COSH SO2 flashcards

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

Employer general duty

The employer must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of all employees and others affected by the work.

Risk assessment trigger

A written risk assessment is legally required when an employer employs five or more employees; significant findings must be recorded.

Prohibition notice

An enforcement notice that stops an activity immediately where there is a risk of serious personal injury; it can be issued verbally or in writing.

RIDDOR reporting time

Deaths and specified injuries must be reported within 10 days; over-7-day injuries within 15 days; dangerous occurrences without delay.

Risk formula

Risk = likelihood × severity. Use a 5×5 matrix to rank risks as low, medium, high or extreme.

Hierarchy of control

The order of control effectiveness: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and PPE (last resort).

ALARP principle

Risks should be reduced to as low as reasonably practicable, balancing the cost of further control against the risk reduction achieved.

Residual risk

The risk remaining after controls have been applied; it must be recorded, monitored, and reviewed periodically.

Construction phase plan

A document prepared by the principal contractor before construction starts, setting out the arrangements for managing health and safety on site.

Toolbox talk

A short, topic-specific safety briefing delivered regularly (e.g., weekly) to reinforce awareness of site hazards and safe working practices.

Permit-to-work

A formal written system used to control high-risk work such as hot work, confined space entry, live electrical work, and excavation.

Site induction

Mandatory training for all workers before starting on site, covering site rules, hazards, emergency procedures, and first-aid arrangements.

Root cause analysis

A method to identify the underlying management system failures that led to an incident, using tools like 5 Whys or fishbone diagrams.

Bird's accident pyramid

For every serious injury, there are approximately 10 minor injuries, 30 property damage incidents, and 600 near misses.

Immediate vs root cause

Immediate causes are unsafe acts and conditions; root causes are management system failures such as inadequate training or poor supervision.

Witness interview technique

Conduct interviews promptly, separately, and without leading questions; record statements verbatim where possible.

Training needs analysis

A process to identify gaps between required and current competence at organisational, job, and individual levels.

Kirkpatrick evaluation levels

Four levels of training evaluation: reaction, learning, behaviour, and results.

Competence definition

The combination of training, experience, and knowledge that enables a person to perform a task safely and effectively.

Safety communication barriers

Obstacles such as language, literacy, noise, and cultural differences; use pictograms and interpreters to overcome them.

COSHH assessment steps

Identify hazardous substances, assess exposure, apply controls (hierarchy), monitor exposure, and provide health surveillance where required.

Noise action values

Lower action value: 80 dB(A); upper action value: 85 dB(A). Hearing protection must be provided at the upper value.

Health surveillance

Required when there is a disease associated with the substance, exposure is likely, and valid detection techniques exist.

Manual handling TILE

A risk assessment framework considering Task, Individual, Load, and Environment.

Fire triangle

The three elements needed for fire: fuel, oxygen, and heat. Removing any one element extinguishes the fire.

Fire extinguisher classes

Water for Class A (solid combustibles), foam for Class B (flammable liquids), CO2 for electrical fires.

Emergency plan contents

Escape routes, assembly points, roll call procedures, fire wardens, and contact details for emergency services.

PASS technique

Fire extinguisher use: Pull pin, Aim at base, Squeeze handle, Sweep side to side.

Accident Book retention

All accidents, including minor ones, must be recorded in the Accident Book and retained for at least 3 years.

LTIFR formula

Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate = (number of lost time injuries / total hours worked) × 1,000,000.

Document control

Version control, authorisation, review dates, and secure storage (confidential where necessary) for safety documents.

Health record retention

Health surveillance records may need to be kept for 40 years; accident records for at least 3 years.