Construction Health and Safety Competence

1. Construction Health and Safety Competence John Bissett MCIPD

2. ConstructionSkills • SECTOR SKILL COUNCIL • CITB-ConstructionSkills • CITB Northern Ireland • CIC • INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD • CITB • Levy • Grant SKILLS TRAINING APPRENTICESHIPS NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION COLLEGE FUNDING TRAINING PLANS REGISTRATION SCHEMES HEALTH & SAFETY TRAINING

3. What has the construction industry ever done for us?

4. The Construction environment?

5. Construction industry fatalities

7. Improving the Construction Environment • Legislation and Guidance • Technology and Equipment • Training and Competence • Managing & Planning • Supervision • High risk activities • Worker behaviour – attitude and habits

8. Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 Requires • Projects to be adequately managed • Competence from all involved • Co-operation & Coordination • “The right information for the right people at the right time” • BUM design • Physical safeguard requirements

9. Guidance

10. Managing Health and Safety In Construction (L144) Appendix 4 lists • “Core criteria for demonstration of competence” For Companies, contractors, CDM Co-ordinators and designers

11. Among the requirements…. For individual qualifications and experience: • ConstructionSkills – Site Management Safety Scheme • NEBOSH Construction Certificate • Touch Screen Test • SVQ/NVQ’s • Appropriate Professional Qualifications • CPD/Life long learning

12. 2000 – 100+ Construction Deaths “Turning concern into action summit” 27th Feb. 2001

13. Record Schemes • In use for many years but adopted by Major Contractors Group (now UK Contractors Group) in 2001 • Aimed for 100% on their contracts • Skill cards with health and safety input • Originally for limited high risk activities • Scaffolders - CISRS • Plant operators - CPCS • Demolition – Now CSCS • Now almost universal through CSCS

14. Who owns CSCS? The members of the board are from the Construction Confederation, Federation of Master Builders, GMB Union, National Specialist Contractors Council, T&G Section of UNITE (Building Crafts Section), Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians. The Construction Industry Council and the Construction Clients Group are also represented on the Board.

15. Construction Skills Registration Scheme – www.cscs.uk.com • Applicants require a computerised Health and Safety Test which must be updated every 5 years • They must be able show evidence of qualifications, either SVQ/NVQ or professional • Limited “grandfather rights” for two years after a qualification is introduced • Other schemes can be affiliated to CSCS

16. Benefits • Demonstrates commitment to quality and safety • Gives recognition of skills • routes available for VQ assessment of those without formal qualifications • Aids clients in evaluating competence • Sets standards although there may be additional requirements • Shows movement towards a fully qualified and registered workforce

18. The Record Scheme Cards Visitor Card Construction Related occupation

19. Labourers Card • For operatives who will be carrying out only labouring/driving duties. • Shows holder is a competent labourer and has current up to date Health and Safety knowledge • Obtained by: Experience/industry accreditation or achieving an S/NVQ level 1

20. Trainee Card • For operatives who have been accepted by their employer to be trained. • The operative must be registered for the S/NVQ level 2 Trainee cards have a 3 year expiry date • Trainee cards are onlyrenewable once.

21. Craft Card • For operatives who have satisfactorily completed the approved training courses and achieved an S/NVQ level 2/3 • Cards have a 5 year expiry date. • Cards are renewable on proof of passing the Health and Safety test within two years of application.

22. Advanced Craft/Supervisor Card • For those who have satisfactorily achieved an S/NVQ level 3 • Cards have a 5 year expiry date. • Cards are renewable on proof of passing the Health and Safety test within two years of application.

23. Manager/Supervisors/Technicians • Managers Black Card SVQ/NVQ 4/5 • Supervisors/Technician Gold card SVQ/NVQ 3 • Professionally Qualified card for full members of institutes eg IOSH, CIOB

24. Other Cards CCDO Demolition OperativesTel: 0844 826 8385CISRS ScaffoldersTel: 0844 815 7223CPCS Plant OperatorsTel: 0844 815 7274CSR People working in Northern IrelandTel: 028 9087 7150ACE Engineering Construction WorkersTel: 01923 260000ECS ElectriciansPlease note that the ConstructionSkills health and safety test cannot be used for this card. Tel: 020 8302 0031(England & Wales)Tel: 0131 445 5577(Scotland)EUSRA national card scheme for the utility industries operated by Energy & Utility Skills.Tel: 0845 077 9922JIB-PMESPlumbers in England & WalesTel: 01480 476925SkillCardHeating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration personnelTel: 01768 860406SNIJIBPlumbers in Scotland & Northern IrelandTel: 0131 225 2255

25. No of cards issued 21/1/10 1,519,277

26. Summary • Registration schemes increasingly required by clients & customers • Benefit to employers and workers • There may be higher standards additionally required e.g. SMSTS • Cards are not foolproof – still onus on employer to ensure competence

27. Thank you john.bissett@cskills.org 07826858548 www.cskills.org