Most of today’s construction workers can recall the days when finding a construction job was a piece of cake. You would simply show up on a construction site and ask if any extra hands were needed. Without any formal training, you would work side by side with certified workers and pick up whatever skills you could along the way. Nowadays this is no longer the case, and while some may say that it’s unfortunate, it’s really much better for you and everyone else involved.
No Construction NVQ Means No Peace of Mind
As an independent worker going from site to site you could be given any number of jobs. A quick run through of what needed to be done was all you got before being expected to get to work. Those who have been in the industry for a while may even say that it was exciting never knowing what you would be doing from one day to the next.
In those days you might be working on plumbing one day and laying tiles the next. Common sense and a will to work were all you needed; no safety training, skills assessments, or Construction NVQ certifications required. It’s easy to see how this could become a major problem very quickly.
Without formal training, workers were essentially just “winging it.” While you may have enjoyed the ease of finding work and learning a new skill on each site, you probably never stopped to think about how much danger you were actually in. By not requiring every single worker to have a Construction NVQ and CSCS card, companies were putting themselves in a position of huge liability. No safety training means that there is way too much room for errors to be made; even the smallest mistake could lead to tragedy.
Why an NVQ in Construction is So Important
Thankfully, things have drastically changed and safety is one of the main focuses on all construction sites. The importance of proper safety training is often forgotten until an accident occurs, but it’s unfortunate that a worker has to be injured or killed in order to remind people how important safety precautions are.
On today’s job sites you are protected if you have acquired your Construction NVQ in your individual field. The Construction NVQ is a competence based test, and if every member working on a project is required to possess one, doesn’t that mean you can be at ease knowing that you are all on the same page?
Much has changed since the days of jobsite hopping and a Construction NVQ is the most valuable asset you can possess as a construction professional. Once you’ve taken the time to prove your competency, don’t you want the peace of mind of knowing that those working alongside you have done the same? Every construction professional should have their NVQ. Not just anyone can show up on a site do your job anymore and there is some pride to be taken in that fact.