SSSTS Welfare Facilities Management 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the supervisor's duty of care regarding workers who are unwell during the working day?
- To remove the worker from the work area, facilitate access to first aid, ensure they are assessed before returning to work, and arrange for them to get home safely if necessary (Correct answer)
- To encourage the worker to continue until the end of the shift
- To send the worker home without any welfare assessment
- To ignore minor illness as it is a personal matter
Correct answer: To remove the worker from the work area, facilitate access to first aid, ensure they are assessed before returning to work, and arrange for them to get home safely if necessary
Supervisors have a duty of care for the wellbeing of workers in their charge. An unwell worker must be stood down from work immediately, assessed by the first aider, and not allowed to return to work until confirmed fit. If the worker needs to go home, arrangements for safe travel must be made.
Question 2: What action should a supervisor take if they discover that workers are using welfare facilities for purposes not intended (such as heating food using open flame)?
- Stop the unsafe practice immediately, explain the risk and ensure appropriate food heating facilities are provided (Correct answer)
- Ignore it as it is outside working hours
- Add a note to the next toolbox talk agenda
- Fine the worker involved
Correct answer: Stop the unsafe practice immediately, explain the risk and ensure appropriate food heating facilities are provided
Using open flame to heat food in welfare facilities creates a fire risk. The supervisor must stop the practice immediately, address the reason (usually inadequate food heating facilities provided), and ensure the correct means of heating food (microwave or kettle) is available.
Question 3: What is the legal minimum provision of rest break entitlement for adult construction workers under the Working Time Regulations 1998?
- A rest break of at least 20 minutes when the working day exceeds 6 hours (Correct answer)
- 30 minutes every 4 hours regardless of shift length
- A 1-hour break for every 8-hour shift
- No statutory rest break entitlement for construction workers
Correct answer: A rest break of at least 20 minutes when the working day exceeds 6 hours
Under the Working Time Regulations 1998, workers are entitled to a rest break of at least 20 minutes when they work for more than 6 hours in a day. This is an uninterrupted break away from the work station. Young workers have enhanced entitlements.
Question 4: What does the health and safety law poster requirement mean for construction site welfare facilities?
- The HSE health and safety law poster (or pocket card equivalent) must be displayed in a prominent location in the welfare/rest area where workers can read it (Correct answer)
- The poster is only required in the site office
- The poster only needs to be provided if the HSE requests it
- The poster replaces the need for welfare facilities
Correct answer: The HSE health and safety law poster (or pocket card equivalent) must be displayed in a prominent location in the welfare/rest area where workers can read it
The Health and Safety Information for Employees Regulations 1989 require the HSE's 'Health and Safety Law' poster to be displayed in a readable position where workers can see it. The welfare rest area is an ideal location as workers are there during breaks.
Question 5: What PPE storage requirements relate to welfare facility provision?
- Adequate storage for PPE should be available near the work area and separate from personal clothing storage to prevent cross-contamination (Correct answer)
- PPE must always be stored in the site office
- PPE storage is the individual worker's responsibility
- PPE can be stored with personal clothing without any separation
Correct answer: Adequate storage for PPE should be available near the work area and separate from personal clothing storage to prevent cross-contamination
Work PPE (such as coveralls, hard hats and gloves) should be stored separately from personal clothing to prevent contamination of clean clothes. Storage near the work area is more practical. This is particularly important where hazardous substances are present.
Question 6: What is the supervisor's responsibility regarding keeping the site canteen area clean and hygienic?
- Ensure the canteen area is cleaned before and after use, that food waste is removed daily, that surfaces are disinfected and that pest control measures are in place (Correct answer)
- The canteen is the workers' responsibility to clean
- Cleaning is only required at the end of the project
- The canteen only needs cleaning once per week
Correct answer: Ensure the canteen area is cleaned before and after use, that food waste is removed daily, that surfaces are disinfected and that pest control measures are in place
The site canteen/rest area must be maintained in a clean and hygienic condition throughout the project. The supervisor ensures cleaning schedules are followed, food waste is disposed of promptly (to prevent pest infestation), and surfaces are kept clean and hygienic.
SSSTS Welfare Facilities Management 4
What is the supervisor's duty of care regarding workers who are unwell during the working day?