RIBA Architecture Parts 1, 2 and 3 Construction Health, Safety and Site Practice Syllabus

Construction Health, Safety and Site Practice syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Construction Health, Safety and Site Practice in RIBA Architecture Parts 1, 2 and 3, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Health and Safety Legislation

   4 topics

   • Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
   • The CDM Regulations 2015
     • Client, principal designer and principal contractor duties
     • Pre-construction information and the H&S file
   • Risk assessment and the hierarchy of control
   • Designing for safety and buildability
2. 2

   Site Processes and Inspection

   4 topics

   • Site set-up, logistics and welfare
   • Site inspections and the architect's role
     • Inspecting versus supervising
   • Quality control and recording defects
   • Snagging, practical completion and handover
3. 3

   Hazards and Construction Risk

   4 topics

   • Working at height and excavation safety
   • Asbestos and hazardous materials
   • Fire safety during construction
   • Temporary works and structural stability

Construction Health, Safety and Site Practice flashcards for RIBA Architecture Parts 1, 2 and 3

22 of 52 cards from the Construction Health, Safety and Site Practice deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is the primary piece of UK legislation governing workplace health and safety, and what year was it enacted?

   The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSWA). It is the umbrella ('enabling') Act under which most subsequent health and safety regulations are made.

2. Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, what general duty does Section 2 place on employers?

   A duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all their employees (including safe plant, systems of work, training, supervision and a safe workplace).

3. What does Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 require?

   Employers and the self-employed must conduct their undertaking so as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in their employment (e.g. the public, visitors) are not exposed to risks to their health or safety.

4. What duty does Section 7 of the HSWA 1974 place on individual employees?

   Every employee must take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others affected by their acts or omissions, and must co-operate with their employer on safety matters.

5. Define the legal term 'so far as is reasonably practicable' (SFAIRP) as used in the HSWA 1974.

   It means weighing the risk against the cost (in money, time and effort) of reducing it; a duty-holder need only take measures where the cost is not grossly disproportionate to the risk reduction achieved.

6. Which body enforces the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 on construction sites, and what enforcement notices can it issue?

   The Health and Safety Executive (HSE). It can issue Improvement Notices (requiring a breach to be remedied within a set time) and Prohibition Notices (stopping a dangerous activity immediately).

7. What do the initials 'CDM' stand for in the CDM Regulations 2015?

   Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.

8. List the five duty-holders defined under the CDM Regulations 2015.

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

9. Under CDM 2015, when must a Principal Designer and a Principal Contractor be appointed?

   On any project involving more than one contractor. If the client fails to appoint them, the client must carry out their duties.

10. What is the role of the Principal Designer under CDM 2015?

    To plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety during the pre-construction phase, identifying and eliminating or controlling foreseeable risks through design, and preparing/handing over pre-construction information.

11. What is the role of the Principal Contractor under CDM 2015?

    To plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety during the construction phase, prepare the construction phase plan, and ensure site induction, welfare and consultation with workers.

12. Under CDM 2015, when must a project be notified to the HSE (an 'F10' notification), and who is responsible?

    When construction work is scheduled to last longer than 30 working days with more than 20 workers working simultaneously, OR exceeds 500 person-days. The client is responsible for notification.

13. Name the three key health and safety documents required under CDM 2015.

    The Pre-Construction Information (PCI), the Construction Phase Plan (CPP), and the Health and Safety File.

14. What is the purpose of the Health and Safety File under CDM 2015, and who keeps it?

    It contains information needed to carry out future construction, maintenance, cleaning or demolition safely. It is handed to and retained by the client at the end of the project for the life of the building.

15. Under CDM 2015, what must the client ensure is in place before the construction phase begins?

    That a Construction Phase Plan has been drawn up and that suitable welfare facilities are provided on site.

16. What are the General Principles of Prevention that CDM 2015 designers must apply (Schedule 1)?

    Avoid risks; evaluate unavoidable risks; combat risks at source; adapt work to the individual; adapt to technical progress; replace dangerous with less dangerous; develop a coherent prevention policy; give collective measures priority over individual measures; give appropriate instructions to workers.

17. Define 'risk assessment' in the context of construction health and safety.

    A systematic process of identifying hazards, evaluating the likelihood and severity of harm they may cause, and deciding on suitable control measures to reduce risk to an acceptable level.

18. Distinguish between a 'hazard' and a 'risk'.

    A hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm (e.g. an open excavation). A risk is the likelihood that the hazard will cause harm, combined with the severity of that harm.

19. State the five steps of 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 findings and implement them; 5) Review the assessment and update as necessary.

20. A simple risk rating is often calculated as a product of two factors. State the formula.

    $\text{Risk} = \text{Likelihood} \times \text{Severity}$, where likelihood and severity are each scored on a scale (e.g. 1–5), giving a risk score used to prioritise control.

21. List the Hierarchy of Control measures in order of preference, from most to least effective.

    1) Elimination; 2) Substitution; 3) Engineering controls (isolation/guarding); 4) Administrative controls (procedures, signage, training); 5) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

22. Why is PPE considered the last resort in the hierarchy of control?

    Because it only protects the individual wearer, relies on correct use and fit, does nothing to remove the hazard at source, and fails to protect others nearby; collective measures higher up the hierarchy are more reliable.

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