WorkSafe – Developing and implementing a WorkSafe Toolbox and WorkSafe Online Training Course to be used within work based learning within the fields of metal work and construction Erasmus Project

Project Title

WorkSafe – Developing and implementing a WorkSafe Toolbox and WorkSafe Online Training Course to be used within work based learning within the fields of metal work and construction

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Recognition, transparency, certification

Project Summary

WorkSafe was a 28 month long strategic partnership that developed & implemented tools that makes work based learning (WBL) within metalwork and construction more transparent and safe. The partnership consisted of 6 partners from 5 different countries. The partners were:
P1 = Axxell Utbildning Ab, Finland
P2 = Charlottenlund Upper Secondary School, Norway
P3 = ROC Noorderpoort, Netherlands
P4 = Cfai Adamic, France
P5 = Education and Mobility, Spain
P6 = Ikaslan, Spain
In order for the intellectual outputs (IOs) to be usable and fill the needs of the small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), SMEs and the Centers for Occupational Safety, unions etc in the participating countries were involved in developing, testing, evaluating and finalizing the IOs.

The need for WorkSafe became evident as teachers started to raise concerns about students work safety during WBL. They felt there was a need to develop tools that improves students safety during WBL. After analyzing the problem more in detail we realized that many of the SMEs wants to improve collaboration with VET providers and that they need support, guidance and tools that clarifies their tasks during WBL. The WorkSafe partners have learned that even if improved work safety is a topic that is of importance in all European countries there are national differences when it comes to the implementation of work safety. This is why it was of great value that this project was done as a collaboration with partners from different European countries.

WorkSafe aimed and did 1) collect, compare & clarify common standards relating to work safety and point out what standards are unique for Finland, Norway, Netherlands, France and Spain; 2) Make it safer and easier to send metalwork & construction students on WBL to these 5 countries; 3.) Created a WorkSafe Toolbox and 4) Created an Online WorkSafe Manual that can be used for eg. training/education/raising awareness. In order to reach these aims we collaborated with employers within our region.

6 transnational project meetings (PM) and 1- 2 skype meetings were held in between the PMs. During the meetings each partner kept the others aware of what steps they had taken to implement the outcomes of the project. Work meetings focusing on developing, evaluating and making amendments to the IOs together with silent partners were held regularly. Towards the end of the project each partners held a Multiplier Conference in the country they represent in order to test the usability and collect feedback on the outcomes.

The project developed 2 Intellectual Outputs:
1) WorkSafe Toolbox
Target group: VET providers, teachers, students, employers & work mentors and other stakeholders.
Aim: 1) improve cooperation between VET providers and SMEs within metalwork and construction, 2) provide VET providers and SMEs with tools that helps to improve work safety during WBL nationally and in Europe and 3) make collaboration more transparent. The toolbox will e.g. a) help to map problem areas and common obstacles, b) describe possible obstacles and suggest solutions and ways to address obstacles, c) describe minimum requirements shared by all and those who are specific for the partner countries and d) describe tasks/responsibilities relating to work safety during WBL

2) WorkSafe Online Manual
Target group: Teachers, employers, work mentors & students
Aim: Create an online manual that can be used to educate students, employers and work mentors on requirements relating to improving work safety during WBL both nationally and in Europe.
The Training Course will a) visualize the minimum requirements in work safety within metalwork & construction, b) bring up benefits of following and maintaining safety regulations during WBL, c) provide tools to maintain & supervise that work safety standards are obtained and followed, d) make the cooperation between student, work mentor and teachers more transparent, e) improve work safety during WBL, f) help interested parties to implement the WorkSafe Toolbox

Expected and already noticed impacts/benefits
1) Improved work safety during WBL within metalwork & construction
2) Raised awareness of national similarities and differences in work safety in Finland, Norway, Netherlands, France and Spain
3) Raised awareness of the importance of collaborating with the SMEs in topics relating to work safety during WBL
4) Improved quality of WBL both nationally and during European mobilities
5) Improved cooperation between the teacher, student, work mentor (and hosting/sending partners during European mobilities)
6) Improved quality of the learning experience students have during WBL nationally and in Europe
7) Increased number of European mobilities as the VET providers and SMEs feel better prepared to host students from foreign countries.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 223107 Eur

Project Coordinator

Axxell Utbildning AB & Country: FI

Project Partners

• Orsan Projects Elk.Koop. Txikia
• ROC Noorderpoort
• Charlottenlund Upper Secondary School
• CFAI Adamic
• ASOCIACION DE DIRECTORES DE CENTROSDE FORMACION PROFESIONAL PUBLICOSDE GIPUZKOA IKASLAN