Newsletter | August 2016

​Carney Consultancy Newsletter from August 2016

Unable to see the pictures? Try clicking the download / see images button above Carney Consultancy Limited Newsletter | August 2016   CITB Training Grants In August the CITB published a list of grant pay-outs for training payments. The biggest beneficiary was Carillion who received £5.5 million in training payments. BAM, Mears, Barret and Kier all received grants between £2.1 and £2.5 million.   The statistics show that smaller construction companies are losing out on grant money when it comes to the CITB levy system. The larger construction firms employing 250+ people paid £50.8 million in levy but received £46.9 million in training grants (92% return). However, smaller companies employing less than 49 people paid out £86.8 million in levy but only received £49.1 million in training grants (57% return).   This article shows that the larger companies are more efficient at claiming the grant money from the CITB.   We can help you claim back money from the CITB in the form of training plans, providing the CITB training and helping to complete the paperwork necessary to claim the grant money. The money you claim back is money that you have paid out already in levies. If you require any more information or advice on training please contact us.   CSCS Card All site workers from labourers to Site Managers should have a CSCS card, but what do the different colours and qualifications mean?   A joint industry wide survey carried out by CSCS and CITB revealed that 86% of card holders are having their cards checked. The survey also revealed that only 6% of sites are using smart technology to check the validity of the cards, despite just under one fifth (18%) of site managers reporting having seen a fake card in the last twelve months.   The removal of the green “Construction site operative”. Only labourers are now entitled to a green “labourers” card. In order to be entitled to a labourer’s card they must have passed the one day Site Safety Plus Health and Safety Awareness course. All Managers/Supervisors and skilled workers (Electrician, Plumber, Joiner etc) must have completed a relevant construction related NVQ in order to be eligible to apply for the correct card.      Full details of what the different colours mean can be found on the CSCS card website.   We have been informed that some Principal Contractors have been turning away tradesmen from site that have a green labourer’s card when they are a skilled worker and should therefore have a blue skilled worker card. If anyone at your company requires a blue skilled worker card, please contact us and we will provide you with the details of a training provider that can help you.     Grow Your Business With NBSL   Who are they?   They have been supporting enterprise since 2007 and in that time they have helped over 1,700 people to start their own business in Northumberland. They’ve also helped existing businesses across the North East to create over 1,000 jobs with their funding and support programmes.   How can they help?   Get up to £2800 of funding towards business improvement projects. Carney Consultancy has accessed funding for 45 of our clients. The funding received by each client has been between £500 and £2800. Their funding support programmes can cover up to 35% of the cost of work by external suppliers that could transform your business.   Contact [email protected] for further information.     Carney Consultancy Website News The members section of our website is now live; please look out for your invitation to join. This allows our clients to Log In to a members’ area. Our clients may now access their own Health and Safety Policy & standard forms. Also they will be able to access safety memos, our newsletters, safety information sheets and all tool box talks.   Each company also has access to their individual page containing their personalised documents.   This area of the website is new and a work in progress, we would be very grateful of any feedback that you have regarding accessing and using the members section. If you have any comments or queries please don’t hesitate to contact us.   Working Together To Beat Occupational Cancer The number of deaths due to occupational disease in the UK construction industry outweighs deaths caused by accidents by 100 to 1. Although asbestos is currently the biggest killer claiming over 2,000 lives per year in the UK it is not the only substance that causes occupational cancers. There are more than 50 substances that have been linked to workplace cancers.   Imperial College, London conducted a research report in 2012 linking thousands of different cancer deaths with occupations and helped show the true cost of occupational cancer in the UK. The research concluded that almost 14,000 new cases of cancer caused by work are registered each year; there are around 8,000 deaths a year caused by occupational cancer.   For the safety information bulletin on working together to beat occupational cancer click here.     Prevention Of Ill Health Through Design  A practical approach for designers   The number of deaths due to occupational disease in the UK construction industry outweighs deaths caused by accidents by 100 to 1. The disproportionate harms caused by ill health needs a response from the industry as a whole. Construction (Design and management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015). As well as Principal Contractors the CDM 2015 Regulations also places responsibilities on the designers and clients to prevent harm to workers on site during the construction of the building, workers refurbishing the building as well as those completing routine maintenance on the building during its normal operation after practical completion.   One of the best ways to prevent occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities is to eliminate hazards and minimise risks early in the design or redesign process and incorporate methods of safe design into all phases of hazard and risk reduction. Although there is a lot of work that goes into designing safety features for the general public using the building day to day, less attention has gone to factoring the safety, health, and wellbeing of construction workers into the design, redesign and refurbishment of new and existing workplaces, as well as tools and equipment for maintenance workers, and work processes during the construction phase and after practical completion.   All duty holders have a responsibility to reduce risk during construction. This starts during the pre-construction phase of the project and carries on throughout the duration of the project. The designers must also liaise with all duty holders to help plan, monitor and coordinate health and safety throughout the project.       Join us on Facebook       Follow us on Twitter       Send us an Email   Upcoming Training Courses   Asbestos Awareness Refresher 16th September 14th October 25th November   Asbestos Awareness 27th September 14th October   Manual Handling 16th September 27th September 14th October 25th November   Abrasive Wheels 23rd September 10th November   Safe Working at Height 23rd September 10th November   CITB Site Managers Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS) September 14th, 21st, 22nd, October 5th & 12th   CITB Site Managers Safety Training Refresher (SMSTS Ref) 29th & 30th September   CITB Site Supervisors Safety Training Scheme (SSSTS) 12th & 13th September 27th & 28th October   CITB Site Supervisor Safety Training Refresher (SSSTS Ref) 25th August 26th September   Health & Safety Awareness 15th September 17th October   Directors Role for Health & Safety 11th October   Site Environmental Awareness Training 22nd September   Emergency First Aid at Work 6th October   Please note that if you have sufficient numbers, then a dedicated training course can be arranged for your company at a reduced rate. For more information and to check availability please contact us.