After a sharp increase in 2018, the results in 2019 attest to a significant drop (-14%) in continuing training in the construction industry (all fields combined). This drop concerns all areas of training: -16% for the field of management, -19% for the field of prevention and -3% for the technical field. However, it should be noted that, like the previous edition, prevention remains the first area of training in 2019 and represents 52% of the training taken by those working in the construction industry. Mandatory safety training remains the most popular: driving machinery (25%), electricity (24%), working at height (20%), first aid (15%) and asbestos (10 %).
Training related to physical constraints and the use of dangerous products on the increase
With a share of 52% against 55% in 2018, prevention training remains the number one training area in 1 despite a decrease. Thus, 2019 workers were trained, a decrease of 66.904% compared to 19 when there were 2018 trainees.
In this category, the most frequent training courses are those which are compulsory: driving machinery (25%), electricity (24%), working at height (20%), first aid (15%) and asbestos (10%). It should be noted that training related to physical constraints and training related to the use of hazardous products are increasing (respectively + 7% and + 19%). These positive increases underline the importance of these issues for artisanal construction companies in terms of accidents and occupational diseases. In view of the population surveyed, public works trades as well as roofers, plumbers, heating engineers, electricians and carpenters, joiners and fittings seem to be more active in terms of monitoring training in prevention than other trades.
By superimposing these results with the proven risks on the sites, the Observatory nevertheless highlights a gap between the main cause of the accidents that have occurred and the safety themes followed by the professionals. Thus, physical constraints such as manual handling constitute the leading cause of accidents for construction professionals, while training in this risk remains very low (1% of training courses taken). This finding demonstrates the need to continue raising awareness among craftspeople and employees of craft businesses on the adoption of good gestures and good postures in their workplace. These efforts cannot be made without new means of raising awareness such as virtual reality or augmented reality being offered to craft businesses.
Prevention training: uneven dynamics depending on the profiles and the territory
In line with previous editions, the public works professions, electricians, roofers-plumbers and heating engineers and carpenters-joiners and fittings are among the professions most represented in prevention training with regard to their benchmark workforce. The trades of stone (-53%) and landscape (-61%) are the categories most affected.
In addition, as in previous years, 95% of the trainees in these prevention training courses are employees, although they only represent 60% of the workforce. This observation can be explained in part by the training obligations which mainly concern employees, even if more and more prevention training is also aimed at craftsmen working alone.
The Observatory also shows that involvement in training depends on certain criteria, beyond the trades. Thus, as in previous years, the study shows that 97% of trainees trained in prevention are men. Despite a gradual feminization of professions, women, who represent 13% of employees and 4% of building company managers, remain under-represented in prevention training (3%) despite a slight increase of 2% since 2018 In fact, they remain mainly assigned to administrative activities and are therefore less concerned by safety training focused on issues related to work sites.
Another variable which influences the follow-up of training: age. In 2019, trainees aged 20 to 40 remained the most involved in prevention training (64%). Conversely, the “51 and over” age group shows a significant negative difference compared to its reference value (only 14% of attendance at training courses, whereas they represent 26% of construction workers). The wealth of experience can be the cause of their low attendance in prevention training.
Finally, the results of the Observatory show uneven dynamism depending on the region: the Grand-Est region as well as the Hauts-de-France and Occitanie regions show a strong presence in training. Conversely, Ile-de-France and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur show less dynamism with regard to their reference workforce. Note, however, that these results must be put into perspective with the characteristics specific to each of them (business activity, incentive policies, etc.)
Focus on digital to adapt the training offer to the needs of craft companies in the construction industry
Vocational training players have redoubled their efforts to identify new actions in order to develop offers in which distance and face-to-face contact are combined according to their educational relevance and customer needs:
- Suggest training adapted to the profession, company-sized, easy to access
- Raise awareness among business leaders on their obligations in terms of safety training
- Develop training with virtual reality and augmented reality
- Continue the development of digital distance learning for all or part
Jean-Christophe Repon, President of CAPEB, affirms : “These distance learning courses are an effective lever for allowing participants to train at their own pace and for craft businesses to save time while being adapted to the prevention of occupational risks. It is therefore important to continue the development of these online training courses and to take into account the feedback from trainees in order to best adapt these offers to the needs of professionals. This format makes it possible to combine theory and practice in the field with scenarios on site, accident simulations, risk hunting, training in technical gestures ... Note, however, that the development and implementation in place of these trainings is still a high cost! "
For its part, to make business leaders aware of the compulsory training they must follow, IRIS-ST offers a training tab on its website with support tools:
- The online self-diagnostic tool: Through an online questionnaire, the business manager provides information on various work situations relating to the various subjects of compulsory training and obtains, in a few clicks, the list of compulsory safety training for his employees or for himself.
- Synthetic files for each training including information on the modalities to know such as the duration, the prerequisites, the objectives or the regulatory framework of the training.
- Sheets by profession which include all the mandatory safety training essential for their profession. Note, however, that these lists are given for information only and must be adapted to the activity and real working conditions of companies.
For its part, to raise awareness among business leaders and craft business teams, the OPPBTP offers several free e-learning courses:
- On the site preventionbtp.fr/training, a collection of modules called Dclic Prévention. These 15-minute modules allow students to acquire essential knowledge in prevention on various subjects: safe use of scaffolding, Wearing a harness, Loading vehicles and securing loads, Noise, Hygiene, Reception, PPSPS,…. They consist of videos and quizzes to test your knowledge. They can be followed online or can be downloaded to facilitate safety meetings.
- On the youtube channel OPPBTP, a collection of Minutes Prévention modules. These 2-minute modules raise awareness of the risks and the value of protecting yourself from them: helmets, fatigue at the wheel, ladders, etc.
Jean-Christophe Repon, President of CAPEB and IRIS-ST, comments: “The results of this new edition of the Prevention Training Observatory show a sharp drop in continuing training for our building craftsmen. However, we know how essential prevention is in our businesses in order to avoid accidents on construction sites. This drop in training monitoring has therefore alerted us enough for us to develop new solutions, more suited to the constraints of the moment and to the needs of our craftsmen. This is why we want to develop more offers in which distance and face-to-face services combine thanks to digital technologies such as virtual and augmented reality. An incentive which I hope will bear fruit! "
Paul DUPHIL, Secretary General of the OPPBTP: “Training is a fundamental lever for enriching the skills of journeymen but also of artisan business leaders in terms of organization and development of individual and collective skills. Digital technologies are experiencing unprecedented development and are revolutionizing all sectors of activity. More than 90% of construction craftsmen are connected, thanks to a smart phone, a computer or a tablet. In this context, the OPPBTP provides craftsmen with new training formats adapted to their challenges and their requirements, such as short and operational videos that can be used independently, E-learning training, webinars ... and benefit from remote technical assistance thanks to "Prevention BTP en Direct". "
Françoise DESPRET, President of the CNATP “To ensure the continuity of their activities during the health crisis, the trainers have adapted the planned face-to-face training courses remotely. We, Professional Organizations, have offered videoconference meetings. Our companies have thus been able to familiarize themselves with these new tools, these new habits and find certain advantages, in particular the saving of time on the move. If the face-to-face remains essential for the practical aspect and for human relations, to build our progress, we must think about the construction of hybrid formations by combining face-to-face and distance learning. "
Download the Observatory's new summary note (highlights of 2019) here