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The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has launched a short, interactive on-line course titled ‘An Introduction to Construction Safety for Small Contractors and the Self-Employed’. The course has been developed by the HSA with the support of the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), in order to provide relevant health and safety information to small construction contractors and to raise awareness of the importance of occupational safety, health and welfare in construction.
The 30-minute course is free and can be accessed through the Authority’s e-learning portal, http://hsalearning.ie. The course is aimed at construction contractors: in particular small contractors and the self-employed. It is also suitable for employers and employees working in the construction sector, key duty holders, or those employing small contractors to carry out work.
Learning outcomes:
On successful completion of this course learners should be able to:
- identify key duties under health and safety legislation,
- recognise key hazards and risks in construction,
- understand the consequences of unsafe work practices, and
- source relevant information on construction health and safety, including the Safety Statement.
Michael McDonagh, Head of Construction Policy with the Health and Safety Authority said, “Recent research by the HSA shows that smaller contractors are more than 3 times more likely to have fatal accidents than larger organisations. This course offers learners an insight into the requirements of the Construction Regulations and practical safety and health on site. It highlights some of the key hazards in the sector and will be a useful resource, particularly for small contractors and sole traders.”
HSA Education Manager, Joanne Harmon said, “Learners can take courses during their own time, at their own pace and can download a certificate of completion on passing the short assessment. Although not a formal qualification, certification can form part of an individual’s training or continuous professional development record.
“This course can also be delivered to a group of learners using the group manager facility. This means that employers, managers or tutors can register groups of learners to take the course in their own time and remotely monitor their progress.”
To see the full range of HSA on-line courses on offer, browse and/or register as a learner on www.hsalearning.ie. If you are interested in further information on HSA on-line learning or to register these or other courses for continuing professional development points, contact: [email protected].
Contractors seeking to develop a safety statement and/or conduct a risk assessment can do so through the Authority’s free online tool: BeSMART.ie where it is tailored for use across a range of sectors including construction. The site guides users through the risk assessment process in a way that is simple and straightforward.
