SSSTS Supervisor Responsibilities 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the supervisor's responsibility regarding the welfare facilities on a construction site under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015?
- Welfare facilities are not the supervisor's concern
- The supervisor should ensure that adequate welfare facilities (toilets, washing facilities, drinking water, rest areas) are available and maintained (Correct answer)
- Only the client is responsible for welfare facilities
- Welfare facilities are only required on sites lasting more than 6 months
Correct answer: The supervisor should ensure that adequate welfare facilities (toilets, washing facilities, drinking water, rest areas) are available and maintained
Under CDM 2015, Schedule 2, adequate welfare facilities must be provided on all construction sites. The supervisor should ensure these include sanitary conveniences, washing facilities, drinking water, rest facilities, and changing rooms where needed, and that they are kept clean and maintained.
Question 2: A worker approaches the supervisor to report that they feel unsafe performing a particular task. How should the supervisor respond?
- Tell the worker to get on with it or go home
- Listen to the worker's concerns, assess whether the task is genuinely unsafe, take appropriate action to address any risks, and thank the worker for raising the concern (Correct answer)
- Ignore the complaint as workers often exaggerate
- Tell the worker to put it in writing and submit it to HR
Correct answer: Listen to the worker's concerns, assess whether the task is genuinely unsafe, take appropriate action to address any risks, and thank the worker for raising the concern
A supervisor should take all safety concerns seriously. They should listen actively, investigate whether the concern is valid, take immediate action if there is a genuine risk, and positively reinforce the reporting behaviour to maintain a culture where workers feel comfortable raising safety issues.
Question 3: What is the supervisor's role in monitoring and controlling working hours to prevent fatigue-related accidents?
- Working hours are irrelevant to safety
- The supervisor should monitor working hours, ensure adequate rest breaks are taken, and intervene if workers show signs of fatigue that could compromise safety (Correct answer)
- Workers should manage their own rest breaks
- Only night shift workers need rest breaks
Correct answer: The supervisor should monitor working hours, ensure adequate rest breaks are taken, and intervene if workers show signs of fatigue that could compromise safety
Fatigue is a significant cause of construction accidents. The supervisor should monitor working hours, ensure compliance with the Working Time Regulations 1998, enforce rest breaks, and watch for signs of fatigue such as reduced concentration, poor decision-making, or impaired coordination.
Question 4: When delegating tasks to workers, what must a site supervisor ensure?
- That the task is completed as quickly as possible regardless of safety
- That the worker is competent, has received adequate briefing, understands the risks, has the correct tools and PPE, and knows the safe system of work (Correct answer)
- That the worker has signed a waiver of liability
- That only the most senior worker is given tasks
Correct answer: That the worker is competent, has received adequate briefing, understands the risks, has the correct tools and PPE, and knows the safe system of work
Effective delegation requires the supervisor to verify the worker's competence for the specific task, provide adequate briefing on the method and risks, ensure correct tools and PPE are available, confirm the worker understands the safe system of work, and monitor progress.
Question 5: What records should a site supervisor maintain regarding safety on their section of the site?
- No records are required if there are no accidents
- Toolbox talk records, induction records, inspection reports, near-miss reports, accident records, and permit-to-work documentation (Correct answer)
- Only accident records
- Only the daily attendance sheet
Correct answer: Toolbox talk records, induction records, inspection reports, near-miss reports, accident records, and permit-to-work documentation
A site supervisor should maintain comprehensive safety records including: toolbox talk attendance and content, induction records, workplace inspection reports, near-miss and hazard reports, accident and incident records, permit-to-work documentation, and equipment inspection records.
Question 6: Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, what must a supervisor do if they identify a serious and imminent danger?
- Continue work but note it in the diary
- Implement the emergency procedure, evacuate workers from the danger area, and prevent workers from re-entering until the danger is resolved (Correct answer)
- Call a meeting to discuss options
- Only the health and safety manager can respond to serious dangers
Correct answer: Implement the emergency procedure, evacuate workers from the danger area, and prevent workers from re-entering until the danger is resolved
Under Regulation 8 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, when a serious and imminent danger is identified, workers must be informed, the area must be evacuated, and workers must not be allowed to return until the danger has been eliminated or adequately controlled.
SSSTS Supervisor Responsibilities 2
What is the supervisor's responsibility regarding the welfare facilities on a construction site under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015?