Irish Safe Passes

[BAJR Host]

The old chestnut has risen again... here is an update


More information can be obtained from FAS on 01 6070500 or their website http://www.fas.ie

or see http://www.oasis.gov.ie/employment/healt...#id3137350


Who pays for the Safe Pass course?
Generally the employer pays for the Safe Pass course. The employer under section 10,25 & 26 of Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act, 2005 is responsible to allow employees time off from their duties for awareness training as may be reasonable having regard to their health and safety without loss of remuneration.


Do students and seasonal workers need Safe Pass befoe working on a Construction site? If so who should pay?
Yes the Safe Pass Programme is aimed at all who work on a construction site, including new entrants. If a student wants to apply for a job on a construction site for seasonal work they must have the Safe Pass Card. In this instance they would have to pay for it themselves before they are employed. (and I would class mobile diggers in this.

Are archaeologists required to have a Safe Pass?
Strictly speaking, archaeologists are not construction workers and, as such, are not required by the Construction Regulations to have a Safe Pass. However, given that much of the work they do is in a construction type environment, it is appropriate that the employer assess the work to be undertaken on a site-specific basis. If an objective assessment shows that employees having "safe pass" would help the employer comply with his/her general duties regarding training (in accordance with Section 8 of the 2005 Safety Health & Welfare at Work act) then the employer should give strong consideration to having workers obtain safe pass.

This said... it does become up to you.... some companies will pay... some won't. Safe Pass preffered is a cop out... but there you go. You could suggest that if you work x ammount of time with the company they reimburse you... (say longer than 3 months) or they could write into your contract that if after paying for your Safepass you scarper to another company... you have to pay them back.

quote:Your employer cannot require you to reimburse them for the cost of the course if you subsequently leave your job. (The only exception to this is where you have signed something in your contract of employment stating you will reimburse any training fees incurred before you have given a certain period of service).

the IAI is not wanting to get into this - so as I said.. BAJRs hands are slightly tied. (If you want to work in archaeology in Ireland, having a safe pass is a useful tool.... however - if you feel it is up to the contractor to pay ... then only work for ones that pay.... but remember if they pay - you have a responsibility to work for them for a period of time ... not just take it and go.)

So.... policy change! sigh

Another day another WSI?

[chrysalis]

I have just passed the health and safety test to get a CSCS card (construction skills certification scheme) as it was a condition of the developer that all staff on site have one. This test was paid for by my employer however before I got the full card (which requires some proof that you are a skilled worked) I left the unit. It costs about ?20 to get the card which obviously I would now have to cover myself so my question is before I lash out the cash... how useful is this card in archaeology and would it be accepted instead of a Safe Pass if I wanted to work in Ireland?

[kevin wooldridge]

quote:Originally posted by chrysalis

I have just passed the health and safety test to get a CSCS card ... how useful is this card in archaeology and would it be accepted instead of a Safe Pass if I wanted to work in Ireland?

It has been reported on BAJR that some construction sites might not admit archaeologists without a CSCS card. Although I have yet to come across this in general practice, I have seen the CSCS card in effect used in lieu of a security pass on some larger infrastructure projects. I don't believe there has yet been a BAJR job advert that requires UK archaeologists to possess the CSCS card as a pre-requisite to employment. I am pretty certain that the manner in which UK H&S legislation is interpreted would allow a strong case to be made for the cost of the CSCS card (if a pre-requisite to employment) to be paid by the employer. So unless you like collecting ID cards I would say save yourself ?20 and wait for your next employer to pay.

Nothing to stop you stating on your CV that you have taken and passed the course, irrespective of whether you have the card.

The second part of the question is easy. No it wouldn't be accepted instead of a SafePass in the Irish Republic.

[Mtgorry147]

From an employers point of view, we have been informed that a safe pass is required by all staff on any development site.

We were further told that if we employed someone without a safe pass, then it was the employers responsibility to pay for the safe pass training.

However, we were also told it is entirely legal to state that no staff will be employed if they do not have a safe pass.

This effectively removes the burden from companies to pay for the training and pass it onto the prospective employee.


While this is not right, that is the way I have seen it happen