Construction Health and Safety Competence John Bissett MCIPD

ConstructionSkills SECTOR SKILL COUNCIL CITB-ConstructionSkillsCITB-ConstructionSkills CITB Northern IrelandCITB Northern Ireland CICCIC INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD CITBCITB LevyLevy GrantGrant SKILLS TRAINING APPRENTICESHIPS NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION COLLEGE FUNDING TRAINING PLANS REGISTRATION SCHEMES HEALTH & SAFETY TRAINING

What has the construction industry ever done for us?

The Construction environment ?

Construction industry fatalities

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

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

Guidance

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

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

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

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

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.

Construction Skills Registration Scheme – 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

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

Visitor Card Level 1 operative Card Skill card Supervisor/Advanced Skills Manager/Professional

The Record Scheme Cards Visitor Card Construction Related occupation

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

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 only renewable once.

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.

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.

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

Other Cards CCDO Demolition OperativesTel: CISRS ScaffoldersTel: CPCS Plant OperatorsTel: CSR People working in Northern IrelandTel: ACE Engineering Construction WorkersTel: ECS Electricians Please note that the ConstructionSkills health and safety test cannot be used for this card. Tel: (England & Wales) Tel: (Scotland) EUSRA national card scheme for the utility industries operated by Energy & Utility Skills.Tel: JIB-PMESPlumbers in England & WalesTel: SkillCardHeating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration personnelTel: SNIJIBPlumbers in Scotland & Northern IrelandTel:

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

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

Thank you