The Gilde Group and Civilion test foreign construction site workers for professional competence

The Gilde Group, Civilion and a number of major contractors joined forces and completed a pilot of so-called Skills & Safety trials. In this way they test and instruct (foreign) professionals who are deployed on large construction and infrastructure projects. The first group of professionals who passed the aptitude test have since started work for the Sassevaart consortium (BAM, DEME and Van Laere) on the construction of the New Lock in Terneuzen. Royal Bouwend Nederland chairman Maxime Verhagen visited the fourth group of skilled workers tested in Den Bosch last week. 

The Skills&Safety tests allow clients to have demonstrably motivated, well-trained and skilled employees. Verhagen was impressed by the initiative of Civilion, De Gilde Groep and a number of contractors: 

"Wonderful to see how much attention is paid here to safety in the workplace. Especially when you work with a lot of foreign workers who sometimes don't yet master the language and procedures. What also appeals to me is that not only are the skills and qualities of these skilled workers considered or how they can be deployed, but that they learn how to do so safely. The very combination of this program, which focuses on how to do a job, can only be beneficial. For the construction site, but certainly also for the people themselves. Because safety should be top priority.Every year too many accidents happen in the construction and infrastructure sectors, which is unacceptable! Construction is fantastic, but our people must also get home safely at night. As a trade association we welcome such initiatives from the market. We also continue to support our members in promoting safe and healthy working.bouwmaakthetveilig.nl is the central place where we share information on this subject," said the chairman of the Royal Dutch Construction Association.

Experience of contractor combination Sassevaart

Verhagen visited the fourth group of skilled workers to complete the aptitude test. The first tests took place earlier this year. And to the full satisfaction of the participating contractors who use subcontractors. 

Peter Zwaal of BAM, general manager at contractor combination Sassevaart, now has about 32 skilled workers working on the New Lock in Terneuzen through De Gilde Group. Seventeen of them have passed the Skills & Safety test. "I am very satisfied with that," says Zwaal. "We now know much better how much knowledge and experience a tradesman really has, but also whether we are dealing with a foreman, a carpenter or a walk-on. It happens that someone says they have experience with a certain type of formwork, but the practice is different." 

Pilot

The Gilde Group, a technical service provider for projects in concrete construction, and Civilion, a trainer of civil engineering professionals, therefore began a pilot together with a number of large contractors. During the jointly developed Skills & Safety trials, the skilled workers make, on the basis of a drawing, an assembly consisting of system and traditional formwork. Integral focus is on the safe use of machinery and cranes. One out of every four to five participants is trained in the safe hooking and hoisting of loads and receives a certificate for it. But there are also soft skills in the test: think about awareness around safety, clear communication and leadership. Alfred Nanninga, director of De Gilde Groep: "The numbers of well-trained professionals in the Netherlands have been declining for years. While the demand for good workers is only increasing. The deployment of mostly foreign workers is therefore badly needed. But it also brings challenges. Through the Skills & Safety tests, we can continue to provide our clients with demonstrably motivated, well-trained and skilled employees."