Training Division - Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Who must complete the Safe Pass Course?
A. Summary checklist for Safe Pass
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Category of personnel involved in Construction Projects
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Is Safe Pass or equivalent mandatory
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Category of personnel involved in Construction Projects
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Is Safe Pass or equivalent mandatory
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Craft Workers
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Yes
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Project Managers/Site Agents not involved in construction activities
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No
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Apprentices
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Yes
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Site Managers not involved in construction activities
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No
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General Construction Workers
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Yes
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Safety Advisors or Safety Officers not involved in construction work
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No
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Working Chargehands
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Yes
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No
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On-site Security Workers
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Yes
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PSDS/PSCS
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No
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Contractors Drivers On-site
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Yes
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Inspectors/Consultants
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No
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Delivery Drivers On-site e.g. concrete trucks
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Yes
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Clients & Client Reps
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No
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Students on Placement on site
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Yes
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No
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Delivery Drivers Not On-site e.g. delivering to compounds, canteens,offices
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No
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Supervised Visitors
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No
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Canteen Staff
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No
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Archaeologists
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No (see below)
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Site Office Staff
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No
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Sales Representatives
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No
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Architects, Surveyors, Engineers
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No
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Visitors to Show Houses
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No
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Q. What are the pre-course requirements?
Answer:
Safe Pass: Need to be 16 years or over
New Entrants FAS/CSCS: Need to be 18 years of over. Have valid Safe Pass and at least 3 months experience working on-site
Location of Underground Services & Signing Lighting
& Guarding FAS CSCS: Safe Pass or other Construction Health and Safety Course
Advance Scaffold: Need to have completed a Basic Scaffolding course at least 1 year previous.
Q. Who needs CSCS?
A. All construction workers undertaking the tasks listed in the Fourth Schedule of the Construction Regulations, 2006 must have been issued with a FETAC award under the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) and be in possession of CSCS registration cards. The list of tasks include
(a) Scaffolding - basic;
(b) Scaffolding - advanced;
(c) Mobile tower scaffold - where the employee has not been trained in basic or advanced scaffold
(d) Tower crane operation;
(e) Self erecting tower crane operation - where the employee has not been trained in tower crane operation
(f) Slinging/signalling;
(g) Telescopic handler operation;
(h) Tractor/dozer operation;
(i) Mobile crane operation;
(j) Crawler crane operation;
(k) Articulated dumper operation;
(l) Site dumper operation;
(m) 180 excavator operation;
(n) Mini-digger operation - where the employee has not been trained in the operation of a 360o excavator digger
(o) 360o excavator operation;
(p) Roof and wall cladding/sheeting;
(q) Built-up roof felting;
(r) Signing, lighting and guarding on roads;
(s) Locating under-ground services;
(t) Shotfiring;
Q. Do I need a CSCS ticket to operate an abrasive wheel?
A. No. CSCS tickets are issued in accordance with training under the Construction Skills Certification Scheme. The Abrasive Wheel Regulations require that any user of abrasive wheels is trained and competent to do so, and so they require formal training in abrasive wheels, but they are not issued with CSCS tickets after such training. This training must be administered by a competent person, in accordance with the Regulations.
Q. What tasks are exempt from CSCS?
A. Trainees undertaking of all tasks listed above in order to gain experience before undertaking the CSCS programme are exempt provided that:
- they are at all times supervised by a person who is in possession of the relevant registration card
and
- have appropriate identification identifying the person as a trainee in the relevant skills and an associated documented log-book recording experience gained in the skill in which the person is undergoing training.
Q.When do the changes to occupational first aid commence?
A.The occupational first aid assessment agent (OFAAA) will commence assessing first aid training providers on the 1st June 2008. The new FETAC Level 5 occupational first aid standard will commence on the 1st September 2008.
Q. How many first aiders should be present in a workplace?
A. This Table gives an indicative number of first aiders required for different types of workplaces.
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Type of Workplace
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Maximum No. of
Employees
at any one time
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No. of Occupational
First Aiders
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Factories, Construction Sites, Surface Mines and Quarries
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up to 49
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1 if safety statement risk assessment shows it necessary
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50-149
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Minimum 1
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150-299
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Minimum 2
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> 300
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1 extra for every 150 employees or
part thereof
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Underground Mines
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1 for every 10 employees
or part thereof
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Other workplaces
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up to 99
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1 if safety statement risk assessment shows it necessary
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100-399
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1
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400-699
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2
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more than 700
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1 extra for every 300 employees or part thereof.
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Q. What type of a certificate does a first aider receive?
A. A first aider will receive a Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) Level 5 certificate in Occupational First Aid.
Thereafter, the first aider will receive a certificate from the registered training provider for 2 yearly refresher training as FETAC does not issue refresher certificates.
The first aider will receive a pro forma letter from the training provider indicating he/she has attended the course and passed the assessment pending the receipt of the FETAC certificate.
Q. Will an existing first aider get a FETAC certificate?
A. Existing first aiders who do the 1 day refresher training and assessment based on the FETAC Level 5 Occupational First Aid Standard will be entitled to a FETAC certificate. They will not need to do the full 3 day course. This is recognition of prior learning.
Q. What happens if a first aider’s certificate lapses?
A. Where certification for an occupational first aider lapses, a 1 day refresher training is required if the lapse is less than 3 months, otherwise the full 3 day training is required.
Q. How long is certification valid for?
A. Occupational first aid certification is valid for 2 years after which refresher training is required.
Q. Are occupational first aid certificates from other countries valid in Ireland?
A. No. There are no mutual recognition agreements between Ireland and other countries on occupational first aid. Therefore occupational first aid certificates obtained in other countries are not transferable and are not valid in Ireland. In order to be a valid occupational first aider in Ireland, you must do the training in Ireland.
Q. Progression from the FAS CSCS New Entrants Training Course?
A. After completing the New Entrants 3 day course candidates will be given an ID card and log book. Log book will need to be completed by candidate, company manager and qualified CSCS operator. Candidates need to log hours of experience between 6 month and two years
Q. What are the requirements for on-site training?
A. An adequate room is required with electricity and table and chairs. If machine training is booked there needs to be a user manual for the specific machine, it needs to be is good working order will all health and safety auxiliary specified in the Health and Safety Regulations 2006. An area for practical demonstration and assessment will also need to be cordoned off from work area.
Q. How can I confirm I am booked into a course?
A. A letter of confirmation will be posted, faxed or emailed to you will the full details of the course you are booked onto.
Q. If I need to cancel a course do I have to pay a penalty?
A. There is a cancellation fee of 30% on courses cancelled on or after 24hrs before the course. Full course fee will be charged on candidates who do not notify cancellation of course.
Q. When will I get my certificate (and ID card)?
A. Certificates and ID Cards will be sent to the person within the company who booked the course, unless otherwise requested. Payment is required before certificates are sent out.
Q. If I have special requirements who should I talk to?
A. Special requirements are dealt with on a regular basis. While booking the course participants or company representative can mention these requirements and arrangements will be met OR the participant may want to mention special requirements to the tutor before the course begins.
Q. What facilities are there at Safety Solutions?
A. There is a canteen which offers free tea, coffee, sandwiches, biscuits and range of fruit for each participant who attends courses. For participants who are required to wait there turn practical training – there is a TV in the canteen and light reading material to pass the time.
Q. Foreign Nationals:
A. Candidates who have little of no understanding of the English language will be required to make arrangements for a translator to attend the course.
