CITB Managers Risk Assessment and Method Statements 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A contractor submits a method statement that does not adequately address a specific risk on site. The principal contractor should:
- Allow the work to proceed and monitor it closely
- Refuse to allow the work to start and require the method statement to be revised and resubmitted before the activity commences (Correct answer)
- Accept it if the contractor has a good track record
- Add their own risk controls without informing the contractor
Correct answer: Refuse to allow the work to start and require the method statement to be revised and resubmitted before the activity commences
If a method statement is inadequate, the principal contractor must not allow the work to proceed. The contractor must revise the document to adequately address the identified risks and have it approved before starting. Proceeding with an inadequate RAMS creates legal liability.
Question 2: Competent persons who carry out risk assessments must have:
- A minimum of 10 years' construction experience
- Sufficient knowledge, training, experience, and understanding of the work to carry out an assessment that is suitable and sufficient (Correct answer)
- An external health and safety qualification in all cases
- Written authorisation from the HSE
Correct answer: Sufficient knowledge, training, experience, and understanding of the work to carry out an assessment that is suitable and sufficient
Competence to carry out risk assessments requires knowledge of the work activity and the hazards it involves, understanding of risk assessment methodology, and the experience to make sound judgements. There is no mandatory specific qualification, but relevant training is important.
Question 3: What is the purpose of a 'pre-task' or 'point of work' risk assessment?
- To replace the formal risk assessment for the activity
- A brief review immediately before starting a task, checking that conditions match the RAMS assumptions and identifying any additional site-specific hazards (Correct answer)
- A legal requirement under CDM 2015 for all tasks
- A type of risk assessment carried out only by safety managers
Correct answer: A brief review immediately before starting a task, checking that conditions match the RAMS assumptions and identifying any additional site-specific hazards
A pre-task (or point-of-work) risk assessment is a brief check immediately before starting work to confirm that site conditions match the assumptions in the RAMS, identify any additional hazards not covered, and confirm that all required controls are in place.
Question 4: Which regulation requires employers to appoint one or more 'competent persons' to assist with health and safety?
- The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
- The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, Regulation 7 (Correct answer)
- The CDM Regulations 2015
- The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
Correct answer: The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, Regulation 7
Regulation 7 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 requires employers to appoint one or more competent persons to assist in undertaking the measures they need to comply with health and safety law.
Question 5: A risk assessment for excavation work must consider which specific additional factors compared to general construction risk?
- The weather forecast for the next month
- The presence of underground services, risk of ground collapse, risk of flooding, and any confined space elements (Correct answer)
- The financial cost of excavation support
- The number of people watching from above ground
Correct answer: The presence of underground services, risk of ground collapse, risk of flooding, and any confined space elements
Excavation-specific risk factors include: buried services (identification and protection), ground collapse (stability assessment, shoring requirements), flooding/groundwater, presence of confined space hazards (oxygen deficiency, toxic gases), and stability of adjacent structures.
Question 6: When a risk assessment is recorded, the significant findings must include:
- Every possible hazard, however minor
- The hazards, who is at risk, existing controls, residual risk level, and any further actions required (Correct answer)
- Only the hazards with no controls in place
- The cost of implementing control measures
Correct answer: The hazards, who is at risk, existing controls, residual risk level, and any further actions required
Significant findings must record: the hazards identified, who might be harmed, the existing controls in place, the level of residual risk, and any further control measures that need to be implemented. This provides a clear and actionable record.
CITB Managers Risk Assessment and Method Statements 4
A contractor submits a method statement that does not adequately address a specific risk on site.
The principal contractor should: