National Program for safe work: Fundamental Skills Training in Safety and Health at Work in the Construction Sector, ConstruYO Chile

The construction industry in Chile employs about 600.000 workers and it has been considered one of the most dangerous industries, because of its highest numbers of accidents and fatalities. According to the information provided by members of the National Construction Bureau, leaded by Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the experience of other countries (Ireland, for example), there are possibilities to reduce accident rates presented in this sector, through a tripartite participation, by working togheter between workers and employers, with support from the Government, into development of tools to allow standardize the knowledge available to workers in the construction industry. In this way, ConstruYO CHILE is a training program for the construction industry wich is conceived in four phases to be developed gradually. As a long term goal, this Program aims to contribute to the reduction of accidents and the establishment of a preventive culture in the organizational structure of the construction enterprises. This initiative is part of the Decent Work Country Programme, undertaken by the Government of Chile, under an agreement with the ILO.  The methodological approach used by the Job Skills Training, is the methodology ILO, ACTRAV – Turin, wich implies that its participants can concretely share or embed their learning in their organization and exchange experiences, over just taking o acquiring knowledge.  This program, which began in 2010, at today already has more than 3,000 skilled workers and have made efforts to reach the 8,000 workers at the end of 2011. Currently, the training committee of the Bureau is developing its second phase, for representatives of joint committees, to develop in the last quarter of 2011.