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Effective health and safety training is not about one-off courses or tests, but about ongoing training. In addition, recent research reveals a link between continued learning and the likelihood of projects completed on time and within budget. And an industry that can demonstrate a more responsible, investment-led attitude towards its employees could also prove to be more attractive to new recruits.

In response to industry demands and changing legislation, ConstructionSkills, the sector skills council for construction, has introduced Site Safety Plus – a lifelong learning plan for health and safety.

Training can be seen as a distraction, which is why ConstructionSkills health and safety training concentrates on how regulations can be translated into day-to-day work. ConstructionSkills ensures that you are up to date on all areas of legislation including: working at height, vibration regulations, manual handling and fire safety.

In 2005/06, 28% of all UK worker deaths were in the construction industry and 38% of reported injuries involved everyday construction procedures, such as lifting or carrying.

Faced with the facts, the aim of Site Safety Plus health and safety training is to ensure all workers have access to continuing training and support. The training is built around the industry respected ConstructionSkills Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS). The scheme is relevant for workers of all qualifications and experience levels. The courses are tailored according to level of responsibility and are even supported by CITB-ConstructionSkills grant for registered companies to help with the costs.

The courses range from a one-day health and safety awareness course, which is an introduction to ensure that operatives understand potential hazards before they begin work on-site, through to the Site Supervisor’s Safety Training Scheme (SSSTS), which guides workers to the next level of responsibility and educates them in their moral and legal obligations. At management level, the Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS) is for those responsible for managing a site and takes into account the considerations needed for planning, organising, monitoring and controlling a workforce.

The demands of the construction industry are forever shifting and that it can be difficult to keep up with current legislation, for example, the new Construction (Design and Management) Regulations which came into force last month. Refresher courses are needed every five years to ensure that people are equipped to perform to the best of their ability - though ConstructionSkills would recommend renewing your knowledge every three years to ensure you’re fully up to date.

Health and safety is an issue that affects everyone in the industry, and it must continually be addressed.