Over the next twelve months the RIBA will develop a new mandatory test for all UK Chartered Members on health and safety and building users life safety.
Set to launch in 2019, the test will cover roles, responsibilities and legislation; Design Risk Management; and personal health and safety when working away from the office.
Since the publication of CDM 2015, and the Hackitt Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety earlier this year, RIBA members have been put under increasing pressure to demonstrate to the construction industry, clients and procuring bodies that they have appropriate skills, knowledge and experience in health and safety and life safety of building users and in their own personal safety on site.
Members are expected to already have appropriate health and safety knowledge as set by the architectural education criteria and ongoing requirements of at least two hours formal CPD in health and safety per year. Further to these requirements, under their Code of Conduct, Members can only accept work for which they have the necessary knowledge, skills and resources.
The RIBA has been working with the Health and Safety Executive and other bodies since 2015 to better position architects as professionals with appropriate health and safety knowledge to undertake the duties of designers, and in many instances the duties of principal designers, under CDM 2015. The new requirement is a direct result of this work and the Hackitt Review’s call for professional bodies to raise competency in life safety issues.
Existing members will be given a year to pass the test before renewing their membership for the 2021 subscription year. The RIBA will provide health and safety CPD in a variety of forms to help ensure RIBA Chartered Members have the appropriate knowledge and confidence in their existing skills and experience in health and safety.
The test curriculum will be developed over the next few months. If you are a member with any queries about the new test please contact practice@riba.org.
