What legislation does Unit 201 cover?

Unit 201 covers the main health and safety legislation relevant to building services engineering work. The primary legislation is the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA). Key regulations made under HASAWA that Unit 201 covers include: the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSWR) — which establish the duty to carry out risk assessments; the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH); the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR); the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) — covering tools and machinery; the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992; the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992; and the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (EWR 1989), which are of particular relevance to electrical apprentices. Understanding how these regulations relate to each other — HASAWA as the parent Act, regulations as more detailed subsidiary requirements — is important for the Unit 201 exam.

What are an employer's duties under HASAWA 1974?

Section 2 of HASAWA places a general duty on employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare at work of all employees. This includes: providing and maintaining safe plant and systems of work; making arrangements for ensuring the safe use, handling, storage, and transport of articles and substances; providing necessary information, instruction, training, and supervision; maintaining the workplace in a safe condition with safe means of access and egress; and providing and maintaining a safe working environment with adequate welfare facilities. The phrase "so far as is reasonably practicable" is a key qualification — it means balancing the risk against the cost and effort of controlling it. Employers are not required to eliminate all risk, but must reduce risk to a level that is proportionate. Employees also have duties under Section 7 of HASAWA: to take reasonable care of themselves and others, and to cooperate with the employer on health and safety matters.

What does COSHH require electricians to do?

COSHH requires employers to assess the health risks from exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace and to implement appropriate controls. For electricians, hazardous substances commonly encountered include: asbestos (in older buildings — requires specific Asbestos at Work Regulations compliance); silica dust from drilling concrete and brick; chemical solvents in cable jointing compounds, adhesives, and cleaning agents; and lead in older soldering and cable sheathing. The COSHH hierarchy of controls mirrors the general risk assessment hierarchy: eliminate the substance (use a safer alternative), substitute with a less hazardous substance, control by engineering measures (local exhaust ventilation, enclosed systems), administrative controls (limiting exposure time, safe working procedures), and finally PPE as the last resort. In Unit 201 exams, questions frequently ask students to identify the COSHH hierarchy and apply it to a specific scenario involving a hazardous substance on a building site.

What injuries and occurrences must be reported under RIDDOR?

RIDDOR 2013 requires the responsible person (employer, self-employed person, or person in control of premises) to report specified categories of work-related incidents to the HSE. These include: deaths — all work-related deaths must be reported; specified injuries — broken bones (other than fingers, thumbs, or toes), amputations, injuries resulting in permanent loss of sight or reduction of sight, crush injuries, scalding, chemical burns, head injuries, and any injuries requiring hospital treatment; dangerous occurrences — near misses with serious potential consequences, including electrical flash and arc events, explosions, and structural collapses; and occupational diseases — certain conditions diagnosed by a doctor and related to work activities, including occupational asthma, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and skin diseases. For apprentices, the most relevant RIDDOR scenarios are electrical accidents, falls from height (ladders, platforms), and musculoskeletal injuries from manual handling.

What is the five-step risk assessment process?

The HSE five-step risk assessment process is the standard approach in UK health and safety management, required by the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. The five steps are: Step 1 — Identify the hazards (what could cause harm? Look at activities, equipment, substances, and the working environment). Step 2 — Decide who might be harmed and how (employees, apprentices, contractors, members of the public, vulnerable persons). Step 3 — Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions (what is the likelihood and severity of harm? What controls are already in place? What additional controls are needed?). Step 4 — Record your findings and implement them (for employers with five or more employees, the risk assessment must be written down). Step 5 — Review your risk assessment and update if necessary (when working conditions change, after an accident or near miss, or at regular intervals). In Unit 201 exams, students are expected to apply this process to specific scenarios and identify appropriate control measures.

What PPE is required for electrical installation work?

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for electrical installation work varies with the specific task. PPE is always the last resort in the hierarchy of controls — engineering and administrative controls should be used first. PPE commonly required for electrical installation work includes: safety footwear (steel toe cap, and mid-sole protection for sites with penetration hazards); hard hat (on construction sites and where overhead work is in progress); high-visibility vest or jacket (near vehicle movements); safety glasses or goggles (drilling, chasing, cutting, cable routing); work gloves (handling cables, sharp edges, and rough materials — note: standard work gloves do not provide electrical insulation); ear protection (sustained use of SDS drills and angle grinders); and dust masks (FFP2 minimum for concrete and silica dust, FFP3 for asbestos awareness situations). Electrical insulating gloves (rated to IEC 60903) are required for live working by approved personnel — apprentices must NEVER work live.

How is Unit 201 assessed?

Unit 201 in the City & Guilds 2365 Diploma is assessed by a written online examination. The exam consists of multiple choice and short-answer questions covering the legislation, regulations, risk assessment process, and PPE requirements covered in the unit. Typical exam duration is 1 hour for the Level 2 version and approximately 1.5 hours for Level 3. Questions often present a scenario (for example, a description of a work activity on a construction site) and ask students to identify the legislation that applies, the risks present, or the appropriate controls. Revision should focus on: understanding the purpose and key requirements of each piece of legislation, knowing the hierarchy of risk controls, being able to apply the five-step risk assessment to practical scenarios, and understanding when RIDDOR reporting is required and to whom.

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C&G 2365 Unit 201: Health and Safety Revision Guide for Electrical Apprentices

Comprehensive revision guide for City & Guilds 2365 Unit 201 — Health and Safety in Building Services Engineering. Covering HASAWA 1974, COSHH, RIDDOR, risk assessment, PPE, and exam technique for electrical apprentices.

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Key Takeaways

1Unit 201 — Health and Safety in Building Services Engineering — is a mandatory knowledge unit within the City & Guilds 2365 Level 2 and Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installations.
2The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA) is the primary UK health and safety legislation. It places duties on employers, employees, the self-employed, and manufacturers of equipment and substances.
3COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002) requires employers to assess the risk from hazardous substances (chemicals, dusts, fumes) and implement controls to protect workers.
4RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013) requires certain workplace injuries, work-related ill health, and dangerous occurrences to be reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
5A five-step risk assessment process — identify hazards, identify who could be harmed, evaluate risk and controls, record findings, review — is central to Unit 201 and all practical site safety work.

01 · Apprentice Guide

What is City & Guilds 2365 Unit 201?

Unit 201 — Health and Safety in Building Services Engineering — is one of the mandatory knowledge units within the City & Guilds 2365 Diploma in Electrical Installations. It appears at both Level 2 (the foundation diploma completed in the first two years of an apprenticeship) and in expanded form at Level 3 (the advanced technical certificate completed in years three and four).

The unit establishes the legislative and practical framework for working safely in the building services engineering sector. Health and safety knowledge is not just an exam requirement — it directly underpins every practical task an electrician carries out on site, from safe isolation before testing to COSHH assessments for hazardous materials encountered in older buildings.

Understanding Unit 201 thoroughly benefits apprentices in three ways: it provides the knowledge needed to pass the written examination, it supports the health and safety observations required for the NVQ practical portfolio, and it builds the instincts that keep electricians safe throughout a career.

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02 · Apprentice Guide

HASAWA 1974: The Foundation of UK Health and Safety Law

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA) is the primary legislation that governs health and safety in the workplace in Great Britain. All subsequent health and safety regulations are made under the authority of HASAWA. Understanding its structure is essential for Unit 201.

Section 2 — Duties of Employers to Employees

Employers must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare of all employees. This includes safe systems of work, safe plant and equipment, safe use of substances, adequate training and supervision, and a safe working environment. Employers with five or more employees must have a written health and safety policy.

Section 3 — Duties to Non-Employees

Employers and self-employed persons have a duty to ensure their work activities do not expose people who are not their employees to health and safety risks. This covers members of the public, customers, and contractors who may be affected by the work.

Section 7 — Duties of Employees

Employees must take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions. They must also cooperate with their employer on health and safety matters. This section is frequently tested in Unit 201 exams — apprentices have legal duties, not just employers.

Section 8 — Duty Not to Interfere

Nobody may intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interests of health and safety. Removing safety guards, disabling isolation mechanisms, or interfering with PPE provided by an employer is a criminal offence under this section.

The phrase "so far as is reasonably practicable" appears throughout HASAWA and its regulations. It means that the time, trouble, and cost of implementing a control measure must be proportionate to the risk it addresses. Very high risks require control regardless of cost; very low risks may justify less stringent controls.

03 · Apprentice Guide

COSHH: Controlling Hazardous Substances

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) require employers to assess the health risks from hazardous substances encountered in the workplace and implement controls to prevent ill health. In electrical installation, the most commonly encountered hazardous substances are:

Silica dust — from drilling and cutting concrete, brick, and stone. Prolonged exposure causes silicosis, an irreversible lung disease. FFP2 dust masks and water suppression or LEV (local exhaust ventilation) are required.
Asbestos — found in older buildings (pre-2000) in insulation, ceiling tiles, artex, pipe lagging, and some electrical equipment. Disturbing asbestos is the single most serious occupational health hazard for electricians working in older buildings. Licensed removal is required for high-risk asbestos types.
Chemical solvents — in cable jointing compounds, pipe adhesives, and cleaning solvents. May be flammable (fire risk in enclosed spaces) and harmful by inhalation or skin contact. Use in ventilated areas with appropriate gloves and eye protection.
Biological hazards — sewage contamination in underground cable routes and drainage trenches. Appropriate PPE and hygiene controls are required when working in contaminated environments.

The COSHH hierarchy of control — eliminate, substitute, engineering controls, administrative controls, PPE — is a key exam topic. Students should be able to apply the hierarchy to a given scenario and identify the most appropriate control measure at each level.

04 · Apprentice Guide

RIDDOR: Reporting Requirements for Electricians

RIDDOR 2013 (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) requires the responsible person to report certain categories of workplace incidents to the Health and Safety Executive. Reports are submitted via the HSE website (hse.gov.uk) within specified timeframes:

Deaths: Report immediately by telephone to HSE and follow up with a written report within 10 days.
Specified injuries: (broken bones, amputations, burns, head injuries, loss of consciousness) — report within 10 days. Include injuries to members of the public that require hospital treatment.
Over-7-day incapacitation: If an employee cannot perform their normal work duties for more than 7 consecutive days (not counting the day of the accident), report within 15 days of the accident.
Dangerous occurrences: Near misses that could have caused death or serious injury. For electricians, relevant examples include electrical flashover events, explosions from energised equipment, and collapses of excavations.

Note that all workplace accidents must be recorded in the employer's accident book regardless of whether RIDDOR reporting is required. The accident book entry is distinct from the RIDDOR report and covers all workplace accidents, however minor.

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05 · Apprentice Guide

Risk Assessment: The Five-Step Process

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment of the risks to employees and others arising from their work activities. The HSE five-step approach is the accepted method:

1
Identify the hazards
Walk the work area and identify everything that could cause harm. Consider the task, materials, equipment, environment, and the people involved. A hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm (not the same as a risk — risk considers the likelihood of harm occurring).
2
Decide who might be harmed and how
Identify all persons who could be affected — not just employees but also contractors, visitors, members of the public, and vulnerable groups such as young persons (including apprentices under 18), pregnant workers, and those with disabilities.
3
Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions
Assess the likelihood and severity of harm for each hazard. Identify existing controls and determine whether they are adequate. Apply the hierarchy of control: eliminate, substitute, engineering controls, administrative controls, PPE.
4
Record your findings and implement them
Employers with five or more employees must record the significant findings. The record must show the hazards, the people at risk, and the controls in place. Implement the controls identified in step 3.
5
Review your risk assessment and update if necessary
Review when work conditions change, new hazards are identified, following an accident or near miss, or at regular intervals (annually for most operations). Update the risk assessment to reflect any changes.

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06 · Apprentice Guide

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

PPE is always the last resort in the hierarchy of controls. It protects only the wearer and provides no protection if it fails, is removed, or is worn incorrectly. However, where other controls cannot eliminate or adequately reduce risk, appropriate PPE is a legal requirement under the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992.

Head protection: Hard hat (EN 397 or EN 14052 high-performance helmet) — required on construction sites and where overhead work or materials at height create impact risk.
Eye protection: Safety glasses (EN 166) for general use; goggles for chemical splash or grinding. Essential during drilling, chasing, cutting, and cable pulling through conduit.
Foot protection: Safety footwear with steel toecap (EN ISO 20345). Mid-sole protection (M rating) where ground penetration hazard exists. Standard for all site work.
Hearing protection: Ear defenders or ear plugs (EN 352) — required when noise exposure exceeds 80dB(A) action level. SDS drilling and angle grinding regularly exceed this level.
Respiratory protection: Dust masks — FFP2 for general construction dust, FFP3 for higher-hazard dusts (silica-heavy operations). Fit-tested for effective protection. Vital when drilling concrete or working in dusty environments.
High-visibility clothing: Required near vehicle movements — EN 471 or EN ISO 20471 rated. Mandatory on most construction sites.

07 · Apprentice Guide

Unit 201 Exam Structure and Revision Tips

The Unit 201 written examination tests knowledge of health and safety legislation, regulations, risk assessment, COSHH, RIDDOR, and PPE. Here is how to approach the exam:

Exam Format

Multiple choice questions (select the correct answer from four options)
Short-answer questions (one or two sentences per answer)
Scenario-based questions (describe a situation and ask for legislation, risks, or controls)
Duration: approximately 1 hour (Level 2) to 1.5 hours (Level 3)
Minimum pass mark: typically 70%

Common Exam Topics

Which legislation applies to a given scenario (HASAWA, COSHH, RIDDOR, MHSWR)
Employer and employee duties under HASAWA Sections 2, 3, 7
The COSHH hierarchy of controls in order
Which injuries and occurrences require RIDDOR reporting
The five steps of risk assessment in the correct order
PPE selection for specific tasks (drilling, working at height, chemical handling)

Revision Tips

Learn the full title and date of each piece of legislation — examiners test whether you know the correct name
Memorise the five-step risk assessment process — it appears in almost every Unit 201 exam
Practice applying COSHH controls to specific scenarios (silica dust, asbestos, solvents)
Know the RIDDOR reporting timeframes: immediate for deaths, 10 days for specified injuries, 15 days for over-7-day incapacitation
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Frequently Asked Questions About C&G 2365 Unit 201

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C&G 2365 Unit 201: Health and Safety Revision Guide for Electrical Apprentices

Key Takeaways

What is City & Guilds 2365 Unit 201?

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HASAWA 1974: The Foundation of UK Health and Safety Law

Section 2 — Duties of Employers to Employees

Section 3 — Duties to Non-Employees

Section 7 — Duties of Employees

Section 8 — Duty Not to Interfere

COSHH: Controlling Hazardous Substances

RIDDOR: Reporting Requirements for Electricians

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Risk Assessment: The Five-Step Process

Generate risk assessments with AI on site

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Unit 201 Exam Structure and Revision Tips

Exam Format

Common Exam Topics

Revision Tips

Study Unit 201 with AI-powered flashcards and practice

Frequently Asked Questions About C&G 2365 Unit 201

What legislation does Unit 201 cover?

What are an employer's duties under HASAWA 1974?

What does COSHH require electricians to do?

What injuries and occurrences must be reported under RIDDOR?

What is the five-step risk assessment process?

What PPE is required for electrical installation work?

How is Unit 201 assessed?

Continue reading

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City & Guilds 2365 Complete Overview

AM2 Assessment Preparation

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