Element

1
1. Identify factors associated with the workplace that should be considered when reviewing the
health, safety and welfare requirements for the workers (12).
• Space – availability of adequate space to allow workers to perform the task safely.
• Seating - presence of appropriate seating.
• Ventilation – for supply of fresh or purified air.
• Heating - temperature in the workplace
• Lighting – the adequacy of lighting present in the area
• Noise – levels of noise present or will generate during the work process
• Drinking water – availability of wholesome drinking water.
• Sanitary conveniences - presence or absence of areas like toilets of sufficient number o for the
number of workers present along with separate facilities for men and women.
• Washing facilities – near to sanitary conveniences
• Changing rooms - to change into special work wear
• Accommodation for clothing - lockers or other storage facilities where workers have to
change for work so that their personal clothing can be kept clean and secure. Ton.
• Resting and eating facilities - access to suitable rest areas where workers can take a break
from work.

2. Identify the factors to consider when assessing the adequacy of lighting within an open plan office
• Minimum light levels (lux levels) should be achieved; these are normally indicated by local
code of practice or guidance.
• Natural light should be used in preference to artificial light.
• Light levels should be adjusted to suit the level of detail required and the visual acuity of the
workers.
• Local lighting, such as spotlights positioned above machinery, might be required to give
higher levels of light on critical areas.
• Lighting must be arranged to avoid reflections and glare that might dazzle or temporarily
disable
• Lighting must be arranged to avoid the creation of shadows that might obscure areas and
create risk.
• Flickering should be avoided to prevent nuisance and in particular the "stroboscope effect"
• Lighting must be suitable for the environment (e.g. intrinsically safe lighting used in a
flammable atmosphere).
• Emergency lighting should be provided to allow safety in the event of mains supply failure.

3. Workers who deal with the public may be subject to violent behavior.
(a) Give the meaning of ‘work-related violence’.
Any incident where a worker is abused, threatened or assaulted while working

(b) Identify reasons why a member of the public may behave violently towards a worker.
• Cash handling - any work that involves the handling of quantities of cash or valuables puts
workers at risk of violence associated with robbery.
• Lone working - any lone working that takes the worker into urban areas or puts them in contact
with members of the public at remote or private locations.
• Representing authority - any work where the worker represents authority, such as police, traffic
wardens, etc.
• Wearing a uniform - uniforms are often seen as a symbol of authority, but even where they are not
workers may still be singled out for abuse.
• Dealing with people under stress - when people are under stress they are less capable of handling
their emotions and can lose control.
• Dealing with people under the influence - of drugs and alcohol, or with mental health problems,
when normal inhibitions on behavior have been affected.
• Censuring or saying no - workers who have to give warnings, penalties, fines, or who have to
refuse a service or say no (e.g. bar staff).
4. The influence of drugs on workers in the workplace can have a significant effect on health and safety.
(a) Identify possible reasons why a person may be in possession of drugs in the workplace.
• Peer group pressure
• Excessive demands of work at workplace
• Culture of using drugs and alcohol at work (e.g. in the mortuary, while driving for long hours)
• Addiction to a particular drug

(b) Outline control measures that an employer could take in order to reduce the misuse of drugs in the
workplace.
• Rules restricting access to alcohol in the workplace or during working hours.
• Statutory legal requirements prohibiting workers
• From being under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
• Non-statutory requirements prohibiting workers from being under the influence of drugs and
alcohol that have been set by the employer.
• Arrangements for any random drugs and alcohol testing those workers will be subject to.
• Arrangements for workers to have access to rehabilitation and treatment programmers if they
admit to having a problem.
• Disciplinary procedures for workers who refuse assistance, refuse to be tested or who fail a
test-
• Provision of information, instruction and training to workers, supervisors and managers.
• Drug and alcohol awareness campaigns should also be considered.
• Any drug and alcohol testing policy must be justified and clearly explained to workers.
• There are legal and ethical issues associated with testing regimes that must be carefully
considered

5. Outline the cleaning and housekeeping requirements in a workplace.

• Floors and walkways should be cleaned routinely to ensure that surfaces are kept free of
contamination.
• Spills will have to be cleaned up quickly and safely.
• Housekeeping routines should be established to ensure that pedestrian routes are free of trip
hazards and obstructions.
• Floors and walkways should be inspected and repaired to keep them in a safe condition (e.g.
pot holes should be repaired as soon as possible).
• Guard rails and fencing should be inspected and repaired as necessary.
• Access and egress routes should be inspected routinely and cleaned or repaired as necessary.
This is particularly important for outdoor areas when snow and ice can make external
pedestrian walkways hazardous (in which case gritting or clearing the snow and ice may be
appropriate).
• Emergency exit routes should be kept free of slop and trip hazards and obstructions at all
times.
• Lighting is essential for safe movement through a workplace and lights should therefore be
routinely inspected and replaced/repaired as necessary.
• Noise levels should be kept as low as possible to enable pedestrians to hear any
communications, alarms and hazards
• Special care should be taken during maintenance activities to ensure that required
standards relating to environmental considerations (lighting, noise, dust) are maintained

6. Identify the effects of exposure to

a. Hot environments
• Dehydration - water 1s lost as a result of sweating.
• Muscle cramps as a result of salt loss through sweating
• Heat stress where core temperature (c37 C) cannot be controlled and starts to increase; causes
discomfort, lethargy, headaches and fainting
• Heat exhaustion - a precursor to heat stroke.
• Heat stroke - where core temperature increases rapidly; causes hallucinations, coma and death.
• Other effects associated with the source of the heat, such as skin burns or cancer from
exposure to sunlight, or burns from radiant heat and contact with hot surfaces.
 b. Cold environments
• Hypothermia - core temperature drops below 35 C; causes shivering, mood swings irrational
behavior, lethargy, drowsiness and death.
• Frost bite - body tissues are frozen causing tissue damage and in extreme cases necrosis,
gangrene and amputation
• Slip hazards - in particular floors will become slippery with ice.
• Freeze burn injuries - from skin contact with very cold surfaces

7. Outline precautions that should be taken in order to minimize the risks to persons working at sub-zero
temperatures in cold stores.
• Prevent or protect workers from draughts
• Shield/lag extremely cold surfaces
• Provide warm refuges - where workers can warm up.
• Provide PPE - such as insulated jackets, trousers, boots, balaclavas, etc.
• Provide frequent breaks and Job rotation
• Provide easy access to hot food and drinks.
• Scrape, salt or grit icy floors

8. Identify ways in which accidents may be prevented when using portable ladders as a means of access.
• Do not site or handle near live overheads.
• Site on a solid, flat base so that the feet do not sink into the ground.
• Weight should only be supported on the styles, never on the rungs.
• Angle of the ladder should ideally be 75 to the horizontal or at a ratio of 1:4 distance away
from the wall to height
• Top of the ladder must rest against a solid support.
• Ideally the ladder should be secured at the top.
• If this is not possible, then guy ropes should be attached and secured to firm supports.
• If this is not possible, ladder should be "footed" by someone standing on the bottom rung.
• Top of the ladder should extend far enough above the level of the working position or the
platform onto which it provides access to provide a safe handhold.
• The stepping off point should be safe and clear.
• Only one person should climb on the ladder at any one time.
• Nothing should be carried in the hands while climbing, so that both hands are free to grasp
the styles
• Wooden ladders should not be painted as this can hide defects.

9. Outline control measures that will be required in order to protect the safety of the workers on the roof
(8).
• Area should be barricaded before erection
• Sign boards indicating roof works should be placed
• Crawling boards and roof ladders should be used in order to avoid standing directly on roofs
which could be fragile
• A lifeline with fall arrestor should be attached above to the roof to hook up the full body
harness
• Guardrails should be erected on the edges to prevent fall of people from the roof
• A safety net if possible should be placed to carry falling object.
• Competent supervisor should always be present during roof work.
• Workers should use tool bags to carry tools
• Tools while in use should be tied up using wire rope to the tool belt

10. Identify suitable work equipment that could be used in order to reduce the risks of falls from height. (5)
• Scaffolding platform with guardrails and toe-boards
• Properly installed system like the boatswain chair
• Mobile elevating work platform like cherry picker, scissor lift etc.
• Mobile tower scaffolding
• Trestles or staging platforms with guardrails
11. Outline circumstances that could require a worker to be rescued when working at height. (5)
• Fall from height while working on a scaffolding, collapse of the scaffolding
• During high winds where there is a risk of fall
• If the platform is struck by mobile plant making it instable
• Any incident might have occurred while working on or near overhead power lines
• An incident occurred with the operator of an overhead crane
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12. Outline precautions that reduce risks from falling materials when work is being carried out at height.
(10)
• Guardrails with toe-boards should be installed at the edges of the platform
• Installing brick guards to prevent fall of bricks from the platform
• Ensuring no gaps on the platform surface
• Installing safety net or canopy structure around the area to catch the falling object
• If tools are used while working at height like while erection of scaffolding or working from a
mobile elevating work platform tools should be carried in a tool bag or tool belt
• Materials should not be thrown from or towards the height and hoisting equipment like gin
wheels with rope should be used
• Nothing should be carried while climbing at the height for working which could possibly fall
• While making use of platform it should be ensured that materials should not be stored on the
platform but if done, should be in a small amount with precautions taken like keeping it secure
• The platform should be regularly inspected by a competent inspector.
• The area underneath the height should be kept barricaded at all times
• Sign board like warning people about objects falling hazard should be placed

13. An independent tied scaffold is to be erected on a building in a busy town center location.
(a) Outline the precautions that should be taken in order to reduce the risk of injury to members of
the public during erection and use of the scaffold.
• Area should be barricaded before erection
• Sign boards indicating scaffold erection should be placed
• A safety net if possible should be placed to carry falling object.
• Competent scaffold supervisor should always be present during erection.
• Workers should use tool bag to carry tools
• Tools while in use should be tied up using wire rope to the tool belt
• Workers on ground level should wear hard hat, safety shoes, high visibility clothing
etc.
• A banks man or signal man could be deployed near the fabrication to warn people
and vehicle about the hazard of falling materials
• Guard rails with brick guards should be fitted to the work platform.
• Scaffold must not be overloaded.
• It must be sited on firm, level ground

(b) Outline the inspection requirements for an independent tied scaffold.

Scaffolds should be inspected:
• When they are first erected.
• After any substantial alteration
• After any event that may affect their stability, e.g. after being struck by a vehicle or
after high winds.
• Periodically (typically weekly).
• Points to check would include:
• Condition of the tubes (especially standards)
• Tying and bracing.
• Condition of the work platform.
• Edge protection (guard-rails, toe-boards).
• Ground conditions (use of base plates and sole boards).
• Safe access
• Safe working load.
14. Identify the safe working practices for the use of a mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) or a
Scissor lift
• Vehicle sited on firm, stable ground
• Sufficient clearance from obstructions and overheads when operating.
• Barriers around MEWPs to prevent it being struck by vehicles or mobile plant
• Barriers also act to keep people out from underneath the cradle.
• Guard-rails incorporated into the cradle Safety harnesses worn as an additional backup
• Controls of the MEWP should be inside the cradle so that the person actually working at
height has some control
• Not driven with the cradle raised unless specifically designed to do so.
• Must not be overloaded
• Must be inspected as an item of lifting equipment designed to carry people
• Use restricted to trained, authorized staff only

15. Identify the main hazards associated with excavation work on construction sites.
• Collapse - when the unsupported sides of the excavation slip and cave in. Severe crush
injuries can result from even relatively small collapses because soil is very heavy Workers
buried or entrapped in soil can asphyxiate in minutes.
• Striking buried services - when high voltage electrical cables, gas pipes, mains pipes or
other
• Buried services are struck during the excavation work. This can lead to electric arcing, shock,
burns and fire, or gas explosion or rapid flooding of the excavation.
• People falling in - when people fall in to the excavation from an unfenced edge or whilst
climbing in to or out of the excavation from ladders.
• Objects falling in - when tools or materials fall from an unprotected edge in to the
excavation and on to occupants
• Hazardous substances - in particular gases and vapors.
• Collapse of adjacent structures - , n digging an excavation the foundations of nearby buildings
may be disturbed.

16. Identify the main hazards that may be present during demolition of a building
• Premature collapse of structures.
• Work at height
• Plant and machinery.
• Contact with live overheads
• Contact with buried services.
• Asbestos Dust.
• Movement of vehicles.
• Explosives.
• Noise and vibration.
• Hazardous substances from previous use of the building.
• Biological hazards from vermin or stagnant water.
• Sharp objects, including glass and nails from the demolition, or syringes left by trespassers.
• Manual handling.