SAFETY FIRST – THE ALTERNATIVE SAFEPASS RENEWAL SYSTEM

The Alternative SafePass Renewal system is a new streamlined option for construction professionals to ensure they meet safety requirements

SOLAS is the state agency responsible for Further Education and Training (FET) in Ireland. Its vision is to power the potential of individuals, communities and enterprise through lifelong learning and workforce transformation. SOLAS manages, co-ordinates and supports the delivery of FET by the Education and Training Boards (ETBs); monitoring its delivery and providing funding based on reliable, good quality data and positive outcomes.

In recent years, the organisation has led an ambitious FET Strategy Transforming Learning and driven change across the FET system – providing easier access; simplified pathways; a consistent learner experience; and a stronger identity. FET is meeting the changing needs of Irish society by responding to and driving the demand for key skills areas including construction, technology and the green economy. Flexible FET options are now available in every community and offer a broad range of valuable and recognised learning pathways. FET is uniquely placed to respond to the critical skills needs in this country; it is available in every county and serves as a resource for everyone to upskill and reskill throughout lifetimes and careers.

FET has become the go-to place for the development of specialist skills for construction, with SOLAS driving and supporting transformation in the sector to meet Ireland’s construction skills needs. This has been achieved through significant investment in the expansion of education and training provision in this area.

For those working on a construction site in Ireland, the law requires that each worker complete the SOLAS SafePass programme, in order to maintain safety standards across all construction workplaces. SOLAS manages the SafePass Health and Safety Awareness Programme, the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) and the Quarrying Skills Certification Scheme (QSCS).

Training organisations and tutors are approved by SOLAS to deliver SafePass, CSCS and QSCS programmes. Before you start your programme, you can check that your tutor
has been approved on www.solas.ie.

SOLAS, in partnership with its stakeholders, continues to enhance and modernise access to further education and training. Recently, this partnership has led to the development of the Alternative SafePass Renewal option.

What is the SafePass programme and what role does it play in the construction sector?
The SafePass Health and Safety Awareness Programme is a mandatory progamme. It aims to ensure that, over the course of time, all workers in construction in Ireland, including apprentices and trainees, will have a basic knowledge of health and safety and be able to work on-site. All construction workers are bound by law to hold a valid SafePass card. Up until early 2023, the one- day SafePass programme including assessment were delivered exclusively through a tutor-led, classroom- based model in numerous locations across the country, both for new entrants to the construction sector and for those seeking to renew their training through successful completion of the programme, which is a requirement every four years.

What is the Alternative SafePass Renewal?
The Alternative SafePass Renewal is an important development in the reform and modernisation of our construction schemes, designed to ensure that essential skills are onsite for safe and effective work. SOLAS, together with the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), The Irish Congress of Trade Unions, members of the Construction Industry Advisory Group and our partners at Pearson VUE, launched the Alternative SafePass Renewal at the beginning of 2023 as a means to transform and streamline the renewal process for SafePass card holders.

The Alternative SafePass Renewal provides another option for the renewal of the SafePass card, whereby the card holder is required to sit a 45-minute computer-based assessment in a Pearson VUE approved exam centre located across the country.

As part of the new Alternative SafePass Renewal system, candidates can register for an account on www.constructioncourses.ie where they will have access to revision materials, providing applicants with a flexible option for exam preparation in their own time and environment and at their own pace. Candidates can also access mock assessments on
www.safepassrevision.ie

The evolution of SafePass: SOLAS and Pearson VUE outlines how its solutions are set to streamline the renewal process for SafePass card holders

What services does Pearson VUE provide?
Pearson VUE’s partnership with SOLAS includes:
• Exam development, development and provision of learning materials, and the provision of sample exams to support the testing candidate in preparing for their SafePass exam
• Integration of Pearson VUE systems with SOLAS systems to enable candidates to schedule their SafePass exams
• Invigilated delivery of SafePass exams via Pearson VUE’s growing partner network of fixed and temporary testing centres across Ireland
• Customer service support for SafePass candidates.

How will Pearson facilitate the SafePass testing? What is required?
• To renew their SafePass card, candidates will have access to a suite of learning materials via the SOLAS SafePass website to help them prepare
• Candidates will then connect to the Pearson VUE online portal via the SafePass website to find a convenient location, date, and time to schedule their SafePass exams
• Candidates will sit their SafePass exams at invigilated Pearson VUE testing centres across Ireland and receive their results upon completion of the exam and before leaving the test centre
• Pearson VUE will provide exam results to SOLAS for the SafePass card fulfilment vendor to issue the SafePass card to the candidate.

How many exam centres will be required for testing? Will these be around the country?
Pearson VUE is providing SOLAS candidates with access to a national network of fixed and temporary testing centres that will provide convenient access to testing, including evening and weekend availability at specific testing centres.

Pearson VUE constantly seeks to grow its global network of testing centres. They are currently taking applications from those businesses in the local construction training sector that are interested in becoming authorised testing centres for the SafePass and other programmes.

What’s the first step for people looking to renew their SafePass card?
Construction workers seeking to renew their SafePass card can do so at www.constructioncourses.ie, where they can choose between the new Alternative SafePass Renewal computer-based assessment or though the traditional classroom-based assessment.