This would come under work-related stress, I believe.

In which case, although not exhaustive, here's my suggestions:

You need to assess whether there is a role for him which will involve no need for training on things such as you have mentioned - such as working in the stores, etc.

You could also look at offering counselling to him.

However, (and I am prepared to be shot down on this if I am wrong) I do believe that once you have taken sufficient steps such as the ones above (but probably more than just), if no other reasonable alternatives can be found and he is unable to carry out his role, or an alternative (including Part-time or demotion) then you would be within your rights to dismiss him.

I doubt that being old enough and experienced enough will be suitable defence

Don't tell them in advance and on the day of the course hastily dispatch them "A La Hangman."

This will hopefully save a lot of pre-course nerves and stressing needlessly.

If we send employees to do a task ie; erect an alloy tower scaffold and the client asks for PASMA certification for the employees erecting it, I dont think the client would readily accept your slant on this problem of training not being required.

If an accident was to happen resulting in a serious injury how would you prove competence to an investigating body ?

I came across this several times when I used to deliver managing safely

A decent trainer should be aware and have ways to get round it without any of the other delegates realising things are going on in the background.

As a trainer its particularly rewarding to overcome a challenge like this.

I supposer you need to look at the level of training required and if there is another way to facilitate the training, is it possible that there are underlying issues also, dyslexia or an inability top read well and he feels less confident with people he doesn't know, could you wait and bring in a trainer so that he is only with his own colleagues. I know it is pampering to his needs but if you have one who doesn't want to train and is excused then it could be throughout the company in no time.

Is it mandatory training, is attending training part of his contract, what does your training policy say. I don't think that opting out because it causes stress should be the only way to look at it under the 74 act I think he still has to comply.

What I was trying to get across is the current obsession with “qualifications” rather than competence. Staff are being told to get a certificate for this or that but there is no guarantee that having passed the test they will be any safer than someone who has “learned on the job”. I am not saying that we should not have some sort of assessment but true competence is a much wider issue. The dustbin waggon driver that killed those people in Glasgow a few years ago, probably had licenses etc but he was clearly not competent to drive that vehicle.
If the client insists that people putting up scaffolding have a particular piece of paper, fine that’s their prerogative but in itself it is no guarantee that the guys doing it will be competent.
And yes to do some jobs such as barrister, doctor etc you have to join a club and demonstrate not only competence but CPD by joining a “club”. But your professional body does more that sets a simple test; it monitors your performance and investigates any evidence of malpractice and if it finds this is true it will kick you out of the “club” and take way your livelihood. Does PASMA do that?

I am not of course familiar with your employee, or any conditions he may suffer from. So maybe his claim he suffers from panic attacks is true. however, I am curious as if he has undergone previous training events, why has his panic attack not been made aware of before.

it was also stated that he believed he was old enough and competent enough for the job, so I wonder if he just believes that he cannot be taught anything else.

I would look at getting a formal medical assessment of any condition first

Thank you all for you responses. We have a meeting with him soon and will take all of these comments into account and try and find out if there are underlying issues and what we can do to try and accommodate as I really don't want to go down the HASWA 74 (7b) route.

All,

You know I once had someone like this on my course can't divulge his name.

Regards

Captain G. Mainwaring