construction safety officer

cojomc

I am looking to become a construction site safety officer and was wondering if anyone knew the best way to go about this. I have worked in construction all my working life and just want to do something else.

De.Lite.Touch

Without trying to be flippant, if you want to do something else, why limit yourself to construction safety officer?
I know you think you know the business, but my eyes were opened to what I didn't know when I got my safe site pass.

What I'm trying to say is if you're keen you could consider doing a general safety officership, with applications throughout industry and business.
I say this not to promote "disloyalty" to your business sector, but to suggest considering doing work outside it, perhaps in other sectors that aren't so cyclical.
Your constuction knowledge may have made yo u able to think around things and that could be useful once properly applied - learning to do that is where you're training will come in.

De.Lite.Touch

Poor Uncle Tom

cojomc wrote: »

I am looking to become a construction site safety officer and was wondering if anyone knew the best way to go about this. I have worked in construction all my working life and just want to do something else.

A designated site safety officer is usually a responsibility taken on by the Main Contractor or one of his employees. It is very rarely a position which has full time duties and is usually a role which is doubled with other roles, for example, on a large site the Foreman can also be the Safety Officer.

Basic Safety Officer Course Details:
Safety Officer - This course is designed to address with the Health and Safety Officer participants the practical activities that need to be undertaken to both make their workplaces safe and meet the legislative requirements on themselves, their employer and fellow employees. It also allows the participants to communicate on issues of concern to them not only with their trainers but also with others in like circumstances.

Basic Safety Officer Course Objective:
By the end of this session participants will be able to:

• Review the responsibilities and requirements for health and safety outlined in the Irish legislation.
• Develop a hazard reporting and risk management process and investigate differing risk assessment methods.
• Using job safety analysis to develop safe systems of work.
• Participate in formal accident investigations.
• Access and utilise internal and external sources of health and safety information, including positive and negative performance indicators.
• Plan and conduct workplace inspections and interpret results.
• Develop and review safety statements.
• Demonstrate appropriate communication methods on a one-to-one basis as well as for work group communication meetings.
• Describe and develop elements of a health and safety management system.

Basic Safety Officer CourseProgramme:

• Introduction to Health and Safety.
• Legislation.
• Risk Management.
• Job Safety Analysis.
• Accident Investigation in expectation of legal action.
• Internal and external sources of health and safety information and statistics.
• Workplace inspections.
• Safety Statements.
• Effective communication.
• Health and safety management systems.

Who Should Attend the Basic Safety Officer course:
Only those persons who have recently become Health and Safety Officers or Managers/Supervisors who are expected to take on such roles. The course is not suitable for an established health and safety professional at managerial level unless that person has low experience levels.

Basic Safety Officer Pre-Course Requirements
Participants would be expected to have some knowledge and understanding of the relevant legislation.

The PSDP Course is important, the Safe Pass is also important.

mfceiling

Poor Uncle Tom wrote: »

A designated site safety officer is usually a responsibility taken on by the Main Contractor or one of his employees. It is very rarely a position which has full time duties and is usually a role which is doubled with other roles, for example, on a large site the Foreman can also be the Safety Officer.

Basic Safety Officer Course Details:
Safety Officer - This course is designed to address with the Health and Safety Officer participants the practical activities that need to be undertaken to both make their workplaces safe and meet the legislative requirements on themselves, their employer and fellow employees. It also allows the participants to communicate on issues of concern to them not only with their trainers but also with others in like circumstances.

Basic Safety Officer Course Objective:

By the end of this session participants will be able to:

• Review the responsibilities and requirements for health and safety outlined in the Irish legislation.
• Develop a hazard reporting and risk management process and investigate differing risk assessment methods.
• Using job safety analysis to develop safe systems of work.
• Participate in formal accident investigations.
• Access and utilise internal and external sources of health and safety information, including positive and negative performance indicators.
• Plan and conduct workplace inspections and interpret results.
• Develop and review safety statements.
• Demonstrate appropriate communication methods on a one-to-one basis as well as for work group communication meetings.
• Describe and develop elements of a health and safety management system.

Basic Safety Officer CourseProgramme:

• Introduction to Health and Safety.
• Legislation.
• Risk Management.
• Job Safety Analysis.
• Accident Investigation in expectation of legal action.
• Internal and external sources of health and safety information and statistics.
• Workplace inspections.
• Safety Statements.
• Effective communication.
• Health and safety management systems.

Who Should Attend the Basic Safety Officer course:
Only those persons who have recently become Health and Safety Officers or Managers/Supervisors who are expected to take on such roles. The course is not suitable for an established health and safety professional at managerial level unless that person has low experience levels.

Basic Safety Officer Pre-Course Requirements
Participants would be expected to have some knowledge and understanding of the relevant legislation.

The PSDP Course is important, the Safe Pass is also important.

Very true. I did a one year Safety, Health and Welfare at Work certificate through UCD at a feeder centre in Tallaght Institute of Technology. The course cost me €1400 and was 2 hours every friday morning via a video link up from UCD.
I could have went on to do my diploma and then degree but my employer at the time wouldn't give me the extra time off work.
Again what Tom has said above is very true...especially in today's climate.

cojomc

Thanks for the reply uncle tom, on most jobs now the main contractor has to have at least one safety officer on site at all times, and sub contractors have to have one safety officer on site at all times and if they have more than 40 men on site they must have 2. Their responsibilitys are ONLY health and safety.
Thanks for all the info into what to do.

cojomc

De.Lite.Touch wrote: »

Without trying to be flippant, if you want to do something else, why limit yourself to construction safety officer?
I know you think you know the business, but my eyes were opened to what I didn't know when I got my safe site pass.

What I'm trying to say is if you're keen you could consider doing a general safety officership, with applications throughout industry and business.
I say this not to promote "disloyalty" to your business sector, but to suggest considering doing work outside it, perhaps in other sectors that aren't so cyclical.
Your constuction knowledge may have made yo u able to think around things and that could be useful once properly applied - learning to do that is where you're training will come in.

De.Lite.Touch

Thanks mate I appreciate what your saying but construction is all I know I've never worked in any other field of work. I see safety officers on the site where I work now and it just interests me.

sammye333

I worked on building sites for a few years.

I, like yourself, decided i wanted to go on to be a safety officer. I took the long route towards getting the qualification. I did a one year part-time access course in GMIT Castlebar. (This course was for two days a week over one year.This course is aimed at people who have been out of school for a number of years and gives them the required tools and confidence to approach full time education.)
I then did a two year diploma in Construction Studies. This covers a number of different areas, which H&S is one of the subjects.

I then did a one year H&S diploma in Limerick I.T.

This is the long road and took me four years to complete but it depends on what you want to do.

davemac83

cojomc wrote: »

Thanks for the reply uncle tom, on most jobs now the main contractor has to have at least one safety officer on site at all times, and sub contractors have to have one safety officer on site at all times and if they have more than 40 men on site they must have 2. Their responsibilitys are ONLY health and safety.
Thanks for all the info into what to do.

For clarification purposes folks, a full time safety officer is required on site when there are more than 100 persons working on that site or if a risk assessment deems it neccessary.

A safety officer however, must be appointed when there will be more than 25 on one site or 35 on multiple sites.

OP interesting that you want to become a safety officer, however have you considered the job prospects given the current state of the construction industry?

There have also been many good posts as to how to get the qualifications, but companies really look for competence i.e. training, qualifications and experience in the role of a safety officer.

If I can be of any help / provide further info let me know.

Dave
<SNIP>

Mod Edit: Please don't put your contact details on thread like that.

Danielle01

It is not so difficult to become a construction safety officer. The only thing is you must be aware of the safety norms that should be applied in construction sites and also should be aware of the construction work. As per me construction safety guidelines begin with the understanding of what your company requires in regards to safety with your associates.

Webber001

Safe Work Method Statements is a document outlining all tasks that a worker must complete in accordance to his job description. These are mainly for those jobs that are prone to hazards such as construction, automotive and other jobs with which requires the use of machines, or physical labor. With this you can reduce the number of casualties at work place.

cathal 1985

where is there third level training provided in Ireland or England for becoming a safety officer? I know they do it in LIT in Ireland but is there anywhere else? any help is appreciated

sammye333

In England it is NEBOSH. I am not sure about that training.
Sligo IT also do occupational H&S as well.
There are some colleges that do part time courses.
I did a certificate in construction studies, in GMITand went to LIT, to do my diploma in H&S.

cathal 1985

Thanks very much sammye333, I'm trying to focus on the safety officer in construction. I'm doing a dissertation on whether they have enough training before they go out on site and comparing it to the English safety officers. 1 of my chapters is based on the what trainings are available from 3rd level, part time, online and what training they would receive from their company when working or h s courses they have to do as expected by the company. thanks again

sammye333

I am a safety advisor ten years. The diploma/degree in safety, will give you your entry ticket. My diploma from LIT, Gave me a basic understanding of H&S.

I did most of my training as I went on in my career. It also depends on what type of contractor you work for. Main contractor, sub contractor, civils, mech, elec, scaffold etc.

I work in oil and gas, which is a different environment to general construction.

I see plenty of safety advisors, that are highly intelligent but have no people skills. That's a big plus.

cathal 1985

Thanks very much any help is appreciated. I think I will focus on main contractors if I can because it will be general and an area I will be looking into for a career. it's hard trying to get the exact information on the web it throws you from one area to the next with no real information

sydthebeat

cathal 1985 wrote: »

Thanks very much any help is appreciated. I think I will focus on main contractors if I can because it will be general and an area I will be looking into for a career. it's hard trying to get the exact information on the web it throws you from one area to the next with no real information

are you referring to the duties of a Project Supervisor Construction Stage (PSCS) ?

sammye333

How long are you out of school.
I also did a one year access course. I'm not sure if all colleges do this
It was only two days a week but it helped me to get back into school ways.

dotireland

Hello, thanks all for your contributions here, I am new in Ireland, I have HND in Civil Engineering from Africa but willing to become a health and safety officer strictly in Construction, please give me a straight starting point that will enable me to be working as construction labourer to gain construction site experience in Ireland and at the same time pursuing the safety course, thank you, your advise and suggestion will be highly appreciated.