Questions and Answers

Our premises have a number of self-closing fire doors on the corridors. A new employee uses a wheelchair and we are concerned that she may have difficulty opening these doors. What action could we take to resolve this issue?

A trade union safety representative has stated that due to the presence of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) in the office, we should be undertaking a risk assessment on an employee who has a pacemaker. Is this the case?

I am carrying out a risk assessment in relation to the pushing and pulling of trolleys around our premises. Part of the work involves travelling up and down a ramp. Are there any particular issues to be taken into account and what control measures should be considered?

It has been suggested that we should review our security management procedures as part of the Government’s COVID-19 secure guidelines for workplaces. Is this the case and what should we be doing?

My last project was delayed by disagreements on several issues. What’s the best way to avoid disputes on a project?

One of my team is obviously working far longer hours since our office closed during the pandemic and we started working from home. I have tried to discourage this but it seems to be her way of coping with anxiety. I’m worried she’s heading for burnout. What can I do?

Who does what with the construction phase plan?

I have been asked to prepare a brief for our Managing Director on how we can improve arrangements for consulting with employees on health and safety. Could you outline the factors I should be considering?

At a recent meeting of our senior management team, I was asked how we determine our “risk tolerance level” in respect of health and safety risks. What is risk tolerance and how would I determine this?

We are aware of the need to review our workplace cleaning regime due to Covid-19. What are the requirements for cleaning if a person with suspected Covid-19 has been sent home from work?