Beyond Safe Pass: What Additional Training Should Construction Workers Consider
In the construction industry, safety is a key concern, and the good news is that the number of accidents, including fatalities, in Ireland has steadily fallen in recent years. One of the main reasons for this is that consistent and ongoing health and safety training, and mandatory Safe Pass training, have raised standards across the industry exponentially. However, there are many additional training options to consider, and this can be a positive for construction workers, businesses and industry standards as a whole.
Here at ASM, we are committed to offering a wide range of training courses across many areas of construction, and we can help you to upskill your workforce and improve your practices throughout your organisation. Our experienced Safety Officers can often provide in-house training for you, and we can carry out audits and gap analyses to find out what sort of training will be the most effective for you and your team.
Safe Pass Mandatory Training
The Safe Pass training course that is mandatory in Ireland covers essentials such as identifying hazards in the workplace and understanding personal protective equipment (PPE). However, this foundational knowledge can be built upon with other training courses and schemes, and construction workers who want to progress in their industry and take on additional responsibilities, for instance, will see this as a starting point in their training.
Safe Pass is essential for most building sites and construction office environments, and these operate much more safely because all workers have an established level of awareness and experience. While Safe Pass training is designed to cover basic health and safety requirements for all workers in the construction industry, there are several further training options for workers in specialised and general construction roles, and we’ll take a look at these here.
Additional Training for Construction Workers
Working in the construction industry can present high risks to health and safety, and purpose-designed training courses can help to ensure a safer environment for everyone.
Additional training courses for construction workers include:
- Manual Handling Training. Did you know that learning how to handle goods and equipment safely can prevent common workplace injuries, such as back pain, and this can impact worker attendance as well as long-term health? Manual handling training is designed to enable workers to assess and plan potential lifts before carrying them out, as well as to understand the impact of lifting incorrectly. This is a useful training course for workers who can take greater responsibility for their own safety at work, and it is good news for organisations that can reduce injuries and compensation claims while protecting the well-being of workers.
- Working at Height. Many people do not realise that falling from height is statistically the largest cause of workplace fatalities in the construction industry. Extending the basic training included in the Safe Pass course enables workers who are often required to operate at height to gain further expertise in how to manage their safety and protect themselves from falls, as well as understand emergency procedures. Working at height training courses will cover the use of harnesses, the process of risk assessment and the use of mobile elevated work platforms and tower scaffolds where relevant, enabling workers to become the experts in keeping themselves safe.
- First Aid. First Aid training is essential in many lines of work, and there will always be a mandatory requirement for qualified first aiders to be present on a construction site, as in most other workplaces. However, the benefits of first aid training are numerous, and can make a construction worker more employable as well as help to prevent injuries and ensure that emergency treatment is available if required. First aiders are trained to assess injuries and seek medical assistance when needed, as well as provide basic life support and respond to common injury situations. First aid training is also good for organisations, raising safety standards across the board.
- Abrasive Wheel. Abrasive wheel tools such as angle grinders can pose a serious risk to workers, especially if not used or maintained correctly. Abrasive wheel training covers the process of inspecting abrasive wheel tools for damage and setting them up for safe use. Workers undertaking abrasive wheel training will learn to select the correct wheel for certain materials and to operate their devices correctly, including using the correct PPE. This is another specialist training course which enhances employability for workers and helps to make the construction site a safer place.
- Confined Spaces. Working in confined spaces can be hazardous, and risks such as reduced air supply and toxic chemicals can be fatal. Specialist training to work in confined spaces can help to empower workers to reduce these risks, including understanding ventilation requirements and rescue procedures. Identifying potential risks can be life-saving, and this type of specialist training is vital for all those working in this environment.
- Machines and Equipment. When you are operating machinery and specialist equipment, it is vital to understand the potential risks and know how to minimise these. Training that covers using machinery and equipment safely will include loading and stability, as well as risk assessment and the importance of comprehensive maintenance procedures. Employers will often look for specific qualifications in order to fulfil requirements for certain machine operators, and this is a useful skill for workers in the construction industry.
Upskill with ASM
Upskilling can enable workers to progress in their careers, and gaining specialised training qualifications can provide more choice about where and how you work. It is a good idea to consider your training profile, or that of your employees, to find out where the gaps may be and consider the best way to address these.
At ASM, we offer a full range of health and safety training, and we can tailor our approach to suit your requirements. Many of the health and safety training courses in Ireland must be refreshed or renewed regularly, and you should build this into your training plan. Contact us to find out more about our Health and Safety consultants, and discover how we could help you to protect your organisation and your team.
