Training
Investing time and resources in training and education of personnel is increasingly recognised as good management practice as it helps to ensure that staff realise their full potential as well as fulfilling compliance obligations in relation to Health and Safety in the workplace. In a highly competitive market place, members of the Irish Concrete Federation are continuously seeking to improve the efficiency of their businesses and the Federation assists members with cost-effective, quality assured training programmes that support good management practices in all areas including Quarry Management, Technical, Health and Safety, Planning & Environment, Management & Information Technology.
ICF Training Mission Statement
To play a leading role, as a private and self-sufficient training & education centre to meet our clients needs in achieving a competitive advantage through increased productivity and reduced accident and injuries. Training will be delivered on a competency basis established through the delivery of effective training solutions to ensure a competent and knowledgeable workforce that will benefit the client and provide the essential ingredients to stimulate the desire for self-improvement among employees.
Training & Education Courses
Contractor Safety Passport
The Contractor Safety Passport (Quarries) was introduced to Ireland in 2004 by the Irish Concrete Federation through consultation with its members and leading trainers in the industry. Fatalities and injuries were seen as ‘unacceptably high’ and a proactive programme was developed with EPIC, the industry’s National Training Organisation in the UK, the Safety Pass Alliance, the UK’s leading passport providers and of course the Irish Concrete Federation. To date over 2,500 people have been trained on the CSP Programme by the ICF with over 300 having been trained in the first three months of 2008 alone.
What is it?
The “Contractor Safety Passport” is one day* Quarry Safety Awareness Training Program, designed to provide safety training dealing with industry specific issues for all quarry employees as well as managers and employees of contractors prior to entering premises operating in the Quarry industry. This standard has been adopted by the Quarry and Aggregate sector since 2004.
Target Audience
Employees of Quarries and all managers and employees of contractors, who are required to enter a Quarry site.
Pre-requisite
All candidates must possess a valid FÁS Safe Pass Card* to complete the 1 day training program. The FÁS Safe Pass Card demonstrates that candidates have attended training on basic health and safety which covered topics which would be relevant to both the construction industry and the quarry industry.
Why the need for the program?
It is important that all contractors and quarry employees have a basic knowledge of health & safety to make them aware of the inherent dangers in the Quarry industry in order to reduce the risk of injury to themselves or to other persons.
How does it work?
There are two types of course: ‘Public’ courses for companies that have small numbers of employees to train and these generally commence at 9am sharp and are advertised by the ICF on a three monthly basis; and ‘In-Company’ courses which have varied start times to suit the company’s needs. All courses have a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 20 candidates.
What do I need?
Candidates need to be in possession of the following for all courses: PPS number, two passport photos and valid safe pass card or completion certificate from a recognised trainer for the safe pass course. All courses are delivered in English and pre-booking is required to ensure availability.
To download the Contractor Safety Passport Training leaflet Click here
Quarry Skills Certification Scheme
The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Quarries) Regulations 2008, were published on the 14th of February 2008. They became effective on the 1st of May 2008. Contained in the regulations is the Quarry Skills Certification Scheme (QSCS), which lists 15 areas that require FETAC level 5 certification and issue of a QSCS ‘Ticket/Card’. An 18 month lead in time has been given to ensure that experienced candidates who are required to have a QSCS ticket complete a relevant training course to be in compliance with the regulation.
ICF FETAC Certification
The ICF has developed three FETAC level 5 approved modules that cover eight of the QSCS areas:
- tractor and dozer operation;
- articulated dumper operation;
- 180° excavator operation;
- mini-digger operation;
- 360° excavator operation;
- rigid dump truck operation;
- front end loader operation;
- site dumper operation
The maximum number of experienced candidates allowed for each of the six areas listed above is four. Companies are required to supply information and documentation in advance of the course taking place. More details are available from ICF.
Training can also be supplied for other plant equipment listed in the legislation but not covered by the FETAC courses listed.
Competence Based Training
The Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 clearly states “In assigning an employee to a specific task, the employer must take account of his or her capabilities in relation to safety, health and welfare. Employees must not be put at risk by being given work that they do not have the competence to undertake.” Competence is defined as Training, Experience & Knowledge. The ICF keeps records of all courses provided by their trainers and records are kept to ensure that in the event of a accident training records are available to the employer.
Employers are required to ensure that their staff have the relevant competence to perform any task assigned to them and it is imperative that staff are trained properly.
All ICF trainers are qualified in their respective fields and deliver ‘competence’ based training in:
- Slinging and Signalling
- Telescopic Handler Operation
- Mobile Crane Operation
- Crawler Crane Operation
- Confined spaces
- Fall protection
- Manual handling
- Abrasive wheels
- Fire safety/Fire protection
- Forklift safety
- Lockout/Tag out
Education for Industry
Degree in Quarry Management (B.Eng)
Background
The Irish Concrete Federation recognised the need for the development of management skills in the quarry and aggregate sector and initiated contact with the Department of Civil, Construction and Mineral Engineering in Athlone Institute of Technology in 2002. Up to this point no Quarry Degree programme was running in Ireland. The course was designed with industry specific objectives in mind and it has been a major success over the last five years.
Participation
Over forty students have been registered in the Degree Programme during this period. With the advent of the new Safety Health and Welfare at Work (Quarries) Regulations 2008 more responsibilities now rest with the Quarry Operator. Regulation 6 makes it quite clear that such a person must be ‘competent’ to carry out the functions of ‘Quarry Operator’.
Programme Aims and Objectives
The course is designed to provide a formal qualification for personnel working in the quarries sector and those seeking appointment as quarry managers. The overall aims of the course will be achieved through the provision of the following detailed objectives:
- To provide an understanding of the fundamentals of mechanical machinery and electrical principles;
- The provision of the required level of mathematical ability to permit progression to further studies;
- Through effective report writing and presentations to develop professional communication skills;
- To provide a comprehensive knowledge of the Health and Safety legislative environment;
- To develop an appreciation of planning and environmental management issues pertaining to the industry;
- To provide the skills to manage projects;
- To gain an insight into the equipment and practice found in aggregate production and an introduction to materials testing.
What to Expect
Induction: Deals with Mathematics & Quarry Management
Preliminary: Deals with Mathematics, Effective Communication Skills and Computer Applications, Electro-Technology, Geology, Health & Safety Legislation.
Degree Course Year 1
Business Management, Mechanical Engineering, Quarry Materials, Geology & Process Equipment, Occupational Health & Safety,
Degree Course Year 2
Project Management, Quarry Engineering, Quarry Operations, Health & Safety Management, Planning & Environmental Management, Submission of a Project.
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