The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSWA), is a highly significant piece of legislation, which covers occupational health and safety in the UK.

The aim of the Act is to make sure all workplaces support health and safety by complying with its requirements.

Here we look at what the Act does, who enforces it, and what employers need to do to ensure they comply with it, including providing health and safety training to their employees.

Why Does Health and Safety Matter?

According to statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE),1.6 million people in Britain suffered from a work-related illness in 2019-2020, where 111 workers were killed at work.

The Labour Force Survey records that 693,000 people sustain non-fatal injuries at work in 2019-2020 in Great Britain.

Injuries and ill-health at work are costly to the economy:

• 38.8 million working days are lost due to workplace injury and work-related illness

• The cost of injuries and ill health from working conditions is estimated to be £16.2 billion.

Health and Safety in the workplace is important because it helps to protect the wellbeing of employees, employers, and customers.

Businesses that maintain good levels of health and safety awareness and practices can foster more positive and productive workplace cultures.

Employers who neglect health and safety can end up losing their staff, and their reputation, while increasing their costs and reducing productivity. Crucially, they risk prosecution under the Health and Safety Act.

What are the Major Points of the Health and Safety Act?

A key aspect of the 1974 Act is its introduction of a new system based on goal-based rather than prescriptive regulations.

It supports these goal-based regulations with guidance and a code of practice. 

As a primary piece of legislation, HSWA says that workplaces must provide:

• Adequate training for staff to make sure they understand and follow health and safety procedures

• A safe working environment, properly maintained, where operations are carried out safely

• Adequate welfare provisions for staff at work

• Provision of relevant information, instruction and supervision.

Where a workplace has five or more employees, the employer must keep a written record of their health and safety policy, and must consult with employees (or their representatives) about health and safety arrangements.

What Legal Rights do Employees Have?

Health and safety law says that workers have the right to work in places where there is proper control of risks to their health and safety.

The employer is responsible for health and safety and therefore must:

• Decide what could harm employees during their work and take precautions to prevent it through risk assessment

• Explain to employees how they will control risks, and who is responsible for doing this

• Consult and work with employees and their health and safety representatives to protect everyone in the workplace from harm.

• Provide the necessary equipment and protective clothing employees need, and look after it properly

• Provide the health and safety training employees need to carry out their jobs

• Provide adequate facilities, including toilets, washing and first aid facilities

• Have insurance that covers employees for injury or work-related illness

• Report major injuries, diseases, dangerous injuries or fatalities at work

• Work with other employers or contractors sharing the workplace to make sure they protect the health and safety of all employees.

Employees should follow any training they receive, co-operate with employers, and take reasonable care of their own and other people’s health and safety.

They should also let someone know, such as an employer, supervisor or health and safety representative, if they think work or inadequate precautions are putting someone at risk.

Who Enforces the Health and Safety Act?

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) enforces the Health and Safety Act. This is a government-appointed body, and is the UK’s national regulator for health and safety in the workplace.

While HSE is responsible for enforcing the Act, to do this it often works with relevant local authorities.

HSWA is a primary piece of legislation, but there are other regulations which work alongside it, known as statutory instruments. These regulations support the Act’s aims.

It is a criminal offence for employers not to comply with the duties and regulations that the Health and Safety Act imposes.

Why is Health and Safety Training Important?

Under the Health and Safety Act, employers must make sure that everyone who works for them knows how to work safely and without risk to their health.

This applies to contractors and self-employed workers too.

Employers should understand what level of health and safety training people will require, depending on what kind of business they have, and what level of risk there is.

Training should provide people with the right level of information about:

• Hazards
• Risks
• Measures for dealing with hazards and risks
• Following emergency procedures.

Training should be both relevant and effective, and employees should have refresher training where it is required.

Some workers may have specific training needs, depending on their status, such as new recruits or supervisors.

In certain industries, such as construction, a basic health and safety training qualification is essential for employees before they can gain the necessary certification to work on sites.

What Kind of Health and Safety Training is Available?

SB Skills Solutions provide a range of health and safety training courses from various training bodies, including:

• CITB (Construction Industry Training Board)
• IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health)
• CABWI (Certification and Assessment Board for the Water Industry).

Contact us today for more information about the range of Health and Safety Training course we offer, from various training bodies.

The post What is the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 – A Guide for Employers appeared first on SB Skills Solutions.

The formats of all tests are as follows. Candidates will have 45 minutes to answer 50 questions on the five core knowledge areas: legal and management, health and welfare, general safety, high-risk activities and environment. These 50 questions include additional content in both Specialists and Managers and Professionals tests. Behavioural case studies are also utilised in tests to further understand the candidate’s awareness of HS&E issues, including how to behave safely on site. The HS&E test costs £21, with expiry after 2 years, and upon completion, you can apply to obtain the relevant CSCS card or undertake further construction training. The CSCS cards are valid for 5 years with the exception of trainee cards which are valid for 1 or 3 years.  

CSCS Cards

Upon successful completion of an HS&E test, you can obtain the relevant Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card which costs £36. These cards provide proof that each worker has the appropriate training and qualifications for the job and plays an important role in improving standards and safety across the UK on construction sites. Obtaining and carrying a CSCS card not only reassures your employer that site safety is not compromised, but it also proves to contractors that you are qualified, guaranteeing on-site productivity and dedication to continuous improvement in health and safety management. For each exam taken, there are corresponding CSCS cards which the candidate can apply for. The cards and their corresponding tests are as follows:

Green Labourer CSCS Card:

Candidates must gain a Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment and pass the operative HS&E test. Upon achievement, this card is valid for 5 years and can be renewed, however, some level 1 health and safety awards expire after a number of years. The candidate will need to have a HSE test pass certificate within the last 2 years and a valid health and safety course certificate, recognised by CITB.

Red Apprentice:

This card is available to candidates on a recognised apprenticeship scheme and upon obtaining, this card is valid for 4 years and 6 months after which it cannot be renewed. Candidates need to take the operative HS&E, however, they may be exempt if they have sufficient training under their apprenticeship scheme in the form of any one of the following:

• Sufficient evidence from the Managing Agency of the candidate’s apprenticeship confirming that the candidate has met the Managing Agency’s Health and Safety requirements
• A certificate for a one-day Health and Safety Awareness course
• A Health and Safety unit included in the candidate’s induction or initial qualification.

Red Experienced Technical, Supervisor or Manager:

This is a temporary card available only to Supervisors, Managers and Technical Workers with experience on-site (at least one year of experience in the past three). Candidates must be registered to complete a construction related NVQ, however, should not be part of an approved Professional body (required for the Professionally Qualified Person card). Candidates must also have passed the HS&E test (Supervisors take the supervisors test; managers take the Managers and Professionals test) within the past two years.

Red Experienced Worker

This card is similar to the above Red Experienced Technical, Supervisor or Manager card as this is also temporary and is available only to workers with on-site experience (at least one year in the past three). Candidates must also be registered to complete a Construction related NVQ Level 2 or higher award. The Operative HS&E test must have been taken and passed within 2 years prior to application for this card.

Red Trainee

The temporary card is available to trainee candidates registered to complete either a vocational, academic or professional qualification related to the construction industry. The operatives HS&E test must also have been passed within two years prior to application for this card.

(Blue) Skilled Worker (Operatives, Specialists)

Candidates must have achieved either a construction related NVQ Level 2 award or completed an apprenticeship (such as the CSCS Approved Trailblazer). In addition to this, they must have passed the operative or specialist HS&E test within two years prior to application. This card is valid for 5 years.

Gold Advanced Craft

Candidates must have completed a construction related NVQ Level 3 or complete an approved apprenticeship/employer-sponsored apprenticeship. You must also have passed the Operative/Specialist HS&E test (depending on the candidate’s occupation)

Gold Supervisory

Candidates with a Construction related Supervisory/Technical NVQ Level 3 or 4 and a Supervisors HS&E test can apply for this card. This card is available for supervisor and technical occupations and is valid for 5 years.

(Black) Manager (Manager and Professionals)

Candidates must have either:

• Achieved an NVQ Level 4,5 or 6 in a relevant Construction Management/Technical related award
• Have a pre-existing award in NVQ Level 4 Construction Management.

Candidates must also have passed the Managers and Professionals HS&E test to obtain this card (which is valid for 5 years).

Academically Qualified Person (Manager and Professionals)

Candidates who have completed recognised construction-related degrees are able to apply for this card (evidence of this qualification is required in the appropriate form). Additionally, a pass in the Managers and Professionals HS&E test is required. This card is valid for 5 years.

Professionally Qualified Person (Manager and Professionals)

These cards are only available to candidates who have been competence assessed by CSCS approved bodies i.e. the candidate is required to be a part of a CSCS approved professional body. Some of these such bodies are as follows:

• Architects Registration Board
• Chartered Institute of Building
• Institute of Civil Engineering
• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
• Association for Projects Safety
• Energy Institute
• Institute of Demolition Engineers
• British Computer Society
• Institution of Highways Engineers

Candidates must submit evidence of the above and need to have passed the Managers and Professional HS&E test. This card is valid for 5 years.

(Red) Provisional (temporary only)

This card is a temporary card available to candidates undergoing a probationary period whilst employers assess the suitability of employment. Provisional cards are only issued to candidates who have not been given one before. All candidates will need to have passed the operatives HS&E test within the past two years. This card lasts for 6 months and is non-renewable. Within the six months of obtaining the Provisional CSCS card, the candidate must achieve or be registered for a recognised construction related qualification and the appropriate CSCS card.

For each specialist CSCS card, you must also have the corresponding NVQ qualification in addition to the HS&E tests. A list of the NVQ qualifications and the corresponding CSCS cards can be found below:

• Level 2 NVQ – Certificate in Interior Systems (Blue CSCS Skilled Worker Card)
• Level 2 NVQ – Diploma in Curtain Wall Insulation (Blue CSCS Skilled Worker Card)
• Level 2 NVQ – Diploma in Plant Operations (Blue CSCS Skilled Worker Card)
• Level 2 NVQ – Diploma in Steel Erecting (Blue CSCS Skilled Worker Card)
• Level 2 NVQ – Diploma in Waterproof Membrane Roofing Systems (Blue CSCS Skilled Worker Card)
• Level 2 NVQ – Diploma in Wood Occupations (Blue CSCS Skilled Worker Card)
• Level 3 NVQ – Diploma in Cladding Occupations (Gold CSCS Advanced Craft Card)
• Level 3 NVQ – Diploma in Fenestration Installation (Gold CSCS Advanced Craft Card)
• Level 3 NVQ – Diploma in Occupational Work Supervision (Gold CSCS Supervisor Card)
• Level 3 NVQ – Diploma in Roofing Occupations (Gold CSCS Advanced Craft Card)
• Level 3 NVQ – Diploma in Steel Erecting (Gold CSCS Supervisor Card)
• Level 4 NVQ – Diploma in Construction Site Management (Gold CSCS Supervisor Card)
• Level 6 NVQ – Diploma in Construction Site Management (Black CSCS Managers Card)
• Level 6 NVQ – Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Practice (Black CSCS Managers Card)
• Level 7 NVQ – Diploma in Construction Senior Management (Black CSCS Managers Card)

Types of HS&E test

There are three different types of HS&E test available, depending on the candidate’s requirements: Operative, Specialists, Managers and Professionals. Each different exam leads to a different specialism, with operative tests being at the minimum required level.

Operatives

The operatives test examines HS&E awareness, helping to raise standards across the industry by ensuring all workers meet a minimum level of health, safety, and environmental awareness. It lasts 45 minutes and is comprised of 50 questions made up of both behavioural case studies and knowledge questions on only the five core knowledge areas (as mentioned above). A minimum mark of 45 out of 50 is required to pass. Upon successful completion of this test, you can apply for the following CSCS cards: Labourer card, the Trainee card, the Apprentice card, most Blue Skilled Worker cards and most Gold Advanced Craft cards.

Managers and Professional

The Manager and Professionals test, tests for everything required in the operatives exam, as well as additional material on the following topics:

• Construction (design and management) regulations
• Demolition
• Plumbing or gas
• Highway works

This test takes the format of 50 multiple choice questions split in the following ways:

• 12 behavioural case study questions, assessing the candidate’s awareness of safe behaviour on a construction site
• 38 knowledge questions to assess awareness of HS&E issues.

The test must be completed in 45 minutes and requires 45 out of 50 for a pass. Upon successful completion, you can obtain the following CSCS cards: Black Managers card and the Academically or Professionally Qualified person cards.

Specialist

Specialist tests are taken in a variety of fields. They include questions surrounding the five core knowledge areas in addition to additional questions relevant to the specialist area(s) chosen and require a 45 out of 50 marks to pass. The Specialists test is available in each of the following topics:

• Supervisory (SUP)
• Demolition (DEM)
• Plumbing (JIB) (PLUM)
• Highway works (HIW)
• Specialist work at height (WAH)
• Lifts and escalators (LAEE)
• Tunnelling (TUNN)
• HVACR – heating and plumbing services (HAPS)
• HVACR – pipefitting and welding (PFW)
• HVACR – ductwork (DUCT)
• HVACR – refrigeration and air conditioning (RAAC)
• HVACE – services and facilities maintenance (SAF)

The specialists test can only be taken in one of the above fields, depending on the occupational requirement of the candidate. This test correlates to the following CSCS cards: Gold Supervisor card as well as Blue Skilled Worker and Gold Advanced Craft cards in certain occupations.

Renewal Tests

The final type of touchscreen test is the Renewal Test (RT). The RT is similar to the previously mentioned Health, Safety and Environment test; however, it is used to renew a CPCS Blue Competent Operator Card. These tests can also be taken at any Pearson Vue test centre. Renewal tests take 15 minutes and consist of 15 multiple choice questions about the category of plant machinery that you have chosen to renew. Candidates are required to take tests for each group of categories listed on their card.

Plant Machinery Training

The Health, Safety and Environment test for Operatives is an essential qualification before undergoing your NPORS or CPCS training and testing. Operators of plant machinery are required to have an in-date Health, Safety and Environment test to prove their competency in Health & Safety. Before a card can be issued to the candidate, the awarding bodies such as CPCS or NPORS like to see that the operator is a safe and responsible employee who will promote site safety. This helps to ensure that dangerous operators do not get behind the controls of heavy machinery which can easily cause huge amounts of damage or worse, death.

The CITB Health, Safety and Environment test is just the first step in your construction career. Every site operative should have taken this test at some point in their career as it is a stepping stone to further qualifications. The Health, Safety and Environment test will come together with the NVQs/training that you have achieved to allow you to apply for higher-level cards and take on more responsibilities on-site.

The post What is the Health, Safety and Environment (Touchscreen)Test? appeared first on SB Skills Solutions.

Health and Safety training and awareness is important in all workplaces. However, there is a real need for high-quality Health and Safety Training in the construction industry. With such a high injury rate in the workplace, we feel that every employer should know the dangers of an untrained workforce and the benefits of training them. So here are 10 statistics that will show you why Health and Safety training in construction is so important.

Deaths in construction year-on-year

Starting with a big one. The deaths in construction year on year make up around 20% of fatalities in the workplace in the whole of the UK. This stat may not seem too significant as there are around 67 million people in the UK, however, it shows the increased health and safety risks in the construction industry compared to others. If you think you have got good odds, check out our next statistic.

Workplace Injuries (Non-Fatal)

In the construction industry, there is an average of 54,000 injuries per year! That statistic is frightening to most of us in construction and is significantly higher than in other industries.

Compared to some of the most dangerous industries, construction is right up there. 2.4% of workers in construction will suffer from an injury. To really illustrate the injury rate per 100,000 workers, we have compared the injury rate within construction to the armed forces, offshore workers (such as deep-sea divers) alongside the UK average. The results are shocking…

HSE Notices

If the injury rate and fatality rates weren’t enough to really convince you that the construction industry’s health and safety needs to be taken more seriously. Let’s have a look at the notices handed out to employers in construction. This might not seem like a large statistic but, considering the construction industry make up 60% of prohibition notices in the whole of the UK, it goes to show, that this is a real problem.

Prosecution

In 2018/2019, there were 158 prosecution cases against employers in the UK. However, the part that will convince employers that the HSE is not to be taken lightly is the conviction rate. If the HSE put a prosecution case against you, they will have a 92% conviction rate and on average deliver fines on £107,000.

Causes of injuries

Finally, the different causes of injuries in construction should show you how easily an employee can be injured. All of these causes are very present on construction sites on a daily basis. All of these injuries are avoidable with the correct health and safety training, but, some employers think employees are aware at all times of all possible risks. In truth, we are responsible for everyone’s health and safety on-site and health and safety training won’t just teach you how to stay safe, but also how to keep others safe on-site.

What can you do?

If you’re asking what you can do, then it’s great to hear that you are taking employee safety seriously. The easiest way to check if your employees are aware of health and safety hazards and risks is to check their qualifications or their CSCS card. All CSCS cards require health and safety training, but there are many different types and some will only cover the employee for certain tasks. It is always a good idea to ensure that they are covered for their speciality or trade.

If you’re interested in making sure your workforce is health and safety compliant see our one day health and safety course for getting the Green CSCS card. Or take a look at some of our other health and safety courses.

If you’re interested in making sure your workforce is health and safety compliant see our one-day health and safety course for getting the Green CSCS card or book online. Or take a look at some of our other health and safety courses.

Sources: https://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/statistics/hsr2018.pdf https://www.hse.gov.uk/Statistics/industry/construction.pdf

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DR ABC stands for Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing and circulation. DR ABC attempts to assess the level of first aid that the injured person requires. First aiders should follow the steps broken down into d-r-a-b-c which is easily remembered as DR ABC.

First Aider Role

The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require employers to provide suitable first aid within the workplace. The role of a First Aider can be diverse, but, the primary responsibility will always be to preserve life.

First Aiders are responsible for:

• Assessing the situation
• Protecting the casualty from danger
• Getting help for the casualty
• Prioritising treatment of multiple or individual casualties
• Minimising the risk of infection
• Preventing further injury
• Promoting Recovery

This is not the conclusive list, however, it gives you a good idea of the role and responsibilities of the First Aider.

What does this mean?

The primary objectives of DR ABC:

• Preserving Life
• Preventing Further Injury
• Promote Recovery

These are considered the 3P’s. The primary concern should always be to preserve life. Secondly, prevention of further injuries should be next as you want to minimise the amount of damage done to the person in order to finally promote a healthy recovery.

Danger

You must always assess the situation before taking any steps of first aid. The danger that caused the casualty to become injured in the first place, could still be there which may result in yourself becoming injured and unable to help. For example, a road traffic accident presents a risk as there are moving vehicles on the road that could also injure you. Once the situation has been assessed and is safe, the next steps can be carried out. Never proceed with First Aid or any of the further steps if there is danger present that could leave you injured as well.

Response

The second step is to attempt to prompt a response from the casualty so that they can tell you what is wrong with them. There are a few levels of responsiveness that can be used to assess their state as well. You must check if the casualty is:

Alert – Are they able to move or talk to you to state what has happened? If not you must escalate.

Voice – Attempt to speak to the casualty clearly and loudly, remaining in the casualty’s eye line so that they can see who is talking. Attempt to prompt a response from the casualty. If there is no response, then escalate the response again.

Pain – The casualty may be responsive to a pain stimulus, so at this point you should consider induces a small amount of pain to the casualty to rouse a reaction. Pinching the ear, applying pressure to the fingernail or pinching the skin between the thumb and forefinger should rouse a reaction from a casualty who is responsive.

Unresponsive – At this point, the casualty is unresponsive.

You may need to prompt a response from the casualty if they are not responding. This can be done by speaking loud and clearly into the casualty’s ear.

Airways

If the casualty is unresponsive, you must check their airways. If they have responded verbally and clearly, then their airways will be clear, however, you need to keep checking that their airway is clear.

To ensure the airway is clear, you must perform a chin lift. To do this: Place your hand on to the person’s forehead and gently tilt their head back, lifting the tip of their chin using two fingers. This will move the tongue away from the back of the throat otherwise the tongue will block their airway. Do not lift the head using the hand placed on the forehead. You must always lift from the chin when performing this technique.

Possible airway issues include airway swelling or narrowing. An airway blockage could be caused by:

• The tongue
• Vomit
• Anaphylaxis (Allergic reaction)
• Burns
• Choking
• Strangulation
• Hanging

Breathing

You must check that the casualty is still breathing. To do this you can use one of 3 methods:

• Observe the chest to see if it rises and falls. This indicates that the casualty is breathing.
• Listen over their mouth and nose for breathing sounds.
• Place your cheek close to their mouth and feel for breath for a maximum of 10 seconds.

If the casualty is able to breathe, ensure that their airway stays clear and continue monitoring their breathing.

As you all probably know, you need a constant oxygen supply to survive. Oxygen is so important to us that if our brain cells don’t get oxygen for 3 – 4 minutes, they will begin to die. This can cause brain damage and further brain injuries if the casualty is to survive.

Please note that irregular breathing/gasps are not normal breathing. If the casualty isn’t breathing, call 999 or 112 for an ambulance. This is called agonal breathing which the emergency service operator will understand and can be used in order to reduce the panic levels of the casualty or others around whilst describing the situation.

Circulation

Once breathing has been established with the casualty, you must then move on to check for any signs of severe bleeding. If the casualty is severely bleeding, apply pressure to the wound and call 999/112 to get emergency help.

If the casualty is not bleeding, and have no pulse, start CPR immediately, and call for somebody to bring the nearest defibrillator kit.

Potential reasons for a circulatory issue include:

• Heart Attack
• Heart Failure
• Severe Bleeding
• Poisoning
• Anaphylaxis
• Cardiac Arrest

Defibrillation

Defibrillators can be found in many public places and many businesses. Within the kit you will find:

• Face covering for CPR
• Trauma Shears for clothing
• Razor for any chest hair
• Rubber gloves

An AED kit will walk you through the process of defibrillation with clear instructions. To use an AED device you must:

1. Cut through the casualty’s clothing using the trauma shears provided within the AED kit. This is to clear any obstruction as the AED pads will not work through clothing. In the event that the casualty has thick chest hair, use the razor to remove the hair in the area in which the pad will be placed. Wipe the sweat from the chest area.
2. Remove the pads from the packaging and observe the images on the packaging. The images will indicate where to place the pads. You must always choose the correct pads as the AED kit will contain child and adult pads which will not work if used in reverse.
3. Once the pads are placed on the casualty correctly, the AED device will begin reading the heart rhythms. When the device instructs you to deliver a shock to the casualty, all people in the area must keep away and must not touch the casualty. The AED device will continue to instruct you and will instruct you to give CPR at points. Only touch the casualty when instructed by the AED device.

First Aid Courses

This all sounds great, and putting it into practice in the workplace is essential in the event of an injury in the workplace.

Every workplace must have a registered First Aider on-site.

Here at SB Skills, we offer a range of first aid courses which will prepare you in the event of an injury. Read about our first aid courses here.

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You need a Green CSCS Card to get on-site

You may have found that you need to get yourself a green CSCS card to get on-site initially, but it isn’t that clear how to obtain one. Well, this is the straightforward way to get yourself on-site and working.

The benefits of a Green CSCS Labourer Card

You may be thinking, since it’s not a legal requirement to hold a CSCS card on-site, you don’t need one. That’s true, you don’t need one however, you will find that employers are reluctant to take on employees who don’t hold a CSCS card. This is because it’s far more beneficial to employers to hire staff with a CSCS card. So how does it benefit you?

Competency

The CSCS card shows competency within the construction industry. Rather than carrying round a CV with all of your qualifications, this small card will show employers that you have achieved a certain standard of competency within the industry.

Productivity

Your productivity on-site will be increased as you will be more familiar with the best and safest practices in the workplace. It will benefit your colleagues as well as they won’t be held up correcting unsafe practices.

Employability

It’s no secret that employers prefer hiring applicants with a CSCS labourers card over applicants without it. It shows that you are up to an industry-standard and you won’t be causing safety issues, potentially opening the company up to problems in the future.

Safety

You will be less likely to have a workplace accident. This card won’t protect you from injuries but the training you will undertake on the course will make you more aware of how injuries can happen on a live construction site.

Higher Pay

We know that this is one of the most eye-catching parts of the Green CSCS labourers card, but we had to make you read through the other benefits first. Saving the best for last, it’s no secret that employers are willing to pay more qualified staff a higher wage. This also comes with the ability to work on large sites rather than small domestic developments.

The qualifications

You may already know that you need a Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment. But what does that mean? A Level 1 Award in Health and Safety is the initial qualification that shows that you understand basic health and safety on a construction site. We recommend the one-day NPORS S001 Site Safety Awareness course as it is relatively cheap and only a one-day course which means you can get into work as soon as possible. Once you pass this course you will receive an NPORS certificate which you will use in your application for a Green CSCS Card.

What about the touchscreen test?

You may have heard the term touchscreen test used by people in the industry. All it means is the Health, Safety and Environment test. This is a short test carried out at a Pearson Vue test centre which tests your knowledge of basic health and safety. You must achieve 45 out of 50 correct answers in the test in order to pass and then you are over the hardest parts of obtaining your Green CSCS Card.

How to apply for my CSCS Card

If you apply for a CSCS Worker Green Card, you will need NVQ Level 1 certification. To apply for your Green CSCS Card, you simply have to email CSCS on cscs@citb.co.uk with a copy of your NVQ Level 1 Award in Health and Safety (which attests your general competence in Health and Safety in Construction). Then call CSCS on 0344 994 4777 in order to pay for your card. You can pay over the phone or by cheque and it is only £36. So what are you waiting for? Get your CSCS Card today and get on-site!

Do I need to revise for the tests?

It’s always a great idea to revise for any test that you undertake, but with the NPORS S001 Site Safety Awareness, you’ll learn everything you need on the day. With a pass rate of almost 100%, we’re sure that this course is for everyone!

You may find that you need to revise before you undertake the Health, Safety and Environment test for operatives as there isn’t any preparation given to you before. You can find revision online or by buying the official book or disc.

Further Progression

The Green CSCS card is just one of many cards in the CSCS card scheme. The next step for many in the industry is to undertake a Level 2 NVQ in a trade of choice. From here, the sky is the limit for you, with the right training and the right NVQs the Black Managers CSCS card could be yours in no time!

Of course, you may not want to progress to a higher level CSCS card, you could be getting it alongside your CPCS, NPORS or any other card you could think of. Whatever your reason for getting the Green CSCS card, SB Skills Solutions are always on hand to answer any of your questions and advise you on the best course to progress your career further.

The easiest way to get your Green CSCS Card

If you’ve read all of this and think it sounds too much, SB Skills can help you out. Our team are on hand to help you out in any way possible to make sure you can get started as soon as possible. SB Skills are experienced in all aspects of the Green CSCS card and can handle every single part of the application process for you. All you have to do is show up, listen and pass the tests! Speak to our team on 01695 558 420 to find out how we can help you out.

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Construction of any sort requires a lot of planning, patience, resources, time and management. In addition to being very difficult, construction jobs are really dangerous too. There are several health and safety hazards present on the site which can really cause serious injuries. Every year, tens of thousands of workers get injured while working on construction sites, all over the world. Construction jobs, due to all these hazards are difficult to carry out and can also, at times, prove to be one of the most dangerous jobs. Which is why health and safety courses are so important to keep workers out of dangers and hazards, which is something offered by SB Skills Solutions Ltd.

While many injuries happen on construction sites, each year, thousands of workers get injured during their house building projects. According to the statistics revealed by the Health and Safety Executive, during the year 2016-2017, around 1200 of injuries that took place on house building sites, were due to slips, trips or falls.

According to the National House Building Council (NHBC), most of these injuries or accidents could be averted by the effective and efficient management of the working areas and all the access routes. The estimates reveal that around 2.3 million working days are lost each year in the construction field due to workplace injuries, which comprise around 17% of the mix and illness caused by work-related activities, which comprise around a massive 83% in the mix.

Read the full article to learn more about the most common hazards on house building sites and how to handle them effectively!

NHBC highlights the most frequently reported items in the final quarter of 2017:

• Workers working on the scaffold with no guardrails in place;
• No fall protection on open stairwells;
• Access routes blocked with site materials;
• No eye protection is worn when using a Paslode nail gun;

NHBC Health and safety advisers can provide coaching and advice to site managers, and when the right measures are in place, the safety of a site can be dramatically improved.

Stephen Ashworth, Health & Safety Services Manager, said, “Over recent years, we have seen big improvements with regards to safety on-site and the number of injuries to construction workers has reduced.

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Safety at work is very important. More than 200 people die every year due to accidents at work and more than 1 million get injured. Furthermore, more than 2 million suffer from sicknesses caused by their work. One of the most dangerous industries is the forestry and the odds of getting killed there are 6 times more as compared to a construction site. Prevention of accidents and poor health must be a priority for everyone at work. The employees of any organization are vital and valuable for the future of that particular organization. If you are the manager of a forestry contracting business, you must make the safety of your employees a top priority and must prepare them for the challenges of the job by training them properly.

If you provide health and safety training to the employees, you ensure that the employees do not get sick or injured due to the work they do. The health and safety training also helps to develop a positive, healthy and safe culture where the safe operation of day to day activities becomes natural to them.

The results of health and safety training are not just short term but are rather a long term. The employees that undergo the health and safety training will become accustomed to staying safe at work and will ensure that all the safety standards are complied.

Read the complete article to learn more about the importance of health and safety training!

What is training?

Training means helping people to learn how to do something, telling people what they should or (often as important) should not do, or simply giving them information. Training isn’t just about formal ‘classroom’ courses and obtaining ‘tickets’ (certificates) to work.

Within the forestry industry, there are growing concerns about the level of competence and high expectations of newly trained/qualified operators. What makes someone more employable and valued is their experience gained through on the job training & consolidation, and non formal training in the form of ‘continuous professional development’ (CPD).

Your members of staff become more motivated, remain loyal and committed. Management of CPD allows you, the forestry contractor, to attract, recruit & retain the best people. By demonstrating workforce competence your business is given direction and an enhanced image. This is not just about health and safety. Increasingly, clients are demanding evidence of ability to undertake contracts to a suitable quality, and businesses have been shown to benefit from being able to provide this information, by winning contracts over other companies.

Why manage CPD you might ask?

Well, amongst other things, it’s good for business. What counts for CPD, is any subject that you think is relevant to your personal development. A plethora of subjects count towards CPD including courses, seminars, conferences, workshops, full and part time study and other training, etc . However, CPD needs planning. The individual needs to look at his/her weaknesses for example in core skills – what you do well and in a lack of skills, what needs to be improved. The individual also needs to look at opportunities and threats including new trends, any obstacles and changing roles.

Of course, all individuals will also learn, increase their knowledge and skills simply by doing their job; in other words, gaining experience. This is also part of CPD. The fresh-faced new employee with his recently – gained certificates of competence will not usually be able to equal the productivity of a more experienced operator but with support and supervision from his colleagues he will pick things up every day. Be aware, though, that everyone brings something to the process: He might be slow but he might also have learnt a few techniques that make life easier – and safer. Equally, the more experienced, senior colleague may be quick but may also have picked up a few bad habits along the way. This type of give-and-take has been going on in the workplace for ever and is just as valuable now as it has ever been.

CPD could also be used in forming a nationally recognized, auditable and credible structure to acknowledge individual operators training, certification and career progression, a register of Tree Work Operatives. This scheme would have a large advantage if it could be made to happen, but cost would be the main barrier to progress.

Link to the complete article:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/training-is-important.htm

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