A new construction-specific training programme aimed at improving awareness of hearing loss and supporting deaf and hard-of-hearing workers is being developed with backing from CITB.
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) is supporting an initiative to create what is believed to be the first deaf awareness and hearing loss training programme specifically designed for construction.
The project brings together Bovis, RNID, Unseen Aware, Safety in Design and Heathrow, with funding from CITB’s Industry Impact Fund.
An estimated 328,000 construction workers are living with hearing impairments or tinnitus, while three in four workers are exposed to hazardous levels of noise, according to the organisations involved.
Hearing loss can affect communication and increase the risk of accidents, while creating barriers to inclusion and progression for deaf and hard-of-hearing workers.
The pilot will initially train at least 500 people across organisations, including Bovis, Sir Robert McAlpine, Graham, Kier, Wates, Ferrovial Construction, VolkerFitzpatrick, Mace and Costain. Training will be delivered at site level and through supply chains, targeting supervisors and site workers.
Eight training modules are being developed for individuals, managers, employers and construction organisations. The free programme will combine interactive e-learning with subtitled and British Sign Language-supported videos provided by ITV, alongside knowledge checks.
The training will cover the causes and impact of hearing loss, communication techniques, workplace inclusion, and the recruitment, onboarding and retention of deaf and hard-of-hearing workers.
The size of the hearing problem
Vanessa Freeman, head of grant and funding products at CITB, said: “Research suggests that around 26% of the manual construction workforce experiences some form of hearing-related condition.
“We need to ensure deaf awareness training becomes more widely available so that those struggling with hearing impairments in construction feel safe and supported at work, and those around them can recognise the challenges they face.”
Freeman said the initiative could also help address the industry’s recruitment needs, with construction needing to recruit 41,200 extra workers each year for the next five years.
“Training such as this will help to remove barriers to entry for those who may previously have felt they would not be able to work in construction,” she said.
Teri Devine, associate director of inclusion and employment at RNID, said greater awareness could help create safer workplaces while supporting earlier intervention and greater inclusion.
The training is currently under development, with pilot delivery due to launch next year. It will be available for free through CITB.
