SSSTS Supervisory Responsibilities under CDM 2015 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a 'near miss' and why must supervisors ensure near misses are reported?
- An unplanned event that did not result in injury but had the potential to — reporting allows causes to be investigated and prevented from causing harm (Correct answer)
- An accident that caused minor injury only
- A complaint from a member of the public
- A traffic incident on the site access road that involved no injury
Correct answer: An unplanned event that did not result in injury but had the potential to — reporting allows causes to be investigated and prevented from causing harm
A near miss is an unplanned event with no injury but that had the potential to cause harm. Near-miss reporting is vital because it reveals hazards and failures in control measures before an injury occurs. Supervisors must encourage and act on near-miss reports.
Question 2: What is the supervisor's role in promoting positive safety culture on a construction site?
- Leading by example, praising safe behaviour, engaging workers in safety decisions and taking swift action on hazards (Correct answer)
- Only enforcing rules through disciplinary action
- Focusing exclusively on physical hazards rather than behaviours
- Delegating all safety culture activities to the safety officer
Correct answer: Leading by example, praising safe behaviour, engaging workers in safety decisions and taking swift action on hazards
Supervisors are central to safety culture. By visibly following safe practices themselves, acknowledging and rewarding safe behaviour, genuinely engaging workers in identifying hazards, and acting decisively on concerns, supervisors set the tone for their teams.
Question 3: What does 'RAMP' stand for in the context of health and safety risk assessment?
- Risk Assessment for the Management of People in the workplace
- Recognise the hazard, Assess the risk, Manage the control, and Periodically review (Correct answer)
- Risk, Activity, Method, and PPE
- Responsibility, Authority, Monitoring, and Programme
Correct answer: Recognise the hazard, Assess the risk, Manage the control, and Periodically review
RAMP is a simplified risk management framework: Recognise the hazard, Assess the risk (likelihood and severity), Manage it with appropriate controls, and Periodically review to ensure controls remain effective. It supports a systematic approach to managing site risks.
Question 4: What is the significance of the Principal Contractor's site rules for a supervisor?
- Site rules are mandatory and the supervisor must enforce them for all workers in their area (Correct answer)
- Site rules are advisory only and workers can choose whether to follow them
- Site rules apply only to subcontractors, not directly employed workers
- Site rules only apply in designated safety areas
Correct answer: Site rules are mandatory and the supervisor must enforce them for all workers in their area
The Principal Contractor's site rules form part of the Construction Phase Plan and are binding on all persons on site, including subcontractors. The supervisor has an active duty to enforce site rules and to challenge non-compliance.
Question 5: What is a supervisor's responsibility when a worker reports they feel unwell?
- Remove the worker from the task, provide access to first aid and ensure they are assessed before returning to work (Correct answer)
- Tell the worker to continue until the end of the shift
- Send the worker home without any assessment
- Contact the worker's GP on their behalf
Correct answer: Remove the worker from the task, provide access to first aid and ensure they are assessed before returning to work
A supervisor has a duty of care for workers' wellbeing. If a worker reports illness, the supervisor must remove them from the task to prevent risk to themselves and others, arrange first-aid assessment, and ensure the worker does not return to work until confirmed fit.
Question 6: What records should a site supervisor keep related to health and safety?
- Induction records, inspection reports, near-miss and accident records, toolbox talk attendance, and briefing records (Correct answer)
- No formal records are required for supervisors
- Only accident reports when a RIDDOR reportable incident occurs
- Records are kept only by the site manager, not supervisors
Correct answer: Induction records, inspection reports, near-miss and accident records, toolbox talk attendance, and briefing records
Supervisors should maintain records of inductions given, inspections carried out, near-miss and accident investigations, toolbox talks delivered (with attendance), and safety briefings. These provide evidence of compliance and support incident investigation.
SSSTS Supervisory Responsibilities under CDM 2015 5
What is a 'near miss' and why must supervisors ensure near misses are reported?