Written answers

Thursday, 17 April 2008

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Health and Safety Regulations

5:00 pm

Photo of Emmet StaggEmmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 339: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason workers must be examined every three years for the FÁS skills card and health and safety card. [13981/08]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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This question refers to two separate cards, the FÁS Construction Skills Certification Scheme Skills card and the FÁS Safe Pass card, neither of which is renewable on a three-year basis.

The FÁS Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) skills card is renewable every five years. The CSCS card is used mainly by workers in the areas of plant operation, scaffolding and roofing. Once an operative has gained a CSCS skills card in the relevant category the card must be renewed at five-yearly intervals, either by a one-day training and assessment course or by a completed and signed logbook of a standard acceptable to FÁS.

The FÁS Safe Pass card is renewable every four years. The Safe Pass card is issued after a one-day training course and successful assessment. The four-year renewal is granted following completion of a Safe Pass Training Awareness programme.

The terms and conditions of the Safe Pass programme specify that participants repeat the programme every four years. This condition is endorsed by the construction unions, employer bodies, the Health & Safety Authority and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. It is the collective view of the Social Partners that, given the nature of the work involved and the number of fatal and non-fatal accidents in the industry, this is a necessary awareness programme to provide a safer working environment.

Similar factors apply to the FÁS CSCS skills card.

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