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In 2019, we wrote an article about whether Brexit would kill the construction industry, we can tell you now that it didn’t. In fact, construction is thriving at the moment post-covid. The new Red Diesel measures however may tell a different story.

In 2019, the UK government set out a plan to reduce carbon emissions across the country, with a goal to become completely carbon neutral by 2050. At the time, the UK was a trailblazer among other countries by setting one of the most ambitious carbon neutral objectives the world had seen. Being carbon neutral means that the amount of carbon that a country produces is equal to the quantity of carbon that it removes from the atmosphere.

With the construction industry still recovering from the rising cost of materials and the massive labour shortage, this Red Diesel legislation change could mean disaster for many firms across the country.

What are the rules right now?

As of writing this article in March 2022, the laws currently are not as restrictive on Red Diesel.

The Government’s current rules on Red Diesel are:

“Some oils and fuels are taxed at a lower (rebated) rate because they are not intended to be used in road vehicles. They include:

• gas oil, usually marked and dyed, also called red diesel
• kerosene, including aviation turbine fuel (avtur)

It’s illegal to use rebated oils as fuel in a road vehicle unless you get a licence from us to pay the difference between the full rate of fuel duty and the rebated rate actually paid on the rebated fuel used. Section 7 explains the circumstances in which we’ll allow this and how you can apply.”

What is red diesel and why is it so harmful to the environment?

Red diesel is fundamentally the same as “white diesel” which is regular diesel that comes from petrol stations across the UK. The red part of the diesel comes from a dye called Solvent Red 26 or 164. When used in vehicles, the exhaust will emit red-dyed fumes which will alert authorities that the diesel has not been subject to the same tax that is required to operate on the road. When used in road vehicles, diesel is subject to a duty of almost 58 pence per litre (ppl), which the government says reflects its “harmful impact”.

However, the same fuel with the red dye is taxed at a far lower rate of 11ppl. Therefore, it is given a red colouring so that HMRC and other relevant authorities can track it and crackdown on misuse. Now ministers want to further restrict the legal use of rebated diesel.

Red diesel isn’t specifically more harmful or dangerous to use than regular diesel but the lower price incentivises the use of diesel for companies on private land rather than using more environmentally friendly options.

Changes to Red Diesel Legislation

The “red diesel ban” comes into effect from the 1^st of April 2022. The changes to legislation mean that it will be illegal to put red diesel into vehicles or machinery fuel tanks in the UK. However, the ban doesn’t completely restrict the use of red diesel as there are some dispensations and exemptions for the use of the fuel, however, these circumstances are very limited.

Why is this happening?

The UK Government has stated that this is a step towards their carbon-neutral plan. The Finance Bill 2021 has helped the Government to introduce the “red diesel ban” in order to help meet climate change and air quality policy objectives. Red diesel accounts for the production of almost 14m tonnes of carbon dioxide a year while its use in construction alone caused 7 per cent of nitrogen oxide emissions in London in 2018. Although red diesel doesn’t contribute to pollution more than regular white diesel, Government ministers hope that it will help to push companies towards cleaner alternatives.

What uses will still be allowed?

There has been a list produced that states the accepted industries and uses for red diesel. Sectors that can continue to utilise red diesel include forestry, agriculture, fish farming and horticulture. Some heat and power generation will be allowed as well as refuelling of some boats and track-based vehicles. Travelling fairs and amateur sports clubs will also receive special dispensation.

This makes an interesting point as it states that some tracked vehicles will be included in the exclusion from the ban. This could mean that excavators and other tracked plant machines are still allowed to use red diesel.

This raises the question of why the construction industry is so panicked about this change.

Are there any loopholes for contractors?

All legislation has confusing and intricate details that aren’t clear to the average reader. The Construction Products Association (CPA) pushed the government on this and was told by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) that accepted uses of red diesel after 1 April “very clearly do not cover construction”.

This is disappointing for construction workers, employers and company owners.

Essentially, there is no way around this unless you can blur the lines between what your company does. This would mean somehow convincing HMRC that your construction company is in the: Agriculture, forestry, horticulture, fish farming or Rail (including passenger and freight) industries or Powering non-commercial heating systems (e.g. homes, narrowboats and religious buildings).

These are fairly airtight rules on red diesel and it doesn’t look like there is any way around it other than the one we’ve talked about above. Despite this, the government has stated that Red Diesel can be used to power vehicles such as excavators, perhaps someone will find a loophole in the near future.

Can I fill everything up with red diesel on 31 March?

If you have a vehicle with red diesel in, you will be allowed to continue operating the machine until it runs out. At this point, it is illegal from the 1st of April to pour red diesel into any vehicles other than ones within the exclusions.

This means any stores of red diesel should be put into plant by the end of March or emptied of the rebated material, which must be disposed of legally and responsibly. Build UK says traces of red diesel will be accepted in storage tanks but that fuel tanks must be flushed of the cheaper substance if a machine is switched from accepted to unaccepted use.

What does all this mean for hired plant?

Build UK suggests that contractors check all vehicles and machinery that they hire to establish whether it is using red or white diesel. If the machine is found to be using red diesel, the contractor should seek to establish when the red diesel was added to the machine.

The contractor must flush the red diesel from the fuel tank to refill it with white diesel to ensure that there aren’t traces that can be detected by authorities.

What is the punishment for illegal use of red diesel?

HMRC promised a pragmatic enforcement approach, but they are clearly motivated to crack down on unjustified use of rebated fuel. HMRC has the powers to levy a penalty equal to the duty avoided, issue fines of up to £250 and ultimately seize the offending piece of machinery, which could be by far the biggest hit for contractors.

What evidence should be kept in case of an investigation?

You should make sure that you keep any fuel receipts and invoices relating to the fuel that you use on-site. It may also be key to keep any invoices for flushing of fuel tanks as well as your records of disposing of red diesel.

To ensure that no evidence is found by investigators, flush out the fuel tanks thoroughly as red diesel will dye the inside of your fuel tank.

Alternative Fuels

Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil is an alternative that many construction companies across the UK are adopting. Laing O’rourke is aiming to replace red and white diesel with HVO oil in all plant machinery by the end of March 2022. This will reduce emissions from plant machinery by up to 90% which will help to bring the company to net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.

Biodiesel is subject to the same taxation as red diesel and therefore falls under the red diesel ban. This is to be reviewed under the next budget changes.

What should I do now?

Staff should instantly be made aware of the “red diesel ban” to ensure that they do not unknowingly violate the law. Red diesel should not be purchased if you don’t think that you will use it before the 31^st of March as you will incur unnecessary costs for safe disposal. In the meantime, you should fill all vehicles that are currently under “accepted use” to reduce your Red Diesel supplies in the cheapest legal manner possible.

Finally, consider changing to an alternative fuel source that is more environmentally friendly and cheaper.

The post The Red Diesel Ban – What you Need to Know appeared first on SB Skills Solutions.

In this article, we will look at the key differences and similarities between a banksman and a slinger on a construction site.

What is a banksman?

Building sites use many different types of heavy machinery and vehicles to transport people and building materials around the site and help with construction jobs.

Just a few of the different types of construction vehicle that you may find on a building site include cranes, excavators, bulldozers, and dump trucks.

The role of a banksman is to provide safe directions to these vehicles as they move around the construction site.

A banksman works alongside vehicle drivers and plant operators on a building site to layout safe traffic systems, communicate clearly to direct the movement of vehicles and manage traffic on the site. It is the banksman’s responsibility to understand the hazards and risks involved with on-site vehicles and carry out their duties to minimise risk to equipment and people working on the site.

What is a slinger signaller?

A slinger signaller is very similar to a banksman, but their role is involved specifically with the lifting team and crane operators.

The main responsibility of a slinger signaller is to provide clear directions to crane operators during lifting operations.

When sitting in a crane’s cab, the operator only has a restricted view of what is going on down on the ground. The slinger signaller acts as their eyes and ears down on the ground, communicating clear directions to them, usually using standardised hand signals, to help them to safely lift, move, and set down the crane’s load.

Just like the banksman, the slinger must have an excellent understanding of the hazards and risks involved when carrying out lifting operations. It is their responsibility to identify potential hazards with lifting operations and minimise risk to look after the safety of the people and equipment on the building site.

Is a slinger signaller a banksman?

You will find that there is generally a lot of overlap between the two job titles with slinger signallers sometimes referred to by both terms.

If you look up the definition of a banksman in the dictionary it says ‘a worker at a building site who supervises the use of vehicles and heavy machinery.’ Both roles meet this requirement, so you could say that a slinger signaller is in fact a type of banksman.

However, when you look at the duties that each role is responsible for carrying out, you will usually find that a banksman is involved in directing more general traffic on the building site whereas the sling signaller is a more specialist role that works with the lifting team.

If you are looking for novice training on slinger signaller, browse our course calendar for upcoming CPCS A40a Slinger/Signaller or NPORS N402 Slinger/Signaller Novice courses.

For further help or advice understanding the differences between a banksman and a slinger, get in touch with our team here at SB Skills by giving us a call on 01695 558 420.

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Slinger signallers work closely alongside the lifting team on a construction site to ensure that all lifting operations are being carried out safely.

To work as a slinger signaller, you’ll need to have good observation and communication skills and an excellent understanding of construction site health and safety rules, regulations, and risks, particularly when it comes to cranes and other lifting equipment.

Working as a slinger signaller can be a challenging but rewarding role to take on.

In this article you will find out a little more about the important role slinger signallers play on the construction site and what duties they perform on a day-to-day basis.

What are the responsibilities of a slinger signaller?

The slinger signaller plays a vital role in ensuring the health and safety of everyone working on a construction site.

The main responsibility of the slinger signaller is to work alongside crane operators, providing them with supervision and safe directions from ground level during lifting operations.

When sitting inside the crane, crane operators have a restricted view of what is going on around them on the construction site. This means that they may not be able to spot a hazard down on the ground.

Cranes are huge pieces of machinery, and they are used to carry extremely heavy and bulky loads. If a mistake is made using a crane, or a hazard is not identified down on the ground, crane accidents can be fatal. It is a slinger signaller’s job to work with the crane operator to reduce the risk of an accident occurring.

A slinger signaller works as the crane operator’s eyes and ears down on the ground. It is the slinger signaller’s responsibility to look out for any potential hazards that may compromise the safety of carrying out the lifting operation and alert the crane operator to them.

Slinger signallers are also involved in helping to prepare for and manage safe lifting operations.

Duties of a slinger signaller

Whilst a large portion of the slinger signaller’s time may be taken up communicating with and providing directions to crane operators, this is just one of the many duties that they perform daily.

Let’s take a closer look at the duties that slinger signallers carry out day-to-day.

Communicate with crane operators from ground level

The slinger signaller’s primary duty is to communicate with crane operators from ground level during lifting operations, providing them with safe directions and alerting them to any hazards.

Depending on conditions, communications between the slinger signaller and crane operator are usually carried out using hand signals. The hand signals that the sling signaller must use are standardised hand signals as laid out in BS 7121 and the government’s Health and Safety (Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996.

Sometimes, if it is very foggy or raining heavily and conditions are making visibility poor, it may be too difficult for the crane operator to see the slinger signaller’s hand signals. If this is the case, an alternative method of communication may be used. This is usually either signals using lit batons or two-way radio.

It is essential to the safety of everyone on the building site that the slinger signaller has faultless knowledge of the standardised hand signals and communicates clearly and precisely.

Make a judgement call on when to halt lifting operations

Sometimes, if the weather is particularly bad, it may be safer to halt lifting operations until another day. Slinger signallers have the authority to halt lifting operations if they believe that conditions are too hazardous to safely continue.

Help with planning lifting operations

Each lifting operation must be carefully planned by the lifting team to ensure that it is completed safely and efficiently. Some of the points that should be considered when planning a lifting exercise include:

• Where the load will be lifted from.
• Where the load is to be moved to.
• The area the lifted load will pass over.
• Any obstructions that must be navigated.
• How the load is to be slung.
• How the crane operator will be directed.
• The weight of the load.
• Weather conditions.

The slinger signaller is an important part of this team and should be involved in all lifting plans.

Identify potential hazards to lifting operations

Slinger signallers should have received training in construction site health and safety and have excellent knowledge of the types of hazards they may encounter during lifting operations. They should understand what the main causes of accidents during lifting operations are and how to prevent them.

Some of the hazards they should look out for include:

• Unstable ground
• Nearby trees
• People working
• Power lines overhead
• Other machines and equipment
• Surrounding buildings or structures

Slinger signallers should look out for and identify potential hazards both before a lifting operation commences and during lifting operations.

Advise on the operational requirements of lifting tasks

Slinger signallers should have an excellent understanding of all the different lifting equipment available, the features of each, how they are best used, and how to use them safely.

There are a variety of different lifting accessories available that can be attached to a crane to help to lift different loads safely and efficiently.

Just some of the different lifting accessories available include chain slings, electric hoists, eyebolts, hooks, shackles, lifting clamps, and lifting magnets.

Different lifting accessories will be suitable for carrying different weights and types of load. Each piece of lifting equipment should come with guidance on the maximum weight it can be used to safely lift.  The slinger signaller must provide advice to other members of the lifting team on the best equipment to use for each job.

Safely attach suspended loads for lifting

The slinger signaller should be able to identify which lifting accessories are most suited and safest for each lifting exercise and safely attach the equipment and load to the crane.

To do this, they will need extensive knowledge about the lifting equipment and accessories available, what they are for, and how to use them safely according to the manufacturer’s instructions and industry rules and regulations.

Perform safety checks before lifting

Once the load has been safely attached to the crane, it is the slinger signaller’s duty to perform relevant safety checks before the lifting operation can begin.

Just some of the checks that they should make include:

• Is the lifting equipment in good condition and free from damage?
• Are the slings properly attached to the load?
• Is the load free and ready to be lifted?
• Is the safety catch closed?
• Are all people clear of the load and the area it will be lifted over?
• Is an exclusion zone required?
• Is the landing site ready to receive the load?
• Are the weather conditions safe to continue?

Oversee landing the load and detach the load from the lifting equipment

Once a load has been safely moved, there should be a slinger signaller present at the load’s landing site to oversee the load landing and safely detach the load from the crane.

Before the slinger signaller communicates with the crane operator that it is safe to place the load down, they should first check that there is enough space for the load to be put down safely and that they are safely out of the way of the load.

Once the load has been placed down, the slinger signaller must safely detach the load from the lifting equipment, remove any lifting accessories from the crane and ensure they are stored away safely.

Perform regular safety inspections

Lifting operations can only be performed safely if the equipment being used is in good condition and is free from signs of damage.

Because cranes lift such immense weights, any damage or wear to equipment could cause it to break during use and poses a significant safety risk.

The slinger signaller must carry out daily inspections and visual checks on all lifting equipment, accessories, and loads before and after any lifting operations to check for damage or excessive wear and ensure that all equipment is safe to use.

The slinger signaller must carry out these inspections of the equipment according to the government’s Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. If any defects are found during these routine inspections, then they must be reported to the relevant person immediately. It is also the slinger signaller’s responsibility to keep accurate records of the inspections.

The safety of construction site personnel is in the hands of the slinger signaller, so they must be competent in their role.

To perform their duties safely and competently, slinger signallers must receive professional training in the rules, regulations, and legislation surrounding their role.

Find out more about the role and responsibilities of a slinger signaller in our article How to become a slinger signaller,

If you are interested in becoming a slinger signaller, enroll yourself via our Course Calendar for one of the slinger signaller training courses that we run here at SB Skills.

• NPORS N402 – Slinger/Signaller – Novice

We offer professional slinger signaller training courses that have been accredited by either the CPCS Construction Plant Competence Scheme or the NPORS National Plant Operators Registration Scheme.

Gaining certification from one of these two nationally recognised training bodies will demonstrate that you can work to nationally recognised health and safety standards and meet all legal requirements for the role.

For more information about our slinger signaller training courses or speak to a member of our team, give us a call today on 01695 558420, or complete our online contact form and we will be in touch shortly.

The post What are the day-to-day duties of a Slinger Signaller? appeared first on SB Skills Solutions.

Why choose a career in groundworks?

Groundworks is a challenging role as it involves being outdoors for long periods of time. However, if being part of one of the most fundamental aspects in building work appeals to you, then it could be the start of a great career in construction.

Groundworkers are also highly sought after as most construction works will require groundworkers to prepare the ground for construction as well as installing adequate drainage and pipe systems.

Desirable Skills and Attributes

As you may know, all jobs require a certain skillset and mindset before starting out which will help you to learn and adapt to the role. For a groundworker these skills include:

• Good physical fitness
• Communication skills
• Understanding of site health and safety
• Basic numeracy skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Ability to interpret construction drawings
• Adaptability
• Reliability
• Good work ethic

If this sounds like you, then you could be the perfect fit for groundworking. However, if you’d like to take on a role as a groundworker, you could be in better standing with employers if you already have a CSCS card.

Do I need a CSCS card to be a groundworker?

The Construction Skills Certification Scheme, otherwise known as CSCS is the most well-recognised card scheme within construction. This card is often the base requirement of most contractors. Although it isn’t a legal requirement and you can technically work without one, you may struggle as employers are under a responsibility to ensure that you are adequately trained to safely operate in the work environment.

So, to make yourself a suitable applicant for the role, a CSCS card would be very beneficial.

You can find out how to get a Green CSCS card here.

What are the duties of a groundworker?

Groundworkers are responsible for a wide range of duties on site. Some of these duties include:

• All different methods of the pipe laying process from start to finish.
• Excavations and shoring.
• New road formation and how it is constructed.
• Construction of manholes.
• Laying kerbs and edgings to form new roads

What qualifications do Groundworkers need?

The qualifications you may require when applying for a role as a groundworker can vary greatly as the role is diverse. But, there are some qualifications that employers will be looking out for which can make you a highly desirable applicant who can take on more responsibility, and therefore, deserving of higher wages.

The first thing you will need is the Green CSCS Labourers card as mentioned above.

Secondly, a plant machinery qualification would allow you to take on more responsibility. Two good pieces of machinery to start out with are the Forward Tipping Dumper and the Ride on Roller.

The Forward Tipping Dumper is used to transport spoil that is removed by an excavator. This spoil will then be transported away from the excavation area and discharged elsewhere. A Forward Tipping Dumper is an essential piece of machinery in the foundation laying process.

The Ride on Roller can be used later in the process as it will be used to compact the ground using varying levels of vibrations. By compacting the ground, it will become a more stable foundation.

As groundworkers are responsible for all of these tasks, having a qualification could show potential employers that you are highly skilled and will be able to undertake a wide range of site roles. As well as this, you will be able to rotate your tasks on-site to find which area of construction suits you best.

There are a few other plant training categories such as the plant machinery marshal, or the 360 excavator course that could help you in your career. Speak to one of our advisors to find out the best qualification for your career.

How much do groundworkers earn?

Groundworkers can receive a good wage depending on experience and qualifications.

If you’re brand new to the industry and hoping to gain some experience before undertaking any qualifications higher than the Green CSCS Card, you could be looking at a wage of around £15 per hour.

With more qualifications, you could be looking at around £17 – £20 per hour.

Do I need experience?

As with all jobs, there is always a bonus to having experience before applying.

However, there are groundworker vacancies that require little experience. You may be looking at a slightly lower pay level, but with time and qualifications, you could see your wages rise as you take on more site responsibility.

The post How to Become a Groundworker appeared first on SB Skills Solutions.

Whether you’re just starting your career in construction or have many years of experience working in the industry, gaining a recognised qualification in your trade or profession can be very beneficial.

A construction NVQ is a qualification that acts as recognition and proof of your skills and knowledge within a particular role or skill within the construction industry.

Having one or more NVQs under your belt can help you to gain credibility and trust within the industry, opening doors to further opportunities to progress your career.

What is an NVQ?

NVQ stands for National Vocational Qualification, a work-based qualification that tests an individual’s practical skills.

An NVQ demonstrates that you have the practical skills and knowledge you require to carry out a particular trade or profession.

There are five levels of NVQ (not including entry level), allowing people of all different levels of experience to benefit from taking one. NVQs are practical, work-based qualifications, meaning you can learn and be assessed whilst on the job.

How can an NVQ benefit me?

An NVQ gives official recognition of your skills and knowledge within your trade or profession, this can help you to:

• Kickstart your career.
• Improve your employability.
• Prove your capability to customers/clients.
• Obtain a CSCS card.
• Gain access to other qualifications.
• Brush up your knowledge of important industry standards and best practice.

Read more about the benefits of construction NVQs

How to get an NVQ

No matter which path your construction career is taking, you will find that gaining a relevant NVQ can help to expand your knowledge, develop your skills, and progress your career.

You can gain an NVQ in a wide range of competencies in the construction industry, including occupational health and safety practice, steel erecting, plant operations, and construction site management.

Anyone can take an NVQ, you don’t require any other formal qualifications. You can also continue to earn whilst you learn as NVQs are completed on the job by answering written questions relating to your job and being observed at work. You will also need to put together a portfolio containing evidence of your ability to complete particular tasks or duties relating to the NVQ.

Take a construction NVQ with SB Skills

Here at SB Skills, we offer a wide range of construction NVQs from level 2 courses all the way through to level 7.

Our professional and affordable NVQ courses are trusted by some of the UK’s leading construction companies due to the exceptional expertise and industry experience that our qualified assessor possesses.

View our full range of construction NVQs online or give our friendly team a call at 01695 558420 for more information.

The post How to get an NVQ appeared first on SB Skills Solutions.

Investigations into Fraud and Malpractice

NPORS started this bulletin with an announcement about investigations into various training facilities during the lockdown period this year. NPORS stated, “As the result of these investigations we have terminated the accreditation of 5 training providers and their instructors”.

NPORS mention instructors being terminated with the training providers, which could mean that NPORS instructors associated with centres that are not operating within NPORS guidelines, could see themselves also being struck off the scheme by association.

While NPORS has remained fairly quiet on this and not given much away in terms of who is involved and what kind of offences were committed, they have mentioned that it was related to fraud and malpractice, the rest is up to interpretation really.

New Health & Safety Courses

For many years, the industry has been ruled by a few accreditations in terms of Health and Safety training, especially for broad roles. NPORS has recently been working extremely hard to design industry-relevant courses to ensure that employers are able to access “a broader portfolio of qualifications for their employees”.

The new courses are recognised by Build UK and are listed in the Build UK training standard. More importantly for businesses, NPORS have also worked alongside CITB to make the courses eligible for CITB grant claims, having mapped them against relevant standards. This means that you can still get all of the benefits of CITB grant claims while undertaking NPORS Health and Safety courses at the same standard of training.

Marketing Department

If you are interested in NPORS training, you can see pictures of various training categories on their social feeds. Having now opened their own dedicated marketing department in the business, NPORS are on top of social media uploads, posting images of training on their pages. If you want to make sure that you don’t miss a thing, and judging by September’s bulletin, you won’t, make sure that you stay up to date with all of their upcoming changes by following them.

Alternatively, we will be staying up to date and giving you the latest insights from our perspective on all channels.

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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

The post 5 Statistics for Health and Safety appeared first on SB Skills Solutions.

Grandfather rights allowed workers to attain their CSCS Cards based on a strong employer recommendation rather than using a CSCS recognised qualification. CSCS terminated the Industry Accreditation route in 2010, but the cards could still be renewed if the applicant was an existing cardholder.

CSCS now wants all cardholders to be qualified with a construction-related NVQ, therefore from January 2020, all cards will expire by December 2024 at the latest. This has also led to CSCS removing cards such as the Construction Site Visitor card.

Graham Wren, Chief Executive at CSCS said: “Following the closure of the Construction Related Occupation card and the Construction Site Visitor Card, cards gained by Industry Accreditation are the only cards in the CSCS scheme which do not require the cardholder to achieve a recognised qualification. Industry Accreditation does not support industry’s desire for a fully qualified workforce and as such it will be withdrawn.”

Do you need the Black CSCS Card?

The CSCS Card Scheme is seen as the passport to construction sites as it is often essential for access. Although CSCS Cards are not legally mandatory, they do comply with CDM regulations.

CDM regulations, as you’ll know from the Manager’s Health and Safety Tests, specify that employers must ensure that all employees have the appropriate training required to work safely in their environment.

Only carry out construction work if they have the relevant skills, knowledge, training and experience – or they are provided with the training and supervision that enables them to do it safely and without risk to health

Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015

As well as the CDM regulations, you will know that for any job role in construction, you will require the CSCS card as the principal contractor will usually specify this as a requirement. This allows them to lower injuries and deaths caused on site as they will know that all employees are competent in their role.

As a manager of a construction site, the principal contractor will want to ensure that you are competent to look after a large number of staff working in a construction environment. This reduces their own liability as they will know that there is a responsible site manager in place with industry experience. The CSCS card does exactly this.

How do I Renew my CSCS Card Now?

Without the NVQ, you may be wondering about the next steps for keeping your Black CSCS Card. CSCS has a list of recognised qualifications that can be used to apply for the Black CSCS Card which can be found on the Card Finder. Simply put, you will need one of the following:

• Achievement of a relevant Construction Management/Technical related NVQ/SVQ level 5, 6 or 7
• An SVQ Level 4 in Construction Management/Technical related qualification or
• Holding a pre-existing NVQ level 4 in construction management.

You will also need to have passed the CITB Health, Safety and Environment Test for Managers and Professionals within the last 2 years.

The most simple way to renew your Black CSCS Card with SB Skills would be to achieve the Level 6 NVQ in Construction Site Management.

What is the Level 6 NVQ in Construction Site Management?

The Level 6 NVQ in Construction Site Management is a competency-based qualification that proves to CSCS and other card schemes that you have the necessary skills and experience to manage a construction site effectively and safely.

This is one of the most prestigious qualifications in construction and allows the holder to apply for the Black CSCS Card. The qualification can take anywhere from 3 months to 12 months, depending on the time it takes you to return the evidence requested by the assessor.

Upon meeting all 19 mandatory units and the optional units from the pathway that you choose, you will be awarded the NVQ and be ready to renew.

The post 60,000 Site Managers to Lose their Black CSCS Cards appeared first on SB Skills Solutions.

The Construction industry is a fast-paced industry that sees changes in construction techniques, and popular projects. However, Crawler Crane Operators have seen an astronomical increase in average pay of 54% according to Engage Technology Partners, who have analysed data collected since June 2016. This analysis of the pay changes was attributed pay rises to changes in migrant labour trends.

Additionally, electrical testers saw pay increases of 34% and steel fixers have seen a rise of 22%.

The Director of Engage, Drey Francis commented; “In its report on the potential impact of Brexit on the industry, the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) highlighted the sheer extent of reliance on international staff, with some locations such as London reporting that over half of the construction workforce consists of migrant workers. While there’s certainly no agreement on the terms of our exit, the impact on the industry is already being noted – and we can expect to see wages rise further in the near future as talent demands continue to stretch.”

Read more below about the latest in the Crane Operator Industry.

Paul Johnson, director of GH Johnson Crane Hire, one the UK’s biggest crawler crane hire companies, said: “As someone who actually pays crawler crane operators I can assure you that this is utter garbage.”

He added: “The construction sector as a whole is probably busier than it was two years ago – meaning there are more crawler crane operators in full-time employment – but pressure on crane rental rates, caused by competition and cheap finance, means that crawler crane operators’ pay has been almost flat since 2016.”

Author: The Construction Index

Link to original article: https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/crawler-crane-operators-pay-rises-54-in-two-years 

The post Crawler Crane Operator pay rises by 54% in only two years? appeared first on SB Skills Solutions.