live electrical fires, and which is suitable?

Water and foam extinguishers must not be used on live electrical equipment because they conduct electricity. CO2 (and dry powder) extinguishers are suitable for electrical fires.

Under first aid regulations, what is the role of an 'appointed person' versus a 'first aider'?

An appointed person takes charge in an emergency (calling the emergency services and looking after first-aid equipment) but is not trained to give first aid. A first aider holds a valid certificate (e.g. First Aid at Work) and is trained to administer first aid.

What does the primary survey acronym DRABC stand for in accident response?

Danger (check the scene is safe), Response (check if casualty responds), Airway (open and clear), Breathing (check for normal breathing), and Circulation/CPR (start chest compressions if not breathing).

What information should be recorded in the accident book after a workplace injury?

The date, time and place of the accident; the injured person's details; the name of the person filling it in; details of how the accident happened; and the nature of the injury — kept in line with data protection.

What is the purpose of a site fire/emergency evacuation procedure and assembly point?

To ensure everyone leaves the site safely and quickly by a known route when an alarm sounds, gathering at a designated assembly point so a roll call/headcount can confirm all persons are accounted for.

At what depth does an excavation generally require support or battering, and why?

There is no absolute safe depth — even shallow trenches can kill, but support, battering or stepping of sides is generally required for excavations over about $1.2\ \text{m}$ deep to prevent collapse, as a cubic metre of soil can weigh over $1{,}500\ \text{kg}$.

What precautions reduce the risk of collapse and falls when working in or near excavations?

Support the sides (timber/proprietary shoring) or batter them back; keep spoil, plant and materials at least the trench depth away from the edge; provide barriers and crossing points; inspect daily and after events that could affect stability; and provide safe access (e.g. ladders).

What is a confined space, and name a key hazard associated with it.

A confined space is a substantially enclosed space (e.g. tank, manhole, deep trench, sewer) where there is a foreseeable risk of serious injury from hazardous conditions. Key hazards include lack of oxygen, toxic or flammable gases, and the risk of being overcome and unable to escape.

Before breaking ground, how should the location of underground services be identified?

Obtain and study utility service drawings/plans, use a cable avoidance tool (CAT) and signal generator (genny) to locate buried cables and pipes, mark their positions, and then hand-dig trial holes to confirm before using mechanical excavation.