EBC Under Construction II 13 th November 2009, London Eur Ing Kevin Fear, BSc(Hons) CEng MICE MIHT MIOSH - Head of H&S Strategy

ConstructionSkills We are the Sector Skills Council and the Industry Training Board (ITB) for the construction industry – we work in partnership with employers and Government As an ITB, we collect a levy and offer training grants We develop and sell products and services to the construction industry As an SSC - we represent the whole industry – all crafts and trades to professionally qualified staff We work to deliver right skills, right place at the right time

Introduction Competence –What is competence? –Why is it important ? –How can competence be assessed in the UK?

Competence is required by law Borehole Sites and Operations Regulations sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other qualities Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations combination of training and experience Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other qualities Quarries Regulations sufficient training, experience, knowledge and other qualities

Construction (Design & Management) Regs 2005 Regulation 4 – Competence No person shall appoint a CDM duty holder unless he has taken reasonable steps to ensure that the duty holder is competent No person shall accept an appointment unless he is competent No person shall instruct a worker for design or construction work unless the worker is competent or under the supervision of a competent person

Definition of competence (mine!) Ability to do a particular thing Skill Knowledge Attitude (or understanding) Training Experience

Route to competence competenceincompetence conscious3 - conscious competence 2 - conscious incompetence unconscious4 - unconscious competence 1 - unconscious incompetence

Standards of competence change over time Tacoma Narrows suspension bridge torsional failure.

ACoP Appendix 6 Development of competence

Why is competence important? Rita Donaghy enquiry for DWP - Phase 2 Report – underlying causes of construction fatalities - Review and sample analysis of recent construction fatal accidents, July 2009 Details of 28 construction fatal accidents The method adopted was developed from the Human Factors Analysis and Classification system There was an association with training deficiencies in 11 deaths (39%, more than 1 in 3) It was concluded in 7 deaths that inadequate experience also contributed to poor competence or suitability (25%, 1 in 4) So, 18 deaths (64%, just under 2 in 3) associated with competence

Occupational Competence: The National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) are based upon standards written in partnership with employers and industry. They are made up of: Core skills and knowledge Specific skills and knowledge related to the occupation Combined together through understanding acquired through experience

The core knowledge and skills units include a mandatory element common to all Craft, Trade and Operative NVQs : VR01: Conform to General Workplace Safety VR02: Conform to Efficient Work Practices VR03: Move and Handle Resources

ConstructionSkills’ work with industry Work with Industry to establish occupational standards, including those for H&S (National Occupational Standards, NOS) Develop and deliver vocational qualifications based upon the NOS (National Vocational Qualifications, NVQs) Train workers for then assess their retained knowledge and skill in a working environment CSkills’ H&S test helps establish a common benchmark for basic H&S knowledge SMEs need competent workers as their business performance depends on fewer individuals

Training/Learning Occupational experience Occupational skill Occupational knowledge Core skill Application of skill Application of knowledge COMPETENCE Core knowledge

Conclusion Competence is required by law and to ensure that workers are effective and safe Standards change over time National vocational qualifications offer one of the few assessed routes to competence Competence is essential for SMEs as the performance of their businesses depends on fewer individuals

EBC Under Construction II 13 th November 2009, London Eur Ing Kevin Fear, BSc(Hons) CEng MICE MIHT MIOSH - Head of H&S Strategy