If you are like me you will want to make the most of possible training opportunities. You can find that there are plenty of employers out there who are willing to give you training if you ask for it. I have managed to become a supervisor on my site thanks to extensive training and a good few years of experience behind me.  If you are heading out in the construction industry for the first time I can’t recommend getting some kind of qualifications under your belt.  This will increase the chances of being employed, but even more importantly it will help to make you aware of legislations and regulations that not all employers will make you aware of.

Many Employers Ignore the Health and Safety Laws

It might be shocking to hear but there are plenty of construction firms who are putting the lives of their employees at risks, knowingly or unknowingly.  There is no excuse not to know the laws surrounding site safety but many employers either choose to ignore those laws, or they simply don’t realise how important it is, until something happens.

If you spend some time looking at the number of accidents which happen in this industry you may be slightly concerned. Deaths from falls from height are surprisingly high, despite all the attention it gets in the press. The Health and Safety Executive have guidelines that are easy to follow, and consultants are able to help any firm sort out their policies and procedures, but even with the help available you are still at risk from complacent employees.

Put Yourself through Health and Safety Training

Therefore I recommend all people entering the construction industry take at least one health and safety course. There are plenty to get started with, and they are surprisingly affordable. There are some brilliant courses which will give you an ID card that you can use to persuade employers to give you the job as they know you have already received a certain level of skills which will benefit them as employers.  If you know about managing your own safety at least you may not contribute to increasing the risks.

One of the best places to start is by training and sitting a test for CSCS cards.  These are available for construction workers at all levels, and can be found easily by looking online. The basic card is designed for first time construction workers with little to no knowledge about site safety.  This is called the Green card which shows you have the basic skills. You will need to have completed an NVQ level one to take the test however.  There are other cards too which are suited to the qualifications and the skills you may hold. There is even a card which is ideal for anyone who isn’t able to meet the other categories of cards, which will basically consist of a health and safety test.

Finding a Good Employer

There are plenty of employers out there who do respect the laws and will take your safety extremely seriously. Although you may feel they are being strict and harsh their commitment to site safety means you are in good hands. By training their staff and working to constantly reduce the risks faced everyday by construction workers those employers are helping to reduce the numbers of accidents and deaths within their organisation.

If you find a good employer you will probably be given a lot of opportunities to learn new skills and enhance your career.  If you are given the opportunity to learn more about safety in the construction industry I highly recommend you jump at the chance.

This article was written by CSCS cards. There are a number of CSCS cards which can be used to help you gain employment, and teach you basic health and safety skills.