Module 1 - Introduction to Health and Safety in Construction

Trainer Guidance

Section 1: Welcome to Module 1

Trainer Notes:

• Welcome participants, introduce yourself, and outline the session.
• Emphasise this is the foundation for the course and CSCS Green Card eligibility.
• Timing: 2 minutes.

Section 2: Why Health and Safety Matters

• Trainer Notes:
  • Highlight the high-risk nature of construction using the stats (source: HSE annual report).
  • Ask: “Why do these numbers matter to you?” to segue into the group discussion.
  • Distribute the accident statistics handout here.
  • Timing: 8 minutes (5 for content, 3 for intro to discussion).

Section 2A: Quiz Question:

Why is health and safety especially important in the construction industry?

A) Because it helps companies avoid paperwork
B) Because construction has a high number of accidents and injuries each year
C) Because workers are required to wear helmets
D) Because it only affects large construction sites

Correct Answer: B) Because construction has a high number of accidents and injuries each year

Section 3: Group Discussion

• Trainer Notes:
  • Split participants into groups of 3-4.
  • Prompt with examples if needed (e.g., “No injuries,” “Going home safe”).
  • Write key responses on a flipchart to reference later.
  • Relate answers to the next slide (legal duties).
  • Timing: 10 minutes (5 for discussion, 5 for sharing).

Section 4: Legal Framework

• Trainer Notes:
  • Explain the Act as the backbone of UK safety law (keep it simple).
  • Stress mutual responsibility: employers set up safety, employees follow it.
  • Link to discussion: “Your ideas about safety connect to these laws.”
  • Timing: 8 minutes.

Section 4A: Quiz Question:

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, who is responsible for workplace safety?

A) Only the employer
B) Only the employees
C) Both employers and employees
D) Only health and safety officers

Correct Answer: C) Both employers and employees

Activity:

Section 5: Roles, Responsibilities, and Case Study

• Group discussion: What does safety mean to you on a construction site?
• Case study: A real-life construction accident and its consequences.

1. Group Discussion: What does safety mean to you on a construction site?
   • Purpose: Engage participants, connect personal views to course goals.
   • Execution: 5 minutes in groups, 5 minutes sharing (1 idea per group).
   • Outcome: List of safety priorities (e.g., “No accidents,” “Teamwork”).
2. Case Study: Scaffold Collapse
   • Purpose: Show real-world consequences of safety failures.
   • Execution: Present the scenario (5 minutes), discuss “Who’s at fault?” (5 minutes).
   • Outcome: Reinforce shared responsibility and reporting duties.
3. Case Study Notes:
   • 2019 Reading Scaffold Collapse: 3 workers died when an overloaded, poorly maintained scaffold failed. Employer ignored safety checks; workers didn’t report cracks. Result: £1m fine, jail time for the site manager.

• Trainer Notes:
  • Break down roles clearly (use examples: “Employer provides helmets; you wear them”).
  • Introduce the case study: In 2019, a scaffold collapse in Reading, UK, killed 3 workers due to poor maintenance and ignored warnings (based on HSE reports).
  • Ask: “Who failed here – employer, employee, or both?” Discuss briefly.
  • Wrap up with: “Safety is a team effort.”
  • Timing: 17 minutes (7 for roles, 10 for case study and discussion).

Case Study Notes (for Trainer):

"2019 Reading Scaffold Collapse: Three construction workers lost their lives when a scaffold structure at a Reading site collapsed due to excessive overloading and poor maintenance. Investigations revealed that the employer had consistently ignored mandatory safety checks, and workers had failed to report visible cracks and structural weaknesses. The collapse led to severe legal consequences, including a £1 million fine imposed on the construction company and a prison sentence for the site manager due to gross negligence. The case highlights the critical importance of regular safety inspections, proper weight distribution on scaffolding, and the responsibility of both employers and workers to report potential hazards."