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Having an understanding of safety awareness is very important, especially in construction. Every job site, regardless of the project size or scope, carries some level of risk. The key to minimising these risks lies in safety awareness and education.
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of Health and Safety Awareness for professionals in the construction industry.
Health and Safety are the policies, procedures and practices that companies implement to ensure the well-being of employees and the public in the workplace.
Health and safety at work is a legal obligation, a fundamental human necessity and an essential aspect of running a successful business.
The purpose of implementing health and safety measures is to:
There are many health and safety risks in the workplace, this is why regulations need to be in place to avoid any accidents, injuries, or hazards that could cause harm or disrupt operations. Let’s take a look at the common regulations surrounding health and safety.
Health and Safety at Work Act (HASWA) – In the UK, this act places a duty on employers to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of employees and others affected by their work.
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) – This regulation requires employers to control substances that can be hazardous to health, ensuring proper risk assessments and safety measures are in place.
Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM) – These regulations aim to improve safety awareness in the construction industry by ensuring that health and safety is considered throughout the project lifecycle.
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 – This requires employers to avoid hazardous manual handling operations where possible and to assess and reduce the risk of injury when manual handling is unavoidable.
The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (PPE) – Requires employers to ensure that PPE is provided, assessed, maintained, and used correctly.
The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) – Mandates the reporting of work-related accidents, diseases, and dangerous occurrences to ensure proper investigation and prevention.
There are many more regulations and legal requirements in the workplace, especially in high-risk environments where there are specific risks such as construction. Becoming familiar with regulations ensures compliance and promotes a positive safety culture.
In the workplace, health and safety responsibilities are shared among various parties, each playing a crucial role in ensuring a safe environment.
Let’s take a look at who is responsible for health and safety at work.
Employers have the primary responsibility for the health and safety of their employees. This includes:
Employees also have a responsibility to contribute to workplace safety by:
In some companies, health and safety representatives act as a liaison between employees and management. Their responsibilities include:
Government agencies and regulatory bodies set the legal framework for workplace health and safety. They are also responsible for:
The Health and Safety Executive is a national regulatory body in the UK responsible for enforcing workplace health and safety legislation. It’s primary functions include:
The HSE helps to reduce injuries by protecting workers’ health and safety. Additionally, the HSE ensures employers and employees are aware of their rights and responsibilities.
Overall, by fulfilling these roles, the HSE helps create safer work environments, ultimately benefiting the economy and society as a whole.
In construction, according to the RIDDOR report by the HSE, there were 51 fatal injuries in 2023/24, this is higher than any other industry in the UK.
With construction being one of the leading industries for work-related injuries, it’s clear why safety awareness is so important.
The main health and safety concerns in construction include:
Falls from Heights – One of the leading causes of injuries and fatalities in construction. Correct fall protection measures, such as guardrails and harnesses, are essential.
Scaffolding Safety – Inadequate scaffolding can lead to falls and injuries. This is why regular inspections and proper assembly is required.
Heavy Machinery and Equipment – The use of cranes, forklifts and other heavy machinery can lead to accidents if not operated safely. Machinery and equipment users should receive relevant training and equipment and machines should receive proper maintenance.
Hazardous Materials – Exposure to chemicals, asbestos and other hazardous materials can pose serious health risks. Correct handling and protective equipment are necessary.
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss – Prolonged exposure to high noise levels can lead to hearing loss. Implementing noise control measures and providing hearing protection is important.
Lifting and Manual Handling – Improper lifting techniques can lead to musculoskeletal injuries. Training on safe lifting practices is essential.
By addressing these concerns through training, proper equipment, and a strong safety culture, construction companies can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and injuries on-site.
Health and safety is crucial in every workplace. By heightening your safety awareness of potential hazards, you can take precautions earlier, ensuring your safety and the safety of others more effectively and promptly. Therefore, reducing the risk of accidents and injuries, and promoting a safer work environment.
It also ensures compliance with health and safety regulations, which is a legal requirement in many jurisdictions. Without the knowledge of safety, you could find yourself faced with accidents and injuries, fines or even fatalities.
A company can suffer greatly from an individual getting injured by negligence. It can put a dent in finances, productivity and reputation. The company finances could be affected by more than just fines but by:
If a company has a damaged reputation it can lead to a loss of business and make it more difficult to attract potential employees. Once damaged it is very difficult to rebuild a good reputation due to a lack of trust in the business and negative perceptions.
Health and safety training helps to foster a culture of safety, where everyone has a mutual awareness of their responsibilities and understands the importance of maintaining a safe workplace.
The CITB Health and Safety Awareness Course is training that’s designed to educate construction workers on the importance of health and safety and how to be aware of dangers in the workplace. This course covers various topics such as identifying hazards, risk assessments, emergency procedures and accident prevention.
By completing this course, you will gain a better understanding of your role, enabling you to promote a safe and healthy work environment. Additionally, the course covers how to recognise and mitigate potential risks to ensure the well-being of yourself and your colleagues.
The CITB Health and Safety Awareness course is considered a level one introductory course in health and safety for the construction industry.
The one-day introductory Health and Safety Awareness course is designed for individuals not in skilled trades. It’s perfect for those new to the construction and civil engineering industries who will be performing labouring tasks on-site.
Health and safety practices are essential for many individuals in the construction industry. If you work in construction, the CITB Health and Safety Awareness Course is well-suited to meet your needs.
Yes, completing the Health and Safety Awareness course is a requirement for obtaining a CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) card.
This qualification demonstrates that you have the necessary understanding of health and safety practices required to work on construction sites.
But it’s important to note that the Health and Safety Awareness course will not gain you a CSCS labour card alone. Delegates will also need to successfully complete the Health, Safety and Environment Touchscreen Test that can be completed at your nearest Pearson Vue centre.
Construction is one of the industries where there is a lot of risk involved, with the potential for serious accidents, injuries, and even fatalities due to the nature of the work. Heavy machinery, working at heights, electrical hazards, handling hazardous materials, and the dynamic nature of construction sites contribute to these risks.
This is why completing this course is a mandatory step towards obtaining your CSCS Green Card. A Health and Safety Awareness course equips construction professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to recognise construction hazards, implement appropriate safety measures and respond effectively to emergencies.
Construction organisations should encourage their workforce to take this course as it improves workplace safety culture and their reputation.
The course covers a variety of topics that you can carry with you on your health and safety journey. Each of these focuses on different aspects of health and safety in the workplace.
Each of these can be applied to a range of environments and are successful in making your work environment a safer place.
Taking a Health and Safety Awareness course brings a lot of great benefits, such as:
Implementing safety practices and procedures reduces the risk of accidents and injuries in the workplace.
Ensures adherence to legal requirements and industry standards, helping to avoid fines, penalties, and legal issues related to non-compliance.
This develops increased awareness of potential hazards and provides knowledge on appropriate measures to address them, fostering a positive safety culture.
Showing dedication to health and safety opens the door for more job prospects and room for further qualifications by obtaining a recognised CITB certificate
The course assures you that you are complying with regulations and are equipped with the correct knowledge when applying safety practices to your day-to-day role.
With industries constantly evolving, this course ensures you hold relevant knowledge of the most up-to-date practices and regulatory changes.
For construction labourers, the Health and Safety Awareness course is a step towards gaining the CSCS labourers card. The CSCS labourers card is required to grant construction workers access on-site.
This means this course adheres to industry standards and is officially recognised and approved by the CITB under its Site Safety Plus scheme.
Employers who are registered with the CITB can claim a grant to cover some of the costs for each employee who successfully passes this course.
This course receives official approval from Build UK, validating the quality and relevance of the training course.
We offer the CITB Health and Safety Awareness course online via Zoom. All that is required is access to a computer or laptop with a camera, microphone and internet to attend.
Like the classroom courses, you will receive the same support from our trainers as well as receiving a downloadable digital copy of the course materials and you will be able to have discussions with other delegates attending the online course. We advise that individuals opting for an online course ensure they have the correct set-up with minimal distractions.
Not only do we offer the Health and Safety Awareness as an online course but we also offer it as an interactive eLearning which covers the same content but can be completed from anywhere at your own pace.
BOOK A HSA ELEARNING COURSE
The CITB Health and Safety Awareness course is typically delivered over one day. For the Health and Safety Awareness eLearning, the course provides more flexibility and can be completed in one day or spread over multiple sessions, with an estimated completion time of about four hours. At the end of the course, there will be a multiple-choice assessment to complete to determine whether the delegate passes.
Upon successfully completing the Health and Safety Awareness Course, you will receive a certificate accredited by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB). This certification is highly recognised and indicates your dedication to workplace safety. It is a valuable qualification in the health and safety sector and enhances your credibility in the industry.
The Health and Safety Awareness certificate is valid for five years after course completion. After this period, individuals are required to renew their certification to ensure their knowledge remains relevant. To renew the certification for another five years, you must retake the CITB Health and Safety Awareness course.
You can book the Health and Safety Awareness course online via our website.
If you or your delegates require in-house training you can fill out the enquiry form via our website. This is as simple as specifying your requirements along with your details (e.g. name, email, company name, training location, number of delegates attending, phone number) so we can contact you.
You can view available dates for our public classroom and online courses on our website. Additionally, you can buy licences for our Health and Safety Awareness eLearning option via our website.
In summary, the comprehensive content of the CITB HSA course addresses all the key principles of health and safety. With this knowledge, you can implement essential safety practices throughout the workplace and ensure the well-being of everyone entering the work environment.
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