Surveying safely

Lucion Group

5th October, 2018

The history of workplace safety is a fascinating and often sobering journey. What we now take for granted in terms of protective measures, legal obligations, and industry standards was once absent from daily working life. For centuries, workers were expected to shoulder all responsibility for their own safety, regardless of the risks posed by their environment or the machinery they used. It wasn’t until the Industrial Revolution that meaningful steps were taken to establish safety as a shared responsibility between workers, employers, and the state.

The Industrial Revolution

The history of workplace safety is a story shaped by hardship, resistance, and gradual change. For centuries, workers were expected to fend for themselves, with little thought given to the dangerous conditions in which they toiled. Injuries and fatalities were seen as inevitable risks of earning a living. It wasn’t until the late 1700s, during the Industrial Revolution, that governments began to acknowledge a duty to protect workers.

Factories fell under government inspection in 1833, mines in 1842, and railways in 1894. At this time, the inspectors focused mainly on encouraging employers to implement health and safety procedures, rather than punishing them for overlooking issues.

Many employers opposed the government involvement, deeming it “interference” and actively pushing against it by claiming they’d introduced their own internal measures voluntarily.

Unfortunately, it took disasters like the 1913 Senghenydd mining disaster in Wales (which killed 440 men and boys), as well as the rise of trade unions to push the government to extend and enforce regulations. Still, thousands of people continued to be killed and injured at work well into the 20th century. The Health and Safety Act 1974 was put in place to hold employers accountable legally for the safety and welfare of their employees, as well as to ensure that government procedures were being followed to the letter.

Why is it important to survey safely?

Land and building surveying is a profession that places people in a remarkable variety of environments. One day it may involve examining the fabric of a listed building, the next it could mean standing at the side of a motorway or assessing land on the edge of a quarry. Each location comes with its own risks, which is why a strong health and safety culture is not just helpful, but essential. At Lucion, we want our staff to feel confident that their wellbeing is our top priority, no matter where the job takes them.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) provides clear guidance to ensure that surveying companies operate to the highest safety standards. It reminds us that safety is everyone’s responsibility, from senior managers to those working on site. Preventing accidents is not about ticking boxes, but about cultivating a mindset where risk is managed thoughtfully and consistently.

What are the main points outlined in the RICS Health and Safety guide?

To meet our obligations and protect our staff, Lucion follows the principles laid out by RICS. These include:

Providing Health and Safety information
Having emergency procedures
Carrying out and recording risk assessments
Providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as Hi-Vis jackets and Helmets
Recording where employees are at any given time

We also have a responsibility to provide our employees with a well-equipped workplace that caters to their needs. Although much of our work is completed away from our office, we still strive to maintain a healthy working environment by providing:

Welfare support
Smoking areas
A break room
First aid

Shared Responsibility

Our employees also have their own responsibility to be mindful of the safety of themselves and those around them. This involves making sure that they’re wearing correct equipment at all times, and that rules regarding personal appearance (i.e. long hair, beards etc.) are being followed.

Perhaps the most important part of surveying is the risk assessment and hazard identification that has to take place prior to (and throughout) each job. Risk assessment involves looking at any hazards, the persons/property exposed to them, any specific assessments to be carried out, the control measures in place, and any PPE worn by staff. Here’s a fictional case study as an example:

TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY, LOCATION, XX/XX/XXXX
Hazards Manual handling – carrying of survey equipment (tripod, detail pole, EDM, remote). Working at height. Impact from site vehicles – contact with public and hospital vehicles. Lone working. Tripping hazards – walking on unlevelled ground, soft ground, dense vegetation. Electrocution – overhead power cables.	Persons/Property Exposed [Y/N] Young person – N Site operatives – Y Visitors – Y Public – Y New or expectant mothers – N Contractors – Y Lone workers – Y
Specific Risk Assessments To Be Completed? N	Control Measures In Place Surveyor in regular contact with manager throughout survey. Mobile phone. Hi-vis clothing. Use of Land Survey Handbook for working methods. PPE. Internal site assessment procedures completed prior to work beginning. Sign up to warn public of work taking place.
PPE [Y/N] Safety helmets – Y Hi-vis jackets – Y Safety footwear – Y Eye protection – N Dust masks – N Ear plugs – N Ear defenders – N Gloves – Y Protective overalls – N Gauntlets – N Harnesses – N Breathing apparatus – N