A new concrete handling initiative aims to give farmers and the general public peace of mind that work being carried out on their property is to a quality standard.
The ‘Concrete Ticket’, an initiative by the Irish Concrete Society, aims to promote excellence in concrete handling practices.
The initiative, which was launched recently by the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Renewal, Damien English, will see concrete operatives in Ireland offered a formally recognised education and guidance course on working with concrete.
The Concrete Ticket aims to ensure that concrete construction is carried out to European and Irish standards by operatives with the necessary skill and training.
Under the voluntary initiative, operatives are offered education in the form of a half-day course with guidance on the correct ordering, handling, finishing and curing of concrete for construction.
A number of courses have already taken place, and some 20 courses are planned for 2017 in locations around the country.
The course is open to anyone who handles concrete, including construction workers and farmers.
The Irish Concrete Society is running courses on demand throughout Ireland. The cost of the course amounts to €140/person or €1,900 for a group of 15.
Up until now there has been no mechanism for operatives working with concrete to have their skill and expertise formally recognised, according to the Irish Concrete Society.
The Irish Concrete Society promotes excellence in concrete and ensures operatives continue to meet European and Irish standards, Chair of the Society, Jim Mansfield, said.
While up to now there has been no accredited education programme for concrete operatives, I’m delighted that the Concrete Ticket will now help fill that gap.
“Anyone who works with concrete can now avail of formally-recognised training,” he said.