by Martin Sadler (GQA EV)
In this article I am going to look at an indicative answer
to an underpinning knowledge question from one of our units. For this article I
will focus on Assessment Criteria 1.1 & 1.2 of Unit FI1 Maintain Health and
Safety within the Fenestration installation Working Environment
1.1 – State which acts, regulations and
guidelines apply to the fenestration installation environment.
The following is a list of the acts, regulations and
guidelines which could be found in an indicative answer:
·
The only act which applies is the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
·
The
following regulations apply to the fenestration installation industry:
o
Working at
Height (Amendment)Regulations 2007
o
Personal
Protective Equipment Regulations 1992
o
Control of
Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2004
o
Manual
Handling Operations Regulations 1992
o
Provision
and use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
o
Control of
Asbestos Regulations 2006
o
Control of
Vibration at Work Regulations 2005
o
Lifting
Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998
o
Management
of Health and Safety at Work (Amendment) Regulations 2006
o
Reporting
of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995
o
Workplace
(Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
· To answer the 'guidelines' element - this refers to documentation that is available to ensure a
company or individual comply with the above regulations. The most relevant
answer for this would be the publications and free leaflets which are available
on the HSE website www.hse.gov.uk
1.2 Explain how these acts regulations and
guidelines applied to the fenestration installation environment
| Act / Regulations | How it applies to fenestration installation environment | |||
| Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 | This act sets out the general duties of employers safe with regards to keeping their employees and other people safe and the actions they need to take to do this. For employees it sets out how they need to keep themselves and others safe and to comply with the health and safety rules set out by their employer | |||
| Working at Height (Amendment)Regulations 2007 | This regulation covers the types of work that are carried out at height, it states the safety precautions which need to be followed to prevent falls and the types of access equipment and safety equipment that should be used. It applies to all work at height where there is a risk of a fall liable to cause personal injury. It covers when ladders and steps can be used and when other access equipment is needed | |||
| Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 1992 | The main requirement of the PPE at Work Regulations 1992 is that personal protective equipment is to be supplied and used at work wherever there are risks | |||
| to health and safety that cannot be adequately controlled in other ways. | ||||
| The Regulations also require that PPE: | ||||
| is properly assessed before use to ensure it is suitable; | ||||
| is maintained and stored properly; | ||||
| is provided with instructions on how to use it safely; | ||||
| and is used correctly by employees. | ||||
| Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2004 | The main requirement for this is to ensure that any material or substance that is used in the installation of windows etc, such as glues and sealants are used and disposed of correctly and suitable and sufficient measure are taken to ensure its safe use, such as wearing correct PPE and conditions of use | |||
| Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 | The main requirement of this regulation is to ensure that any load is moved around the site correctly. It covers the use of correct and safe lifting aids and also the correct method of lifting. There are no legal requirements of the weight a person can lift as this is down to personal capability. | |||
| Provision and use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 | The Regulations require risks to people’s health and safety, from equipment that they use at work, to be prevented or controlled. In general terms, the Regulations require that equipment provided for use at work is: | |||
| ■ suitable for the intended use; | ||||
| ■ safe for use, maintained in a safe condition and, in certain circumstances, inspected to ensure this remains the case; | ||||
| ■ used only by people who have received adequate information, instruction and training; and | ||||
| ■ accompanied by suitable safety measures, eg protective devices, markings, warnings. | ||||
| What equipment is cover any equipment used by an employee at work including any hand tools as well as power tools | ||||
| Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 | This regulation covers the actions to be taken when asbestos has been discovered in a building, it list how it is removed, who can remove and dispose it. This is relevant to installers as some building contain asbestos in walls, roofs, rooflines etc. It also explains how to work with materials which contain asbestos. | |||
| Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 | This covers the action that is taken is prolonged use of any equipment or hand tool used that causes excessive vibration to hands and arms. It explains how to identify risks and how to minimise them. This would cover the use of hammer drills, jack hammers where excessive use can cause vibration white finger | |||
| Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 | This regulation covers the listing and lowering or loads is mainly applicable on construction sites when cranes or other lifting equipment is being used. Such as if lifting windows to top floors of large buildings, also covers hoists, forklift trucks mobile elevating platforms. This most important aspect is that people should be trained and competent in its use. | |||
| Management of Health and Safety at Work (Amendment) Regulations 2006 | This regulation states the actions that an employer needs to take to provide a safe place of work. This includes the provision of health and safety policies, undertaking risk assessments and training staff in health and safety | |||
| Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 | This regulations covers the types of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences that could take place at work and cause and injury to a person or damage to property and how this should be reported to HSE and when should something be reported them | |||
| Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 | These Regulations aim to ensure that workplaces meet the health, safety and welfare needs of all members of a workforce, including people with disabilities. | |||
| Several of the Regulations require things to be ‘suitable’. Regulation 2(3) makes it clear that things should be suitable for anyone. This includes people with | ||||
| disabilities. Where necessary, parts of the workplace, including in particular doors, passageways, stairs, showers, washbasins, lavatories and workstations, should be | ||||
| made accessible for disabled people | ||||
| On construction sites this means that provision should be available for washing and going to the toilet and providing a warm dry place for rest breaks |
Information
on all of the above can be downloaded free of charge from the HSE website www.hse.gov.uk
