Introducing mandatory training systems? Investigating the introduction of compulsory pre-site construction training Sue Bahn and Llandis Barratt-Pugh ECU.

Introducing mandatory training systems?  

Investigating the introduction of compulsory pre-site construction training

Introducing mandatory training systems?  

Investigating the introduction of compulsory pre-site construction training

Sue Bahn and Llandis Barratt-Pugh ECU SoM FB&LSue Bahn and Llandis Barratt-Pugh ECU SoM FB&L

AVETRA 2011 - Melbourne

Cutting corners:

how pre-site Construction Induction Training improves work safety but illuminates the issues of online certification.

Cutting corners:

how pre-site Construction Induction Training improves work safety but illuminates the issues of online certification.

Dr Susanne BahnDr Susanne Bahn

Dr Llandis Barratt-PughDr Llandis Barratt-Pugh

AVETRA 2012 - Canberra

Where we are going….Where we are going…. Where we are going….Where we are going….

• What is it about? – Mandatory Pre Site trainingWhat is it about? – Mandatory Pre Site training

• Setting the scene of the studySetting the scene of the study

• What we did and how we did itWhat we did and how we did it

• What the statistics saidWhat the statistics said

• What the people said – on paper and in personWhat the people said – on paper and in person

• Conclusion - what value has it been for the industryConclusion - what value has it been for the industry

- what voices have been amplified or silenced?- what voices have been amplified or silenced?

AVETRA 11AVETRA 11

What it is about ….What it is about ….What it is about ….What it is about ….

Construction 11% WA - One of the highest accident ratesConstruction 11% WA - One of the highest accident rates

• Incidents on site –– truck reversing – unsecured walls Incidents on site –– truck reversing – unsecured walls

• Learning as a voluntary activity?Learning as a voluntary activity?

• How do we change behaviour?How do we change behaviour?

• Embed instinctive reactions Embed instinctive reactions

– – for saving livesfor saving lives

AVETRA 11AVETRA 11

Setting the scene….Setting the scene….

Green Card Blue Card White CardGreen Card Blue Card White Card Unit of competency – AQTFUnit of competency – AQTF Mandatory induction - before entering a Mandatory induction - before entering a

construction siteconstruction site Delivered face-to-face or onlineDelivered face-to-face or online 1, 2, 4, or 8 hour delivery times 1, 2, 4, or 8 hour delivery times Multiple choice assessmentMultiple choice assessment Funded up to 80% by Construction Training FundFunded up to 80% by Construction Training Fund

What we focused on….What we focused on….

Pilot commercial – Now Civil&HousingPilot commercial – Now Civil&Housing The study collected industry perceptions of the:The study collected industry perceptions of the: .….…value and effectiveness value and effectiveness of the trainingof the training …….the associated .the associated relevancerelevance of the training activity of the training activity …….and the subsequent .and the subsequent workplace impactworkplace impact.. Recommendations that can improve the Recommendations that can improve the

effectiveness of the training.effectiveness of the training.

3 key research questions3 key research questions

How effective has the Construction Induction How effective has the Construction Induction Training certification system been for the Training certification system been for the industry? industry?

How effective have the Construction Induction How effective have the Construction Induction Training practices been for the industry? Training practices been for the industry?

How has the Construction Induction Training How has the Construction Induction Training system impacted upon organisations and system impacted upon organisations and safety in the industry?safety in the industry?

What we did – mixed modeWhat we did – mixed mode

Literature reviewLiterature review Accident/incident statistics segregated for Accident/incident statistics segregated for

the commercial sector by Worksafe WAthe commercial sector by Worksafe WA Online Questionnaire – distributed twice to Online Questionnaire – distributed twice to

821 managers (5.5%)821 managers (5.5%) Telephone and face to face interviews – 82 Telephone and face to face interviews – 82

managers/supervisors/employees; 17 key managers/supervisors/employees; 17 key stakeholders - focus group with certificatorsstakeholders - focus group with certificators

The Statistics….days lost WA Civil and Housing Const.

2004/5 – 3182004/5 – 318 2005/6 – 3522005/6 – 352 2006/7 – 4612006/7 – 461 2007/8 – 4142007/8 – 414 2008/9 – 4102008/9 – 410

Lost time in days

(Injuries and disease)

Incident and fatality statisticsIncident and fatality statistics

Workers in the construction industry Workers in the construction industry are becoming injured more frequently are becoming injured more frequently and are sustaining injuries that require and are sustaining injuries that require longer recovery time longer recovery time than in previous years.than in previous years.

But the Perth sky line But the Perth sky line indicates…..indicates…..

Worksafe WA interpretation….Worksafe WA interpretation….

Western Australia is in a construction boomWestern Australia is in a construction boom

Significant increase in construction projectsSignificant increase in construction projects

With new workers - large and complexWith new workers - large and complex

projects – high & remote sites projects – high & remote sites

Worksafe expected a greater increase Worksafe expected a greater increase

The Statistics….days lost

2004/5 – 3182004/5 – 318 88,000 88,000 2005/6 – 3522005/6 – 352 102,000102,000 2006/7 – 4612006/7 – 461 110,000110,000 2007/8 – 4142007/8 – 414 115,000115,000 2008/9 – 4102008/9 – 410 125,000125,000

Lost time in days Employee GrowthWA commercial ALL WA construction industryconstruction

Questionnaire findingsQuestionnaire findings

Survey findings….Survey findings….

Nearly all employees perceive the CIT to be Nearly all employees perceive the CIT to be of value to the safety awareness of their staffof value to the safety awareness of their staff

Half report a measurable benefit to their Half report a measurable benefit to their business business

Half believe the CIT assisted their business Half believe the CIT assisted their business by reducing accident/incident ratesby reducing accident/incident rates

But – a low response rateBut – a low response rate

Interview findings….Interview findings….

Face-to-face is better because at least you can ask questions Face-to-face is better because at least you can ask questions (TRADESMAN).(TRADESMAN).    I thought it was something that we could all do together. I think safety is very I thought it was something that we could all do together. I think safety is very

important and I just wanted us in a group to do the course together in case important and I just wanted us in a group to do the course together in case somebody had questions or something like that just to sort of add to it a bit somebody had questions or something like that just to sort of add to it a bit because I think it’s okay to go online and complete some questions on the safety because I think it’s okay to go online and complete some questions on the safety but I think it’s a lot better if we can sit around in a room. You get a lot more from but I think it’s a lot better if we can sit around in a room. You get a lot more from it and talk about it it and talk about it (HOUSING MANAGER).(HOUSING MANAGER).

I have to admit when I personally sat my Blue Card and that was through a face-I have to admit when I personally sat my Blue Card and that was through a face-to-face um course it was probably the most painful and boring four hours of my to-face um course it was probably the most painful and boring four hours of my life life (CIVIL MANAGER). (CIVIL MANAGER).

   We choose face-to-face as a preference but can be time consuming We choose face-to-face as a preference but can be time consuming (HOUSING (HOUSING

MANAGER). MANAGER).

Interview findings….Interview findings….

Most people can get it without too much effort and they would rather them Most people can get it without too much effort and they would rather them sitting at the computer from anything from half an hour to an hour and a sitting at the computer from anything from half an hour to an hour and a half in not on their own time half in not on their own time (PEAK).(PEAK).

I think they welcome it given that they don’t have a training culture it’s I think they welcome it given that they don’t have a training culture it’s easier, quicker and doesn’t require time off their job easier, quicker and doesn’t require time off their job (PEAK).(PEAK).

It was convenient because it was at home. I couldn’t get to the place where It was convenient because it was at home. I couldn’t get to the place where they were holding it they were holding it (TRADESMAN).(TRADESMAN).

   I have seen some people do the online training now and it definitely I have seen some people do the online training now and it definitely

streamlines and fast-tracks the program because so many of the questions streamlines and fast-tracks the program because so many of the questions are so common sense that without having to sit through a tutorial first you are so common sense that without having to sit through a tutorial first you can answer a lot of the questions can answer a lot of the questions (CIVIL MANAGER).(CIVIL MANAGER).

Interview findings….Interview findings….

I think they prefer the way it’s delivered but they don’t I think they prefer the way it’s delivered but they don’t necessarily have respect or appreciate the final outcome as necessarily have respect or appreciate the final outcome as much as if they’d had to sit in a classroom for a whole day, much as if they’d had to sit in a classroom for a whole day, as they would previously as they would previously (PEAK). (PEAK).

I quite often say hey you’ve got your White Card you should I quite often say hey you’ve got your White Card you should know what you’re doing. They actually probably don’t know know what you’re doing. They actually probably don’t know what you’re talking about because they’ve done it on the what you’re talking about because they’ve done it on the Internet Internet (HOUSING MANAGER). (HOUSING MANAGER).

   They don’t really have to demonstrate that they fully They don’t really have to demonstrate that they fully

understand what they’re been taught when you do it online understand what they’re been taught when you do it online (HOUSING MANAGER). (HOUSING MANAGER).

Conclusions…. For the industryConclusions…. For the industry

Does mandatory pre-site training work? Does mandatory pre-site training work?

Participants believed the mandatory CIT had made a Participants believed the mandatory CIT had made a positive positive effect effect on workplace safety – universal acceptance. on workplace safety – universal acceptance.

Participants agreed that their workplace had Participants agreed that their workplace had increased increased safety safety awareness. Refresher training was essential for maintaining awareness. Refresher training was essential for maintaining safer workplaces.safer workplaces.

The commercial/civil and housing construction sectors The commercial/civil and housing construction sectors valuesvalues the CIT.the CIT.

Shift in safety culture Shift in safety culture since 2006 PHD study.since 2006 PHD study. Some companies will not use or accept online certification.Some companies will not use or accept online certification.

Conclusions…. For VET researchers Conclusions…. For VET researchers

Instruments need to be chosen for Instruments need to be chosen for specific groups.specific groups.

Saturation and redundancy may curtail Saturation and redundancy may curtail interviewsinterviews

Be prepared to meet on their territoryBe prepared to meet on their territory Work with industry reference groupsWork with industry reference groups

Conclusion…. Research instigates a Policy change

Conclusion…. Research instigates a Policy change

Incidents have been reduced per workerIncidents have been reduced per worker The industry has institutionalised pre-site The industry has institutionalised pre-site

training.training. It is one component of cultural change in It is one component of cultural change in

the industry.the industry. Subsidies have been withdrawn from Subsidies have been withdrawn from

online training courses.online training courses.

[email protected]

[email protected]

ECU SoM FB&LECU SoM FB&L

AVETRA 2012 - Canberra