To support co-operatives and all businesses returning to work as safely and successfully as possible, ICOS Skillnet has launched two free online training courses for management and employees which will help organisations and businesses to meet the requirements of the Government’s Return to Work Safely Protocol.

There is already very strong interest in the new programme launched today.  As Phase 2 of Re-opening Society and The Economy starts, a range of co-operative organisations have already committed participation by over 1,200 management and staff in the ICOS Skillnet COVID-19 training programme and this will grow even further in the days and weeks ahead. 

Participants are subject to a questionnaire after completing the courses, prior to receiving an ICOS Skillnet certificate. 

ICOS Skillnet is funded by Skillnet Ireland and Irish co-operative member companies. Skillnet Ireland is funded from the National Training Fund through the Department of Education and Skills.

The courses will help organisations to comply with the provisions of the Return to Work Safely Protocol which has been developed by the Departments of Health and Business, Enterprise and Innovation along with the HSA, HSE and key stakeholders including Congress, Ibec, CIF and Chambers Ireland.

Intending participants simply need to register through the ICOS Skillnet website at: www.icosskillnet.ie/covid19/

Billy Goodburn of ICOS Skillnet said, “We want to see all businesses resuming operations as safely and successfully as possible.  The Government’s Return to Work Safely Protocol provides a framework which can help businesses and employers to manage their workplaces safely and to support staff in also achieving that objective. ICOS Skillnet is happy to provide these free online resources to support our member co-operatives and businesses throughout Ireland.”

The two ICOS Skillnet courses are (1) COVID-19, Employee Induction and (2) COVID-19, Managing the Workplace. They provide free training for Safety Representatives and Managers responsible for implementing policies and procedures. Proof of training is provided where each person is issued with a certificate of completion for their respective programme with a unique certificate number.  This will help organisations in their application of the Protocol including a reporting capability to track adherence to requirements by individual, organisation or certificate number. Individuals can control their own registration making it easier and more streamlined for employers. All users have to do is to create a new account, which is unique to them and security enabled.

(1) COVID-19 Employee Induction

This course is ideal for all employees who are new or returning to workplaces where the risk of infection due to the COVID-19 virus needs to be managed. This course is also appropriate for employees who are currently working in areas where improved COVID-19 infection control measures are being implemented. The aim of this eLearning course is to provide employees with the knowledge and skills necessary to help implement COVID-19 infection control measures in the workplace.

On completion of this training course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the background and symptoms of the COVID-19 virus
• Understand how infections spread and how they can be controlled
• Understand the principles of hand and respiratory hygiene
• Understand how Personal Protective Equipment is used to prevent infection
• Appreciate the workplace controls around physical distancing
• Understand how cleaning and disinfection stops virus spread
• Understand how suspected cases of Covid-19 can be managed in the workplace

(2) COVID-19 Managing the Workplace

This course is ideal for managers who wish to address the risks of potential COVID-19 infection and implement necessary return to work protocol requirements for their workplace. This course is also appropriate for business owners who wish to identify and assess potential risks to their business due to the COVID-19 virus. The aim of this eLearning course is to provide employers and managers with the knowledge and skills necessary to help implement Covid-19 infection control measures in the workplace.

On completion of this training course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the background and symptoms of the COVID-19 virus
• Understand public health measures adopted and government return to work plans for business and society.
• Understand the role of the business response plan in ensuring the safe return to work of employees
• Appreciate the workplace policy and procedure changes needed to address COVID-19 risks
• Understand how risk assessment is used to identify appropriate infection control measures
• Identify the necessary workplace infection controls on layout, staffing, hygiene practices, use of PPE and decontamination.
• Understand how performance monitoring may be used to evaluate the effectiveness of COVID-19 infection control measures.
• Identify appropriate steps to be put in place to identify and manage suspected cases of COVID-19 in the workplace.

ENDS

ICOS Skillnet is funded by Skillnet Ireland and Irish co-operative member companies. Skillnet Ireland is funded from the National Training Fund through the Department of Education and Skills.

ICOS (The Irish Co-operative Organisation Society) currently represents 130 co-operative enterprises in Ireland, with over 150,000 individual members, a combined turnover of €14 billion and employing more than 12,000 people.