NOCN Award in Introduction to Construction (Entry Level 3)

Course duration

3 terms | £60pp per session

Session times

09:30 am – 11:30 am | 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Units

• Introducing Health and Safety in Construction
• Practical Construction Skills

Introducing Health and Safety in Construction

Learning Aims

• Know about common risks and hazards when working in construction.

The learner must know:

• Areas where the various hazards and risks can occur.
• The impact these can have on self, others, employer and environment.
• The importance of reporting incidents, including near misses.

• Know how health and safety requirements are communicated when working in construction.

The learner must know:

• The purpose and importance of site inductions, including the information that will be provided.
• The purpose and importance of toolbox talk,s including the importance of these in communicating changes to a site that may remove or introduce hazards and risks.
• About risk assessments and method statements, and learners should understand how these are used to carry out various tasks. • the types of signs that can be found on a site, including the colours and shapes used.
• How to access sources of health and safety information.

• Know about protective measures that are used when working in construction.

The learner must know:

• The range of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) available.
• How and where PPE should be worn, how to maintain it and when it should be replaced.
• The range of Collective Protective Measures, including how they help to reduce the risks when working in construction.

• Know about own and employer’s health and safety responsibilities when working in construction.

The learner must:

• Know the importance of following instructions, such as the correct use of PPE, the use of risk assessments and method statements when carrying out tasks and good housekeeping and personal hygiene.
• Know their responsibilities when working onsite, including the correct access and egress, responsibilities during an emergency or evacuation and accident and near-miss reporting.
• Be aware of their employers’ legal responsibilities
• Know how to clarify if instructions are unclear or if they have concerns.

• Know about the importance of good housekeeping and hygiene when working in construction.

The learner must know:

• The risks posed by poor housekeeping, including the increased risk of slips, trips and falls, fire and diseases.
• The importance of keeping a tidy work area, storing tools and materials correctly and disposing of all waste in accordance with organisational procedures, manufacturers’ guidance and legislation.
• The importance of only eating within designated areas, as well as the impact of not disposing of food correctly.
• The importance of personal hygiene, including the dangers of not washing hands before eating, the increase in risk for illnesses (such as contracting Weils disease and other illnesses,) as well as the harmful effects of some chemicals and other substances that site workers may be exposed to.

Practical Construction Skills

Learning Aims

• Know about the tools, equipment and materials used to carry out basic construction tasks for their chosen trades.

The learner must know:

• The Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Collective Protective Measures (CPM) required to be able to carry out tasks safely.
• The resources are utilised to ensure the work area is protected from damage.
• The different tasks that they will work on during their course and the tools, equipment and materials they will be using to complete each. This must cover details relevant to the health and safety requirements.

• Be able to prepare to carry out basic construction tasks for their chosen trades.

The learner must:

• Identify the types and quantities of the tools, equipment and materials required to complete given tasks to specification.
• Know how to set up a work area for the different tasks, including setting out tools and materials in a logical manner and ensuring that the area is safe to carry out the work.
• Be able to demonstrate how to prepare materials to specification.
• Prepare any surfaces to the appropriate standard if required.

• Be able to carry out basic construction tasks.

Learners must be allowed to complete each bullet-pointed task for two of the trade areas listed below.

The learner must:

Carpentry:

• Measure and cut timber and timber-based products to the given dimensions.
• Form basic joints using hand tools.
• Join timber and/or timber-based products.
• Produce basic products, such as a frame or box, using basic joints and fixings.

Bricklaying:

• Set out wall and return (minimum 1m each).
• Lay bricks dry at least two courses high.
• Know how to prepare mortar.
• Lay bricks using a stretcher bond at least four courses high.
• Finish joints.
• Check for plumb and level.

Painting:

• Carry out surface preparation, including cleaning, filling and smoothing surfaces as required.
• Undercoat surfaces.
• Apply coats as required to timber and one other surface.
• One surface must allow the learner to cover a minimum area of 1.5m x 1.5m.
• Cut into at least one floor/ceiling and one internal corner.
• The learner must use at least one undercoat product and two paint types.

Tiling:

• Prepare surfaces to receive tile adhesive.
• Set out the surface.
• Lay tiles to specification.
• Learners must be able to cut tiles and fix them to a minimum area of 0.75m x 0.75m.
• Prepare grout.
• Complete grouting to specification.

Plastering:

• Prepare surfaces to receive plaster.
• Perform a suction test.
• Apply scrim as necessary.
• Plaster a minimum area of 1m x 1m.
• Complete plastering to specification.

Plumbing:

• Measure and cut plastic/copper pipes to match the specification (10mm tolerance).
• Assemble frames (minimum size 300mm by 250mm) using compression/push fit.
• Assemble frames using solder end feed.
• Attach frames to a board.
• Test the frame to ensure no leaks.

• Be able to clean and store tools, equipment and the work area.

The learner must:

• Clean and check all tools and equipment, and store as directed.
• Store excess materials.
• Clean the work area, ensuring all health and safety requirements are adhered to, and all waste is disposed of correctly.