BOSH SO2 flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

So far as is reasonably practicable

The HSWA 1974 test: risk must be weighed against the sacrifice (time, trouble, cost) needed to control it. Cost justifies inaction only where grossly disproportionate to the risk.

Section 37 HSWA 1974

Allows prosecution of directors, managers or similar officers where a corporate offence was committed with their consent, connivance or neglect; the individual may be fined or imprisoned.

Approved Code of Practice

A statutory code approved by the regulator. It is not law itself, but failure to comply can be used in evidence to prove a breach of the relevant statutory duty.

Prohibition notice

Enforcement notice issued where an activity involves a risk of serious personal injury. It stops the activity immediately or after a specified date until the risk is remedied.

Improvement notice

Enforcement notice requiring a breach of health and safety law to be remedied within a stated period; failure to comply is an offence.

Plan-Do-Check-Act

The improvement cycle underlying ISO 45001: plan objectives and controls, implement them, monitor and measure performance, then act to improve.

ISO 45001 clause 5.4

Requires the organisation to establish processes for consultation and participation of workers at all applicable levels and functions in the OH&S management system.

Legal compliance evaluation

ISO 45001 clause 9.1.2 requirement to evaluate fulfilment of legal and other compliance obligations at planned intervals and retain documented evidence.

OH&S policy

Top management's documented commitment to provide safe and healthy working conditions, satisfy legal requirements and continually improve; it must be communicated and available.

Hierarchy of control

Ranked control measures: eliminate, substitute, engineering controls, administrative controls, then PPE. Earlier options are more reliable because they remove or reduce the hazard itself.

ALARP

As low as reasonably practicable: risk must be reduced until further control would be grossly disproportionate to the benefit; higher hazards justify more spending.

Residual risk

The risk remaining after controls are applied. It must be judged acceptable against criteria and communicated to workers before the activity proceeds.

Suitable and sufficient assessment

A risk assessment that identifies hazards and controls, is proportionate to the risk, and is recorded where five or more employees are employed under MHSWR 1999.

Exposure action value

A noise or vibration level at which specific duties arise, such as providing information, training, health surveillance and hearing protection; distinct from the exposure limit value.

LEV thorough examination and test

Statutory check of local exhaust ventilation equipment at least every 14 months by a competent person, with records kept and defects remedied.

COSHH assessment

Assessment of risks from hazardous substances, covering exposure routes, controls, emergency arrangements and health surveillance; workplace exposure limits apply to airborne substances.

TILE manual handling

Assessment framework covering Task, Individual, Load and Environment to identify manual handling risks and select controls such as mechanical aids or team lifting.

HSE Management Standards

Six areas of work design linked to work-related stress: demands, control, support, relationships, role and change. Used to assess and manage psychosocial risk.

RIDDOR over-7-day injury

An injury that keeps a worker off normal duties for more than seven consecutive days must be reported to the enforcing authority within 15 days of the incident.

Dangerous occurrence

A near-miss event listed in RIDDOR with high potential for serious harm, such as lifting equipment failure or scaffold collapse, which must be reported.

Root cause analysis

Investigation method (e.g. 5 Whys, fishbone, events and causal factors) that identifies underlying system failures rather than blaming individuals, so effective corrective action can be taken.

Heinrich pyramid

Model showing that for every serious injury there are many minor injuries and near misses; near misses are leading indicators for prevention.

Fire warden role

Appointed person responsible for checking evacuation, assisting people to escape routes, sweeping areas and reporting at the assembly point during an emergency.

First aid needs assessment

Assessment determining the number of first aiders and appointed persons, first aid equipment and facilities required, based on workforce, hazards and site location.

Business continuity plan

Document identifying critical functions, recovery time objectives and alternate arrangements so the organisation can continue operating after a disruptive emergency.

Accident frequency rate

Calculated as (number of reportable accidents x 1,000,000) divided by total hours worked; allows comparison of safety performance across organisations and over time.

Leading indicator

A proactive measure of preventive activity, such as inspections completed or training hours, that predicts future safety performance rather than recording past outcomes.

Audit versus inspection

An audit is a systematic, independent, documented evaluation of the management system; an inspection is a routine check of conditions and behaviours at the workplace.

Health surveillance

Planned monitoring of workers exposed to residual health risks (e.g. noise, vibration, sensitisers) to detect early signs of work-related ill health and inform controls.

Reasonable adjustments

Changes to work, equipment or arrangements required under the Equality Act 2010 to enable a disabled worker to perform their role and return to work.

Contractor pre-qualification

Assessment of a contractor's competence, resources, insurance, accident history and method statements before appointment, to confirm they can work safely.

Waste hierarchy

Ranked waste management options: prevent, reuse, recycle, recover (including energy recovery), then dispose, with prevention the most preferred and disposal the least.