Mark Priestman has more than 20 years’ experience in the natural stone sector. He plays an active role in the development and delivery of training in this specialist environment. Along with his father, David Priestman, he runs a training consultancy whose mantra is: Qualify the Workforce!

Last month we addressed requirements on site for trained first aiders. This month I want to continue with some other recommended training provision.

FIRE SAFETY TRAINING

Ever heard of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005?

If you are running sites, either as the site agent or with a supervisor on a site, you will know this order as the guiding document setting out requirements on construction site general fire safety.

Part of the order dictates that a ‘responsible person’ must “carry out, and keep up to date, a risk assessment, and implement appropriate measures to minimise the risk to life and property from fire.”

This ‘responsible person’, according to the HSE, “should be trained in how to use extinguishers.”

A good training course will cover fire risk assessment, evacuation, alarm protocols and safe fire fighting. I would also argue that fire prevention training ought to be included and designed in at the planning stage for all operatives.

MANUAL HANDLING TRAINING

The Health & Safety Executive provides, as it puts it, a “top tip” to “Make sure workers are trained to use lifting equipment and other aids safely”.

Lifting injuries can cause much pain and discomfort to the worker, lead to project downtime and even claims for compensation – all the more reason to make sure employers design this type of training into their training plans.

ASBESTOS AWARENESS

Again, the HSE sets out its stall: “Workers who are liable to disturb asbestos during their normal work should be trained so that they can recognise asbestos containing materials and know what to do if they come across them. The training needs to be appropriate for the work and the roles undertaken by individuals.”

Generally a good quality awareness course will address:

• The properties of asbestos and its effects on health (done properly this ought to scare operatives into alertness)
• The types, uses and likely occurrence of asbestos and asbestos materials in buildings and plant
• The general procedures to deal with an emergency – eg an uncontrolled release of asbestos dust into the workplace
• How to avoid the risk of exposure to asbestos

For the untrained operative, stumbling upon asbestos is bad enough. But the risk to wellbeing is heightened where the operative is a smoker, or suffers respiratory conditions such as asthma. Add to this our sector’s exposure to silica dust from stone, and liability for future health problems could lie uncomfortably in the lap of employers.

All the more reason to ensure the following good practice:

1. Always providing appropriate current industry guidelines and resources to issue full protection clothing and equipment, exposure limits and buffering zones
2. Always document operative training, so that employees are assessed as either ‘aware’ or ‘competent’ and most certainly ‘up to date’ in all aspects of the job they are employed to do.

While I think I’ve already given good reason why the above provision ought to be factored into essential training budgets, to reinforce the point, the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations make it clear that everyone involved in a construction project needs to be competent in their field as defined by their documented experience, training and assessment for qualification.

Training may appear costly (though that is arguable when CITB grants are acknowledged), falling foul of ensuring site competency will always be the most costly option in terms of physical, project and reputational loss.

Next time we will take a closer look at the CITB’s Site Safety Schemes.

Until then… Be safe!

Mark Priestman is a Partner at Priestman Associates LLP, a leading façade preservation project consultancy. From stonemasonry and heritage skills through to Site Supervision and Conservation Management, the partnership is trusted by the leading brands of the sector as an NVQ provider for experienced, upskiller and apprentice workers.