ABSTRACT
This case looks at the development of a training framework for small and particularly micro organisations (≤ 5 employees). These organisations make up 92 per cent of the construction industry and represent a sector where there is a significant rise in the proportion of accidents and lack of awareness of employment legislation. The work that these contractors do is mainly refurbishment and extension work. These types of projects are generally small and are often overlooked by conventional courses and can fall outside the coverage of the CDM regulations. It is also likely that their proprietors are very busy and would find it hard or strange to attend conventional awareness and health and safety (H&S) training which is also expensive proportionately for the overhead of a micro organisation. They are sometimes unaware of the complexity of the legislation and their obligation to relate to basic good practice such as an H&S policy and the proper compilation and monitoring of risk assessments and method statements. The HSE has recognised the danger of poor H&S planning and needed help to target micro organisations to raise awareness and to ensure compliance.
