Posted By Declan Fitzpatrick Hi Lewis Let me know what type of training you are looking for. FAS accredit a wide range of training here in Ireland. Email me at declan@safety.ie Regards Declan

Posted By Karen Todd Hello Lewis, I am assuming you want to get your people trained up in the UK, but that they need a card to get onto site in Ireland? We have the CSR card scheme in Northern Ireland, and the CSCS card is the UK equivalent. It is my understanding that CSR cards and CSCS cards will let you onto sites in Ireland. See http://www.cscs.uk.com/faq.htm Karen

Posted By Ciaran McAleenan Dear all Before getting into which card applies where it is important to note that there are differences between requirements in the separate Irish jurisdictions. For whatever reasons the Government in the South of Ireland put a requirements for Safe Pass cards into their construction safety legislation. To achieve this you undertake a one-day general H&S course and pass a simple test. Any client or employer worth their salt would ask for much more than this when employing a competent contractor/ worker. In NI and in UK there is an equivalent CSR/ CSCS card but thankfully there is no mandatory requirement to have this. What there is a need for and this has been enshrined in law for a very long time is the need to have workers trained and competent in the skills areas that they are required to demonstrate and in the control measures relating to the particular hazards associated with the tasks that they will perform. In NI the Government/ Public Sector clients will be requiring evidence of this by December 2004. For them it is all about competence not cards. I am aware, through various publications that specific groups in UK are asking for CSCS cards for workers and visitors to their sites. The question I have to ask is will this improve safety performance or detract from it? The construction industry, worldwide, could do well by considering the lead given by NI public sector clients and focus the attention away from cards and onto competence. Getting back to your question Lewis, what training are you interested in? I will see if I can help. Regards and best wishes Ciaran