Dear colleagues

With changes to advice to keep us safe changing daily, it highlighted to me just how difficult things are, and will get, in the coming days – these really are unprecedented times. With that in mind, I hope you are all keeping well personally, as families and as businesses.

At CITB we are focused on skills and training and during this time we will be doing all we can to support the industry to protect those skills for when things return to normal, hopefully in the not too distant future.

We have been both implementing existing plans and putting in place new ones to keep our business running during this period – doing our best to ensure that grant payments continue and that we maintain delivery of our essential products and services. Together with other industry bodies we will ensure that we provide our customers with regular updates on our supporting activity on a specific page dedicated to coronavirus on our website: https://www.citb.co.uk/urgent-messages/ and on our social media platforms.

My Executive and Leadership Teams are actively gathering information from industry at this critical time. Initial analysis of the feedback to date is that CITB should focus its efforts on the following areas:

Support for apprentices – having provided support for apprentices in previous crisis situations and during Carillion’s collapse, we are assessing what practical support may be required now and in the coming weeks and months to ensure we secure the future for any impacted apprentices. There is no need for you to take any additional action on apprenticeships at this moment.

Signposting for employers – we are collaborating with federations and employer bodies to compile an agreed a list of the best support agencies who are available to assist employers, their workers and supply chain with advice on staff issues, and other business support including sick pay. Once completed this will be circulated widely and be available on the dedicated website page and our social media platforms.

Guidance for keeping sites working – as we develop good practice for running sites in these conditions,  we will publish Toolbox Talks and other learning materials that will help employers keep sites running during this pandemic.

Time bound qualifications and cards – card schemes are urging site managers to show appropriate lenience to those with cards expired from mid-March and have relaxed renewal windows. CITB has waived some of the fees for rescheduling or cancelling HS&E tests and for the duration of this crisis we will  accept SSSTS and SMSTS renewals beyond expiry.

 We remain committed to protect the construction industry as best we can and we are working closely with our industry partners and Government to make sure construction’s voice is heard and listened to at this extraordinary time. If you have any specific suggestions that you don’t believe are covered by the above or areas that you believe should be top priority please let me know or another CITB representative.

Wishing you well at this tough time,

Sarah Beale

Chief Executive

See below link to CSCS statement regarding Covid-19

www.cscs.uk.com/covid19

Preventative measures
1. Ask the candidate to wash hands upon arrival at your centre, in the bathrooms provided. This follows the guidance from the World Health Organization and will help to keep your hands clean and prevent potential contamination.
2. If the candidate would like to use a medical face mask this can be permitted. Masks need to be removed for identification checks and/or where candidate photographs need to be taken.
3. Provide hand sanitizer throughout the centre, encourage applying before they enter the classroom.
4. Kleenex/Hand tissue should be available. Please cover the nose and mouth in case of sneezing or cough.
5. At frequent intervals clean each work area with disinfectant products to ensure a clean & hygienic environment for candidates.
6. Regular cleaning of the reception areas and waiting areas with disinfectant products.
7. Introduce distancing measures increasing the distance between candidates to a minimum of six feet, additionally you may wish to restrict the number of people attending a course at one given time. You may wish to apply the same distancing measures in your waiting areas too.
8. Stagger refreshment breaks to avoid congestion in waiting areas and toilets
9. Regularly clean any tools or training equipment once it has been used with disinfectant products

Please read the attached information regarding the recent outbreak of COVID-19.  We are still running courses but will monitor the situation and advise if courses have to be cancelled.

COVID-19

A coronavirus is a type of virus. As a group, coronaviruses are common across the world. COVID-19 is a new strain of coronavirus first identified in Wuhan City, China in January 2020.

The incubation period of COVID-19 is between 2 and 14 days. This means that if a person remains well 14 days after contact with someone with confirmed coronavirus, it is unlikely that they have been infected.

The following symptoms may develop in the 14 days after exposure to someone who has COVID-19 infection:

• cough
• difficulty in breathing
• fever

Generally, these infections can cause more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease.

If you have been nominated to attend a training session at the HCTG please take note of the following advice:

How COVID-19 is spread

From what we know about other coronaviruses, spread of COVID-19 is most likely to happen when there is close contact (within 2 metres) with an infected person. It is likely that the risk increases the longer someone has close contact with an infected person.

Droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes (termed respiratory secretions) containing the virus are most likely to be the most important means of transmission.

There are 2 routes by which people could become infected:

• secretions can be directly transferred into the mouths or noses of people who are nearby (within 2 metres) or could be inhaled into the lungs
• it is also possible that someone may become infected by touching a surface or object that has been contaminated with respiratory secretions and then touching their own mouth, nose, or eyes (such as touching a door knob or shaking hands then touching own face).

There is currently no good evidence that people who do not have symptoms are infectious to others.

Preventing spread of infection

There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus.

There are general principles anyone can follow to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including:

• Washing your hands often – with soap and water, or use alcohol sanitiser if hand washing facilities are not available. This is particularly important after taking public transport
• Covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throwing the tissue in a bin.
• People who feel unwell should stay at home and should not attend work or any education/training setting
• Course candidates, staff and visitors should wash their hands:
  • before leaving home
  • on arrival at the training centre
  • after using the toilet
  • after breaks and practical activities
  • before eating any food, including snacks
  • before leaving the training centre
• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
• Avoid close contact with people who are unwell
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces

Your co-operation in this matter is important if we are going to prevent the spread of this virus

 

 

March Newsletter from HICSF

Safety Forum News – Mar 20

Dear HICSF Members,

We have been made aware of an event that may be of interest to you.

Details of the next Forum meeting will be out shortly,

 

“Working Safely with SSE Renewables”

The speakers will discuss what is expected of SSE Renewables contractors etc and describe Safety Initiatives presently being undertaken.

Considering Human Factors which affect Risk Perception, and how to develop Safe Behaviours and effective teamwork.

Presenters: Clare Ireland,  Safety Health & Environment Manager of SSE Renewables Operations Hydro, based in Perth

and Alasdair Couttie, Lead Engineer North, SSE Renewables Programmes (and current Chair of ICE Highlands & Islands)

This collaborative meeting between IOSH & ICE should be of benefit to all who may get involved in renewable energy projects, large or small.

All welcome – PLEASE NOTE THE NEW DATE & TIME : 

Thursday 12th March   Time – 6pm to 7pm (refreshments from 5.30pm)

Venue – Fairways (Golf Course – upstairs meeting room), Castle Heather, Inverness, IV2 6AA

 

For further information, contact Neil Wallace, IOSH Council Member on neil@neil.wallace.co.uk

HCTG would like to invite Training Company’s to tender for delivering training for HCTG.  Could you please express an interest via our email info@hctg.net before 12:00 on 14th February 2020

Due to all the changes CITB have implemented with the CPCS & CSCS cards please click the link below for information in an article in the Construction Enquirer

https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2020/01/29/industry-in-uproar-as-plant-skills-card-chaos-continues/

Raising the Bar on Water Jetting Training Standards
• Water Jetting Association introduces important new training rules
• All introductory water training must include a practical skills assessment
• Changes aim to “raise the bar” on water jetting training standards
• They are part of the goal to continuously improve water jetting safety
The Water Jetting Association is to introduce a significant modification of its rules that will establish a new standard in water jetting training.
Under new protocols being introduced from 1st January 2020, all introductory water jetting training must include a practical skills assessment.
Currently, water jetting operatives must attend a one-day water jetting Safety Awareness course to be registered on the Water Jetting Association’s (WJA) international operator database.
Under the new rules, they will have to successfully complete the Safety Awareness course, which is class-based, and then at least one relevant one-day ‘hands-on’ application module that teaches practical skills.
This means water jetting operatives will have had a minimum of two days of structured and assessed training, including one day of practical training, before they can register with the WJA and receive their WJA Certificate and Operational Photo ID Card.
The improved training standard, approved by the WJA’s Ruling Council, will apply to all service sectors, including industrial cleaning, maritime de-fouling, drain and sewer jetting, hydrodemolition, and surface preparation.
The WJA is the representative body for the water jetting industry and is the UK’s leading provider of high-pressure water jetting training courses. It is introducing the changes following a period of consultation with members and stakeholders.
John Jones, Vice-President of the WJA and Chairman of its Training and Safety Committee, said: “We aim to continuously improve the safety and effectiveness of water jetting.
“This new approach raises the bar for water jetting training both in the UK and internationally. Most contractors already book their staff on the Safety Awareness course and multiple practical courses to cover the specific skills they need for the water jetting work they do. These changes enshrine this best practice in association rules”.
“We are also aligning the WJA with the highest expectations of companies that use water jetting services. They want to be sure their worksites are as safe as possible. Introducing a mandatory practical application module for new trainees is an essential step to help achieve this.”

‘’The CITB are running Autumn Employer Roadshows throughout Scotland week com 7^th Oct.  The date for the Inverness roadshow is the 10^th of October, the following link provides details of the roadshow and how to register: Employer Roadshow

Agenda – Inverness 10^th October  08:30 – 12:30

08:30 ‐ 09:00

Our Breakfast is served!

With a side dish of; letting us know you’re here, and a chance to network with other employers in your local area and get a first look at the market place.

09:00 ‐ 09:10

CITB Scottish Council Welcome

Jim Young, Business Development, CHAP Group

09:10 ‐ 09:50

Constructing a better Scotland

Help us make the right decisions to support your businesses in doing just that!

Ian Hughes, Partnerships Director

09:50 ‐ 10:20

You heard it here first: CSIC Case Study

Lisa Deane, Business Development Construction Scotland Innovation Centre

10:20 ‐ 10:30

Making our Industry an attractive place to be

What can we do to attract more people in to construction?

John Dickinson Lilley, CITB

10:30 ‐ 10:50

Skills Development Scotland

Stephen Sheridan, Regional Skills Planning Lead, Skills Development Scotland

10:50 ‐ 11:10

Its Coffee time!

Grab yourself a brew and visit the market place. Why not network with those on your table and pose some questions/ feedback via the table scribe to be addressed in the final session of the day….

11:10 ‐ 11:40

Heritage

Colin Tennant Historic and Environmental  Scotland

11:40 ‐ 11:55

What you need to know

Changes to VAT – Saffrey Champness

Sean McGinness, Consultant at Saffrey Champness

11:55 ‐ 12:25

Improve your ability bid on Public Contracts, Supplier Development Programme

Jennifer Payne, SDP

12:20 ‐ 12:30

Goodbye!!

Market Place Stands

1. CSIC
2. CITB Skills and Training Fund
3. Historic and Environmental Scotland
4. Supplier Development Programme’’