Temporary or mobile construction sites: how to keep up with training

Blog Safety Management

The Belgian Royal Decree (KB) of April 7th 2023 makes basic safety training mandatory for all workers on temporary or mobile construction sites. It also imposes a communication requirement on employers who work on temporary or mobile construction sites. In this scenario, the question is how to maintain track of which employees have finished this critical training.

 

 

1. Extending compulsory basic safety training

Basic safety training has already been mandatory for all construction workers since 2022 (PC 124). From 15 April 2023, this obligation has also been extended to other sectors: PC111 (metal), PC145 (horticulture sector), PC149 (metal, machinery and electrical construction) and self-employed and posted workers (unless they already have a valid certificate from another EU Member State). 


What does this mean and what are the practical requirements of the training? 

  • The training should provide a basic knowledge regarding general legal prevention principles, safe behaviour on a construction site and the application of appropriate prevention measures.
  • The basic safety training has a total duration of at least 8 hours.
  • The training must be attended by organisers who apply a quality assurance system, which allows them to demonstrate that the training they provide meets the objectives of the legislation. 
  • In addition to the initial course, basic safety training must also be repeated at regular intervals, unless the employer can demonstrate that workers' knowledge is kept up-to-date through regular or continuous training, information and practical experience.
The exception to the rule 


Safety training need not be undertaken if the employee, employer or self-employed person: 

  • has a certificate showing that the necessary knowledge has been acquired by attending another training course (e.g. VCA certificate).
  • can demonstrate that he has acquired at least 5 years of experience in the past 10 years by performing work on a temporary or mobile construction site. 

Implementation 

The basic safety training legislation went into effect on April 15, 2023, and is being phased in to ensure that everyone referred to in the new legislation can take this training in a timely manner. 

  • Those who have never worked on a construction site should be able to go through this basic safety training and gain the necessary information in the first instance.
  • Those who have already worked on a construction site should be able to go through this basic safety training in the second instance. They have a year to learn everything they need to know. This deadline expires on April 15, 2024. 

This is how VARIO software makes things easier 

You can keep track of the essential credentials per employee and their validity duration using VARIO's Training module. You can also specify when new staff must attend training. 

You can completely meet the requirements of frequent training with the Vario Toolbox module. Attendees of the toolboxes can be registered (with signatures), allowing you to easily show which training each participant has received. 

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 2. Communication on the construction site

Aside from the basic training requirement, the Royal Decree also includes steps to improve communication on construction sites. 

Employers must ensure that employees have received and understand all essential information about the hazards and prevention measures involved with working on a temporary or mobile construction site before beginning work on one. 

The Vario Project module is ideal for creating this health and safety strategy. All relevant information (PPE, overview of corporate tasks with corresponding risk evaluations, safety guidelines, emergency plan, and so on) can be recorded here for each project and reviewed with the various parties involved. 

 

Discover how VARIO software helps you in making things easier

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